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Welcome to the latest NetZero Insider Resources Intelligence Report.
We start off in the Gulf of Mexico, where the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has received enough expression of interest in offshore wind development that it will start planning a 2026 wind lease auction. But our John Cropley notes that some impending leadership changes could trump those plans.
Our staff were diverted to other net-zero news last week, so it was a rare stretch of light coverage of news about resources. But from our curated roundup of other media outlets’ work, we can recommend a few interesting and impactful stories:
Remember the hydrogen hubs announced with fanfare by the Biden administration 14 months ago? They have proved to not be universally popular, and progress on them has been mixed:
Care for an update on the struggles of the offshore wind sector? You have several choices. Among them:
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And the Denmark edition of The Local picks up an AFP report on how the leading offshore wind developer, Ørsted, grew so successful and fell so far off course in such a relatively short period of time.
Finally, critical minerals are at the heart of much of the technology advancing net-zero initiatives. And some of the best supply lines for these minerals start in China, which is trying to use that as leverage against the U.S.:
All this and much more is gathered in this week’s Intelligence Report:
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New York
A developer wanted to build a biochar facility to capture carbon. Locals saw an environmental menace. Grist
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North Dakota
Project Tundra, a plan to retrofit a North Dakota coal plant with carbon capture technology, has hit a snag following the departure of the lead contractor. Inside Climate News
U.S.
Utilities may adopt the technology even if the Trump administration repeals an EPA rule to limit carbon emissions from power plants. Energywire
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California
An investment adviser says uncertainty about the state's carbon market is a "unique opportunity for investors to capitalize." Climatewire
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Georgia
A resolution was recently reached between Georgia Power and several dozen plaintiffs over allegations that a Monroe County power plant was the cause of illnesses suffered by nearby residents. Georgia Recorder
Ohio
Now the utility giant acknowledges the overwhelming scientific consensus around climate change -- while working behind the scenes to stifle competition from renewable sources such as solar, the report said. Ohio Capital Journal
U.S.
Major institutional investors have artificially lowered coal production and raised energy costs for consumers in an effort to lower global carbon emissions, a federal lawsuit claims. Missouri Independent
U.S.
The court's order was provisional, rejecting a request from a Kentucky electric utility to block the plan while an appeals court considers its challenge. The New York Times
Wisconsin
The Sierra Club of Wisconsin says that the decision to delay the retirement of a Columbia County coal power plant until 2029 to consider converting it to a natural gas plant will harm the environment and expose nearby residents to harmful emissions. Wisconsin Examiner
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Pennsylvania
The plant, located just outside Homer City about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh, was taken offline for decommissioning in the summer of 2023. It was known both for being a major polluter. POWER
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California
The California Public Utilities Commission expanded the capacity of an existing community solar program for low-income customers, but developers say it doesn't offer enough incentives to build new projects. Energy Connects
California
Pushing the deadline further down the road may put the state in peril of losing the funds, as the EPA, which runs the Solar For All program, requires all awards to begin to be deployed within the first year of grant being effective. pv magazine
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Texas
ERCOT and stakeholders are working to improve a VPP pilot to increase low customer participation. Utility Dive
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International
The need for a resilient and sustainable energy system has never been more urgent, according to GridBeyond's latest white paper Energy trends 2025 -- The rise of the demand side. Renewable Energy Magazine
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U.S.
The projects will demonstrate how communities can leverage energy underground to decarbonize buildings, the Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies Office says. Smart Cities Dive
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California
Green hydrogen will keep us hooked on methane. Knock LA
International
High costs and lack of demand behind 29.2GW of capacity being shelved, says Westwood Insight. Hydrogen Insight
International
Multi-million-pound collaboration with SSE could see the deployment of what is set to be the world's largest H2 turbine in 2030. Hydrogen Insight
Pennsylvania
The U.S. Department of Energy is dangling $750 million for the buildout of a hydrogen hub around Philadelphia. But the looming Trump presidency and strong economic headwinds endanger its prospects. Inside Climate News
Texas
The Texas Hydrogen Production Policy Council's December 2024 report said the US state has "prevalent" regulatory oversight, thanks to its unabated fossil fuel-based hydrogen production and use legacy. H2 View
U.S.
At a recent conference, managers for the Midwest and Appalachian hydrogen hubs said they couldn't conduct serious outreach before federal funding and more project details were finalized. Energy News Network
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Georgia
Ascend Elements says it will begin production of high-purity lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) recovered from used lithium-ion batteries at its Covington, Georgia, facility in 2025. The company plans to produce up to 3,000 tonnes of Li2CO3 per year. Electrive
International
Many lithium mines, led by Chinese operators, are maintaining production of the raw material needed for electric vehicle batteries, in defiance of prices weak enough to trigger mass output cuts -- providing a boon for battery makers. Reuters
International
The growing demand for lithium has created a new frontier for mining in mineral-rich Nigeria. But it has come with a steep cost, exploiting its poorest and most vulnerable: its children. The Associated Press
International
The Associated Press recently traveled to the deep bush of Pasali, near the federal capital of Abuja in Nasarawa state, to follow and interview miners operating illegal mines, including some where children work. The Associated Press
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International
New liquefied natural gas projects could produce 10 gigatonnes of emissions by the end of the decade, close to the annual emissions of all coal plants. The Guardian
International
Chief competitor Qatar is not worried about competition from more oil and gas friendly US Administration over LNG - demand is rising and new facilities take years. CNBC
Louisiana
A new report from the Sierra Club says Louisiana's nine operating, under construction and planned liquefied gas terminals are set to receive more than $21.1 billion in local property tax exemptions if all facilities are completed. Floodlight
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International
Beijing ordered companies around the world not to allow critical minerals mined in China to reach the U.S., while deepening its efforts to replace imports with domestic products. The New York Times
International
The nation has signaled it's prepared to hit back harder still, in ways that could inflict serious economic pain on its biggest economic rival. MIT Technology Review
U.S.
Critical mineral producers have warned of unfair competition from China. The industry turns to the Trump administration and Congress now. Greenwire
U.S.
The Department of Energy unveiled $17 million to boost research around critical materials, production and alternatives. Greenwire
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Alaska
Building a pipeline from Alaska's North Shore to population centers in the south would be cheaper than LNG imports, study finds. Area has been facing gas shortage. Alaska Public Media News
California
CPUC vote on the future of Aliso Canyon is delayed until March. Advocates have lobbied for its closure since major leak years ago. E&E News
International
New Labour government wants to move UK to renewable energy, but it is finding quitting oil and gas (North Sea drilling) hard. The New York Times
International
Gas transiting through Ukraine from Russia to markets in Europe is poised to end with 2024, but report finds the market has already adapted and minimal issues are expected Bloomberg
Texas
Major new pipeline from Permian oil/gas to Dallas area is being planned by Energy Transfer The Business Journals
U.S.
Experts argue that looming Biden report on LNG export impacts to domestic environment, gas prices could hinder Trump's plans to grow exports. Fox News
U.S.
Natural gas prices are poised to go up in recent years with rising demand, lack of pipelines - goes against Trump's promise to cut energy prices. POLITICO
U.S.
Oil major BP is looking for buyers for its natural gas pipeline system in the United States. Reuters
U.S.
Henry Hub natural gas spot prices hit all time lows in early November - at $1.21/MMBTU - have gone back above $3/MMBTU since then. EIA
U.S.
Some 200 new natural gas units are being planned in the US, uptick in development due to rising demand. POWER
Wyoming
Wyoming is coal country, but that has not stopped power plants there from switching to natural gas. Wyoming Public Media
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International
Dunkelflaute is a German word in the power sector for when it is cold and there is no wind - then the grid must rely on expensive natural gas and reliability is challenged. EL PAÍS USA
International
High prices for natural gas are expected to return to Europe this winter, giving its industrial base another challenge as fuel is a key input for many. Reuters
International
Mexican LNG export projects face renewed political risk - some are planned to export gas sourced from U.S. Natural Gas Intelligence
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U.S.
America is waking up to nuclear energy's potential to meet soaring future electricity needs and clean environmental goals, the conservative organization writes. The Heritage Foundation
U.S.
Potential site would host new facility to advance commercial Aalo-1 microreactor design. U.S. Department of Energy
U.S.
The department is trying to kick-start a domestic uranium fuel supply chain to reduce dependence on Russia, from which U.S. reactors get about 25% of their enriched uranium in recent years. Reuters
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U.S.
The legislation is meant to speed up approvals for nuclear fuel recycling efforts and improve the offshore wind permitting process. E&E News
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Delaware
The project still is working its way through a conditional-use permitting process so it can build a substation on 140 acres of land it purchased near the Indian River power plant. CapeGazette
International
BP's retreat from offshore wind reflects a similar trend by rivals Shell and Equinor which are trying to boost near-terms profits by spending more on higher-return oil and gas operations. MSN
International
Over the past few days, a convoy of several trucks transporting the nacelle, hub, and direct drive generator of the hypothetical SG21-276 DD (commercial name yet to be confirmed) has been spotted crossing the Jutland region. Reve
International
The failure stems from a rigid auction model, a failure to adapt to a changed economic reality for renewable energy projects and rising competition, analysts said. Reuters
International
Sites of tender closing in April in Kattegat Strait and Baltic Sea are less attractive than flopped North Sea locations but auction has same risks for developers, Aegir Insights says. Recharge
International
Long dependent on fossil fuels before emerging a champion of offshore wind power, Danish company ?rsted is now struggling to restore its business after dropping several major projects. The Local Denmark
International
As more offshore wind farms cram into European seas, disputes are breaking out between leading developers over whether new planned projects will 'steal' wind from incumbents. Recharge
Maine
President-elect Donald Trump's open hostility to offshore wind also clouds the project's immediate future along with the state's ambition to lead the industry in the Gulf of Maine. Maine Public
Massachusetts
A panel of judges with the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision on Dec. 5, saying claims that the federal government mishandled the approval process for the wind farm were unfounded. Vineyard Gazette
Massachusetts
How GE Vernova's Haliade-X turbine blade -- among the largest composite structures in the world -- is manufactured, and what can cause it to break. The New Bedford Light
New York
New York's Attentive Energy is now on pause, meaning more pollution, stalled plans, and a tighter margin for error. Heatmap
U.S.
Research firm BMI sees no added capacity beyond what is already under construction while holding steady on the overall energy transition. Recharge
U.S.
Consultancy sees 12GW of capacity by 2030 as Biden approvals sustain momentum and investment in coastal infrastructure. Recharge
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U.S.
The American Petroleum Institute has asked Trump to swiftly authorize liquefied natural gas exports, expand drilling on federal lands, make pipeline permitting easier, repeal strict vehicle emissions and fuel economy standards, and keep current corporate tax rates in place. CNBC
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Idaho
Despite the reduction in size of the project, the Lava Ridge Wind Project has become one of Idaho's most controversial environmental issues in recent years. East Idaho News
International
The electricity company BC Hydro, owned by the west coast province of British Columbia, awarded 30-year purchase agreements to nine projects promising almost 5,000 gigawatt hours per year of electricity. BNN Bloomberg
International
This transition to onshore blades will enable the facility to help meet the growing demand for onshore wind energy in the UK. Reve
Washington
Starting on the night before Thanksgiving, the amount of electricity generated by wind power in the BPA system across the northwest collapsed, falling to zero megawatts around midnight. Washington Policy
Wisconsin
Research estimates up to nearly 1 million bats are killed each year by wind projects nationwide, including almost 400,000 bats in the Midwest. Wisconsin Public Radio
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Alaska
As Alaska's natural gas supplies dwindle, utilities are facing the prospect of importing expensive liquefied natural gas by 2027. The Cool Down
International
The cumulative capacity of renewable energy for direct sourcing by commercial and industrial consumers stood at 18.7 gigawatts by the end of FY2024. IEEFA
U.S.
BloombergNEF's base-case forecast projects annual U.S. renewable energy installations will average 102 gigawatts over the next decade -- quadruple the 26 GW averaged since 2014. North American Clean Energy
U.S.
Launching the Climate and Communities Investment Coalition (CCIC) with the technology giant as an anchor member, Acadia Vice President Brian O'Callaghan said it was also talking with companies in sectors including retail and consumer goods. Yahoo
U.S.
"I really think the climate case for AI needs to be made," said Neil Chatterjee, a former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Utility Dive
U.S.
Power industry executives explored the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the U.S. energy system during a Dec. 11 conference held by the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Daily Energy Insider
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Florida
Nearly 30,000 Floridians have installed solar power this year, bringing the number of installations to over 253,000 according to a new report. Florida Phoenix
International
A cybersecurity consultant using a laptop and smartphone at his home bypassed firewalls in panels around the world and gained access to more power than runs through Germany's entire system. BNN Bloomberg
Michigan, Wisconsin
In Kalamazoo, a vision for rooftop solar generation on public buildings stalled after running into challenges, so the city is instead partnering with Consumers Energy to deliver solar power starting in 2028. Energy News Network
U.S.
The U.S. market for customer-owned solar has become wider and deeper, across regions and income levels, a new report reveals. Inside Climate News
U.S.
Behind-the-meter solar for homes, businesses, and communities comes with numerous benefits, said a paper from Stanford engineering professor Mark Jacobson. pv magazine
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International
Canadian Solar, a global provider of solar modules, energy storage, and other clean energy components and solutions, announced its Q3 2024 earnings, falling short of Wall Street consensus expectations. pv magazine
International
The algorithm, Diffuse Control, was designed to minimize motor energy consumption and maximize the captured irradiance during overcast weather. pv magazine
U.S.
Mitigation is both extremely complicated and more straightforward than you may think. POWER
U.S.
The company delivered domestic content tax credit bonus eligible product to a Kern County, California project. pv magazine
U.S.
This week, Origami Solar, established its first frame roll-forming manufacturing line in partnership with Unimacts, at their facility in Houston, Texas. Solar Builder
U.S.
The Inflation Reduction Act has caused solar panel manufacturing capacity to quintuple, revived domestic cell production, and sparked a surge in deployments. Canary Media
U.S.
Section 301 tariffs on imported solar polysilicon and wafers were increased to 50%. pv magazine
U.S.
Available land in the U.S. for renewable energy sites is continuing to shrink, found a new report by Paces, a renewable-energy project-planning software developer. pv magazine
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California
Arevon Energy has commenced operations at its Eland 1 solar-plus-storage project in Kern County, California. The project, located in Mojave, pairs a 384-MW solar installation with 150MW/600 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy storage, enhancing renewable energy capacity in the region. PowerTechnology
Oregon
The 1.2GW/1.2GW Sunstone solar-plus-storage project would be the largest solar and storage plant in the US. PV Tech
Wisconsin
A Wisconsin school is getting a solar plus storage microgrid project that will save the district significant money on energy. CleanTechnica
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Arizona
U.S. renewable energy developer Longroad Energy announced financial close of 111MWdc solar and 85MWac/340MWh storage project Sun Pond in Maricopa County, Arizona. Energy Storage News
California
The proposed financing would be used by Nostromo for Project IceBrick, the first wide-scale deployment of Nostromo's technology to reduce costs, emissions, and grid strain related to electricity for commercial cooling. POWER
California
The California Public Utilities Commission received an advice letter on 5 December 2024 from SCE outlining details of the three agreements that were selected as part of the utility's phases 2 and 3 Midterm Reliability Request for Offers. Energy Storage News
Colorado
It will support development of the domestic sodium-ion battery supply chain and other high-performance, low-cost battery technologies. North American Clean Energy
Georgia
The order granting certification for the four projects has designated the in-service costs as trade secrets. Energy Storage News
Illinois
A new ComEd pilot program aims to explore the scalability of solar and energy storage solutions to support a more resilient power grid, the company said. Daily Energy Insider
International
Researchers from the University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have created the world's first carbon-14 diamond battery, with a shockingly long lifespan. The battery, described in a December 4 statement by the University of Bristol, could power devices for thousands of years by harnessing the decay of carbon-14, a radioactive isotope commonly used to date organic artifacts. Gizmodo
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Attorney General's office has rejected a Shutesbury general bylaw on large-scale battery energy storage systems, citing overreach in regulating renewable energy and zoning matters. NewBostonPost
New Hampshire
New Hampshire-based developer Granite Source Power co-founder Jessica Shor said approximately 80% of the company's 1,250-MW sale would be in Texas' ERCOT market. Energy Storage News
New York
With plans for battery-energy storage projects proposed for sites across Brookhaven Town, community groups worried about their potential impact are coalescing in opposition. Newsday
Texas
CPS Energy will soon have enough battery storage to power more than 104,000 homes on an extremely hot or cold day after signing a new deal for a site that will add another 120 megawatts of capacity. San Antonio Express-News
Texas
Approximately 5 GW of new capacity added since last year has improved reliability while lowering electricity prices on the ERCOT grid, the American Clean Power Association said. Utility Dive
U.S.
Recycling startups like Ascend Elements and Redwood Materials still notched some wins in the mission to turn old electric vehicle batteries into new ones. Canary Media
U.S.
Renewable energy developers in the U.S. are facing a bottleneck of epic proportions as they jockey for limited space on the nation's aging network of long distance transmission lines. U.S. startup SunTrain has been developing a concept: loading large batteries onto freight cars, stuffing them full of renewable energy, and shipping them out to energy-thirsty locations. CleanTechnica
U.S.
The latest financial stability ranking from Sinovoltaics keeps Tesla, Mustang Battery, Kung Long Batteries, Hyundai Electric and Eaton, in the top five spots in a report that includes 55 manufacturers. pv magazine
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U.S.
It will require innovations in grid technology, a balance between data center expansion and power infrastructure, and cross-sector coordination to mitigate environmental impacts, according to "AI and energy: The Big Picture." Daily Energy Insider
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Arizona
Avantus will partner with Arizona Public Service for a power purchase agreement for the Kitt Solar Project, the entities announced. The agreement will see the Kitt Solar Project in Pinal County create 100MWac/130MWdc of solar and 400 MWh of energy storage. Daily Energy Insider
U.S.
Utility-scale solar is soaring, with 32 gigawatts expected to be installed across the U.S. this year. A new report says that pace won't be sustained. Canary Media
U.S.
Elon Musk's foray into right-wing politics hasn't dimmed his love for solar power. It's a fandom he shares with Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google parent Alphabet. Fortune
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