Welcome to NetZero Insider’s latest Resources Intelligence Report. A theme in our reporting this past week was the potential for growth, and the limitations facing it.
James Downing has a story on Duke Energy’s report to the North Carolina Utilities Commission outlining the state of the nuclear industry and the potential for Duke to add nuclear generation in the Carolinas to meet expected demand growth without a spike in emissions. Downing also drills down on the cost concerns that have been a barrier to widespread expansion of nuclear generation.
John Cropley has details on an announcement by the American Clean Power Association that the U.S. battery industry is prepared to invest $100 billion in domestic manufacturing and sourcing — but only if the necessary tariff, tax and permitting mechanisms are in place to support such an expansion.
One of the world’s leading offshore wind developers, RWE, has set conditions for resuming development in U.S. waters. As with the battery industry proposal, the German renewables developer is looking for a safer investment environment than the one that exists for U.S. renewables in early 2025. Cropley fills us in.
Small-scale solar power generation has proliferated in New York to the point that state regulators are capping the incentive program, which is ahead of schedule and under budget, and diverting some of the program’s surplus funds for other uses. Solar power advocates are unhappy about this, Cropley reports.
We also offer our usual roundup of reporting by other media outlets:
All this and much more is gathered in this week’s Intelligence Report:
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Wyoming
Western tribal groups and environmentalists want to defend the recent ban on permitting of new coal mines in the Powder River Basin, but Trump and Wyoming covet a coal comeback. Inside Climate News
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U.S.
In Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio, GOP legislators have sponsored bills to spur community solar, which allows more people to access cheap, clean power. Canary Media
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California
PG&E's new Flexible Service Connection (Flex Connect) leverages a DERMS developed in collaboration with Microsoft and Schneider Electric to coordinate power demand based on when electricity supply is readily available. Factor This
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Rhode Island
Utilidata and Nvidia think their AI-enabled smart meters can help solve tricky grid challenges, from growing data center demand to more rooftop solar and EVs. Canary Media
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International
Funding that was originally destined for US projects may well now find its way north of the border. Hydrogen Insight
International
The story was so compelling, the coalition so wide, the urgency so real, that for a time, it barely mattered that the physics didn't cooperate, writes climate futurist Michael Barnard. The Energy Mix
Pennsylvania
The fate of the much-vaunted hydrogen industry -- seen by the Biden administration as a way to power America while reducing climate-altering emissions -- is in upheaval. Fast Company
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Alaska
Jera Co., Japan's largest power generation firm, considers buying LNG from Alaska project Trump has been pushing in trade talks. Bloomberg
U.S.
The main oil and gas trade group wants the Trump administration to reconsider maritime rules released in April that would require it to use some U.S. ships to transport liquefied natural gas. The New York Times
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Connecticut
Gov. Lamont's plan to use a natural gas heating system for government buildings riles environmentalists CT Mirror
North Carolina
Duke buys 11 turbines from GE Vernova as it continues to see huge demand growth Data Center Dynamics
Oklahoma
Oklahoma commissioners oppose bills that would require more money for gas, take issue with lobbyists' "slander" The Oklahoman
U.S.
Christie is ready to help fast track natural gas projects in line with Trump priorities Natural Gas Intelligence
U.S.
LDCs ask FERC to address reliability issues on nation's pipeline systems Utility Dive
U.S.
Some utilities are shifting from gas as a bridge fuel to gas being central to their long term plans EnergyNow
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U.S.
Will AI's thirts for energy lead to lower LNG exports as data centers gobble up more domestic natural gas? Reuters
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Idaho
Utah state leaders are taking the next steps in their efforts to make Utah a major nuclear energy development hub and a "national leader" in developing next-generation energy technology, reaching beyond state lines to do it. Utah News Dispatch
Idaho
The agreement established milestones to remove legacy waste at the Idaho National Laboratory site while allowing nuclear energy research and development at the lab. Idaho National Laboratory
International
China's third-generation Hualong One reactors will be among those built in some coastal provinces, and each can meet the energy demands of 1 million people. South China Morning Post
International
Westinghouse has not submitted its final bid for the UK's SMR design competition. The Telegraph
U.S.
The prospects for nuclear are indeed brightening, but it is still more expensive and far slower to build than renewables. The upstart approach of making smaller, identikit reactors will struggle even harder to close that gap. Reuters
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U.S.
Federal action to stop work on previously approved projects is rare and typically limited to instances where agencies assert violations of those approvals rather than a re-thinking of the approvals.themselves. The National Law Review
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U.S.
Less drilling could slow future output growth from the world's top oil producer. Total U.S. production is forecast to reach a new record this year at 13.7 million barrels per day (bpd), with some 9.7 million bpd coming from shale. Reuters
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Colorado
Radia, a Colorado-based company, wants to build enormous aircraft to transport giant wind turbine blades. It's betting that politics won't get in the way. The New York Times
U.S.
The nation's onshore wind industry, built out over several decades, is generating nearly 11% of America's electricity, making it the largest source of renewable energy and now often exceeding coal-fired generation. CNBC
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International
While renewables now account for more than half of China's installed electricity capacity, they still delivered just 22.5% of actual power consumption in Q1. OilPrice.com
U.S.
We need an integrated approach combining grid upgrades alongside the greater deployment of balancing power technologies and energy storage to take full advantage of our renewable energy potential in the most cost-effective way. POWER
U.S.
For the first time in history, fossil fuels supplied less than half of the United States' electricity generation for an entire month, according to new data released by energy think tank Ember. Forbes
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U.S.
Quotes for rooftop solar projects are averaging $28,750 before incentives, said the marketplace operator. pv magazine
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International
The U.S. imposed sky-high tariffs on solar imports from four countries, but it's unclear if they will be enough to fight back Chinese competitors. The New York Times
U.S.
States have an opportunity to influence transmission providers to adopt advanced conductors and other technologies that increase transmission capacity, says a renewables trade group. Added transmission can enable more solar to connect to the grid. pv magazine
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International
The company produced solar panels, inverters and batteries for the residential market for over 25 years and was once a major solar supplier to SolarCity/Tesla dealers. Solar Power World
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International
China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases that drive climate change, has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Yahoo
International
Investigations are ongoing into what went wrong with the electricity system, which impacted some 60 million people. Euronews
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International
The ubiquitous energy storage units are at the heart of tech developments, ranging from the electrification of homes and greening of energy grids to mobile devices and electric vehicles. The Cool Down
U.S.
The tariffs will not only affect procurement costs but could force utilities to turn back to natural gas capacity in the short term -- undermining emissions goals and customer affordability strategies. Utility Dive
Virginia
It would bring the total energy storage capacity required between Dominion and Appalachian Power to 10,000 MW, more than triple the state's current target. pv magazine
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