Energy & Water

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

We’ve talked about bills and regulations that have governments charging  polluters the clean up costs. Well, Michigan Legislature is debating the issue and the Chamber of Commerce is making these arguments against the bill: (1) enormous added costs to the re-development of brownfields; and (2)  unachievable standards in place that will drive brownfield investment out of Michigan.

Michigan | Bills Introduced in Senate, House to Hold Polluters Accountable for Cleanups 

Michigan Chamber of Commerce | Legislature introduces ‘polluter pay’ legislation that would cripple Brownfield Development

 The US Solicitor General is arguing to the US Supreme Court that Texas’ ban on non-incumbent companies from building transmission in the state violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause. “States … have no authority to grant monopolies in the interstate electric transmission markets comparable to their authority to grant monopolies in the market for retail distribution of natural gas,” the solicitor general said.

Utility Dive | Texas ban on non-incumbent transmission is unconstitutional: US solicitor general

 South Carolina legislature has created an ad hoc committee for adding generation. South Carolina is facing rapid population growth and increased capital investments that are colliding with its lack of generation. Supporters of increasing generation are talking about how the lack of generation is an economic issue. It has caused the state to lose employers and economic development projects. 

CountON2News | SC lawmakers hope to address concerns surrounding future power generation in state

Sandia Labs and New Mexico-based CSolPower LLC are collaborating on affordable and renewable method of storing energy. Their focus is using rocks as a medium to store electrically charged thermal energy. Testing shows the unwashed gravel storage systems can operate in extreme heat.

InterestingEngineering | These electrically charged rocks provide efficient energy storage

 For a long while now, we’ve talked a lot about the federal hydrogen HUB funding process. Mostly we talk about the projects in the Midwest, Texas and New Mexico. The federal government has  funded 7 projects for a total of $7 billion. The funding will kickstart development and production of hydrogen fuel. It is estimated that these 7 projects will generate more than $40 billion in private investment and create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. 

Governing | Biden Announces 7 Hydrogen Hubs from California to Pennsylvania

A new report,  “Winds of Change: Navigating the Gulf of Mexico’s New Energy Frontier, says the Lousiana Gulf offshore wind project has the potential to generate approximately 1.24 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity. It will create $860,000 in investments for workforce training and domestic supply chain and $430,000 for fisheries compensatory mitigation. The report notes “The changing landscape for revenue sharing as it pertains to wind in the Gulf of Mexico remains a concern for state and local governments.”

Biz New Orleans | Report Touts Louisiana’s Offshore Wind Revenue Potential

 Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is reviewing whether 10 financial companies violate a Republican-backed state law that prohibits state funds flowing to firms that limit their work with the oil and gas industry because of climate change concerns. The Texas Comptroller maintains the divestment lists.
Bloomberg | Texas Launches New Review of Major Banks Over Energy Policies

 A new report from the International Energy Agency says that  50 million miles of new or replacement power lines are necessary to reach their climate and clean energy commitments. It also says that slow grid development will lead to almost 60 billion tons higher of carbon dioxide emissions between 2030 and 2050 .

Utility Dive | Electric grids could be the ‘weak link’ of clean energy transition, IEA

 California’s Governor recently signed SB 38 (2023 | CA) that requires battery storage facilities to have an emergency response plan and an emergency action plan, that covers the premises of the battery energy storages to protect those who live near battery storage facilities.

Monterey Herald | Governor signs Sen. Laird bill prompted by Moss Landing BESS incidents

Green Mountain Energy in Vermont has a plan to give residents battery storage so as to limit outages. They say  it is a more affordable approach than adding additional distribution lines. “Call us the un-utility,” Mari McClure, Green Mountain’s chief executive, said in an interview before the company’s filing. “We’re completely flipping the model, decentralizing it.” 

New York Times | Vermont Utility Plans to End Outages by Giving Customers Batteries

A new study in the Journal of American Planning Associations details the economic impact of climate change on municipalities in Florida. It is estimated that the costs will rise to $619 billion in property damage. The study points to direct costs of hurricanes and flooding, but also the downgrade in property values, the corresponding decrease in property tax revenue, and the increased insurance premiums and deductibles.

Route Fifty | Climate change is a fiscal disaster for local governments—our study shows how it’s testing communities in Florida

Arizona Governor announced that state would end ground water access to a Saudi-owned alfalfa farm. Imagine other states that then seek to limit foreign property owner access to other regulated and permitted items…

@nowthisisnews

SB 233 (2023 | CA) would have required all EVs to be bidirectional. This would have allowed EV batteries to power homes in cases of grid failure.

UCSUSA | What Happened in the California Legislature in 2023?

The Texas Public Utility Commission’s Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group met for the first time this week. It came about from this August letter from Governor Abbott that wants to know “how Texas will become the national leader in using advanced nuclear energy.”

Utility Dive | Texas PUC begins work to attract advanced nuclear reactors, in and out of ERCOT market

 Why do schools make a prime target for clean energy partnerships? Schools use a lot of energy and sit on a lot of land. Across the U.S. that’s 2 million acres and 9% of all commercial building energy use. The kicker: schools are also commonly used as evacuation centers. Thusly, adding solar panels with battery storage can ensure that they maintain power and light, heating or cooling, when power grids fail.

Governing | K-12 Schools Can Be Major Players in the Clean Energy Transition

Henderson, Nevada is in a desert. Lake Mead, its water source, has seen its water levels shrink. To address water use,  the city adopted two proposals. (1) replacing all non recreational parkland grass with natural, drought tolerant grass. (2) removing decorative-only grass from business properties. (sounds familiar, right? It is also happening in other western towns) Henderson is measuring its water policy success with the following metrics: community sentiment, the efficiency of water use at city facilities, and enforcement of water conservation regulations. 

Router Fifty | One city’s ‘data conversations’ help confront pressing challenges

 An association of 25 Governors are members of  the U.S. Climate Alliance. They have a plan to increase the number of buildings that  get their heat and cool air from heat pumps. They say this will reduce emissions, cut utility bills, and create jobs. Also included in the plan  is achieving zero-emission new construction. They say heat pump, create 50% reduction in energy bills and a 75% reduction in emissions.

Route Fifty | A group of US governors promises to install 20 million heat pumps by 2030 

 U.S. energy storage installations continue to break records again for Q2 2023. Hitting a new record in Q2, the U.S. added 5,597 megawatt hours. Grid specific energy storage increased by 5,109 MWh in Q2, beating Q4 of 2021, the pervious record,  by 5%.  Grid-scale projects achieved 172% growth quarter-over-quarter. California led with way with 49% of the installations.  

Electrek | US grid-scale energy storage installations soared in Q2 2023

Bonjour, Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, this midwest hydrogen project will tackle green, blue, and pink Hydrogen. The project is a partnership between BP, NiSource, ArcelorMittal, Purdue University Northwest, the state of Indiana, and the state of Illinois. Supporters of the project include nuclear power plant operator Constellation, Air Liquide, steel producer ArcelorMittal, EU-funded research institute EIT InnoEnergy, Plug Power, ExxonMobil Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago State University, ComEd, the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority, Governors State University, the Illinois Institute of Technology, Nicor Gas, Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Its goal is to decarbonize the emissions-intensive and hard-to-abate users across the US Rust Belt.

Governing | Midwest Hydrogen Hub Contends for $7B in Fed Funding

How do you bring power to an area devastated by wildfires that destroyed power lines? Del Norte County in California utilized microgrids to return power to its 27,000 residents and businesses. The microgrids came online within days and created the state’s largest and longest-running microgrid operation powered by large generators.

Governing | A California County Returns to Power, Thanks to Its Microgrid

Ever considered adding pocket parks to your state or city? A report from the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators says pocket parks, easily accessible green spaces in urban areas that are smaller than 1 acre, are a cost effective choice versus traditional infrastructure changes. Pocket parks also hit on these 5 policy areas: improving disaster resilience, creating green jobs and boosting property values, economic growth, and greenspace equity and public health. Salt Lake City is embracing them.

Route Fifty | Pocket parks emerge as a climate solution

Ever considered adding pocket parks to your state or city? A report from the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators says pocket parks, easily accessible green spaces in urban areas that are smaller than 1 acre, are a cost effective choice versus traditional infrastructure changes. Pocket parks also hit on these 5 policy areas: improving disaster resilience, creating green jobs and boosting property values, economic growth, and greenspace equity and public health. Salt Lake City is embracing them.

KCRA 3 | California Legislature approves plan allowing the state to buy power

Moodys this week warned about power price volatility based on renewables. It further said that batteries that store power for nighttime transmission could lessen the volatility. Moody’s indicated that “reliability costs associated with backstopping renewables could rise to $435 billion a year globally if the International Energy Agency’s forecast of 9.9 TW of solar, wind and hydro capacity being added by 2030 is accurate.”  Utility Dive Moody’s

The Colorado Sun took information from the Colorado Water Conservation Board and made some really interesting water infographics. In Colorado, 90 of water goes to irrigate farms and ranches, which contribute $47 billion to the state’s economy each year. 7% of Colorado’s water is for municipal (residential use) &  3%  is used by industry.

 Meet Project Bison a megaton direct air carbon capture project in Wyoming. It will be completed in 2030. See more from @worldeconomic forum or from Project Bison . Information sources for all.

During the last week, several pieces have talked about cutting or dialing back carbon offsets. Virginia is on the verge of walking back its carbon offsets. Shell also appears to be signaling a step back from carbon offsets.

Maine voters this year will vote whether the state should create the first state-consumer owned power company.

@perfectunion

Let’s check out what @cnsrvtxns4nrg is saying this week. “In 2022 alone, Texas wind, solar, and energy storage plants avoided over $296.7 million in wasted water consumption.”

  This new study looks at which group should bear the burden of taxation for air quality issues. The study points us to greater economic equity in shifting the burden of taxation onto shareholder income linked to GHG emissions instead of local tax payers. The taxation responsibility would lie with “those receiving the most economic benefits resulting from these emissions.”

PLOS Journal | Income-based U.S. household carbon footprints (1990–2019) offer new insights on emissions inequality and climate finance

Corporate Knights | What if we slapped carbon taxes on shareholders not consumers?

AB 1572 (2023 | CA) is a bill pending in California that would ban businesses from using drinkable to water decorative grass. Is this a full on ban? No. Does it mean that grey water can be used? yes. The proposal has the support of some of the state’s largest water agencies including Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

Governing | California May Permanently Ban Grass Watering for Businesses

Illinois Governor vetoed SB 76 (2023 | IL) that would have regulated small modular reactors because the regulations did not go far enough to regulate the nascent technology and “will cause exorbitant ratepayer-funded bailouts.”

Illinois.gov | Gov. Pritzker Vetoes Legislation

Texas Railroad Commission is seeking applications for the  Texas Hydrogen Production Council Membership. Apply here. Deadline is September 5th.

The Biden Administration is providing $1 billion in funding for 2 facilities on the Gulf Coast that will use “direct air” carbon capture technology. The sites will capture up to 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year initially & create over 4500 jobs.

Route Fifty | Gulf Coast carbon capture gets $1 billion boost from Biden administration

Texas-based Fervo Energy has announced that its pilot plant in Nevada has the first commercially viable enhanced geothermal technology by using horizontal drilling and pumping in water. The plant will connect to Nevada’s grid to provide 3.5 megawatts of electricity to power Google data centers. Expansion to Utah will follow to power 3000,000 homes.

Route Fifty | Tech breakthrough could boost states’ use of geothermal power

In the Western U.S., a new drilling technique makes geothermal drilling more accessible. To the east, we have the first utility-run thermal energy network. The west coast generally sees geothermal as “always-on” clean electricity & the east coast sees geothermal as a way to replace gas-powered furnaces for many neighborhoods, campuses and commercial buildings.

Route Fifty | Tech breakthrough could boost states’ use of geothermal power

 Let’s look at the laws Maine passed to acquire offshore wind power. LD 1895 (2023 | ME)creates the Maine Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Economic Development Program to address development and procurement of offshore wind. Unlike the plans for offshore wind in  Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey Maine’s program actively includes fisheries in the development.

NY Governor created the Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group after several energy storage facility fires this summer. “The Working Group will collaborate with first responders and local leaders to identify best practices, address potential risks to public safety, and ensure energy storage sites across New York are safe and effective.”

Governor Hochul Convenes Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group Following Fires in Jefferson, Orange, and Suffolk Counties

North Carolina Governor supports HB864 (2023 | NC) which would prevent clean up costs from pollution and environmental issues from being charged to rate payers. To translate, the bill would require the entity responsible for the pollution to pay for the clean up of the pollution.

We talked about this a couple years ago and now it’s a reality. California is covering its canal systems with solar panels to prevent evaporation and generate power.

@good

The Department of Energy announced this week its Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program. Funding will be available for things like identifying renewable energy siting and planning priorities; hiring and subcontracting to expand technical capacity and leverage experts in the region or state; developing state-specific resources that could improve siting practices and outcomes for local communities and the renewable energy industry, and  conducting trainings and workshops with local governments to improve technical understanding of renewable energy siting.  

Colorado’s public health department identifies pro bono lawyers for community groups to become official “parties” in complex environmental rulemaking before the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. These pro bono lawyers will take the community group from public comment to contestant party. Hello Texas, does this sound like the concrete batch plant issue taken to another level in another state?

Colorado Sun | Colorado air pollution regulators offer neighborhood groups free lawyers to represent them in environmental rulemaking

Big corporations are moving $9 billion in manufacturing to Mexico. They identify Mexico as having greater geopolitical stabilization, access to US energy giants, and a ready workforce. The needed link: more energy supplies. Federal funds can’t keep up with the electric infrastructure needs which means private energy investment is pouring into Mexico’s electric market.

Reuters via Street Insider | In Mexico, private cash races to plug nearshoring energy crunch

Drones, the future of water management? Drones are easier to deploy, more cost effective, and produce higher resolution photos of waters, flood waters, and can fine tune flood management and predictions according to Utah Water Research Laboratory’s AggieAir Unmanned Aerial System Service Center.

Route Fifty | Flood management gets a boost from drones

90% of corporations that responded to a survey of 992 board members by the Diligent Institute have incorporated environmental metrics into one or more areas of its business. 87% have done the same for social goals.

Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance | Sustainability in the Spotlight: Has ESG Lost Momentum in the Boardroom?

A U.S. House panel heard testimony on grid reliability. There was talk about the usual grid suspects like hackers, physical attacks, attacks on pipelines that fuel generation, and inverter based resources. Dare we ask what inverter based resources are? It’s solar, wind, and battery assets. By Utility Dive’s analysis these are ” increasingly used on the bulk power system and tied to high voltage transmission systems.” As such, they are a new vulnerability for the grid.

Utility Dive | House panel discusses grid threats: China, Russia, inverter-based resources, physical attacks

Meet B2U Storage Solutions that is utilizing old EV batteries as storage for solar projects in the California desert. The batteries retain 60% to 70% of its original charge capacity and are easy to install in the storage system. “This is exactly the type of market-based solutions that we’re looking for,” said manager Yamen Nanne of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Market Place | In the California desert, old EV batteries now store solar power

Bonjour NRG Dewey Prairie Garden! This one acre garden provides fresh fruits and vegetables to 2000 each month in surrounding counties. Since it began in April 2022, it has provided 10,000 pounds of produce for six food pantries. Texas Tribune tells us ” it is a part of a massive effort to restore a 35,000-acre lignite coal mine, which stretches mainly into the town of Jewett and used to fuel NRG’s Limestone Electric Generating Station, a 1,688-megawatt power plant. An NRG spokesperson said the coal plant began running on cleaner-burning coal from Wyoming in 2016.” Hello, benefitting local communities. We see you.

Texas Tribune | At a shuttered Texas coal mine, a 1-acre garden is helping feed 2,000 people per month

Supply chain issues have impacted building offshore wind projects. Some say these delays should encourage states to collaborate with industry on workforce development, transmission planning, and building a domestic supply chain.

Route Fifty | Budding U.S. offshore wind industry facing rough seas

Switzerland is testing solar panels on railroad tracks. It is unused space that covers a lot of ground to make interconnection more accessible.

@good

Oklo, a company that makes small modular nuclear reactors is going public. It is not the first SPAC merger involving nuclear companies and test investor appetite for clean-energy startups. Oklo intends to sell electricity into the competitive power market,” including through the kind of agreements that wind and solar developers often cut with corporate and industrial firms that want to buy carbon-free power.”

WSJ | OpenAI’s Sam Altman Is Taking a Nuclear-Energy Startup Public

Nevada Energy, local government entities and the Nevada Division of Forestry are using goats to curtail vegetation to mitigate wildfires. It all came to be because of Senate Bill 508, that provides funding to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for wildfire prevention, restoration and long-term planning.

City of Reno | Reno Fire, NV Energy, Nevada Division of Forestry Using Goats to Reduce Wildfire Risk

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence is creating cybersecurity guidance that is comprehensive and useful to small, medium and large water and wastewater utilities. It will address four main cybersecurity challenges: asset management, data integrity, remote access and network segmentation. The guidance will be based on new public-private sector collaboration.

Route Fifty | Feds want to help prevent cyberattacks on the water sector

A new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory  says mobile battery storage on trains could support power grid in emergencies. They say it cannot replace new infrastructure but can be a backup solution.

Utility Dive | Batteries on freight trains could be tapped to support the power grid in emergencies: study

Let’s scan laws on the treatment of utilities in EV charger roll outs.  Oklahoma (SB 502 (2023 |OK)  Georgia SB 146 (2023 | GA) and Texas  SB 1002 (2023 | TX) limit utilities from using ratepayer funds for charging networks. Ohio HB 33 (2023 | OH) is considering budget language that would allow for ratepayers to cover EV charging infrastructure.

Georgia Recorder | Statehouses debate who should build EV charging networks

California Legislature is considering two bills to reduce water usage. One bill would require nonresidential properties to transition to low-water and local native plants. The second bill would prohibit the use of potable water on some decorative grasses.

Governing | How Close Did California Get to 15% Reduced Water Use?

In 2021, Californians were asked to conserve water by reducing usage by 15%. Data shows they made it to a 7% reduction. In March the call to reduce water use was rescinded. But, it begs the question- how much can we change human behavior?

Governing | How Close Did California Get to 15% Reduced Water Use?

The Oklahoma legislature passed SB502 (2023 | OK), the Oklahoma Electric Vehicle Charging Act, that requires any provider of electricity, or subsidiary of such a utility that provides, owns or operates EV fast charging stations for consumer use to do so only through a separate entity subject to the same fees and conditions faced by private business providers of charging stations.

Journal Record | New Oklahoma law addresses investment in EV charging infrastructure

The Energy Department’s National Energy Technology Laboratory is launching data tools to help states safely route carbon pipelines. Data will include nationwide infrastructure data, land-use policies, and environmental conditions that could influence the construction and location of the pipelines. It is expected that by 2030, the U.S. will transport 65 million metric tons of carbon per year.

Route Fifty | Safely Routing Carbon-Capture Pipelines

Wisconsin passed a law that will  prohibit state and local governments from restricting utility service based on the energy source. The bill seeks to protect against building codes that prevent the use of natural gas, including gas stoves.

AP | Wisconsin Legislature moves to protect access to gas-powered vehicles

70% of all battery storage deployment in Q1 of 2023 occurred in ERCOT. 498.6MW came online in ERCOT, which is just over 70% of the total US battery deployment in Q1 of 710MW.

Energy Storage News | ERCOT accounted for 70% of US battery storage deployments in Q1

A new study published in Nature Sustainability says that while recycling won’t solve all clean air issues, it is part of the solution. The study says even with higher costs to cities for curbside recycling, ” the investment offsets the greenhouse gas emissions from non-recycled waste buried in landfills.”

Route Fifty | Curbside Recycling Offsets Garbage Emission Impact

California’s Salton Sea is home to some new lithium mines and geothermal power and in April it also experienced a series of earthquakes. This begs the question whether the mining and geothermal activities led to the earthquakes. Seismologists say whenever you drill into the Earth and tinker, seismic activity will follow. Geophysicists say it’s more complicated. Some say geothermal activity should have the same traffic light system as fracking which warns if pressures change.

Governing | Could Lithium Mining Trigger Earthquakes? It’s Complicated

This is a wild ride. So, I’m going to extract the most factual items from this… Here we go- “The Department of Energy has canceled a $200 million grant awarded to Microvast after lawmakers questioned the lithium-ion battery maker’s ties to China’s government.” Microvast is based in Stafford, Texas. “Republican Rep. Frank Lucas sent a letter to Energy Department Secretary Jennifer Granholm criticizing the funding decision.” The company said it will continue tis manufacturing without the grant funding and that “The company also affirmed its stance as independent from the Chinese Communist Party.”

Utility Dive | Energy Department cancels $200M Microvast battery grant

Let’s talk blackout messaging in the Golden State. Governor Newsom is talking about battery storage as a way to build grid resiliency in California. The state has the benefit of record winter snowfall boosting hydropower, but long term grid capacity remains. “We’re moving away from aspiration to application and implementation,” Newsom said.

Sacramento Bee | Gavin Newsom touts California’s battery storage to avoid blackouts, but grid challenges loom

Ocean, gulf offshore power meet offshore lake power. Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio are all looking to offshore wind in the Great Lakes. How does lake based offshore wind create new challenges? In the north- ice. But also it’s harder to get equipment into a lake than to get a cargo ship into the ocean. Michigan is starting a lake based offshore wind power pilot program to generate 150 megawatts of power online by 2030.

Route Fifty | Offshore Wind in the Midwest? Some Great Lakes Leaders Think So.

Minnesota created a $155 million state fund that will draw down matching federal dollars to support energy and climate projects in the state.

MinnPost | MinnPost guide to the Minnesota Legislature’s 2023 ‘done’ and ‘undone’ lists

Utah intends to fill in EV charger accessibility with utility owned ev chargers. Rocky Mountain Power will install 80 chargers, the majority in and around Salt Lake City and a small percentage throughout the state. How’s this getting funded? federal funding from the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.

Green Car Reports | Utility-owned EV fast-charging stations will fill the gap in Utah

Colorado Legislature passed HB23-1281 (2023 | CO), The Advance The Use Of Clean Hydrogen Act. that intends to protect against increases in climate-harming pollution from hydrogen production, and targets the usage of hydrogen at hard-to-decarbonize sectors where electrification may not be feasible. This is hand and hand with the state’s bid for federal Hydrogen Funds as part of Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub (WISHH)  Opposition includes the industry group, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Association, that says “the bill’s narrow definitions and strict standards will limit the production of hydrogen in Colorado.”

NRDC | Colorado Leads the Way with a Climate-aligned Hydrogen Course

CPR News | Colorado is poised to set the nation’s first standards for green hydrogen. Will the federal government follow suit?

Colorado’s new clean hydrogen standards could push production out of the state, industry group says

The rules for CO2 pipelines in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotas would require:  carbon steel pipe ranging from 4 to 24 inches in diameter with operating pressures of up to 2,200 pounds per square inch. That stays the same across these states. What varies across the states is how to go about building the pipelines. NE has no rules. IA has a lot of rules. Some counties along the way have stricter rules concerning eminent domain.

Route Fifty | States Rush to Make Rules Governing CO2 Pipelines

 Idaho National Laboratory has tools for utilities to build workforce development programs. INL supports a system of apprenticeships or residencies could help to strengthen the cybersecurity workforce within utilities. INL urges partnerships with academic institutions.

Utility Dive | Arizona Corporation Commission explores standardized cybersecurity assessments, workforce development

U.S. Energy Information Administration says Texas will add more wind and solar in 2023 than all other states combined. Texas has overtaken California as the leader in energy transitioning. “Indeed, the fact that Texas sustains large traditional industrial sectors alongside a thriving renewables industry makes the state a microcosm of the entire country, and potentially useful guide for other states mapping out their own energy transition routes.”

Reuters | Column: Texas trumps California as key US energy transition driver

The Department of Energy this week announced “the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize, a competition that will help HBCU institutions develop programming to strengthen the participation of K-12 and community college students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields”

DOE Announces $7.75 Million Investment in HBCUs to Support STEM Workforce

California’s water systems are under threat not from the drought that we often hear about but because the computer systems that control water and wastewater are old, outdated, easily hacked, and open for terroristic threats. This is very important this year where record snow falls are filling reservoirs and that water needs to be managed.

Governing | The Threats Against California’s Vulnerable Water System

The Department of Energy is funding 10 Hydrogen hubs, that could include green shipping hubs. These projects can include end-use applications, connective infrastructure, pipelines, shipping, and trucked hydrogen delivery.

Meet New Orleans’ H2theFuture consortium. It is a coalition led by the Greater New Orleans Development Foundation to establish a” world-leading clean hydrogen cluster in South Louisiana.”

Meet HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub. This consortium of energy majors and important organizations are working to “…  accelerate the development of clean hydrogen projects in Texas, Southwest Louisiana, and the U.S. Gulf Coast.” Its goal is to “…leverage the world’s largest concentration of existing hydrogen production assets, infrastructure, and customers in the Gulf Coast region to produce clean hydrogen…”

Meet Corpus Christi’s HCH2. This group includes “30 private sector team members as owners, developers and/or operators, off-takers, and end users of various hydrogen value chain projects and supporting infrastructure.”

Marine Link | ‘Hydrogen Hubs’ to the Fore

California became the first state to establish an emission standard for trains. The rule would ban the operation of locomotives that are more than 23 years old by 2030; starting next year prohibit trains with auto-shutdown from idling for more than 30 minutes ; require operators to deposit funds into a spending account based on the emissions they generate in California and to use those funds to upgrade their technology to cleaner alternatives.

The Hill | California adopts first-in-the-nation rule restricting locomotive emissions

Minnesota is proposing state green bank legislation that would put state funds to finance climate and clean energy projects in the state. The legislation creates the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority, funded with $45 million in state money to support a self-sustaining lending institution lend to businesses & homeowners. The lending would allow for longer terms, lower interest rates, and could cover projects like weatherization, solar panels and heat pumps.

Energy News Network | Minnesota legislation aims to boost speed and scale of green financing

New Mexico Legislature is expected to take up hydrogen hub legislation in its next session. New Mexico is a member of the  Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub, supporters see the state legislation as a way to help compete for the federal hydrogen hub funding. The state legislation focuses on tax credits and public-private partnerships.

New Mexico Political Report | Debate over hydrogen poised to return this legislative session

In 2019 Berkeley, California passed the first natural gas ban. This week a federal court said the local natural gas ban is preempted by federal law. It is thought that 26 of the 75 local natural gas bans in California could be impacted by the preemption court ruling.

Route Fifty | First Natural Gas Ban in the US Just Got Shot Down

New York SB S6055A(2023 | NY) and California AB 418 (2023 | CA) seek to ban Red dye No. 3, Titanium dioxide, Brominated vegetable oil, Potassium bromate, and Propylparaben. All are food additives that are linked to cancer, neurodevelopmental issues and hormone dysfunction.

NYTimes | Two States Have Proposed Bans on Common Food Additives Linked to Health Concerns

A coalition of partners in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin have put in an application to the Department of Energy for federal funding for a regional clean hydrogen hub. 33 groups have submitted applications for 6 to 10 hydrogen hubs that will receive federal funding.

In total 60 entities, both public and private, including businesses, universities, government agencies and community groups. The project is expected to add 4,500 construction jobs & 400 permanent positions. Total construction spending was estimated at nearly $4 billion, including $1.7 billion in wages and $65 million to $70 million in state income taxes.

Governing | Illinois, Indiana, Michigan Partner for Clean Hydrogen Hub

Reports of fears of solar installations in rural Texas. What’s causing concerns? There’s a list including the fear that battery installations will catch fire; electrical fires; environmental concerns; concerns about cutting down trees, scraping away grasses and blocking wildlife with fences. Some rural Texans are supporting SB624 (2023 | TX) that they say would give the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department the ability to review environmental impacts for wind and solar projects.

ABC 25 | Solar and wind companies are coming to rural Texas, these residents are trying to keep them out

Occidental has a carbon moonshot. Starting in 2024, large fans, the size of tennis courts, will begin sucking carbon from the air and storing it below ground. The CEO, Vicki Holly, has Warren Buffets blessing for the billion dollar project.

WSJ | Occidental Makes a Billion-Dollar Climate Moonshot—So It Can Keep Pumping Oil

Offshore wind is coming to the Gulf of Mexico. It is a smidge further along in the Atlantic, and a Texas think tank wants to put the kibosh on it. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there are no whale related deaths because of offshore wind. This is going to get weird, weirder than Austin weird.

Houston Chronicle | Behind lawsuits targeting offshore wind farms, Texas conservative group looms large

The PUC of Texas wants the Attorney General to clarify its exclusive original jurisdiction over water rates. What happens if a neighborhood has overlapping jurisdiction on water rates between the PUC and the municipality? Hello water people! RQ0504-KP

Cities, blue and red, are climbing on the urban forestry bandwagon, to cool and clean the air locally. Maybe it is climate change, maybe it is trees are cool. You can hug trees. You can read a book under their shade. Trees also absorb stormwater runoff. Evan Mallen, senior analyst for Georgia Tech’s Urban Climate Lab, says “Heat kills more people than any other weather-related disaster, and it’s something that’s getting a lot worse.”

Governing | Cities Nationwide Combat Climate Change With Urban Forests

North Dakota wants to be the epicenter of mining the rare minerals necessary for electronic equipment. Currently the U.S. imports 80%+ of its rare earths and critical minerals, mostly from China. The Feds are throwing money at it to $16 million announced last week.

Governing | North Dakota Wants to Lead the Nation in Rare Earth Production

The Green Hydrogen Coalition released new analysis detailing the critical role of electric generators in the development of green hydrogen. The analysis points to the need for long term, seasonal, energy storage. Hydrogen infrastructure could create tens of thousands of new jobs and drop the price of hydrogen to less than 70 cents a kilogram.

Utility Dive | Electric generators will fill a critical role in developing hydrogen in the Los Angeles area, analysis finds

SB 1751 (2023 | TX) limits crypto mining participation in the state demand response program that pays entities to add power back onto the grid by shutting down during grid stress. Texas Blockchain Council estimates that the crypto mining industry uses ,100 megawatts of Texas’ power supplies, up 75% over the last year.ERCOT estimates that crypto mining power demand is 3.7% of the state’s lowest forecast peak load.

Decrypt | New Texas Senate Bill Seeks to Slash Bitcoin Mining Incentives

Iowa Legislature is considering HF565 (2023 | IA) that would have banned the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines. Companies building carbon pipelines in Iowa have said publicly that they will not use eminent domain. Opposition was the state’s ethanol industry.

Des Moines Register | Senate won’t curb eminent domain for carbon pipelines; most Iowans say they want limits

The AES Corporation and Air Products is building a $4Billion green hydrogen facility in Willbarger County, Texas. Estimates for the project say it will support 1,300 construction jobs, 100s of permanent jobs, $500 million in tax revenues and will begin operations in 2024.

Rio Grande Guardian OpEd by Texas Association of Business | Hamer: Texas Must Be The Leader In Green Hydrogen

Wind farms in Val Verde Texas have had challenges since 2021. First, concerns that development was helmed by a Chinese billionaire. The development was picked up by a Spanish energy company. Since ecological concerns have arisen about migratory paths of birds, the monarch butterflies, and the Mexican free tail bats. Some say it’s just another version of not in my backyard.

NBCDFW | South Texans Concerned Wind Farm May Cause Ecological Dangers

Spearmint Energy has acquired Nomad, a 900 MW battery storage project consisting of 3 300MW storage facilities in Brazos, Galveston, and Cooke Counties. Spearmint’s first Texas acquisition was Revolution, a 150 MW/300 MWh project in West Texas.

Dive Wire | Spearmint Energy acquires 900 MW/2,000 MWh battery storage portfolio in Texas

SB619 (2023 | CA) would give the California Energy Commission the ability to expedite big transmission projects. Expedited approval can be given for projects that involve a capital investment of at least $250 million over five years. The bill’s author is calling it a “regulatory HOV lane. “

Sacramento Bee | California bills could speed up power line construction to meet clean electricity demand

California SB 420 (2023 | CA) will review power lines and will designate certain power lines as “environmental leadership development projects” which will eliminate the  economic review of the project.

DOE says 10 grid interactive building projects will participate in a $61 million, five-year demonstration. A DOE study says by 2030, grid-interactive buildings could save up to $18 billion/year in power system costs and cut 80 million tons of carbon emissions annually. This totals more than the annual emissions of 50 medium-sized coal plants or 17 million cars.

Route Fifty | A Federal Program Looks to Connect Smart Buildings with Smart Policy

West Virginia is mandating that companies report their use of PFAs. This information will be used by the state to determine how to mitigate the impact of PFAs on the state water supply. HB3189 (2023 | WV), The PFAs Protection Act.

The Dominion Post via Governing | West Virginia Ends Session With Bills on Education, Guns, PFAS

West Virginia passed HB 2814 (2023 | WV) creating the Hydrogen Power Task Force to study hydrogen energy and its role in the state’s economy.

The Dominion Post via Governing | West Virginia Ends Session With Bills on Education, Guns, PFAS