Energy & Water

Who regulates privately built power lines, such as those built by oil and gas companies? It appears that the State of Texas trusts operators to maintain those lines. According to the Texas Tribune, “the state agencies that regulate the energy industry and the power industry said they’re powerless to regulate power lines in the oil patch.” Let’s watch and see if the Legislature addresses this issue or will the Railroad Commission adopt a rule concerning the role of energy operators for electrical problems and notifying the Texas Public Utility Commission if power needs to be cut.

We have talked about schools in Arkansas that installed solar and used the energy savings to boost teacher salaries. Riffing off this, Pennsylvania has created a grant program to fund solar panels at school facilities. HB1032 (2024 | PA)

San Diego County has adopted BESS standards for battery storage in wake of recent battery fires. BESS can rapidly charge or discharge in a fraction of a second.

“Sunrun and Baltimore Gas & Electric have launched a small vehicle-to-home grid support program in Maryland utilizing Ford F-150 Lightning trucks to demonstrate how bidirectional electric vehicle charging can ease grid stress and add value for customers. “

Sunrun | Sunrun Launches Nation’s First Vehicle-To-Home Grid Support In Maryland Using Ford F-150 Lightning Trucks

Utility Dive | Sunrun, BGE launch first US electric vehicle-to-home virtual power plant

This new NEI paper says the best way to power data centers is nuclear power. Why? According to the paper, Colocating new hyperscale data centers with existing nuclear power plants can significantly reduce project costs and delays by eliminating the need for new transmission infrastructure and grid interconnection.

Utility Dive | xisting nuclear power plants are best behind-the-meter option for data centers: NEI paper

 California’s 10,000 MW of battery power, enough to power 10 million homes for several hours, and the state’s renewable resources bolstered the state’s power grid during its record high heat. Even with all time record high temperature of 124F in Palm Springs, the state avoided emergency alerts and calls for voluntary conservation.

Governing | Big Batteries Were Key to California Grid Surviving Recent Heat Wave

The International Energy Agency has estimated there is a $23 trillion global marketplace for clean energy and clean energy projects. China controls 80 percent of the solar panel business. Because of IRA, there are 40 solar-related factories & 40 battery factories in the works in the U.S. 80% of capacity added in 2023 was from clean energy projects.

Governing | Red States Are Winning in a Green New World of Economic Growth

Vermont has dedicated its $89 EV vehicle fee to building EV charging infrastructure.

Governing | New Vermont Fee Will Help Pay for EV Charging Infrastructure

According to the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy, China accounted for 55% of all renewable generation additions in 2023, and was responsible for 63% of new global wind and solar capacity. While global primary energy demand rose by 2% in 2023 from 2022, to 620 EJ.

Reuters | Fossil fuel use, emissions hit records in 2023, report says

 The Governors of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have informed PJM Interconnection, the grid operator for 13 states plus the District of Columbia, that they want a “robust” planning process that includes state input and greater use of carbon-free electricity. The governors also are calling for “close coordination” which they say is necessary to achieve “a collective vision.”

Route Fifty | Governors seek more say over grid planning process

 The future of data centers and small nuclear reactors as described by Bill Gates, “There is a more direct connection, though, which is that the additional data centers that we’ll be building look like they’ll be as much as a 10% additional load for electricity. The U.S. hasn’t needed much new electricity — but with the rise in a variety of things from electric cars and buses to electric heat pumps to heating homes, demand for electricity is going to go up a lot. And now these data centers are adding to that. So the big tech companies are out looking at how they can help facilitate more power, so that these data centers can serve the exploding AI demand.” 

NPR | Bill Gates is going nuclear: How his latest project could power U.S. homes and AI

The DOE this week announced $900 M in funding for small modular nuclear reactors. The plan is to fund up to $800 million to support one or two “first-mover teams” with plans to deploy a first small modular reactor (SMR) plant and a multireactor project. DOE projects that the country will need anywhere from 700 to 900 gigawatts of additional clean, firm electricity capacity to reach net-zero emissions nationwide by 2050.

E&E News at Politico | DOE floats $900M to build advanced reactors

Bill Gates is prepared to put billions into nuclear power, including small nuclear reactors, to meet growing electric needs. @bloombergbusiness

By 2038, it is estimated that power usage in the Permian Basin will increase 7 fold. This 7x increase is based on “S&P Global Commodity Insights had estimated Permian Basin ERCOT load at 3.4 GW in 2022, projected to grow to 11.9 GW by 2032.” ERCOT’s Permian Basin Reliability Plan, the “official” usage estimate is expected in July. A draft of this plan estimates ” that load would approach 23.7 GW by 2030 and 26.4 GW by 2038.”

S&P Global | Texas grid stakeholders mull plans for massive power demand in Permian Basin

Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-0467 tells us that a license is required if you are a person who negotiates a wind power lease because Section 1101.005(9)(A) of the Occupations Code does not include wind in the exceptions to the license requirements.

Update to:

Is a license required to negotiate a wind power lease?

• December 1, 2023

Get your briefs ready, the Texas Attorney General is set to opine as to whether a real estate license is necessary to negotiate a lease for wind power. RQ-0523-KP

Columbia Law School Sabin Center’s Opposition to Renewable Energy Facilities in the United States report notes 378 renewable energy projects in 47 states that encountered significant opposition. Plus an additional, “395 local restrictions across 41 states, along with 19 state-level restrictions, that are so severe that they could have the effect of blocking a renewable energy project.” Restrictions for the 2024 report are up 73% over May 2023 report.

We’ve chatted about the impact AI will have on energy demand, but we don’t talk a lot about  the use of AI in the energy sector.  AI use in the energy sector is said to be a market opportunity estimated at up to $13 billion. Regulatory issues concerning AI use by the energy sector include: securing data, implementing robust machine learning operations and data management practices to scale RAI safely and reliably.

Utility Dive | Responsible AI in energy: Balancing efficiency, sustainability and trust in a high-stakes industry

University of Michigan’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy polled local governments about their thoughts on energy development. 86% strongly or somewhat support rooftop solar infrastructure development with 89% support in urban areas; 60% favor new electric transmission lines; 42% of officials are for new natural gas power plants and large-scale solar installations;  and 27% for large-scale wind projects.

Route Fifty | Support for rooftop solar outpaces other energy infrastructure

Yesterday,  U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the FY24 Solar Energy Supply Chain Incubator funding opportunity.  It will provide up to $38 million for research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects that de-risk solar hardware, manufacturing processes, and software products across a wide range of solar technology areas. Apply here: Apply on EERE Exchange

91% of European climate solutions are nature based. This includes maintaining water reserves and maintaining parks, urban forests, and encouraging green roofs. @theneedtogrow

SB 1289 (IL | 2024 ) establishes rules for carbon capture in Illinois. The bill requires soil and air monitoring at injection sites and creates a fund to address environmental concerns. The legislation was pushed by Capture Jobs Now — a coalition of business, labor and agriculture groups.

My Journal Courier | Illinois sets rules for carbon capture and sequestration

21 states and the federal government have agreed to accelerate improvements to the electric transmission and distribution network, which are critical to meeting the country’s objectives for affordable, clean, reliable, and resilient power. All participating states are led by Democratic Governors: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

States agree to:

Prioritize or accelerate efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to cost-
effectively meet growing electric grid needs, including efforts that increase capacity and
maximize utilization of existing infrastructure;
• Explore opportunities at the executive and legislative levels to address capacity
challenges facing the grid in an expedient manner;
• Explore pathways to facilitate adoption of high-performance conductors and grid
enhancing technologies, which may include considering these technologies in grid
planning, financial incentives, performance standards, and updated cost-effectiveness
criteria;
• Maximize the use of available Federal financial and technical assistance;
• Help assess and communicate the potential benefits of modern grid technologies to
partners and stakeholders within and across states, including local governments and the
public;
• Share successes, challenges, lessons learned, and best practices with other states.

The Hill | White House and 21 states to announce grid modernization program

Utility Dive | 21 states, DOE launch initiative to spur grid-enhancing technologies, advanced conductors

The Southwest Research Institute is piloting power generation via CO2 sequestration. When CO2 is acting like a liquid, in gas form, the movement of the CO2 can pass through equipment, like blades on a wind turbine, to generate electricity. By the end of summer 2024, the carbon-powered turbine will produce 5 MW of power.

San Antonio Express News | Could a CO2-powered turbine in San Antonio be the future of power generation? SwRI is working on it.

Earlier this month, the Speaker of the Texas House released interim charges which included studying hydrogen generation. This week,…”Over the past four months, developers of technology to produce and distribute low-emission hydrogen [energy] have raised more than $1 billion in venture investment, per Crunchbase data. That’s already more than two-thirds the total raised in all of last year.”

CrunchBase | Hydrogen Energy Is Getting A Heavy Infusion Of VC Funding

Illinois is putting $1.6 million into community solar that is justice focused. These community solar programs benefit traditionally under-resourced Black, Brown and Indigenous communities in the greater Chicago. Funding comes via the Illinois Climate Bank.

GoodGoodGood | Illinois just gave $1.6 million to ‘justice-focused’ community solar projects

Tampa Electric is proposing a rate structure that would shift electric rate burden to consumers. ” [A] typical household would be charged at least $200 more annually for base rates over what it’s paying now.” Tampa Electric credits a 2021 settlement that shifts the rate. Local headlines include “Tampa Electric proposes residents pay millions more so big companies save”

Tampa Bay Times | Tampa Electric proposes residents pay millions more so big companies save

Governing | Florida Utility Proposes Shifting Costs from Big Corps to Residents

The Speaker of the Texas House called for an interim study concerning hydrogen including hydrogen electric generation. Also this week, the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Office released its plan that includes a goal of cutting the cost of clean hydrogen production to $1 per kilogram by 2031.

In February we talked about California’s fixed charge electricity rate plan. This week the California Utility Commission authorized a flat fee of up to $24.15 with cuts to electricity costs by 5-7 cents per kilowatt-hour. There are no new costs nor fees. What does change is how costs are divvied up Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric bills.

SacBee | California approves controversial electricity rate change. What’s coming to your bill?

Anatomy of a Low Income Energy Program

• February 15, 2024

In 2023, California legislators passed AB 205 (2024 | CA) to study “fixed charge” energy plans that tie electricity bills to income levels. As a result, the 3 major investor owned utilities propose: income-based fixed charges for households earning $28,000-$69,000 would be $20 to $34 per month. Those earning $69,000-$180,000 would pay $51 to $73 per month, and those earning more than $180,000 would pay $85 to $128.

In Q1, major tech companies, Microsoft, Alphabet, &Meta, spent more than $40 B on data centers, which require incredible amounts of electricity to power. @economist

State legislators are considering rolling back tax breaks for data centers because of their impact to electric grids. CT, GA, and SC are considering pulling back tax breaks. MD and MS are working to add tax breaks for data centers.

Route Fifty | States rethink data centers as ‘electricity hogs’ strain the grid

“The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue multiple funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) totaling over $100 million for field demonstrations and other research to support better planning and operation of the electric grid. “

T& D Operations | DOE To Invest Over $100M for Field Demos, Research for Grid Planning and Operations

According to  Enverus Intelligence Research:

• Far West Texas power demand will more than double by 2040 because of electrification trends and cryptocurrency mining growth. With this increased load comes a need for additional generation buildout, otherwise power prices will rise significantly.
• Without an increase in levels of queued generation in ERCOT’s Far West load zone, EIR expects net exports to continue to decrease. This presents an opportunity for generation within the region to expand capacity to meet peak load and export to East Texas.
• Natural gas combustion, specifically compression, is the most practical emission source to electrify by connecting to the grid, as these emissions mostly come from stationary sites with long expected lives.
• A fundamental shift began in 2022 as load growth increased relative to wellhead gas production. This was due to early electrification efforts in the Permian Basin and a migration of cryptocurrency mining load to Texas following China’s crackdown on miners in mid-2021.

Rigzone | Electrification, Crypto Could Threaten West Texas Grid in Future

To power needed data centers, Microsoft is looking to renewable energy. Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management and Microsoft are partnering to develop new wind and solar farms to bring 10.5+ gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity in the U.S. and Europe from 2026 to 20230.

Reuters | Microsoft, Brookfield to partner on renewable energy projects

Meet Whisper Valley near Austin, TX. Whisper Valley is a neighborhood that utilizes solar, heat pumps and geothermal energy. The “communitywide geothermal grid that pulls heat from the ground to warm buildings in cold weather and pumps heat out of buildings and back to the ground to cool them in hot weather.” 

WSJ | Underground Thermal Energy Networks May Be About to Have Their Moment

“The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today opened applications for Round Two of the Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program. This opportunity will award up to $12 million—funded through the Inflation Reduction Act—to support the creation or expansion of state-based programs or initiatives that improve renewable energy siting processes at the state and local levels.   “

DOE | Funding Notice: $12 Million Available to Expand Capacity for Renewable Energy Planning, Siting, and Permitting

The Department of Energy awarded Sunvapor, a Pasadena, CA company working in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, to desalinate water in the oil and gas industry. The company  uses “thermal energy from stored solar steam has the potential to provide high-efficiency, low-cost treatment for wastewater that is too salty for reverse osmosis.”

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab new study includes polling on large scale solar projects. Positive or neutral support dominates, 3:1 over negative views of large scale solar. Support for additional large scale solar outpaces opposition by more than 2:1.

The Department of Energy says geothermal energy will increase by 20 times over in the next 25 years. Bedrock Energy, a start up, has a new project, Austin’s first geothermal project in an urban setting in the Penn Field business park.

Austin American Statesman | Geothermal heating-air conditioning? Why a startup is first urban project in South Austin

Industry watchers say geothermal is the next big thing. Minnesota is piloting networked geothermal systems to keep government buildings, housing developments and schools warm through the winter and cool in the summer. 

Energy News Network | Geothermal heating and cooling is ready to erupt

California has adopted new rules, the ​“Limited Generation Profile option”, for connecting solar and battery storage to the grid. These rules took 4 years. Advocates said solar with batteries can help the grid by holding back power at times and adding power when the grid needs it. Others say that this solution will not be as costly to upgrade the grid while offering increased resiliency. It is said that California’s grid mapping technology that contains accurate information on the hour-by-hour capacity of individual circuits is pivotal under the new rule.

Route Fifty | California’s new rules allow solar and batteries to help out the grid

Following the 2023 Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency case, the door has been opened for states to adopt state water protection laws. In this case, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the EPA’s definition of wetlands while siding with an Idaho couple who argued that they should not be required to obtain federal permits to build on their property that lacked any navigable water.

Colorado is considering House Bill 24-1379  that creates a new permitting system, with clear exemptions and exclusions for state waters in response to the US Supreme Court ruling in late May 2023. A competing measure Senate Bill 24-127 which the bill’s author says, ““Senate Bill 127 draws a very distinct line and says anything beyond 1,500 feet — unless it’s a fen, which is already recognized as the most important type of wetland — you can go take a bulldozer in there, destroy a stream, destroy a wetland without any environmental review.” 

Colorado News Line | Competing state waters protection bills move through Colorado Legislature

A Bill Gates backed started up in Corpus Christi is making fuel from water and carbon dioxide. Meet Infinium which is making e-fuel on an industrial scale. @bloomberggreen

 Ørsted, Avangrid, SouthCoast Wind and Vineyard Offshore submitted bids to a joint offshore wind solicitation from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island for up to 6,800 MW of offshore wind. We’ll find out in Q3 if any power purchase agreements emerge for the project. Ørsted also submitted bids individually to the 3 states.

Utility Dive | Ørsted, Avangrid and two others submit bids to first-ever 3-state offshore wind solicitation

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s has a bill, HB 1645 (2024 | FL) , on his desk that would largely remove the phrase “climate change” from Florida statutes.

Route Fifty | Florida is about to erase climate change from most of its laws

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator says at least $23 billion is needed to update its transmission lines. “Because of the impact of increasing load growth and the changing resource mix, the current potential Tranche 2 portfolio features 765 kV lines which enable long-term value based on distance, cost and land use. They also reduce right-of-way permitting needs required in regulatory approval processes and help address environmental concerns.”

California is just beginning to digitize  water rights dating to the Gold Rush. California’s goal is to create a database that combines water rights, geospatial mapping, and water diversion data. The $60 million digitization project will include 2 million historic water records that are currently only on paper. The project dovetails into SB 389 (2023 | CA) that allows California’s water board clear authority to investigate the validity of water rights, including senior rights.

Governing | California Finally Starts Digitization of Water Rights Records

South Dakota’s SB177 (2024 | SD) would allow a disqualified PUC Commisioner to be replaced by a sitting circuit court judge or state Supreme Court justice.

Ag Week | Noem signs ‘Landowner Bill of Rights’ but some landowners still have concerns

An industrial-scale battery coming online in Finland will be the world’s largest with a capacity of 100 MWh of thermal energy from solar and wind source. @euronewsgreen

Which state had the most power outages since 2019? Texas with a big boost from Winter Storm Uri. Electric retailer Payless Power says Texas has had the most power outages since 2019 with  263 power outages, lasting an average of 160 minutes, and impacting an estimated average of 172,000 Texans. California is second with 221. 1/3 of Texas’ power outages occurred during Winter Storm Uri in 2021. “The data reveals a paradox that’s become a common point of frustration: Texas is the national leader in energy production, yet the state’s aging power grid struggles to keep the lights on.”

Governing | Texas Has Had the Most Power Outages Over Past 5 Years

Texas and the UK are entering into a clean energy trade pact (a Statement of Mutual Cooperation ) supporting new energy solutions such as hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage. “The pact aims to help make it quicker, easier, and cheaper for UK and Texas firms to do business by tackling trade barriers, growing investment, and driving commerce between the UK and Texas,” the UK government said.  

Energy Central | UK, Texas Trade Agreement | CCS & Hydrogen, Texas

Oil Price | UK and Texas Sign Trade Pact to Boost Clean Energy Solutions

This week the Public Utility Council of Texas announced the new Director of the Independent Market Monitor the ERCOT market. Meet  Jeff McDonald. His professional background includes Potomac Economics, Vice President and Head of Internal Market Monitoring Unit at Independent System Operator (ISO) New England and Senior Manager of the Market Monitoring Unit at the California ISO, and Vice President of Concentric Energy Advisors and Principal of Libertas Market Analysis.

Google will be using AI, satellite images, and computing power to map methane emissions. @insidertech

10 States are challenging the SEC’s new rule requiring public companies to disclose their climate-related risks and direct greenhouse gas emissions. West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wyoming, New Hampshire and Virginia have filed a petition in the 11th Circuit to stop the disclosure requirements.

The Hill | 10 states file legal challenge to SEC climate disclosure rule

 We’ve talked about the legal actions against electric companies in California due to wildfires. The Texas Panhandle has been impacted by wildfires and the first lawsuit has emerged that alleges an electric pole may be a contributing factor. Details emerged from this SEC filing. MSNBC’s YouTube

ABC 7 Amarillo | State calls for investigation into cause of Texas Panhandle wildfires

Devon Energy is contributing financing for Texas’ first Geothermal facility. The financing will help with the oil and gas technology and techniques to scale geothermal energy.

OK Energy Today | Devon Energy finances Texas firm’s geothermal energy development

 Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s Green Workforce Connect is facilitating weatherization workforce programs in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. It is funded with federal weatherization program funds. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the federal weatherization program received $3.5 billion. The Green Workforce Connect is looking to expand into other states to make weatherization programs more efficient.

Route Fifty | With federal funds flowing, weatherization workforce poised for growth

New Jersey and Massachusetts residents are opposing offshore wind for reasons that include: “expensive, unreliable, weather-dependent sources that offer no environmental benefit and, in fact, may do more harm than good.” A new CFACT study found that offshore wind does not reduce global carbon emissions.

Governing | Coastal Residents Are Right to Be Worried About Offshore Wind

An $80 million fine has been levied against Southern California Edison for the 2017 wildfire and resulting mudslides that killed 25 people, burned 280,000 acres, and destroyed 1000 structures.

LA Times | Southern California Edison to pay $80 million over deadly 2017 Thomas fire

Add Virginia to the list of Legislatures looking to take action on PFASs, those forever chemicals. SB 243 (2024 | VA) will require source disclosures for PFASs. If a facility is deemed to be a source of PFASs in the water supply by the state’s regulating agency, then reporting and disclosure are required.

Virginia Mercury | Bills requiring identification of ‘forever chemical’ sources advancing through legislature

The Energy Information Administration announced on February 15th that solar will add a record 36.4 GW, nearly double that of 2023,  and battery storage will add 14.3 GW in 2024. Texas is expected add 35% of this new capacity while California will add 10% and Florida 6%.

EIA | Solar and battery storage to make up 81% of new U.S. electric-generating capacity in 2024

Lousiana’s Offshore Wind Database lists the 474 Lousiana businesses that are supporting the offshore wind supply chain in the state.

Governing | Louisiana Businesses Bet Big on Offshore Wind

In 2023 CT, CO, and ME passed bills that prohibit utilities from using customer funds to pay for lobbying. In 2024 the following states have similar pending legislation: CA SB 938 , NY AB 7880 , MD HB0505,VA HB792, OH SB149 , IL SB2885, UT SB 249, and AZ SB1514.

Route Fifty | 8 states move to ban utilities from using customer money for lobbying

In 2023, California legislators passed AB 205 (2024 | CA) to study “fixed charge” energy plans that tie electricity bills to income levels. As a result, the 3 major investor owned utilities propose: income-based fixed charges for households earning $28,000-$69,000 would be $20 to $34 per month. Those earning $69,000-$180,000 would pay $51 to $73 per month, and those earning more than $180,000 would pay $85 to $128.

Governing | California Wants to Tie Bills to Income to Lower Energy Costs

MIT scientists have developed a scalable means of making paper thin, flexible solar panels. These panels can turn any surface into a power source. @MIT

Researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgetown Univeristy analyzed  data from over 15 million consumers in 588 U.S. counties who lost power when hurricanes made landfall between January 2017 and October 2020. The findings: poorer communities had their power returned at a slower pace. On average, 170 minutes more slowly. Standard storm recovery protocols, they say, have the unintended consequence of long restoration times for vulnerable communities.

Governing | Power Outages Leave Poor Communities in the Dark Longer

Rice’s Baker Institute released a new report this week on reliability in ERCOT. The report considers Texas’ unique factors of strong electricity demand (load) growth, an expanding population, robust economic activity, demand growth from electric vehicle (EV) penetration, cryptocurrency mining, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen market expansion, and general trends toward increased electrification. 

Recommendations include investment in  dispatchable forms of generation, storage capacity in utility areas and/or alongside industrial consumers, storage capacity alongside wind and solar generation, transmission capacity, and siting future generation capacity closer to load centers.

MIT Energy has developed a new modeling method for power grids to incorporate decarbonization into their modeling.

MIT Energy Initiative | Decarbonizing the U.S. power grid

California legislators are proposing a $1 Billion Bond for offshore wind. AB2208 (2024 | CA)  would cover bond funding for turbines and to expand a port in Humbolt County and Morro Bay. Projections show the offshore wind project will generate 25 gigawatts of electricity by 2045 to power 25 million homes and provide about 13% of the power supply.

CalMatters | Legislators unveil measure to ask voters for $1 billion offshore wind bond 

Washington State Legislature was considering a bill that would require gas companies to disclose gas pricing and profits. The bill had a $15 million fiscal cost to the state. The clincher for the opposition was concerns about how the state could keep the information confidential because of cybersecurity threats. Yes, the bill died because of unknown potential hacking of the state of Washington computer systems. Try the argument in your state, see what happens.

Missoula Current | INSLEE’S OIL TRANSPARENCY BILL STALLS IN LEGISLATURE

Blackstone investing $25 billion in building data centers. Remember last week when we talked about how the data shows that data centers & A.I. are going to become the big power users? Welcome to the future. The future is now. @bloombergbusiness

Georgia seeks to add more power generation due to Georgia’s influx of data centers in recent years. Georgia Power said a wave of economic development of “unprecedented magnitude and speed” is heading for the state and requires more generation capacity.

Governing | Georgia Welcomed Data Centers. Now It Needs More Power.

Utah  Speaker of the House Mike Schultzpledged to not let Utah become a place where people “have to turn your thermostat to 80 degrees during the summer because there’s not enough power.” Utah is reorganizing its energy supplies so Utah can be “energy independent.” Utah currently receives wind generated power from Oregon or Washington. Electrical Energy Amendments bill, HB 191 (2024 | UT) would require any shuttered power plant to be replaced with another of equal capacity.

KUER | What does the Legislature’s ‘energy independence’ really mean for Utah?

New Jersey has approved its third round of offshore wind projects. The latest approval is for  2.4 GW of capacity to the Leading Light Wind project and around 1.3 GW of capacity to Attentive Energy Two. New Jersey’s offshore wind contracts now total  5.2 GW.

UtilityDive | New Jersey approves two offshore wind projects totaling 3.7 GW

A new report from the International Energy Agency says that U.S. energy use will increase by 1.5% for manufacturers and electrification.

Utility Dive | Electrification, manufacturing to propel 1.5% annual US electric demand growth through 2026: IEA

According to Bloomberg, power plants are scrambling to keep up with the electricity demands of A.I. A.I., data centers, and crypto collectively are expected to drive energy use up according to a new report from the International Energy Agency. Through 2026, global energy use will increase by 3.4% up from 2.2% in 2023.

Bloomberg | AI Needs So Much Power That Old Coal Plants Are Sticking Around

“We must ensure that energy is affordable, accessible, and sustainable, as soon as possible.” –Yuri Sebregts, the chief technology officer at Shell. @mitenergy

Pew Research says  87% of 10 Republican-leaning people think we should use a mix of fossil fuel and renewable energy sources. 57% of Republicans believe the U.S. should never stop using oil, coal, and natural gas.

Governing | The Biggest Issues to Watch in 2024

The first round of EV charging grants are public. Texas, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, and California secured large swaths of the funding.  $623 million in awards for 47 projects. For Texas, this means  $70 million to build five hydrogen fueling centers for medium and heavy trucks in the “Texas Triangle” of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

Route Fifty | Biden administration announces $623 million in EV charging grants for state and local agencies

Florida is considering SB1126 (FL |2024) that would further prevent cities and counties from regulating the use of so-called plastic “auxiliary containers.” SB 1126 is supported by the business establishment. 14 states ban plastic bags. 19 states limit regulation of plastic bags.

Florida Phoenix | The Florida Legislature wants to expand the control over regulating plastics

Alaska is said to have a successful carbon offset program, the Alaska Carbon Reduction Fund. The Fund is operated by a nonprofit and focuses on practical, local benefits like more efficient heat pumps in homes.

Route Fifty | A carbon offset project that’s actually working

Multiple companies are set to bring their bidirectional EV chargers with UL 9741 certification to the market this year.

Solar Power World | Bidirectional EV chargers to finally materialize in 2024

Interested in what drought stricken states are doing with groundwater reform? That’s a top priority for the Arizona Governor, so let’s watch it unfold. Included in the groundwater policy debate is a focus on a Saudi owned farm and its groundwater use.

AP | Arizona governor vows to rein in skyrocketing school voucher program, update groundwater laws

ThinkMicrogrid has released its scorecard grading how states are adopting microgrid policies. Grades were based on deployment, policy, resilience, grid services and equity. No state earned an A. 4 states earned a B including TX, CT, HI and CO. 16 states including CA and NY earned Cs. 32 states earned a Ds including FL, PA, IL, and AZ.

Utility Dive | Hawaii, 3 other states earn B microgrid grades. Most get Ds, per scorecard report.

Bonjour, Enell turbines which harness the air flow from traffic whizzing by to generate power. @techlife_75

Converting retired coal plant sites to new storage and renewable projects is occuring in New Jersey, Nevada, Louisiana and elsewhere. Some say the key to redevelopment of retired power sites is state securitization programs, grant programs like in Illinois, and tax credits.

Route Fifty | New life for old coal: Mine lands and power plants are hot renewable development spots

New Orleans City Council appears opposed to having rate payers shouldering the cost of grid updates. City Council’s opposition is 3 fold:  (1) electric bills are rising quickly already; (2) “chronic reliability problems”; and (3) existing alternative funding mechanisms for the industry, e.g.  low-interest loans from the federal Department of Energy.

Governing | Who Will Pay for New Orleans’ Updated Power Grid?

MIT scientists have developed a means to desalinate water that is more cost effective than current tap water filtration. “The system is passive, solar-powered, and doesn’t need additional electricity to run. It avoids the salt-clogging issues that plague other passive desalination devices, by creating swirling eddies that flush out the salt” @globalpositivenews

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is offering financial incentives for individuals, businesses, and nonprofits to replace lawns with low maintenance, low water wildflower meadows. @the_cool_down

Michigan passed a “Clean Energy Future” package – Senate Bills 271, 273 and 502 that create at least 2,500 megawatts of energy storage by 2030 and requires all state-regulated utilities to submit storage plans to the Public Service Commission by 2030. In addition to Michigan, 10 states have set energy storage goals, those states are California, Oregon, Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine.

Governing | Michigan Establishes Energy Storage Standard, First in Midwest

We’ve talked about offshore wind on the East Coast, in the North Sea, and the viability of offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico. Two of the East Coast projects have been cancelled due to cost inflation, high interest rates, and supply chain disruptions. Further, “New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would have streamlined an offshore wind project near Long Island.”

Governing | Just a ‘Bump in the Road’ for Offshore Wind?

In 2016 Pennsylvania passed a law that allows the dollar value of water systems to include not just pipes and plants but market factors such as their worth to the community, allowing them to be sold at much higher prices. This led to private water companies buying local governmental waste water systems. As a result, rates for Pennsylvanias have spiked.

Route Fifty | Sewer rates soar as private companies buy up local water systems

100 local governmental entities and California have restricted the sale and/or use of gas powered blowers. In one hour, a leaf blower emits the same emissions as a Toyota Camry driven for 1100 miles according to calculations by the California Air Resources Board. @fastcompany

Oregon Live | More than 100 cities have banned gas leaf blowers. Will Portland be next?

After vetoing a previous bill, Illinois Governor supports House Bill 2473 (2023 | IL). HB 2473 permits construction of small modular nuclear reactors. The bill limits the reactors to 300 megawatts, about one-third the size of the smallest of the six existing nuclear power plants in Illinois; requires a study to regulate SMRs; and sets a deadline for the regulartory structure adoption by January 2026.  

Illinois Times | Legislature approves bill to allow small nuclear plants

Texas’ Ector County is home to Project Permian, a gas power generation plant that would generate electricity with nearly zero emissions. Initially the plant was  to be operational in 2026. That date has been pushed to 2027/2028 due to “global energy supply chain”  and “extensive lead times across critical components.”

E&E | World’s first (nearly) zero-emission gas plant delayed until 2027

On November 7th, voters in Maine rejected a proposition to create a publicly owned electric company. The campaign cost $40 million and was opposed by Maine’s Democratic Governor.

Governing | Voters Reject Taxes, Embrace Ranked-Choice Voting Through Ballot Measures

California Governor has been given the power under a new Infrastructure Law, SB 149 (2023 | CA) to fast track infrastructure projects. This week marks his first use of that power by fast tracking the permitting of a water reservoir North of Sacramento. The reservoir will be the state’s 1st reservoir in 50 years.

Governing | California Governor Fast Tracks New Reservoir Project

We’ve talked about fire concerns over battery storage in California. So let’s turn to New York where Schenectady County Republicans are calling for a 2 year moratorium on new battery storage facilities. The policy concerns relate to fires at battery storage facilities and whether local first responders have adequate training and knowledge of the types of battery storage that are located in their county.

Governing | Schenectady County Calls for Energy Storage Moratorium

Meet the Texas A&M Water-Energy-Food, WEF, Nexus Research Group . Professor Rabi Mohtar, Ph.D., says that “Adding human health outcomes as an impact component is incredibly important for our ability to understand and assess how improved access to quality water, food and energy can improve health outcomes.” The group thinks that projects focused on water scarcity in Texas will translate globally. 

Texas A&M | Texas A&M Water-Energy-Food Nexus Helps Tackle Water Scarcity

Maine will vote on Proposition 3 that will create a “system of networked microgrids can be developed that would enable community solar and wind farms to connect to the statewide grid.” The arguments for the proposition are that Maine doesn’t want to end up with the grid issues the California, Hawaii, and Texas have. Ok, maybe I’m being polite, the exact phrasing that’s being used is “Large corporate grids have exacerbated extreme weather emergencies in California, Texas and most recently in Hawaii. “

Bangor Daily News |Letter: Time to change our electric grid with Question 3

Nebraska is considering small nuclear reactor legislation, LR 178 (2023 | NE) . ” CEO of the Nebraska Public Power District, said nuclear power must be part of the solution as the Legislature ponders how to ensure a reliable and robust economy, preserve the environment, maintain today’s quality of life and assess the needs of the future.”

Nebraska Examiner | Nebraska lawmakers explore feasibility of small modular nuclear reactors