Share
Your weekly intelligence on Decarbonization of Energy Resources
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Good Monday morning to you, and welcome to this week’s Resources Intelligence Report. Once again, we have an assortment of updates on efforts to promote offshore wind development along the U.S. coastlines, but let’s start on land with two market reports from NetZero Insider’s K Kaufmann:

  • A new report predicts mismatched output from U.S. manufacturers of photovoltaic equipment — 60 GW of solar panels per year by 2030 but only 12 GW of solar cells. This sets the stage for a supply chain gap with reliance on imports that are subject to high tariffs. 

  • The U.S. Energy Association held a briefing on emerging technologies in the energy space that segued into a discussion of the rising energy demand from data centers and the potentially disruptive effects of a second Trump presidency. 

Heading out to sea, we have four forward-looking reports on offshore wind: 

  • The American Clean Power Association in its 2024 market report predicts strong growth in the emerging U.S. offshore wind sector, but not strong enough to meet President Biden’s goal of 30 GW installed by 2030; ACP projects 30 GW by 2033, but just 14 GW by 2030. John Cropley reports. 

  • Dominion Energy announced it will buy the lease area off North Carolina that Avangrid had been developing as Kitty Hawk North. Cropley reports that the proposed $160 million deal requires regulatory approval, and that Dominion will need to overcome local resistance to landing the export cable in Virginia Beach. 

  • Cropley also has a story on New Jersey’s latest offshore wind solicitation, which attracted three bids. One is partially a rebid of a project already contracted by the state and partially a new project, while the other two apparently are resubmissions of previously bid projects in New York and/or New Jersey. 

  • Finally, on the West Coast, Elaine Goodman reports on the California Energy Commission’s approval of the state’s offshore wind strategic plan, which lays out a framework by which California can reach 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045. 

We have gathered our usual assortment of news from other media outlets as well. These include: 

  • The Globe and Mail and Climate Home News have updates on wind power north and south of the U.S. border, respectively: Hydro-Quebec is advancing a plan for a 3-GW, $9 billion cluster of wind farms that will be among the largest on the continent, and Mexico’s new president must try to make peace in a region where construction of 2,000-plus wind turbines has sparked strong, sometimes deadly animosity

  • The opinion sections include pieces decrying the delays facing transmission development needed for decarbonization and efforts by Duke Energy to develop large-scale solar in North Carolina, from The New York Times and NC Newsline, respectively. 

All this and much more is collected in this week’s Intelligence Report:


Jump To

Biofuels
Biomass
Carbon Capture
Coal
Community Solar
Demand Response
Grid-enhancing Technologies
Hydrogen
Landfill Gas
Lithium
Lng
Microgrids
Natural Gas
Nuclear
Offshore Wind
Oil
Oil, Gas
Onshore Wind
Renewable Energy
Renewable Natural Gas
Rooftop Solar
Solar
Solar, Geothermal
Solar, Wind, Storage
Storage
Transmission & Distribution
Utility-scale Solar
Wave Energy

 
 

Biofuels

International

Shell Pauses Rotterdam Biofuel Plant: Sign of Shifting Renewable Priorities?

The project, which aimed to convert waste into sustainable aviation fuel and biodiesel, has faced technical difficulties and delays since its inception in 2021. The Deep Dive


Return to Top
 

Biomass

Texas

Synthica Energy receives air quality permit for new anaerobic digestion facility in San Antonio

The new facility will divert up to 250,000 tons of industrial organic waste each year when completed. The permit paves the way for Synthica to break ground at the site in Q3 2024. Biomass Magazine


Return to Top
 

Carbon Capture

Iowa

Commission sets public meetings for carbon pipeline extensions

State utility regulators have approved a public meeting schedule starting in late August, in which Summit Carbon Solutions will present its significant proposed expansion for its carbon dioxide pipeline system. Iowa Capital Dispatch


South Dakota

Referendum on SD carbon pipeline law validated for November election

A ballot question has been validated by the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office for the Nov. 5 general election that asks voters to consider a recently adopted state law concerning carbon dioxide pipeline restrictions and landowner rights. Nebraska Examiner


South Dakota

Sustainable jet fuel company contributes $167K in defense of carbon pipeline law

A company aiming to produce aviation fuel from ethanol in South Dakota has contributed $167,000 to defend a new carbon dioxide pipeline law that voters could be asked to reject in November. Nebraska Examiner


U.S.

Deals with Microsoft, Shopify and Stripe fail to keep carbon removal startup alive

Running Tide, a carbon removal startup that signed 25 customers, including Microsoft, Shopify and Stripe, is shutting down after failing to secure more financial backing. GreenBiz


Return to Top
 

Coal

U.S.

What is a liquid? Utilities sue to avoid coal ash cleanup -- and lose

With the definition resolved, will the EPA come for polluting coal plants? Grist


Wyoming

OPINION: Gordon casts aside free-market principles when coal is at stake

The governor clearly has no appetite for the argument that having more EVs on the road is vital to protect the environment. But he should drop the pretense of fighting EVs because of his supposed faith in free-market principles and accept the economic benefits they offer with little state investment, writes veteran Wyoming journalist Kerry Drake. WyoFile


Return to Top
 

Community Solar

Michigan

Detroit solar plan meets pushback in City Council

Homeowners in the proposed solar fields' footprint would receive compensation, but concerns remain about the impact on neighborhoods and the use of eminent domain; the council is considering seeking an outside legal opinion. Planet Detroit


U.S.

Dimension Renewable Energy unveils new name, plans to operate 500MW community solar projects

Renamed to Dimension Energy, the company announced a US$3 billion investment plan over the next five years. PV Tech


Return to Top
 

Demand Response

U.S.

US VPPs can meet summer demand peaks faster, cheaper than new generation and transmission: RMI

More than 500 U.S. VPPs in operation today can be dispatched to meet summer grid needs in 2024, and new VPPs can be planned and deployed in as little as six to 12 months, making them available as soon as next summer. Utility Dive


Return to Top
 

Grid-enhancing Technologies

U.S.

EPRI launches initiative to facilitate research in grid-enhancing technologies

EPRI's Grid-Enhancing Technologies for a Smart Energy Transition (GET SET) Initiative aims to support the testing and demonstration of technologies to learn and share lessons on cost reductions, life expectancy, and reliability. Daily Energy Insider


Return to Top
 

Hydrogen

International

Is hydrogen key to restructuring aging utility grids?

There is growing momentum in the fuel cell generator space, which repurposes fuel cell generator technology and utilizes this to generate electricity from hydrogen. The Buzz EV News


International

New study shows wind and hydropower lead in clean hydrogen, while solar lags behind

Published in the journal Nature, the study looked at more than 1,000 planned hydrogen plants in 72 countries. The researchers also included national grid mixes in 2030, modeled for a policy scenario limiting warming to 2?C. Hydrogen Central


International

Siemens, Boson Energy collaborate to accelerate the green energy transition through waste-to-hydrogen technology

The collaboration aims to advance sustainable, local energy security, enabling hydrogen-powered electric vehicle charging infrastructure without compromising grid stability or impacting consumer prices. Hydrogen Central


International

The Hydrogen Stream: Hydrogen power plants feasible but inefficient, says CATF

The Clean Air Task Force says in a new report that dedicated clean hydrogen production and use is often a costly, inefficient decarbonization strategy for the power sector, while American Airlines says it has signed a deal with ZeroAvia for 100 hydrogen-electric engines. pv magazine


U.S.

Electrolyzers are a small but growing source of US hydrogen production

Planned electrolyzer installations that use electricity to produce hydrogen from water, if built, would expand capacity in the United States from 116 MW of current capacity to 4,524 MW.. Energy Information Administration


Return to Top
 

Landfill Gas

U.S.

Is the EPA about to get serious about methane pollution from landfills?

Current EPA rules are inadequate, experts say, but the agency has committed to updating them. States like California, Maryland, and Washington can show the way. Canary Media


Return to Top
 

Lithium

International

After another boom and bust, where next for lithium?

There was a similar boom-bust cycle in 2016-2017 but the difference this time is that no-one seems to be expecting a speedy recovery. Reuters


International

In the world's race for cleaner, faster and cheaper lithium, all eyes are on Argentina's salt flats

The $870 million project in the northern province of Salta puts Argentina, the world's No. 4 lithium producer, in the spotlight ahead of projects due online in the country in the coming months. Fast Company


Texas

Lithium ion batteries a growing source of PFAS pollution, study finds

The researchers sampled air, water, snow, soil and sediment near manufacturing plants in Minnesota, Kentucky, Belgium and France. The bis-FASI concentrations in these samples were commonly at very high levels. Phys.org


Utah

In lithium industry first, IBAT commercializes new extraction technology

International Battery Metals has become the first company to commercially produce lithium with a novel type of filtration technology, a step expected to usher in cheaper and faster supplies of the electric-vehicle battery metal. Reuters


Return to Top
 

Lng

International

Global trade in liquefied natural gas continued to grow in 2023

EIA post details changes in global LNG markets with various graphs EIA


Return to Top
 

Microgrids

West Virginia

In a first, a solar microgrid will directly power an industrial plant

Timet's facility in West Virginia will use solar and batteries to make titanium products. The durable metal is used in everything from airplanes to pacemakers. Canary Media


Return to Top
 

Natural Gas

International

BP Energy Outlook: both main scenarios see 2025 oil peak, rapid renewables growth

Summary of BP Energy's annual 2024 Energy Outlook that includes forecasts for all energy types Natural Gas World


International

Gulf oil producers go global in pursuit of natural gas

Saudi Aramco and others are looking far afield for natural gas - Saudi wants to use gas for power, but it cannot produce more without producing more oil and its ability to influence oil's prices means it won't do that just for gas - so it is ramping up imports. Financial Times


International

Mexico Importing Record Levels of U.S. Natural Gas, but Resolving Trade Disputes Crucial

Mexico is setting records for importing gas, but faces disputes with US on energy. Its new President Scheinbaum and elections in US this fall could reset things. Natural Gas Intelligence


Louisiana

A Louisiana gas plant sea wall shows challenges of flooding, energy demand

Venture Global put up 26 foot seawall around LNG export facility on Louisiana Gulf Coast, article covers how far FF companies will go to protect infrastructure from climate change. The Washington Post


Maine

Maine's largest natural gas provider, Unitil, to acquire Bangor Natural Gas Company

Unitil seeks to grow Maine gas distribution business with purchase of Bangor LDC WABI


North Carolina

Can a long-planned Duke Energy gas plant in North Carolina be defeated?

Duke Energy has been laying the groundwork for a new gas power plant in North Carolina's Person County for years, touting it as the "next generation" of electricity production and lining up support from local politicians eager to hold on to the utility's tax dollars. Energy News Network


North Dakota

North Dakota PSC seeks public input on proposed MDU natural gas rate hike; AARP steps in

North Dakota PSC case on natural gas rate raise with AARP intervening is detailed in article. Bismarck Tribune


Oklahoma

Defendants respond to Oklahoma's natural gas prices lawsuit

Defendants in Oklahoma AG's lawsuit against Winter Storm Uri price gouging argue for case to be dismissed - Energy Transfer and Symmetry Energy Solutions Tulsa World


Oregon

NW Natural once again misses its own targets to offset emissions with renewable natural gas

Oregon's largest gas utility has missed its own goal for acquiring renewable natural gas to offset its carbon emissions for a second year in a row. OPB


U.S.

Federal Court Lifted Biden's Natural Gas Exports Pause, But The Feds May Not Be 'Lifting A Finger' Anytime Soon

Courts lifted ban on new natural gas export applications, but article argues admin won't be working to push out applications Daily Caller


U.S.

US Gas Rig Count Jumps as Oil Rig Count Remains Unchanged

Natural gas drilling rigs are up, oil flat - indicator of future production levels. OilPrice.com


U.S.

US Natural Gas Bulls Finally Get Some Good News

Natural gas bulls finally have some news to run with as summer heat drives air conditioning and power burn Bloomberg


U.S.

Wells Fargo sees AI-driven data-center demand benefiting natural gas companies

Wells Fargo analysts expect that AI related demand will boost natural gas use Seeking Alpha


U.S.

Why Hurricane Beryl Hasn't Triggered Natural Gas Price Hikes So Far

Article looks into why Hurricane battering Houston/Gulf Coast did not have major impact on oil and gas prices Markets Insider


Virginia

Dominion, Chesterfield County weigh 'site suitability' for natural gas plant proposal

Story on Dominion trying to site a natural gas plant, focuses on county siting meeting with public input. Virginia Mercury


Virginia

The Mountain Valley Pipeline is officially pumping natural gas. Now what?

MVP Pipeline is working despite years of protest and article looks into what happens now VPM News


Washington

Amazon cancels plans to tap natural gas pipeline for data center

Amazon backs off plans to use natural gas pipeline to meet AI data center demand The Seattle Times


Washington

Natural gas debate to hit the ballot in November after collectors gather 500K signatures

Ballot initiative in Washington to challenge natural gas law got enough signatures, will be on November ballots The Olympian


Return to Top
 

Nuclear

Florida

Florida Considers New Dawn Of Nuclear Power

This initiative, prompted by a legislative directive included in a recent energy bill signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, will delve into the potential of "advanced" nuclear technologies, including their application at military bases. Tampa Free Press


International

Fusion power could transform how we get our energy -- and worsen problems it's intended to solve

Climate change is an issue that lends itself to the "techno-fix" approach - in other words, it can be tempting to avoid making important changes to our behaviour because we think we can depend on technology to fix everything. The Conversation


International

One of the Last Holdouts, Australia Weighs Nuclear Power Pivot

With less than a year until Australia heads to the polls, the Liberal National Coalition parties are making nuclear power a central plank of their policy platform to oust the current Labor government. Bloomberg


Kentucky

Kentucky utilities to further study nuclear power possibilities

PPL Corp., which owns Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities, said its subsidiaries will work with representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy and X-Energy, a nuclear design engineering firm, in the assessment. Just The News


Pennsylvania

A nuclear accident made Three Mile Island infamous. AI's needs may revive it.

To the alarm of some nuclear safety advocates, owner Constellation Energy is laying the groundwork for a recommissioning with recent tests at Three Mile Island's dormant Unit 1 reactor. Washington Post


U.S.

OPINION: Cost Makes Adding New Nuclear Power Plants Unthinkable

Widely reported failures by executive and site management for Plant Vogtle seem to have been forgotten now that it's done, writes Patty Durand, president of Cool Planet Solutions. Power Magazine


U.S.

Vistra, Constellation Energy surge on clean energy demand bets to power AI tech

Nuclear energy companies such as Constellation and Vistra are particularly expected to benefit from the U.S. government's push for big tech firms to invest in new climate-friendly energy generation to cater to surging AI power needs. Reuters


Wyoming

Boom-and-bust cycle produced resilient innovators itching for a Wyoming nuclear energy industry

The state granted $10 million to nuclear energy giant BWXT to establish a microreactor manufacturing base here. A network of sophisticated service and manufacturing shops is added bonus. WyoFile


Return to Top
 

Offshore Wind

California

California approves $475M for port upgrades

The upgrade investments will be crucial to help the Golden State's goals of 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 25GW by 2045. reNEWS.biz


International

German deal for Chinese offshore wind turbines 'means alarm bells should be ringing'

In early July 2024, asset manager Luxcara confirmed it had signed a preferred supplier agreement with China's Mingyang Smart Energy for the wind turbines for the Waterkant offshore windfarm in the German sector of the North Sea. Riviera Maritime Media


International

Offshore Wind: Why Are Costs Still Rising?

Offshore is just a small sub-market of the overall wind industry, with a lot of specific products -- in terms, for example, of size and need for corrosion protection. This makes economies of scale more difficult to achieve. Energy Intelligence


Maine

Maine pushes towards large floating wind farms

The positive leasing steps come amid softer growth projections for floating wind over the next decade as developers tackle the higher risks and costs of deploying emerging floating wind concepts. Reuters


Maryland

What Maryland's offshore wind project could mean for Delaware and how residents feel

Many coastal residents raised concerns over the turbines' effect on the natural beauty of the beaches, others pointed to potential harm to native wildlife and a lack of preparedness in the case of emergencies. Delaware Online


Massachusetts

Barnstable at the center of offshore wind debate

Barnstable is still putting out the welcome mat for power from offshore wind farms off the coast, but amid growing opposition on Cape Cod it's unclear whether that will continue. Commonwealth Beacon


Massachusetts

Historic dolphin stranding triggers baseless claims about wind farms

Mass stranding events of cetaceans have occurred for centuries around Cape Cod, often due to specific oceanic and extreme weather conditions. Fact Check


Massachusetts

New England Wind could boost offshore wind biz in New Bedford

New England Wind 1 would also utilize the Foss Marine Terminal in New Bedford as its crew transfer site, and Avangrid has a signed agreement to locate an operations and maintenance site at Shoreline Offshore facilities in New Bedford. SouthCoastToday


Massachusetts

Vineyard Offshore invests $3M to propel Massachusetts as a climate innovation hub

Vineyard Offshore has signed a memorandum of understanding with The Engine Accelerator, an MIT-affiliated organisation supporting startups addressing global challenges, to help commercialise early-stage technologies for the offshore wind sector and promote diversity and inclusion in the supply chain. 4C Offshore


New York

Eversource Energy Closes on the Sale of Sunrise Wind

Gross proceeds of the transaction are $230 million; Eversource has entered into a separate amended and restated construction management agreement with Sunrise Wind to lead the onshore construction for the project. Business Wire


U.S.

US Offshore Wind Market Flexes Its Muscles in 2024 Second Quarter

Oceantic Network's U.S. Offshore Wind Quarterly Market Report highlights new vessel launches, regulatory advancements for several projects, and state-level developments that drove the U.S. market forward between April and June of 2024. North American Windpower


Virginia

70-story, $681M submarine cable plant planned for Chesapeake would be Virginia's tallest building

LS received $100 million in tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act and a a $13.2 million grant from the state to help construct the facility, which is expected to create about 338 new full-time jobs. WAVY


Return to Top
 

Oil

International

'Will you stop exploring yours?': Latin America forges ahead on new oil frontier

About half the countries in the region are experiencing a rush in oil exploration that threatens the global drive to achieve net zero. But many argue that they have a right to enrich themselves in the same way other nations have. The Guardian


International

Facing New 'Greenwashing' Law, an Oil Industry Website Goes Dark

The Pathways project would build pipelines to take carbon removed at oil sands sites with new technology to Cold Lake, Alberta, and bury it deep underground, at an estimated cost of 16 billion Canadian dollars. The New York Times


U.S.

How America's 'most powerful lobby' is stifling efforts to reform oil well cleanup in state after state

In New Mexico, oil companies agreed to work with regulators to find a solution to the state's more than 70,000 unplugged wells. After months of negotiations, the industry turned against the bill it helped shape. Grist


Return to Top
 

Oil, Gas

New Mexico

Violations could come down on 60% of oil and gas facilities inspected in NM's Permian Basin

Of the 124 facilities inspected over six months, 60% were found to be emitting volatile organic compounds. Source NM


U.S.

Peering Inside the Pandora's Box of Oil and Gas Waste

A new book investigates what happens to the mountains of waste generated by the American oil and gas industry. Inside Climate News


Return to Top
 

Onshore Wind

International

A simmering conflict over one of Latin America's biggest wind hubs confronts Mexico's next president

Following years of violence surrounding one of Latin America's largest wind energy projects, local residents in southern Oaxaca state are cautiously optimistic that Mexico's incoming president understands their anger over what they call poor consultations and environmental damage. Climate Home News


International

Hydro-Qu?bec announces mega wind farm in partnership with Indigenous communities, regional government

The utility said the $9 billion plan has the potential to host up to 3,000 megawatts of wind power capacity and several wind farms, which would make it one of the biggest wind power sites in North America. The Globe And Mail


International

Labour lifts 'absurd' English onshore wind ban

New UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the immediate removal of two restrictive planning policy tests that have set a higher bar for local consent to onshore wind farms than for other forms of infrastructure development since 2015. reNEWS.biz


International

Years-long wait for permits blocking European wind farms, industry says

European wind energy projects with a total of more than 500 gigawatts of potential capacity are waiting for an answer to their requests for grid connections, across countries including France, Germany, Ireland, Poland and Spain, the data showed. Reuters


Louisiana

Louisiana's first wind turbine arrives at Avondale Global Gateway

Gulf Wind Technology, headquartered at Avondale Global Gateway in Jefferson Parish, is now preparing the onshore turbine for installation at the Port Fourchon Coastal Wetlands Park. American Journal of Transportation


U.S.

Don't Recycle Those Old Wind Turbines, Re-Use Them!

Re-powering older wind farms with new equipment is one way to salvage at least some parts of an old wind turbine for re-use. Another approach involves restoring the whole turbine to life, from soup to nuts. CleanTechnica


Return to Top
 

Renewable Energy

Hawaii

Maui Faces Uncertainty Over The Future Of Its Energy Grid

Hawaiian Electric Co. officials say they hope to have four new renewable energy projects across Maui online by 2028 in what's proving to be a challenging switch from fossil fuels to a grid powered by wind, solar and other clean energy sources on that island. Civil Beat


International

Coal mining created community and culture. Can clean energy do the same?

It was dirty and dangerous, but coal mining also cultivated pride, companionship, and art. Could communities living alongside wind turbines or solar panels embrace their own forms of industrial culture? BBC


International

OPINION: Net zero? Global emissions are actually rising, not falling

OECD governments may continue on their path of raising the cost of energy and restricting its uses, but if they do so, they should at least drop the pretence that this is justified by some global crusade to achieve net-zero -- it's just not happening, writes Robert Lyman, a retired energy economist. MSN


International

Why A Scaling Down Of Renewable Energy Plans By BP Was Inevitable

When the news arrived that BP was scaling down its renewable energy ambitions, it didn't hold much of a surprise. In fact, for market observers there was a certain level of inevitability about it. Forbes


Louisiana

Louisiana Public Service Commission Opens Path for Commercial and Industrial Access to 500 MW of Renewable Power

In a significant move to bolster renewable energy access, the Louisiana Public Service Commission has introduced a new rule allowing large commercial and industrial customers to tap into up to 500 megawatts of renewable power. This decision is driven by the need for these customers to remain competitive in their respective markets. SolarQuarter


Massachusetts

OPINION: It's time to talk about what decarbonization will cost

Much is being done to drive uptake of energy efficiency measures and decarbonization investments. But without funding, we will be unable to sustain the efforts needed to maintain Massachusetts as a leader in the country in addressing climate change, write Charlie Harak, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, and Kyle Murray, director of state program implementation at the Acadia Center, a nonprofit climate advocacy group. Commonwealth Beacon


South Dakota

South Dakota clashes with Minnesota on clean energy, coal plant closures

As gas and electric companies transition away from fossil fuels, South Dakota officials stress reliability of resources in extreme weather. South Dakota News Watch


Texas

How Texas Became America's Leading State for Renewable Energy

Texas ranks second for solar energy, and the Energy Information Administration reveals it is also first for wind-generated electricity. The Hype


U.S.

Fear-Based Myths About Clean Energy Could Make Americans Poorer And Sicker

Wild renewable energy rumors spread by the fossil fuel industry seem to run rampant across social media and internet forums. Forbes


U.S.

Rising electricity demand and natural gas prices to boost use of coal, renewables for the rest of 2024

In its July Short-Term Energy Outlook, EIA forecasts that natural gas prices will be about 36% higher in the second half of the year than in the first half. Energy Information Administration


U.S.

US renewables electricity output overtaking nuclear

Electricity generation from utility-scale solar and wind assets during the first half of 2024 was a record 401.4 TWh, compared to 390.5 TWh from nuclear reactors, data from energy think tank Ember shows. Reuters


Wisconsin

Draft PSC report says Wisconsin's major utilities on pace to meet emissions goals

All five of Wisconsin's major electric utilities are on pace to hit their carbon reduction goals by the end of the decade, according to a new draft report from the state's utility regulator. Wisconsin Public Radio


Return to Top
 

Renewable Natural Gas

U.S.

Waga Energy secures new loan to expand RNG facilities, including at US landfills

The company is looking to build on its momentum in North America after bringing its first U.S. facility online earlier this year. Utility Dive


Return to Top
 

Rooftop Solar

California

California Energy Commission gives cities and counties grants to adopt automated solar permitting

Outdated and inefficient permitting requirements in many areas combined with staffing shortages can add months of delays and thousands of dollars to solar projects. Solar Power World


California

Center for Biological Diversity Joins Lawsuit Challenging California Licensing Board 'Attack' on Rooftop Solar

The Contractors State License Board's rule would increase the cost and administrative burden of installing rooftop solar and storage, vital technologies that make communities more resilient to utility blackouts and the fossil fuel-driven climate emergency. Sierra Sun Times


Return to Top
 

Solar

Arizona

The US is about to get its first solar-covered canal

A pilot project on tribal land in Arizona shows the benefits of covering these waterways with solar panels. Canary Media


California

Too much solar? How California found itself with an unexpected energy challenge

The state is, at times, producing more energy than it can use. That has led it to explore storage options and trim financial incentives. NBC News


Colorado

Solar energy emerging in Colorado as cost-saving option during heat wave

Energy Outreach Colorado is ready to help low-income families deal with higher temperatures, and that work includes using solar power. CBS Colorado


International

Photovoltaics for cold climate data centers

A Japanese-Finnish research group has assessed the levelized cost of energy of solar power plants supplying electricity to data centers in cold climates and has found that PV electricity could be considerably cheaper than grid electricity, even if used with battery storage. pv magazine


International

Solar tariffs could "unintentionally cede U.S. leadership in the solar industry"

A report from Clean Energy Associates and the American Council on Renewable Energy shows how antidumping and countervailing duty tariffs create cost issues not just for imported solar panels, but for U.S.-made solar panels as well. pv magazine


Massachusetts

State's green energy bill doesn't address local siting worries

A Senate-passed bill featuring a streamlined approach to permitting and siting solar and energy storage projects in Massachusetts, with a consolidated permit for approving clean energy infrastructure instead of multiple local, regional and state permits, could speed up reaching the state's renewable energy goals. Greenfield Recorder


Minnesota

Minnesota creates new ombudsperson role to help connect solar faster

Solar developers have long complained about the state's lengthy process for connecting to the grid. The ombudsperson will work to resolve disputes. Canary Media


New Hampshire

OPINION: Portsmouth needs solar energy and climate action

We now live in the 21st century, and all Portsmouth residents who wish to install efficient windows and doors, better insulation for older homes and install solar collectors in a tasteful way on their roof to contribute to the mitigation of climate change should be allowed to do so within reasonable guidelines, writes Peter Somssich, a former state representative and a member of the Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee. The Portsmouth Herald


North Carolina

OPINION: NC must avoid a 'bulldozer transition' to solar energy

Duke Energy only wants one kind of solar -- huge fields of panels in southeastern North Carolina on cheap land that the utility refers to as red zones, writes environmental activist Ziyad Habash. North Carolina


Ohio

Ohio solar project listening sessions seek to boost projects' chances for success

Solar developers are hoping that listening to local communities in Ohio early in the design stage will boost their chances for success before state regulators. Energy News Network


Ohio

US manufacturer Toledo Solar closes business

The Ohio based thin-film solar module producer was sued last year by First Solar, which alleged that Toledo Solar sold Malaysian-made First Solar modules under the Toledo name. pv magazine


Oklahoma

Norwegian solar company to invest $620M for its first US factory

Norwegian solar energy company NorSun has selected Tulsa, Oklahoma, for an initial planned investment of $620 million in a new 5 GW silicon ingot and solar wafer manufacturing facility. Renewable Energy World


U.S.

Are solar panels a good investment? New Lawrence Berkeley study offers an answer

The study found the median American household saved an estimated $691 a year when all the costs and benefits were included. TechXplore


U.S.

State and Local Permitting Restrictions on Solar Energy Development

Future challenges for state permitting of PV solar may not come in the form of setback restrictions, but on minimum or maximum facility sizes that preclude adoption of community solar projects, or utility-scale ones. R Street


Wisconsin

Columbia County updates zoning framework for solar energy

For Columbia County, and counties across the country, commercial solar development has been an intense focal point for voters for political, personal, and ideological reasons alike, but county officials are hoping an updated zoning code directed at solar projects will help turn down the temperature in that debate and clarify the terms of debate going forward. HNG News


Return to Top
 

Solar, Geothermal

California

California approves 525 MWac of solar and 320 MW of geothermal

Southern California Edison received approval from the State of California to proceed with power purchase agreements for three solar power projects and two geothermal projects from startup Fervo Energy. pv magazine


Return to Top
 

Solar, Wind, Storage

International

Here comes the boom: Wood Mackenzie forecasts massive solar, wind, and storage growth

We are living in the boom times of renewable energy growth, as the data junkies at Wood Mackenzie often remind us. Much to the delight of those within the industry -- and much to the chagrin of my dog around July 4th weekend- it sounds like we'll be booming for the foreseeable future. Power Engineering


Return to Top
 

Storage

Arizona

County public lands group to discuss hydro power storage project

Mohave County officials recently learned that a new renewable energy project is being proposed for construction 35 miles north of Kingman, and now, the county's Public Lands and Recreation Commission plans to discuss the issue. Havasu News


California

NextEra reaches final permitting stage for 3GW California BESS

Developer and IPP NextEra Energy Resources is proposing to construct an up-to-3-GW standalone BESS across 260 acres of privately owned land in Fresno County, Calif. Energy Storage News


International

China, struggling to make use of a boom in energy storage, calls for even more

Some industry insiders and experts say pricing reforms and technology improvements are needed for a storage sector whose rapid growth has been plagued by low utilisation and losses for operators. Reuters


International

How grid operators and renewable energy producers can use batteries to develop a flexible energy system

As the urgency of mitigating the impacts of climate change intensifies with each passing year, it is the collective responsibility of grid operators and renewable energy producers to spearhead the transition to a renewable energy system. pv magazine


International

Hydrostor's longer-duration storage tech is 'bankable' today but 'not every market is ready': CEO

The fact that Hydrostor's technology is "bankable" today doesn't mean it's profitable to deploy anywhere: Hydrostor's capital costs are comparatively low, but the challenge for any longer-duration storage technology is the dearth of market incentives for durations longer than 10 hours. Utility Dive


International

Is BESS commoditizing? Industry converges to 20-foot, 5MWh products

The last 12-18 months have seen the emergence of more China-based battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturers and system integrators on the global stage, all selling 20-foot, 5MWh container products (or higher, like CATL's 'zero-degradation' Tener). Energy Storage News


International

Morgan Stanley bullish on Tesla's energy storage segment

Morgan Stanley raised its valuation for Tesla's, opens new tab energy storage business, expecting a global surge in demand for power driven by the artificial-intelligence boom, and the company's ability to grow its market share in the segment. Reuters


International

State agrees to keep quiet about tech secrets of east Kern energy storage proposal

A Canadian company proposing a $1.5 billion energy storage project in eastern Kern will get to keep one of its most valuable technological secrets under an administrative decision issued by the California Energy Commission. The Bakersfield Californian


International

Tesla battery deployment up 157%; Megapack pricing down 44%

In its latest quarterly press release, traditionally focused on vehicle production, Tesla revealed a significant increase in energy storage deployment, officially reporting revenue for 9.4 GWh of deployed storage products. pv magazine


U.S.

Biden admin offers $1.2B loan to expand US battery supply chain

DOE's latest loan to boost U.S. EV and battery production will help Oregon-based Entek build a factory in Indiana that will make lithium-ion battery separators. Canary Media


U.S.

Chart: The US battery market is on track for its best year yet

Overall storage installations -- meaning utility-scale, home, and commercial projects -- grew 84% in the first quarter. Grid battery installations grew even faster. Canary Media


Return to Top
 

Transmission & Distribution

Arizona

FERC approves capacity solicitation plan for $2.4B RioSol transmission project

Southwestern Power Group plans to launch a solicitation for capacity on the 1.6-GW project between New Mexico and Arizona late this year. Utility Dive


International

The secret to keeping a highly renewable island grid stable

It may seem counterintuitive to operators who are familiar with traditional grid management methods, but the key to stabilizing the destabilizing effects of more renewables on the grid is -- more renewables. pv magazine


Maryland

Furious Marylanders pack public meeting about new electric corridor

Tensions and temperatures were hot as Marylanders attended the first information session about a sweeping electric grid expansion slated to cut 70 miles across three counties. WBFF


Michigan

OPINION: New transmission lines could make way renewable energy use in Michigan

The projects are Michigan's portion of a 2,000-mile set of high-voltage, overhead electric transmission lines that, if built, will crisscross the Midwest, connecting sources of power -- chiefly, renewable energy installations -- to energy demand, write Amy Bandyk, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan, and Natalie Lyijynen, sustainable business associate of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council. Detroit Free Press


U.S.

OPINION: Liberals Are Accidentally Smothering the Clean Energy Revolution

If you want to block a project, you don't try to kill it on the merits; you just force the government to conduct more and more environmental studies until politicians or developers run out of patience or money, writes Robinson Meyer, founding executive editor of Heatmap. The New York Times


Return to Top
 

Utility-scale Solar

Colorado

One rural Colorado town's fight against a solar farm

In Norwood, a town of 550 people near the Utah border, residents agreed that the state must move to renewable energy -- but worry about what may be lost in the drive for more wind and solar. The Colorado Sun


Indiana

Indiana's largest solar power plant about to come online

Mammoth North Solar is a 400 MW agrivoltaic installation that is the first phase of Doral Renewables' 1.3 GW solar complex. pv magazine


International

SolarDuck and RWE successfully install offshore floating photovoltaic pilot Merganser off Dutch coast

The pilot project aims to test and demonstrate the structural, mooring and electrical designs and acquire knowledge about manufacturing, assembly, offshore installation and maintenance methodologies required for large-scale commercial deployment of OFPV. REVE


International

Time to talk solar curtailment

Rising amounts of excess generation are being wasted in several markets. This can be problematic for the solar industry but Toby Couture and David Jacobs, coordinators of think tank Global Solar PV Brain Trust, argue that curtailment is not always bad. pv magazine


U.S.

Developer of utility-scale solar projects announces major agreement with Meta

By supporting the solar farms on local grids, Meta is essentially offsetting power that may otherwise have come from a dirty fuel-burning source. For its part, Meta already claims to operate on 100% renewable energy. The Cool Down


Return to Top
 

Wave Energy

International

?rsted to Explore Integrating Wave Energy into Offshore Wind Farms

It is the latest in a series of different applications being explored by wind farm developers and encouraged by governments to better utilize the ocean space being devoted to wind farms and provide consistent energy supplies. Maritime Executive


Return to Top
 
icon Share
icon Tweet
icon Share
icon Forward

Copyright © 2024 RTO Insider LLC, All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
RTO Insider LLC, 2415 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD 21224-4733, United States

You are receiving this message, the NetZero Insider Weekly Intelligence Report on Resources, as part of your paid subscription. You can set your email delivery preferences here - and change them any time you want. Note: if you're not logged in, do so and then click "My Account" in the top-right corner and scroll down to the "Requested Emails" section.


Unsubscribe




Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign