Welcome to the latest Resources Intelligence Report. It was a busy week for the NetZero Insider team.
James Downing has a story on Duke Energy’s third-quarter financials. Its earnings were down 15% from the same period last year, largely because of damage inflicted by a series of hurricanes.
The North Carolina Utilities Commission approved Duke’s latest carbon plan and integrated resource plan, which includes new renewables and new natural gas generation as well as advanced nuclear. Downing has that story as well.
Ayla Burnett reports that the California Energy Commission will support development of microgrids on tribal lands in an effort to accelerate decarbonization and boost reliability in vulnerable communities.
John Stang has an update on the controversial plan to build Washington state’s largest wind farm. Gov. Jay Inslee has approved a revised plan that calls for about 25% fewer turbines.
We have a boatload of news from the offshore wind power sector, starting with John Cropley’s coverage of an industry conference in New Jersey, at which:
We have four other staff-written reports on offshore wind:
Turning to our curated collection of other media coverage, we line up a series of reports on the major impact on the clean energy sector expected by the re-election of Donald Trump as president. These include:
We also have gathered scores of non-election stories, on everything from carbon capture to waste-to-energy incineration. All are linked in this week’s Intelligence Report:
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Oregon
The Oregon Department of State Lands signed an agreement with Anew Climate to put the first state forest in the West into a carbon market. Oregon Capital Chronicle
South Dakota
A proposed law regulating carbon dioxide pipelines was losing in unofficial South Dakota election results. The tally was 60% against Referred Law 21 as of early Nov. 6. Nebraska Examiner
U.S.
Carbon capture and storage is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it is an important mitigation option when deployed correctly. And for utilities, it's essential to their ability to comply with the EPA's near-term emissions mandates while continuing to operate existing plants, writes John Tombari, carbon services division manager at Battelle. Utility Dive
U.S.
But researchers found that people were less supportive of building a carbon capture facility in their communities. Energywire
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Alabama
Coalfield residents across the country feel ignored as their homes sink and flammable gas rises from underground mining. Inside Climate News
International
It is abundant, affordable, reliable and easier to integrate into the grid. Resource Works
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Utah
Rocky Mountain Power launches VPP program, article gives a deep dive into the resource with recent developments elsewhere highlighted MSN
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Wyoming
Scientists will be drilling a 1.3-mile-deep borehole into an active volcano to tap into the potentially limitless energy from the magma underneath Iceland. The same could work in Yellowstone but will likely never happen. Cowboy State Daily
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International
The solution to decarbonization or a drain on resources? Too expensive or great value for money? Let's debunk the myths and explore the facts around green hydrogen. Fuel Cells Works
U.S.
Empire Diversified Energy plans to build a turquoise H2 facility which uses biogas from food waste as a feedstock. Hydrogen Insight
U.S.
The future of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) remains murky after multiple partners withdrew projects from the concept, which would capitalize on the area's vast shale gas resources to produce hydrogen. Energy Intelligence
U.S.
Significant questions remain for the industry: how can we produce clean hydrogen at the volumes needed to fuel this rapidly growing ecosystem, and how can we achieve price parity with gray or blue hydrogen? Energy Storage News
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International
A company that makes 3D-printed concrete anchors and foundations for marine energy projects has been awarded U.S. government funding for its subsea pumped hydro energy storage technology. Energy Storage News
U.S.
We forecast that electricity generation from U.S. hydropower plants in 2024 will be 13% less than the 10-year average, the least since 2001. Energy Information Administration
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Nevada
It is the latest in a series of legal fights over projects President Joe Biden's administration is pushing under his clean energy agenda intended to cut reliance on fossil fuels. The Hill
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International
BP Energy plans to bring LNG Export facility off the coast of Senegal and Mauritania online in coming weeks, had run into difficulties during development. Upstream Online
Louisiana
FERC approves new LNG facility to start bringing in natural gas, moving it closer to operation Pipeline and Gas Journal
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New York
Utility Con Edison and school-bus operator First Student see bus-charging depots equipped with solar and batteries as a win-win that supports the power grid. Canary Media
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Arizona
The San Carlos Apache Tribe says the Resolution Copper mine could further degrade a sacred stream. Greenwire
International
Despite the growth in metals supply over the last decade, BloombergNEF's annual Transition Metals Outlook finds that there are still not enough raw materials to meet growing demand. Green Car Congress
Michigan
As the state considers whether to grant a new air use permit for the proposed copper mine, there's concern from people involved in the longstanding debate over whether the mine should be built. Michigan Advance
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Indiana
AES wins approval to change coal plant over to natural gas, should save $281 million for ratepayers Indianapolis Business Journal
Indiana
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission cleared the way for AES Indiana to transition two units at its Petersburg Generating Station from coal to gas. Kentucky Lantern
International
Article looks into a start up that plans to use pressure changes in gas pipelines to generate power. Forbes
International
Economist looks into how the growth in AI is driving increased for natural gas around the world. The Economist
International
A recent spike in methane emissions is being blamed on microbes in a variety habitats, not natural gas drilling/transport. The Washington Post
Louisiana
Louisiana Governor declares that natural gas is clean energy Tulane Hullabaloo
Maine
Pipelines that serve Maine are asking for higher rates, which could force state's electric utilities to raise their's Press Herald
Massachusetts
Nearly a year after Massachusetts regulators laid out a vision for the state's evolution from natural gas distribution to clean energy use, lawmakers are coalescing around legislation that would start converting principles into policy. Energy News Network
North Carolina
The utility is supposed to cut greenhouse gas emissions 70% by 2030, but North Carolina's utility commission has approved its plan to build new fossil-gas power plants. Canary Media
Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh paper looks into 20 years of fracking in Pennsylvania and some reforms that have been proposed to its regulation. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
U.S.
Data centers looking for cheap natural gas, likely to build near supplies in Texas and the Southeast. S&P Global
U.S.
Article looks into the dynamics between natural gas and coal fired power plants in recent years. Energy Central
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U.S.
Based on a review of NRC policies, procedures, and reports, NRC underuses its non-competitive hiring authorities provided under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Federation of American Scientists
U.S.
They'll need some help from the government and the industries building and implementing the technology. TechXplore
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Massachusetts
Nuclear power is a readily available, reliable, and a proven source of clean energy that deserves a second look. CommonWealth Beacon
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International
Forecasts indicate that global submarine cable demand could double by 2030. Offshore
International
Decision comes after military concludes projects would complicate defending Nato's newest member against attack. The Guardian
Louisiana
Some 73% of voters supported the ballot measure that would devote dollars to undertakings such as barrier island restoration and wetlands rebuilding. Louisiana Illuminator
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Texas
The U.S. Department of Transportation is nearing a decision on a major oil export terminal planned for the Gulf of Mexico -- and EPA isn't standing in the way. E&E News
Texas
Unable to keep up with the growing number of leaking and erupting wells in the state's oil fields, the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state's oil and gas industry, has asked lawmakers for an additional $100 million in emergency funding -- which would be equal to about 44% of the agency's entire two-year budget. Texas Tribune
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Iowa
The decision comes despite the anti-wind Donald Trump winning the presidential election. Windpower Monthly
New York
Concern is mounting among environmentalists and industry insiders about bureaucratic red tape that results in it taking a whole day to transport a wind turbine just 100 miles. Gothamist
Texas
Under the 15-year PPA, electricity from RWE's Champion Wind, a 127 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Nolan and Mitchell Counties will help supply Rivian's fast-charging network, the Rivian Adventure Network, with 100% renewable energy. Renewable Energy Magazine
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International
The oil giant's new focus on fossil fuels signals another defeat for environmental, social and governance aims and has angered campaigners. The Guardian
International
Ontario recently announced it would be looking to the north for new energy projects, specifically mentioning incentives to "unlock" Crown lands for renewable energy involving wind, solar and biomass. CBC
Kentucky
New funding from the federal Empowering Rural America program will allow the East Kentucky Power Cooperative to add more than 750 megawatts of solar energy to rural portions of Kentucky. Public News Service
Maine
Fees would vary depending on how much land is impacted and whether it is high-value habitat or home to threatened or endangered species. The Maine Monitor
Nevada
From water conservation and waste management to solar power, the city has invested millions in pushing sustainability initiatives. BBC
U.S.
Researchers have developed a demonstrator based on a high-temperature fuel cell stack (solid oxide fuel cell, SOFC) that can use ammonia to generate electricity directly and with high efficiency. TechXplore
U.S.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists are developing a formula for success -- by studying how a new type of battery fails. The team's goal is the design for long-term storage of wind and solar energy, which are produced intermittently, enabling their broader use as reliable energy sources for the electric grid. Tech Xplore
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North Carolina
New household solar connections in Duke's territory were on pace to drop about 40% compared to 2023, but a rebate for pairing batteries with solar systems has helped maintain a steady market for established installers. Energy News Network
U.S.
Solar nudges North Dakota's dominant wind sector in renewable energy. MinnPost
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International
Canadian Premium Sand plans a 4 GW per year solar glass factory in the United States and 6 GW annually in Manitoba, Canada. pv magazine
International
While Chinese firms have been moving their photovoltaic manufacturing for years, the scope of the shift to Indonesia and Laos in this latest phase has not previously been reported. Reve
International
The Global Solar Council said the data give the fullest picture yet because they include small, rooftop installations often left out of official government data. Reuters
International
Distributed solar energy and other green tech are helping to transform energy from a commodity to a technology, enabling energy independence in emerging economies like Pakistan. World Economic Forum
International
The link between polysilicon and human rights abuses may not be immediately clear, but the reality is shocking: 45% of the global supply of this material used to power green energy in America is produced through slave labor in Xinjiang, China, with an additional 30% from elsewhere in China, writes North Korean defector Yeonmi Park. Washington Examiner
International
Building-integrated photovoltaics are solar power generation systems designed to be embedded within the architecture of a building, unlike traditional solar panels which are retroactively fitted to an existing structure. AltEnergyMag
Texas
Freyr will pay $340 million for the Wilmer, Texas, facility. It also plans to begin construction next year on another 5 GW solar manufacturing facility. Utility Dive
U.S.
ENGIE North America and Meta have finalized an environmental attributes purchase agreement, under which ENGIE will provide 260 MW of renewable energy from its Sypert Branch solar project. PowerTechnology
U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy's latest solar cost model shows that residential solar prices are up, commercial solar is getting cheaper and utility-scale pricing remains flat. pv magazine
U.S.
Only six panels on the market meet the government's sustainability standards -- but that number could soon grow. Grist
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California
The city of Folsom is launching a new "instant solar permitting portal" to streamline permits for residential solar and battery storage, authorities announced. Gold Country Media
Nevada
Federal grid approvals in Nevada are unlocking multiple gigawatts of new solar and storage capacity for in-state and California customers. Reuters
Puerto Rico
The U.S. Energy Department said it closed an $861 million loan guarantee to finance the construction of two solar photovoltaic farms and two battery storage systems in Puerto Rico. Reuters
U.S.
The portfolio offers more than 2.65 GW of solar power and a potential 1.5 GW of battery storage capacity. PowerTechnology
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International
The continent has rapidly expanded its capacity to generate wind and solar power, but still relies on costly hydrocarbons as a back up. BNN Bloomberg
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Alaska
Utility officials in Nome are hoping a new battery system recently integrated into the local power system will lead to more even energy costs over the course of the year. Alaska Public Media
Arizona
A pilot project uses remanufactured lithium batteries from electric forklifts to power lighting in a Phoenix park. pv magazine
Arizona
EDF Renewables North America has signed a utility power purchase agreement for a new battery storage project in Arizona. Energy Storage News
California
Installed battery storage capacity in California has grown from just 500MW in 2018 to more than 13,300MW at the latest count. Energy Storage News
California
After experiencing delays with the local municipal permitting process, Vistra Energy has decided to pursue approval to construct a 600-MW/2,400MWh BESS located at the site of a retired power plant in the City of Morro Bay via the California Energy Commission, as permitted under Assembly Bill 205. Energy Storage News
Georgia
Georgia Power executives pitched a proposal to build battery energy storage systems at four sites to the state Public Service Commission. Griffin Daily News
International
Mercury Engineering, a Dublin-based construction firm that delivers complex engineering projects for technology firms including Amazon and Google, is implementing battery storage solutions to address power supply issues during construction. Data Centre Magazine
International
Whichever way you slice and dice publicly available data on the number of global thermal runaway events, you see a huge reduction in the frequency of thermal runaways compared to the early days. Claims Journal
International
The Canadian startup repackages electric-vehicle batteries for commercial customers. Now it's got $20 million from DOE to build its first gigafactory in Texas. Canary Media
Kentucky
Transforming a former coal mine into a gigantic, 287-megawatt energy storage facility is not an easy stunt to pull off, especially when the technology involves pumped storage hydropower. Nevertheless, a new pumped storage project is beginning to take shape, and it will put Kentucky on the map as the showcase for many more to follow. CleanTechnica
Maryland
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. expects to receive up to $50 million in federal funding to support new technologies, such as adding battery energy storage to the electric grid. The Baltimore Sun
Missouri
Federal officials are increasing air monitoring around a southeast Missouri lithium-ion battery plant that caught fire, the U.S. EPA announced. Missouri Independent
Missouri
Eos Energy Enterprises has signed a new customer agreement with City Utilities of Springfield to provide 216 MWh of zinc-based energy storage for two project sites in Missouri. EnergyTech
U.S.
For all the excitement over new kinds of batteries, pumped hydropower is still by far the largest form of energy storage in the U.S., just as it has been for the last 100 years or so. The technology could continue to dominate for the next 100 years, too. Pumped storage is getting a 21st century makeover, with modularity, 3-D printing and subsea construction in the mix. CleanTechnica
U.S.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed and shown a new way to monitor battery degradation using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This marks the first application of this technique to track chemical changes in commercial pouch cells during operation. ESS News
U.S.
General Motors said its GM Energy unit is offering electric vehicle owners a home storage option to store and transfer solar energy, part of the company's sales pitch to potential EV owners. Reuters
U.S.
Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a possible alternative. The Washington Post
U.S.
The company's non-lithium, high-temperature batteries can provide up to 24 hours of grid-scale energy storage and reduced-carbon heat for industrial applications, it says. Utility Dive
Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wis., has granted a Conditional Use Permit for a large-scale battery storage project proposed by a subsidiary of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. Energy Storage News
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U.S.
Despite broader market gains, renewable energy companies saw their stock values plummet Nov. 6 amid fears that a newly victorious Trump administration could enact policies that erode the competitiveness of renewable energy. Utility Dive
U.S.
WoodMac and BloombergNEF have very different opinions on the chances of the 45V production tax credit being rescinded. Hydrogen Insight
U.S.
Trump's pointed remarks on hydrogen, often referencing mobility applications, and his close relationship with Elon Musk have fuelled speculation about a shift in federal support for hydrogen initiatives. H2 View
U.S.
Experts expect private sector work on ESG issues and the clean energy transition to continue, albeit at a slower pace, under a re-elected Donald Trump. ESG Dive
U.S.
Trump had vowed to scrap offshore wind projects through an executive order on his first day in office and to roll back climate regulations implemented under President Joe Biden. American Journal of Transportation
U.S.
The Inflation Reduction Act might not be completely repealed, but plenty of other climate policies could be undone -- and fossil fuels could be unleashed. Canary Media
U.S.
The company expects the fundamental growth drivers for onshore wind to remain intact over the long term as current developments, such as the boom in artificial intelligence, are expected to further increase demand for energy. Reuters
U.S.
GOP control would be a major problem for wind turbine makers and project developers, according to a financial analyst and industry observer. Windpower Monthly
U.S.
Trump's election means changes for Trans-Atlantic relations, but it won't stop flows of LNG from here to Europe. POLITICO Europe
U.S.
Trump Administration is poised to slow energy transition, not end it. Also will maximize oil and gas production. Natural Gas World
U.S.
U.S.-led trade wars and retaliation could spur higher costs for American clean energy manufacturers. Energywire
U.S.
The hydrogen market could skew more towards blue rather than green hydrogen in the next few years, with Donald Trump's win changing the calculus around the potential trajectory of U.S. public policy. H2 View
U.S.
The president-elect aims to raise production, which could lower prices and profits. The New York Times
U.S.
President-elect Trump has vowed to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and stop offshore wind development, but clean energy advocates say his administration could benefit from both. Utility Dive
U.S.
At least one hub tells Hydrogen Insight it is committed to getting H2 projects off the ground regardless of the election outcome. Hydrogen Insight
U.S.
Article looks at those in the running for energy posts - DOE includes Dan Brouillete who was Energy Secretary after Perry and recently left EEI, competing with ND Gov. Doug Burgum. Reuters
U.S.
A Biden-era law providing a decade of lucrative subsidies for new solar, wind, and other clean energy projects would be near-impossible to repeal, thanks to support from Republican states. Fast Company
U.S.
Investors are worried Donald Trump could try to repeal a key climate law and impose high tariffs on Chinese goods, pushing up costs across the board. The Wall Street Journal
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Texas
Sempra utility Oncor says it could be selected to build a "significant portion" of more than $13 billion in transmission projects planned for the Permian Basin of Texas through 2038. Utility Dive
U.S.
DOE invests $11 million in HVDC transmission research, which promise to make the tech more efficient U.S. Department of Energy
U.S.
The study finds proactively upgrading the grid to accommodate electric trucks can yield millions in savings for customers of two major U.S utilities. Environmental Defense Fund
U.S.
Mary Powell, chief executive officer of major U.S. residential solar installer Sunrun delivered a keynote address on the promise of distributed energy during pv magazine USA week this October. pv magazine
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Hawaiii
After the wildfire destroyed Lahaina on Aug. 8, multiple rating agencies downgraded HECO's credit to "junk" status, which has limited the utility's access to capital. Hawaii Public Radio
Louisiana
Across the state, dozens of solar projects are at varying phases of development, and energy providers, private developers and the industrial sector are all gunning for more solar development. 10/12 Industry Report
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Maryland
Advocates are urging the Moore administration and elected officials to announce their early support for ending public dollars for waste-to-energy facilities ahead of the 2025 General Assembly session. Inside Climate News
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International
Agreement with Proteus Marine Renewables, SKF will focus of the 59MW MeyGen project in Scotland. reNEWS.biz
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International
The offshore wind sector has been able to reliably model wake effects for a long time -- the issue is correct application, writes Joel Manning of K2 Management. Recharge
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