Good morning, and welcome to this week’s Resources Intelligence Report.
We have an array of coverage to share from the NetZero Insider staff. Let’s start with a large-picture look at progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions:
The Rhodium Group’s 10th annual update of its survey of U.S. output of the planet-warming substances concludes that emissions reduction is accelerating but not quickly enough for the country to reach the targets it committed to in the Paris Agreement. John Cropley summarizes the findings.
Cropley also has a story on NextEra Energy’s quarterly financials and accompanying comments by CEO John Ketchum, who said the company’s renewables business had its second-best quarter ever, signing agreements for more than 3 GW of new generation and storage.
Robert Mullin reports on the launch of the second of seven regional clean hydrogen hubs planned nationwide, this one in the Pacific Northwest. The U.S. Department of Energy, which is developing the hubs as it tries to help the hydrogen industry scale up, provided $27.5 million to help PNWH2 get started, the first installment of a $1 billion funding commitment.
Also on the West Coast, Cropley has a story about the California PUC proposing to procure up to 10.6 GW of advanced clean energy generation and storage capacity. The cost will fall on ratepayers, but the CPUC hopes the investment will help young technologies mature to the point that they can produce benefits at scale for all Californians.
In Nevada, Advanced Energy United said in a new report that NV Energy is not making full use of the potential of virtual power plants, and therefore not reducing use of fossil fuels to the fullest extent possible. Elaine Goodman has the details.
Cropley listened in on the second-quarter earnings call for GE Vernova, and he reports that the high-profile failure of the company’s equipment at the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm was a recurring topic. The company announced there was a manufacturing defect in the turbine blade that buckled and disintegrated.
The blade failure has halted operation of completed turbines and the installation of additional turbines at Vineyard, and it has drawn extensive media coverage, coming as it does at a pivotal time for the young U.S. offshore wind sector.
The headlines on Heatmap’s story summarize the situation as a debacle: “This Is the Worst Possible Moment for an Offshore Wind Debacle; Vineyand Wind has given offshore opponents some powerful new ammunition.”
The NH Journal takes a more oppositional tone with “Shattered Wind Turbine Sign of Trouble Ahead for Green New Deal Dems.”
And CommonWealth Beacon updates cleanup efforts with “Debris from broken turbine getting harder to find.”
Updates on other subjects include:
And Solar Power World looks at two projects that combine agriculture and solar: Avangrid has arranged for 5,000 sheep to roam the sites, eating the vegetation so humans do not have to cut it back with power equipment.
All this and much more is gathered in this week’s Intelligence Report:
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International
The market for biofuels in America and Canada is forecast to reach $20 billion U.S. in 2025, up from $6 billion U.S. in 2019, according to data from Bloomberg Intelligence. Investing.com
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U.S.
It rejected the petition of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas to overturn EPA's modifications to the Clean Air Act's Renewable Fuel Program concerning Renewable Identification Numbers. The National Law Review
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Georgia
According to petitioners, Georgia Power plans to dump 33 million tons of toxic coal ash in unlined pits submerged in groundwater unless federal regulations are enforced. Georgia Recorder
North Carolina
Some Chapel Hill community members and lawyers say a few feet of clean fill can't protect against chemicals linked to serious illnesses. Inside Climate News
West Virginia
Electricity prices in West Virginia have increased faster than the rate of inflation. A recent report concluded that the state's heavy reliance on coal is the reason. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia
West Va. PSC wraps up proceeding on ensuring coal plants are used, reccomends energy efficiency programs at utilities to help consumers save money The Dominion Post
Wyoming
Wyoming leads the nation in coal production, the lawmakers said, as roughly 40 percent of all coal mined in the United States comes from Wyoming. Most of the coal is produced on federal lands in the Powder River Basin. Daily Energy Insider
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Delaware
The two projects combined will generate 14,490,000 kWh annually, equivalent to taking 2,409 gas-powered cars off the road. SolarQuarter
Illinois
The six new community solar projects being added to Nexamp's growing Illinois portfolio will provide significant electricity savings to more than 1,100 local residents. Solar Power World
U.S.
A panel discussed how the program faces pending deadlines, possible shifting political winds and complications arising from its compliance requirements. pv Magazine
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California
Fresno EOC will also use the vehicle-to-grid technology as it transitions its gas vehicles into a 50-shuttle electric fleet. pv Magazine
California
Sunrun solar plus storage VPP supports California grid with a 48 MW night during the heatwave Solar Power World
International
China's first all renewable VPP starts running in Ningbo (a coastal city south of Shang Hai) Caixin Global
New York
The city plans to additionally install over 1,150 real-time meters in city buildings to help manage electricity use. Utility Dive
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U.S.
Cooperative utilities and others seeking to put the EPA's rule on hold failed to show they are likely to succeed in their claims, the appeals court for the District of Columbia Circuit said. Utility Dive
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International
It has been criticized by industry groups for ignoring the lack of credible pipelines to bring supplies of the clean gas from other parts of Europe. American Journal of Transportation
International
The transaction forms part of TotalEnergies' initiatives towards its goal to achieve a 40% reduction in net Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions linked directly to its oil and gas operations by 2030. ESG Today
U.S.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory Scenario Evaluation and Regionalization Analysis model helps answer the question, "What is the least-cost hydrogen infrastructure deployment strategy over time to support demand?" National Renewable Energy Laboratory
U.S.
The study's findings disprove one of the more widely accepted theories, hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity, in the instance of this alloy. AZO Materials
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International
At a forum, experts discussed the importance of hydropower and how it fits into and supports a larger global energy generation portfolio that is anticipated to have a heavy base of intermittent generation sources, such as solar and wind. Hydro Review
Oklahoma
A formal letter was sent to FERC detailing the Tribe's concerns about potential harm from the Southeast Oklahoma Power Corp. proposal and the importance of Tribal participation in the approval process. Choctaw Nation
U.S.
Natel Energy, co-founded in 2019 with the support of a grant from the Department of Energy, revealed its first FishSafe Restoration Hydro Turbine that same year. It has since conducted a series of tests that suggests its technology is a success. The Cool Down
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Nevada
Ioneer says the Nevada mine would more than quadruple U.S. production of lithium needed to speed production of electric vehicles and build the batteries needed for other clean electricity projects. Finance & Commerce
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International
Mexico sees first ever LNG shipment exit facility on Gulf Coast, could head for Boston Natural Gas Intelligence
International
Venezuel inked 20-year deal with BP and Trinidad that could turn it into a natural gas exporter Bloomberg
International
Australia's Woodside buys American firm Tellurian to make global LNG giant Financial Times
Texas
Freeport LNG outside of Houston is expecting to return to full operations by early August after Beryl. Bloomberg
Texas
Construction of $11 billion LNG facility in Texas backed by Exxon Mobil and Qatar Energy could resume normal construction after lawsuit ended Reuters
Texas
Texas LNG plant signs deal with EQT to export its "certified" clean natural gas plant. Rigzone News
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Texas
Microgrids served as sanctuaries, providing hundreds of megawatts of power to customers while the main grid was down. And they can provide additional help as virtual power plants serving the grid. Microgrid Knowledge
U.S.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory released the Port Electrification Handbook, a resource to aid the transition to cleaner energy sources to power electricity of maritime and commercial ports. U.S. Department of Energy
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U.S.
The decline of domestic mining means that Americans are outsourcing the environmental and social costs of our inexpensive consumer goods to lower-income nations, writes Stephen Lezak, a researcher at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. The New York Times
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Georgia
PSC of Georgia is holding hearings on Ga Power's request to expand natural gas use at power plants Georgia Recorder
Hawaii
Governor is considering LNG for Hawaii, which environmentalists had thought was a done deal and not going to happen. E&E News
International
TC Energy is in process of selling some of its pipelines to Canadian Indigenous Tribes Yahoo
Maryland
AEU argues that Maryland gas utilities need to start focusing on future of industry with climate change (and state law addressing it), which they are not despite large investments every year Baltimore Sun
North Carolina
NCUC holding hearings on Duke's carbon plan - utility inked deal that would delay 2030 target to 2035 and pursues long-term clean energy, but builds out gas plants. MSN
North Carolina
Duke Energy has made a few small concessions to its plans for a giant fossil fuel buildout in North Carolina, winning over the once-skeptical state-sanctioned ratepayer advocate. Energy News Network
North Carolina
Analysis further showed that Duke Energy's modeling underestimates the potential price of gas, leading to an underestimation of the financial risk of their plan for customers. Environmental Defense Fund
North Dakota
North Dakota reported 3.51 BCF/day of production in May - a new record despite drops in oil production and and oversupplied gas market. Natural Gas Intelligence
U.S.
Guardian looks into how the US became the biggest oil and gas producer in the world and its environmental impacts The Guardian
U.S.
EQT and Equitrans Midstream (production and pipeline firm) split in 2018, but are now one firm again after $5.45 billion deal Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
U.S.
A new study in "Energy Policy" found that gas leaks cost fire departments $500 million annually across the USA. TechXplore
U.S.
EIA reports record use of natural gas during recent July heatwave EIA
U.S.
Court denies stay requests for EPA power plant rule - issue has since been appealed to higher courts Carbon Herald
U.S.
Gas production firm CEO argues fuel is needed to meet higher demand in AI, ensure American business CNBC
U.S.
UC Berkeley professor looks into whether IRA could support biogas power plants and looks into emissions around it Energy Institute at Haas (U.C. Berkeley)
Virginia
Gov. Youngkin speech previews his administration's energy policy update, which focuses on new natural gas and nuclear Virginia Mercury
Washington
Ballot initiative in Washington to challenge natural gas law officially certified by Secretary of State- will be on ballots in November election Columbia Basin Herald
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California
It remains unclear whether California taxpayers will be paid back for hundreds of millions in loans to PG&E and just how necessary the plant's operations remain to the grid's resilience during extreme heat waves. Sacramento Bee
International
The new pebble-bed reactor may provide safer nuclear power options for the future. IFLScience
Tennessee
Here's why the nation's largest public utility should instead focus on proven, affordable, clean energy right now. Clean Energy News
U.S.
Included in the bill is bipartisan legislation known as the ADVANCE Act that will help the nation build new reactors at a clip that we haven't seen since the 1970s. U.S. Department of Energy
U.S.
The Nuclear Company launched last week with big ambitions and a fresh thesis. Now all that's left is the hard part: building nuclear reactors. Canary Media
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California
The facility could be utilized by multiple wind projects located in federal waters off California's Central Coast. Marine Log
International
Instead of a single, massive turbine, it will be a gigantic floating wind farm with hundreds of tiny ones stacked together. Tech Times
International
It presents new data on failure rates of offshore wind cables and interconnectors, predicting approximately 3,600 cable failures between 2024 and 2035, potentially costing around EUR 61.5 billion. North American Clean Energy
International
China's central government has approved Shanghai's plan to build 29 GW of offshore wind generation capacity, part of the city's strategy to build more energy infrastructure and diversify the electricity mix. POWER
International
U.S.-based steel company SeAH is partnering with European companies to create the world's largest monopile Factory in England. The Cool Down
Massachusetts
Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office early on in the procurement process urged going small. Vineyard Offshore argues for big. CommonWealth Beacon
Massachusetts
A large chunk of the blade fell into the ocean and sank to the bottom. Vineyard Wind knows where the blade is located and is going to retrieve it. CommonWealth Beacon
Massachusetts
It also presented a ready-made metaphor to critics of "Green New Deal" energy policies they say would collapse the U.S. economy by limiting consumer choice and drive up costs on behalf of unreliable technology. NH Journal
U.S.
In 2023, about 49 percent of New England's electricity was supplied by natural gas power plants. New Hampshire Bulletin
U.S.
The campaign involved deploying and simultaneously operating five offshore LiDAR buoys covering nearly 600 kilometres from Massachusetts to the Virginia/North Carolina border. offshoreWIND.biz
U.S.
Vineyard Wind has given offshore opponents some powerful new ammunition. Heatmap
Washington
If voters decide in November to keep the cap-and-invest program, the state has plans that could bring the technology to its coastal waters. Crosscut
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California
State regulators could have asked oil companies California Resources Corp. and Aera Energy for an estimated $2.4 billion to guarantee wells are plugged but decided they didn't have the authority to do so. ProPublica
Pennsylvania
Spreading fracking wastewater on roads is banned. Oil and gas companies do it anyway. Grist
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International
The US and the UK among countries with low dependence on fossil fuels criticized for 'hypocrisy' on climate pledges. The Guardian
Ohio
Interior awards Ohio $57 million to help plug old oil and gas wells, will be used at 600 sites around the state. AOL
Wyoming
The order settles the question of whether hundreds of leases would be terminated after a court found the agency failed to thoroughly link its emissions analysis to its decision to hold an auction. Inside Climate News
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U.S.
The N169/5.X is particularly suitable for wind regions in the USA without intense turbulence and with low to medium wind speeds. Energy Global
U.S.
Wind power in the Lower 48 states produced about 335,753 MWh on July 22, the lowest since Oct. 4, 2021, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Reuters
Washington
The council recommended in April eliminating 107 turbines to reduce the massive project's impacts to views, wildlife and the Yakama Nation's culture. Capital Press
Wyoming
Painting one turbine blade black has shown promise for preventing collisions. Now researchers are seeing if it can work in Wyoming. National Audubon Society
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Georgia
With less than half of Georgia Power's electricity carbon-free, businesses and governments are scrambling to meet looming clean energy targets. Grist
Illinois
Nearly a half year after a bungled ComEd computer billing system upgrade all but shut down the Illinois community solar program, thousands of impacted customers began receiving long-delayed renewable energy credits on their July bills. Chicago Tribune
Kentucky
With a changing energy landscape and an outdated utility business model, we need to ensure that the Public Service Commission, along with our energy providers, protects the public interest in terms of health, affordability, and resiliency, and begins the renewable energy transition so that no community experiences rolling blackouts again, writes Sarah Pierce, housing and energy affordability program coordinator for the Metropolitan Housing Coalition's program EveryHome. The Courier-Journal
Maine
More than 50 Maine farms have been found to have unsafe levels of PFAS in water and soil. Some farms have had to stop selling produce, milk, eggs and meat from their land. Maine Public
U.S.
The classification includes solar, wind, bio-based and geothermal technologies, advanced energy storage, electronic engines and power grid integration. National Defense Magazine
U.S.
By ranking the amount of renewable capacity within utility generation systems, it is clear that several other states beyond California and Texas are helping to drive energy transition efforts across the United States. Reuters
U.S.
TVA faces bipartisan legislation in Congress seeking to boost transparency in its planning process as well as its management and salary structure. TVA has also been in the crosshairs of green groups over its planned gas power buildout, which is among the largest proposed in the nation, and anemic renewable power growth compared to other utilities. Arkansas Advocate
Wyoming
Putting solar panels on reclaimed mines could power new industry in the Powder River Basin, but lack of grid space for renewable electricity and community loyalty to fossil fuels hinder progress. Inside Climate News
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Texas
The Lone Star State has seen a recent surge in small-scale solar development. Grid instability could push more residents to consider adoption. Inside Climate News
U.S.
Warranty periods can offer a look in installer and manufacturer expectations of the life of a battery, which is driven mostly by usage cycles. pv Magazine
U.S.
A common source of failure in inverters is the electro-mechanical wear on the capacitor in the inverter. The electrolyte capacitors have a shorter lifetime and age faster than dry components. pv Magazine
U.S.
Panel life depends on several factors, including climate, module type, and the racking system used, among others. While there isn't a specific "end date" for a panel per se, loss of production over time often forces equipment retirements. pv Magazine
U.S.
Last month, SunPower announced it drew upon the $50 million second tranche of the $175 million second lien term loan from Sol Holding that it announced in February. Renewable Energy World
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New York
Accelerating deployment of rooftop and community solar with supportive policies would help New York meet its goal of 70% renewable power by 2030 at lower cost, says a solar trade group. pv Magazine
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California
The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners approved a $19.3 million deal to buy solar power for 20 years. The Port of Oakland is a publicly owned utility and will resell the renewable power to tenants at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport and the Oakland Seaport. American Journal of Transportation
International
The solar sector shows how China conducts industrial policy: It chooses industries to dominate, floods them with loans and lets companies fight it out. The New York Times
International
Heliene is a solar module provider operating in North America, while Premier Energies is the second largest solar cell manufacturer in India. pv Magazine
International
The International Solar Energy Society explains why potential trade disruptions in the global PV supply chain are substantially different from those related to coal, oil and gas. pv Magazine
Minnesota
The Minnesota legislature budgeted money this year for the state energy office to develop training grants to help cities learn how to use the free software developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Energy News Network
New Hampshire
A recently signed New Hampshire law makes significant changes to the operations of the state's Renewable Energy Fund, directing money to help towns and cities develop municipal solar projects and ending a residential solar rebate program that was generally viewed as deeply flawed. Energy News Network
Ohio
The Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation includes a high-tech pilot manufacturing line allowing for the production of full-sized prototypes of thin film and tandem PV modules. pv Magazine
U.S.
States that took policy action on distributed solar in the second quarter of 2024 most commonly focused on net metering rules, which accounted for 35% of those actions, according to a report released by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Utility Dive
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California
These projects have signed PPAs that are part of a collection of projects being developed across the state intended to replace the potentially retiring Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. pv Magazine
International
The solar thermal energy storage power station can generate electricity with or without direct sunlight, thanks to the heliostats and the molten salt, while achieving stable all-day power output. Reve
Nevada
Gemini is located thirty minutes outside of Las Vegas and with its 1.8 million solar panels, will power about 10% of Nevada's peak power demand. pv Magazine
Ohio
IRA funding will help a city shut down a very old power plant in favor of something cleaner. Inside Climate News
U.S.
A new $861M Department of Energy loan guarantee would help finance 200 MW of solar and 285 MW of grid storage -- a huge boost in renewable capacity for the island. Canary Media
U.S.
As the solar and storage industry leads the transition to a clean energy future, much of the work of decarbonizing our economy depends on state and local action. Solar Energy Industries Association
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U.S.
Wind PPAs have become particularly popular with tech companies looking for clean energy to power data centers overnight. Utility Dive
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California
The rule, approved by the California Contractors State License Board in April, prohibits licensed solar contractors from adding batteries to existing solar panels or performing maintenance on batteries, including those they previously installed themselves. Solar Power World
California
On the heels of two fires in recent months at separate battery energy storage facilities, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors directed staff to establish standards for future projects in unincorporated areas of the county. The San Diego Union-Tribune
Illinois
Tenaska has announced plans to develop a new energy storage project in Quincy. In a press conference, the senior director of development at Tenaska, Jarrod Pitts, announced the company's plans to develop the 300-megawatt project. KHQA-TV
New York
Battery energy storage is the most effective solution for enhancing our power grid's reliability, supporting domestically sourced energy and lowering energy costs, write Marguerite Wells, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy NY, and Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. The Journal News
New York
Smithtown is the latest Long Island municipality to weigh a moratorium on new battery storage facilities, joining a heated policy debate in the region. Newsday
New York
A ban on utility-scale battery energy storage systems will be proposed in the town of Amsterdam following the recommendation of the Planning Board. Daily Gazette
Texas
Black Mountain Energy representatives got a cordial but negative reception from elected officials and members who strenuously objected to a proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility in West Kerr County. Kerrville Daily Times
U.S.
The return on investment for installing thermal energy storage systems is now closer to between three and five years, with buildings joining programs like demand response, Nostromo CEO Yoram Ashery writes. Utility Dive
U.S.
Tesla's second-quarter net income fell 45% compared with a year ago as the company's global electric vehicle sales tumbled despite price cuts and low-interest financing, but its battery business has seen a notable boost. Renewable Energy World
U.S.
The growth of the Energy business displayed strong operating leverage as well, with gross margins expanding to 24.6% in Q2 compared to 18.4% a year ago. Yahoo
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Minnesota
Energy companies, industry groups and some state leaders are pushing for the definition of "carbon free" to include carbon-emitting sources of energy like woody biomass and anaerobic digestion. Minnesota Reformer
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Kentucky
Solar developer BrightNight is set to transform the Starfire coal mine into an 800-megawatt solar farm, bringing renewable energy and jobs to southern Appalachia. Yale Climate Connections
Louisiana
The developer, D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, and the land company, Ten-R Company Inc., have asked state district judges to overturn the Parish Council's decision to deny the 360-MW solar farm. The Advocate
New York
The study is the first of its kind in New York state as it takes its data directly from the workers. Researchers sent out surveys and held an in-person event. North Country Public Radio
Oregon, Washington
Sheep are effective at limiting the growth of weeds and vegetation, cutting down on wildfire risks while replacing the use of gas-powered machines. Solar Power World
Rhode Island
Siting of ground-mounted panels in Rhode Island remains controversial ecoRI
U.S.
With the North American Reliability Corporation's Generating Availability Data System's requirement dropping for 100 MW to 20 MW solar installations, many more solar installers will need to comply. pv Magazine
U.S.
The real price of solar is hidden behind government subsidies, energy author Norman Rogers writes. Real Clear Energy
U.S.
Of the 3,177 solar projects installed between 2012 and 2020, the largest share was on cropland (43%). Another 28% of solar projects were installed on pasture-range land. U.S. Department of Agriculture
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