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Energy & Water
Energy & Water
Solar Panels & Heat Pumps Added to National Defense
What is happening? The Defense Production Act has been authorized to ramp up solar, hydrogen and heat pump production in the U.S., along with insulation and power grid components.
Why is this important? Some say this provides balance because of the volatility in the fossil fuel market.
How will this be important? The strategies will require stimulating demand for these products and funding targeted research to make these products cost effective and efficient.
Route Fifty | Why Biden Just Declared Heat Pumps and Solar Panels Essential to National Defense
DOEs Strategy for Cyber-resilient Grid
What is happening? This week DOE released its strategies for a cyber resilient grid with ” once-in-a-generation investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law “
Why is this important? The goal is to reduce or eliminate cyber vulnerabilities by engineering them out.
How will this be important? The strategies to achieve this will be set by a multi-stakeholder working group, comprised of senior technical leaders from across government, industry, academia, and the DOE National Laboratories, to develop a new strategy to defend our nation’s energy infrastructure from cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and risks in the most critical industrial control systems
Legislation: Rate Payers Pay for EV Charger Installations
What is happening? Ohio is considering SB307 (2022 | OH) which establishes EV credits and among other things would allow utilities to have rate payers pay for EV charger installations.
Why is this important? Ohio had a utility pilot project on EV charger subsidies for utilities, and now that provisions that allow for rate cases for EV charger installations, opposition is solidifying around the phrase ” Voltage Valley”
How will this be important? Opponents include consumers and gas companies that want to enter into the charging market.
Governing | Ohio May Place Electric Vehicle Charging Costs onto Customers
TX Attorney General Opinion: Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act
What is happening? This is the Attorney General’s 2nd opinion on the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act that prohibits giving access to critical infrastructure to a certain foreign-owned companies (Korea, China, Russia, et. al.)
Why is this important? The first opinion said the Act is triggered if there is an “interconnection agreement between a transmission service provider and an electricity generator that was a wholly or majority-owned subsidiary of a Chinese-headquartered corporation. See Tex. Att’y Gen. Op. No. KP-0388 (2021) at 3.”
How will this be important? This opinion says providing power to a factory for the factory own use does not appear to trigger the Infrastructure Protection Act.
COVID EFFECT. Retail & Tech Chime in on Grid Reliability
What is happening? Consumers of energy, in this case businesses, are speaking up about grid reliability because businesses want continuity with everything, including power.
Why is this important? Data Centers and Supply Chain Management are global issues now. Add this to the list of things that have changed since COVID.
How will this be important? Retailers world wide are looking at Uninterruptible Power Supplies to keep the power on when even minor disruptions occur.
Computer Weekly | Grid stability and the risk it poses to the retail sector and its datacentres
Why did NY legislators step back from a bill supporting renewable energy?
What is happening? New York legislators are easing off a bill that would have grown its renewable sector because ” Reliability margins on New York’s electric grid are shrinking as more fossil fuel generators retire and non-dispatchable renewables are added, the state’s Independent System Operator”
Why is this important? In New York retirements of generation systems are outpacing new sources and that is impacting reliability margins.
How will this be important? The Independent System Operator also said that by 2040 10% of power sources will come from sources unknown today.
Placing EV Chargers to Strengthen the Grid
What is happening? Leila Hajibabai, assistant professor in the industrial and systems engineering department at North Carolina State University and corresponding author of a paper on the work in Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering writes about a computational model that locates the best locations for EV chargers without burdening the grid.
Why is this important? The model finds locations that will be “serving the greatest number of people without taxing the power system.”
How will this be important? The model accounts for “the limitations of the power distribution network—its power flow, voltage, current, and so on.” Often the best place for EV chargers for the grid and the best place for drivers don’t align, the model finds ways to meet both competing interests.
Route Fifty | What’s the Best Place For an Electric Vehicle Charging Station?
Meet the New Kid: Deep Sea Turbine Power
What is happening? Japan is testing deep sea turbines. 330 ton turbines are anchored to the sea floor at a depth of 30-50 meters
Why is this important? It would be a new source of renewable power.
How will this be important? Deep sea renewable power would not require sun nor wind.
Meet NoNa DeSal, Portable Desalination
What is happening? NoNa desalination system is smaller than a case of water and runs on less power than a cell phone and uses a sole panel and electricity to remove salt and bacteria from water.
Why is this important? Imagine access to a portable desalination system during a hurricane that has knocked water plants offline.
How will this be important? Rapid deployment of portable desalination during emergencies.
$8 Million for Hydro Power Flexibility
What is happening? U.S. Department of Energy is offering $8 million “in funding to support projects that will improve the flexibility of the U.S. hydropower fleet and enhance electric grid reliability.”
Why is this important? “The hydropower fleet is well suited to help integrate more renewable energy while ensuring the electric grid remains reliable and resilient,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman.
How will this be important? One of the funded projects will focus on storage. “Oregon State Univeristy will demonstrate and quantify the value of a hybrid hydroelectric-storage generation unit, which combines a hydropower unit that does not have storage capability with supercapacitors. This project will involve the construction of a 200 kW lab-based hybrid hydroelectric-storage generation unit that will serve as a testbed for performance analysis and model validation.”
States Look to Electric Utilities for BroadBand
What is happening? Regulators in New York, Arkansas and Florida are looking to electric utility fiber optic lines as a means to bring broadband to rural areas.
Why is this important? The fiber optic lines already exist which regulators see as a bonus. Electric coops in Arkansas see it as an opportunity as they banded together to form a new wholesale broadband provider.
How will this be important? The New York Power Authority sees broadband over fiberoptic as a way to “maximize the use of our equipment, share our technical expertise and strengthen our customer relationships all to benefit more New Yorkers, “
Route Fifty | States Look to Electric Utilities for Broadband Connections
Eminent Domain Bill with Transmission Requirements.
What is happening? Missouri has been trying to pass an eminent domain bill to prohibit the use of eminent domain for a transmission project that would carry electricity through the state but the state would neither generate or receive any of the power. HB 2005 (2022 | MO)
Why is this important? A compromise included a compensation rate of 150% of the market value and would require the energy company to drop electricity in the state.
How will this be important? The bill will apply to all future projects.
Conflicting energy policies.
What is happening? Local governments in California are adopting building codes that support electrification and eliminate the use of natural gas. These policies are hitting a brick wall with the infrastructure to support it.
Why is this important? Berkeley’s transformers and distribution lines are being challenged to withstand the increased electric use. The infrastructure was built before the homes had A/C and certainly not as many electronics or electric cars.
How will this be important? “Modernizing the entire grid, quickly, is cheaper in the long run, but there’s a big upfront cost: about $160 million, by one preliminary estimate. If financed over 30 years at an interest rate of 3.2 percent, it would cost about $11 million a year.”
Governing | California’s Grid Isn’t Ready for Fully Electrified Homes
Charging Deserts
What is happening? Get to know the term charging deserts- it is used for rural areas that do not have access to EV chargers.
Why is this important? It’s an infrastructure and a charger situation and there’s a push to close the gap. Considerations include is there proper infrastructure to power EV chargers and site selection for chargers.
How will this be important? Ultimately the question will be is it cost prohibitive for private companies to install chargers in charing deserts or will state or federal fund be required.
Utility Dive | Closing the gap on rural EV ‘charging deserts’
Landfill to Largest Urban Solar Array
What is happening? The Houston neighborhood of Sunnyvale is turning a landfill into the largest urban solar farm in the US.
Why is this important? The Sunnyvale solar project will partner with energy companies to sell electricity from its 150,000 solar panels, enough to power 5,000 to 10,000 homes.
How will this be important? Construction is set to being in 2022. Operations set to being in 2023. The landfill began operations in the 1930s. During the landfills tenure 82% of Houston’s trash was dumped at the landfill. The organization behind the project hopes to “negotiate a small percentage of revenue from the commercial solar array to fund projects benefiting Sunnyside, such as reducing the cost of home solar panels.”
New Carbon Capture Project in Texas
What is happening? Enterprise Product Partners and Occidental Petroleum are partnering to establish a carbon dioxide sequestration and transportation system to sell carbon management services to emitters along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Why is this important? The $1 billion facility could remove 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide directly from the air
How will this be important? carbon capture projects are on track to increase 10 fold by 2030 according to Norwegian Rested Energy.
Houston Chronicle | Enterprise, Oxy plan CO2 project along Texas Gulf Coast
How much energy does large scale crypto mining use?
What is happening? A large scale crypto mining facility in Iowa is located near a town of 2800. The crypto mining site’s 1,900 computers mines $17 per day. That’s $32,000 a day. The power bill is $5000 per day, 4.05 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Why is this important? The investors in this mining operation want to open 5 more in Iowa because of the affordable power. The cooperative’s electricity sales to large commercial and industrial customers more than doubled from 16.5 million kilowatt-hours in 2018 to 36.9 million kilowatt-hours in 2020.
How will this be important? last fall China stopped crypto mining which moved miners out into other countries, including the US.
Governing | Iowa Bitcoin Mining Facility Uses More Power Than Town Residents
Anatomy of an OffShore Wind Deal
What is happening? Ørsted, the Danish company set to install the Garden State’s first offshore wind farm. They will partner with Newark-based PSEG. The details:
- New Jersey if putting $500 Million into the project.
- Ocean Wind 1 project was approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in June 2019
- 6 companies bid a combined $4.37 billion for the right to build wind energy projects on the ocean floor off New Jersey and New York in the U.S. government’s largest such auction
- Ocean Wind will provide 1,100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 500,000 homes
- A 2nd related facility in Paulsboro on the Delaware River in southern New Jersey to build the huge poles supporting wind turbines.
Why is this important? The agreement includes Ørsted using a state-financed manufacturing port to build the components of the offshore wind farm
How will this be important? Ports are setting carbon neutral time tables. We know Long Beach is and Houston set carbon neutral goals just last month.
AP | Orsted will use NJ Wind Port to build offshore wind farm
Local Water Fine Changes in Austin.
What is happening? City Council approved a change in fee structure for water violations that will benefit residential customers.
Why is this important? 97% of fine recipients have been commercial operations- irrigators and car washes that fail to report as required. In lieu of a $250 initial fine for homeowners, a first violation will be $25, then $50 and then $200-300. For Commerical offenders the fines will be $500 for first violation and then $750.
How will this be important? Since December 2020 the city has not fines residences and in stead has focused on education.
KXAN | Austin City Council votes to increase penalties for companies wasting water
EV Chargers + Building Codes + republican Opposition Talking Points
What is happening? Colorado’s House Bill 22-1218 will require new commercial buildings above a certain size to have electric vehicle charging for at least 10% of their parking spaces. New multifamily apartment buildings would require electric vehicle charging infrastructure for 20% of their parking spaces.
Why is this important? The bill also requires expanded electric capacity to expand electric vehicle charging to more parking spaces in the future.
How will this be important? Republican opposition included: “That is a cost the utilities have to pick up, and that is a cost that has to go across to everybody,” Pico said on the House floor. “It pulls an additional cost on the utilities that all of us will have to pay, whether you have an electric car or not.”
Meet the Largest Commercial Utility Drone
What is happening? Florida Power & Light is the first electric utility to deploy drone-in-a-box by Austin TX based Percepto, a pioneering autonomous inspection by industrial robotics.
Why is this important? Florida Light & Power will introduce hundreds of Percepto drones to monitor the utility’s distribution substations over approximately the next five years. These drones have passed testing for Category 5 Hurricanes.
How will this be important? Autonomous grid reliability and resiliency inspections are crucial during disasters.
State Infrastructure Czars
What is happening? McKinsey Public and Social Sector Practice is recommending State Infrastructure Czars to assist in coordination of infrastructure projects.
Why is this important? Allocation of the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure law and that adds an additional layer of complexity for state agencies as the funds are mixed from direct funds to grants and loans. “Officials will likely need to navigate a complex set of approvals and stakeholders to deliver new builds and upgrades, all while integrating innovative technologies and managing cost with strained supply chains and the new Buy America requirements,” the McKinsey authors continued.
How will this be important? To obtain different types of funding the applicant could be a state agency, a local government, or a utility. The coordination of the infrastructure czars would help obtain funding and streamline projects so that roads are torn up one day for 1 thing and another day for another.
Route Fifty | Making the Case for State Infrastructure Czars
COVID Effect. Wastewater Surveillance
What is happening? Colorado is the 1st state moving toward statewide waste water surveillance. For Texans, Harris county has surveyed its wastewater through the pandemic.
Why is this important? 50% of people with COVID will shed RNA in feces without regard to whether the person has any symptoms of COVID. Colorado is putting the data on a public dashboard.
How will this be important? Epidemiologists say wastewater can offer an early warning sign about where covid spread is highest. It’s cost effective. Was successful overseas in the fight against polio, and has been successful in Colorado universities where dorms waste is surveyed, when rates are high students are tested and infected students isolated, thereby slowing rapid spread of COVID.
Bills to Preempt Net Metering Study
What is happening? In a legislative gamesmanship move, bills filed in New Hampshire look to take action before a Utility Commission sanctioned report on fair net metering rates can be made public.
Why is this important? One bill, HB 1629 (2022 | NH) , cuts the net metering rate to make it equal to the whole sale rate which renewables say harms the renewables industry. Another bill, HB 1599 (2022 | NH) , makes larger scale projects of net metering, above 1MW more lucrative.
How will this be important? Process is what is important here- do agreed to, utility commission sanctioned studies have merit, or do legislators do what they want without data collected by the utility regulator.
Energy News Network | New Hampshire legislation aims to preempt state’s net-metering study
How do satellites track water quality?
What is happening? A Texas A& M researcher discovered the use of satellite imagery to compliment ground based research.
Why is this important? Satellite images can detect flow patterns and temperatures that help better understand water sources.
How will this be important? The goal is to “build a next generation computer model for predicting pollution levels in rivers across the United States.”
kiiitv | Texas A&M professor spearheads water quality initiative with NASA
Meet the Solar Panels that Function at Night
What is happening? Scientists at Stanford discovered that the temperature differential as solar panels cool at night can be captured and converted into energy with a thermoelectric generator.
Why is this important? The thermoelectric generator could eliminate the need for battery storage.
How will this be important? A thermoelectric generator could be very helpful in rural areas where battery storage may not be economically feasible.
Power Plant Carbon Capture Project Economic Impact
What is happening? Cleco is building a carbon capture facility in central Louisiana.
Why is this important? It’s a $900M project, creating 1000s of construction jobs and 30-40 full time operational jobs
How will this be important? Fully operational in 2028, it will “reduce the carbon emissions at Cleco’s Madison 3 power plant by 95 percent by capturing it and sequestering it in 4,000 feet below in geological formations”
Governing | Carbon Capture Project Will Create Over 1,000 jobs in Louisiana
Defeating Drought. Recycled Wastewater.
What is happening? California is looking to curb its current drought bot by reducing water use but by recycling wastewater and capturing stormwater.
Why is this important? Currently California recaptures or recycles 23% of its water.
How will this be important? A study says recycling and capturing can save 30% of California water. Recapturing storm water could result in, depending on rainfall, between 580,000 and 3 million acre-feet of stormwater in urban areas.
Governing | California Could Shrink Water Use in Cities by 30% or More
Fossil Fuel Divestment TWIST
What is happening? Wells Fargo named its first Chief Sustainability Officer.
Why is this important? Wells Fargo’s CSO will ” set interim financed emission targets for its oil, gas and power portfolios by the end of 2022.”
How will this be important? In 2021, Wells Fargo became the last of the six largest U.S. banks to commit to achieving net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.
Utility Dive | Wells Fargo names its first chief sustainability officer
New ERCOT Disclosure : Crypto Mining Power Needs
What is happening? ERCOT Market Notice will require certain disclosure for connectivity for large load users.
Why is this important? Cryptomining…Crypto miners draw a lot of load. But the disclosures apply to all large electric users.
How will this be important? ERCOT also has a task force that will make recommendations on crypto mining.
ALEC’s Energy Discrimination Elimination Act
What is happening? The ALEC legislation states ” “Banks are increasingly denying financing to creditworthy fossil energy companies solely for the purpose of decarbonizing their lending portfolios and marketing their environmental credentials.”
Why is this important? So far in 2022, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Indiana have all introduced ALEC’s legislation.
How will this be important? This may be like cigarette companies arguing against advertising bans as the health and safety issues can be viewed as analogous.
ALEC | Setting the Record Straight: The Energy Discrimination Elimination Act
Clean Technica | ALEC Sponsors Laws That Punish Corporations For Fossil Fuel Boycotts
Solar Panels Stopping Evaporation. Solar Saving Water.
What is happening? For the first time in the US, solar panels are being deployed to help stop water source loss due to evaporation.
Why is this important? California is deploying solar panels over its canals. India has been using this technology.
How will this be important? Not only could the solar panels lower evaporation, thereby retaining more water, but the panels could also “create improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth; reduce canal maintenance as a result of reduced vegetative growth; and of course, generate renewable electricity.”
Electrek | In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals
Bidirectional EV Charging By the Numbers
What is happening? We know Ford is marketing its new EV truck as able to power a home for 3 days on a single charge.
Why is this important? Let’s look at KW residential use and vehicle batteries:
- Ford says it can add back 2.4 KW, upgradable to 9.6 KW
- This is about on par with a Tesla Power Wall
- This would run 8-10 refrigerators for a few days
- This would run a house for a few days
How will this be important? EVs could peak shave and allow a home owner to use power from their EV during peak hours instead of high rate peak electricity
Can an EV Power your House?
What is happening? Bidirectional charging is the hot new topic for EVs. Meaning the EV can add power back, not just take power to charge.
Why is this happening? EV sales keep increasing and demand for bidirectional charging is increasing. The numbers:
- 2021 EV sales doubled previous year
- 2022 EV sales are expected to double again to 1.2 million
How will this be important? Ford is marketing its new EV truck to power your house for 3 days on a single charge- especially key to states like TX and CA which have seen power disruptions.
W Virginia: New Hydrogen HUB
What is happening? A coalition of Congressional members and the West Virginia Governor joined forces for the state to apply for federal DOE funds to create a hydrogen hub.
Why is this important? Opponents say 3 things:
- plan to cut emissions from carbon-intensive goods like cement and steel would waste taxpayer subsidies
- Hydrogen Hub is an uneconomic technology
- Hydrogen Hub will fail to adequately cut carbon emissions
How will this be important? DOE wants to create at least 4 HUBs. WVA pointed to its 4,000 miles of pipelines, geologic potential to store carbon dioxide in deep rock formations, and deep fossil fuel legacy support it being a Hydrogen hub.
Charleston Gazette via Governing | West Virginia Steps Toward Hydrogen Hub Despite Criticism
Clean Air University Research Revolt
What is happening? 500 leading academics, climate experts, and university members primarily from the US and the UK are asking their universities to lead the way in championing fossil-free climate research
Why is this important? Some Univeristy research is funded by fossil fuel companies and these 500, and others, say the fossil fuel funds create an air of pay to play
How will this be important? Let’s look at this as divestment 2.0, divesting universities from paid research that may direct the research outcome
The Nation | Climate Research Shouldn’t Be Funded by Fossil Fuel Companies
Battery Storage Growth in 2021
What is happening? The “2022 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook” published today by BloombergNEF (BNEF) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) says that close to 4.2 GW of battery capacity was added to the US grid in 2021
Why is this important? The 2021 battery capacity is greater than all previous years combined
How will this be important? The growth in battery storage is tied to the increase in clean energy.
Energy storage & carbon footprint
What is happening? The US Department of Energy is investing $4M to explore the potential of energy storage technologies to shrink the carbon footprint of existing fossil fuel plants.
Why is this important? The Electric Power Research institute says that this storage potential creates a pathway for these assets to be transitioned from fossil fuels to storage
How will this be important? The goal is to help existing power resources to be the most efficient and effective. Investments include sand thermal energy storage pilot design, a steel-concrete composite hydrogen energy storage prototype that can be integrated into coal and gas-powered electricity plants, & a hydrogen storage demonstration
Utility Dive | DOE eyes hydrogen, thermal storage to shrink carbon footprint of fossil fuel plants
New Rice Study: Renewables v. Coal
What is happening? Rice University researchers used “optimization modeling to identify the least-cost combination of proposed wind and solar projects, all with the potential to replace coal-fired power generation in Texas.”
Why is this important? They concluded that wind and solar could replace nearly all of Texas’ coal output.
How will this be important? To get to this point, the state would need to expand transmission lines that connect the windiest and sunniest parts of the state to cities.
The Hill | Texas has enough wind and solar power to replace coal almost entirely
New Demand Response Study. Texas A&M.
What is happening? A Texas A&M research team published a study in iScience Journal concerning demand response that counters the idea that large population centers should be the primary target.
Why is this important? The Texas A&M researchers found that “focusing on a few strategic locations across the state outside of those high-population areas is much more cost-effective and can have a greater impact on the price volatility of the grid. A machine learning algorithm is utilized to strategically select these demand response locations based on a synthetic Texas grid model.”
How will this be important? The researchers’ goals are to ” hopefully reduce the price volatility of the grid, which we believe would be best for society.”
Texas A&M Today | Targeted Demand Response Reduces Price Volatility Of Electric Grid
Florida’s Waste to Energy Bill
What is happening? Florida wants to be the leader for waste to energy programs. SB 1764 (2022 | FL) will create a municipal solid waste-to-energy program within the state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to offer financial assistance for power purchase agreements (PPAs) & incentive grants for capacity expansion to publicly-owned waste combustion facilities.
Why is this important? Florida has limited land and high population growth leaving little land available for landfills.
How will this be important? Florida began these programs in the 1970s and then facilities began to retire, but what is old is new again.
Utilities + EV Charger Funds
What is happening? ForthMobility, a nonprofit in the EV Charger space, says “states that require or encourage electric utilities to invest in transportation electrification can leverage federal funds for much greater impact.”
Why is this important? States have access to $5 billion formula program called the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure corridor charging program (NEVI) and through a $2.5 billion discretionary grant program.
How will this be important? The timeline for these federal funds is quick with initial plans due in May.
CleanTechnica | 8 Key Steps For States To Prepare For The EV Charging Boom
Legislation for Bike Lanes in Transmission Line Paths
What is happening? Bicycle lobbyists in Colorado are looking to a 2014 agreement between Centerpoint and the City of Houston to support bike trails under power lines.
Why is this important? That 2014 agreement is said to so difficult to implement the Texas Legislature streamlined it, and now Colorado wants to build upon this thought process.
How will this be important? Landowners are concerned in Colorado that they will be liable for bicycle accidents on the path, and further landowners are agreeing to transmission lines, not to people on trails cutting through their property.
By the Numbers. Bitcoin Mining Energy Use in Texas
What is happening? We now have information concerning energy use for 2 new bitcoin miners in Texas. Let’s look:
- Rayburn Country Electric Cooperative Inc., Service Area Bitcoin Mine
- Each mine will require $20 million to fortify power lines and avert blackouts
- Will consume as much energy as 60,000 homes
- Researchers say mining adds $8 for individual utility bills, and $12 for small businesses
- Global crypto mining uses as much electricity as powering every light in the U.S.- twice
Why is this important? The 3 factor helping bitcoin mining companies: little regulation, affordable electricity & a political leadership wanting Texas to become an epicenter of crypto mining.
How will this be important? China ceased crypto mining in the fall of 2021. All those mining companies need a home. ERCOT members will vote this month on creating a task force to understand how many mines will connect to the grid and how fast.
Government Technology | Bitcoin Mining Threatens to Further Strain Texas’ Electric Grid
The Street | In Texas, an Influx of Crypto Miners May Mean Higher Electricity Bills for Consumers
Anatomy of an Offshore Wind Bill
What is happening? California enacted AB 525 (2021 | CA) to develop a strategic plan for offshore wind that sets “the maximum feasible capacity of offshore wind to achieve reliability, ratepayer, employment, and decarbonization benefits,” as well as create 2030 and 2045 offshore wind planning goals.
Why is this important? We’ve talked about big offshore wind projects by states in New England and Louisiana. Offshore wind is gaining ground.
How will this be important? The generation goals for California’s offshore wind are 3 GW of offshore wind by 2030, 10 GW by 2040 and 20 GW by 2050.
Proposed Ground Rules for Energy Storage
What is happening? Minnesota wants to set ground rules for battery energy storage. HF 1651 and SF 1674
Why is this important? The authors goals are to promote the deployment of energy storage systems by both utilities and customers; fund construction from the state’s Renewable Development Account; interconnection between storage systems and distribution facilities; compensation for storage system owners putting electricity back onto the grid; requiring utilities to have energy storage systems in their resource planning; and require the deployment of energy storage systems at applicable substations for those replacing feeder lines.
How will this be important? To quote one of the authors “energy storage is the next big thing”
Community Choice Aggregators Meet EV Incentive Legislation
What’s happening? A bill in California, AB 1814 (2022 | CA) would allow Community Choice Aggregators to participate in EV Charger Incentive programs.
Why is this important? Community Choice Aggregators are permissible in 8 states and allow municipal utilities to buy certain electric from an investor owned utility.
How will this be important? The author of the bill says that Community Choice Aggregators, due to their relationship with municipalities, are uniquely positioned to craft EV Charger plans.
States Turning Food Waste into Energy
What is happening? We’ve chatted about how California (hello, SB 1383) became the first state in the nation to address this issue.
Why is this important. Methane has 90x as much impact on warming as an equal amount of CO2. The biogas produced from food waste can turn into electricity, heat, steam, vehicle fuel, bio methane & compost.
How will this be important?
- In 2021, 5 bills across 18 states
- Tennessee and Washington, and Los Angeles and Madison, Wisconsin, have created food waste task forces.
- Maryland requires food facilities producing more than two tons of food waste a week to separate it from other waste and divert it from landfills
- New Jersey passed a law that requires producers of food waste such as hospitals, prisons, restaurants and supermarkets recycle food garbage rather than send it to incinerators or landfills.
- Vermont has close to a full ban on organic waste in landfills
- Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington have passed bills to keep food out of landfills
Governing | It’s Time America Stopped Throwing Out Food Waste
Arizona Legislature Rescinding Anti-Solar Rates
What’s happening? The Arizona Legislature passed legislation that permitted a solar company to increase rates for customers by 65%. A federal court found anti-trust laws applied. As a result, the Legislature is considering a repeal of the law. HB 2101 (2022 | AZ)
Why is this important? “the Arizona legislature is poised to rescind the state’s law favoring competition in electricity generation and supply, a law that was central to the appeals court’s antitrust finding”
How will this be important? The Arizona chapter of the national solar association SEIA, is opposed because it says the 65% rate increase will be allowed to stand. The opposition letter
PV-Magazine | Arizona Senate controls the fate of Phoenix anti-solar rate
demand credit rider submission by all investor-owned utilities
What is happening? Minnesota is considering SF 1674 (2022 | MN )
Why is this important? The author is proposing ground rules for the deployment of storage technologies. This includes “specific directives to the Public Utilities Commission about interconnection between storage systems and distribution facilities; compensation for storage system owners putting electricity back onto the grid; and requiring utilities to have energy storage systems in their resource planning. “
How will this be important? Let’s watch the amendment game and see where this takes us.
RStreet Federal Electric Reforms
What’s happening? R Street Institute is writing about 10 electricity reforms that can improve the economy & the environment.
Why is this important? Here’s there list of reforms:
- Redefine “good utility practice” to incorporate grid-enhancing technologies
- Reduce artificial barriers to entry in generator interconnection
- Bolster regional transmission planning, cost allocation, oversight and competition
- Overhaul interregional transmission planning
- Remove barriers to electric commodity market innovation and liquidity
- Make competitive generation the law of the land
- Strengthen competitive rules for affiliate transactions
- Enable nationwide retail choice
- Require granular emissions transparency
- Eliminate price controls on state policy
How will this be important? The goal appears to be to reach a consensus on climate and clean air by lowering costs, increasing innovation and slashing emissions.
R Street | Ten Congressional Electricity Reforms to Improve the Economy and Environment
non-utility electric generating facilities
What is happening? West Virginia House is voting on a bill that would allow non-utility electric generating facilities to operate in any zoning area. HB 4553 (2022 | WV)
Why is this important? Supporters call it an economic development tool & opponents say it removes local control.
How will this be important? The interesting part of this debate is the amendment process. Amendments could guide other legislations like:
- exclude wind from being able to operate anywhere
- limit electric generating facilities as a permitted use to counties that adopt partial or total zoning
- limit exempt facilities to those that use coal, natural gas or nuclear power to generate electricity
Charleston Gazette via Governing | State Votes on Non-Utility Electric Facilities in All Zones
Western States MOU on Clean Hydrogen
What is happening? CO, WY, NM and Utah signed a Memorandum of Understanding to compete jointly for a portion of the $8 billion allocated in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the development of regional clean hydrogen hubs
Why is this important? NM had declared itself a clean hydrogen hub. Nearby in TX, the Port of Corpus Christi is leaning in to hydrogen hub.
How will this be important? An RFP that the U.S. Department of Energy is expected to release in May 2022
Study: Utilities decarbonization, climate change by the numbers
What is happening? Deloitte’s 2022 energy brief reveals:
- 48 out of 55 US large investor-owned utilities had committed to reduce carbon emissions
- 3 of 4 customer accounts are served by an entity with a 100% carbon reduction target
- 24 utility parent companies have adopted voluntary carbon-reduction targets
- 20 of the 24 opted for 100% carbon reduction goals
- 40% carbon emission reduction since 2005 by electric utilities
Why is this important? 60% of US electricity is still generated by carbon-emitting sources
How will this be important? New generation is largely wind and solar, accounting for 86% of new generation for the first 8 months of 2021
EV Chargers and Billing Structure in Charger Legislation
What is happening? Wisconsin is considering SB 573 (2022 | WI) that would allow private entities to own EV charges and bill for their use.
Why is this important? Billing for charging can be either by amount of electricity or by amount of time. Billing for amount of time disadvantages cars with slower charging.
How will this be important? The State’s municipal league now opposes the bills since it can no longer install EV chargers in public or municipally owned spaces.
WPR | Wisconsin bill reveals fight over control, profit over electric vehicles
A Laundry List of EV Charger Amendments
What is happening? Wisconsin is considering a package of bills that would establish rules of EV chargers.
Why is this important? The bills have a series of amendments that are catching people’s attention much like the way a skunk catches your attention. The amendments:
- ban government entities from owning or leasing charging stations
- require chargers to use electricity that comes from utilities — not from on-site solar installations
How will this be important? Only five states — Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia — have adopted policies restricting EV charging station ownership beyond utilities.
Wisconsin Public Radio | Wisconsin bill reveals fight over control, profit over electric vehicles
Anatomy of a Desalination Permitting Process
What is happening? The California Coastal Commission will vote on a seawater desalination plant in Huntington Beach, California. The vote could cap the 15 year permitting process. IT would mean California will have permitted seawater desalination plants.
Why is this important? Supporters say it will provide a reliable water supply & is a part off the solution, not the entire solution. Opponents say the technology has improved, but saltwater desalination uses more energy than any other type of water source, can impact marine life, and has led to increased water rates.
How will this be important? We’ll see which way permitting falls, a third thought group is that reusing grey water (showers, dishwashers) and collecting rain water could be more effective with a smaller carbon footprint.
Route Fifty | A Parched West Remains Divided on Desalinating Seawater
Utilities and EV Charger Legislation Hoosier Style
What is happening? Indiana Legislature is considering HB 1221 (2022 | IN ) which was amended to include a requirement that businesses that sell electric vehicle charging to get their energy from their local utility.
Why is this important? Some states allow utility ownership, some do not, some allow rate base recoupment of EV charger expenses, some do not. Indiana’s bill would allow rate base recoupment of costs for public charging stations but will require those utilities to give lower-income communities and racially or ethnically diverse communities equal access to chargers installed as part of a pilot program
How will this be important? New territory for policymakers across the country. Add to it the concerns of security experts that data security isn’t as high as it should be for EV chargers and it’s a policy wonk Christmas tree.
WFYI | Groups worry amendment in EV charging bill gives utilities an unfair advantage
First, Indiana. Now Nebraska and Iowa. Nuclear Generation.
What is happening? It wasn’t more than couple weeks ago when we talked about Indiana reversing course on nuclear power to welcome micro reactors and more. Now Congress is having hearings and Nebraska, Wyoming, West Virginia and Iowa seem to be on board too.
Why is this important? Nuclear can supplement renewables as policy makers shift away from fossil fuels. LD84 (2022 | NE) would allow a renewable firm to seek incentives for a nuclear project.
How will this be important? Nebraska Public Power CEO says ““Carbon has business risks as we look to the future.””
Omaha World Herald | Could Nebraska and Iowa go nuclear as part of shift away from fossil fuels?
NPR | Coal-dependent West Virginia eliminates ban on nuclear power
How much of Bitcoin Revenue is Grid Related?
What is happening? 2% to 10% of a cryptomining revenue is from grid services and demand flexibility
Why is this important? Texas is being heralded as the new epicenter of cryptomining
How will this be important? In 5 years the electric load for crypto mining will reach 10,000MW. “Those bullish on Bitcoin say energy demand could triple or quadruple in the coming years.”
Utility Dive | Bitcoin mining as a grid resource? ‘It’s complicated.’
Regulatory Conundrum: Gas Stations or Utilities as Caretakers of EV Chargers
What’s happening? In Florida the Legislature is considering this: “Should the state’s investor-owned utilities — FPL, Duke and Tampa Electric — own the charging stations or should gas stations and charging manufacturers be allowed to compete?”
Why is this important? Legislative answers include HB 737 (2022 | FL) that calls for neutral treatment of EV chargers that would end the current rate based payment that allows utilities to recoup EV charge costs.
How will this be important? Supporters include gas stations, Chargepoint EV charger operators, and they say the current rate base oppresses the ability for other participants to enter the market and makes people pay for the system that do not use the system
Miami Herald via Governing | Will Gas Stations or Utilities Be Responsible for EV Chargers?
How do states access $5B in EV funding?
What’s happening? DOE and DOT are telling states that to access the available $5B in EV funding, they need EV infrastructure plans in place
Why is this important? “each state is required to submit an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan to the new Joint Office of Energy and Transportation that describes how the state intends to use its share of NEVI Formula Program funds consistent with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance.”
How will this be important? The quicker the EV infrastructure plans, the quicker the access to funding.
OffShore Wind Turbines Capture Carbon
What is happening? Massachusetts and New York coasts will soon be home to the first federally approved utility-scale offshore wind farms – 74 turbines in all that could power 470,000 homes
Why is this important? marine geophysicists are working to pair wind turbines with carbon capture technology to store carbon it in natural reservoirs under the ocean. Currently the largest project of this type is in Iceland.
How will this be important? The offshore wind carbon capture would use excess wind energy to power the capture and storage of carbon
17.5K Jobs Gulf of Mexico Wind Farm
What’s happening? The American Clean Power Association says 2 wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico off the coasts of LA and TX are estimated to create 17,5000 jobs during the 3 year construction timeline and 2,800 permanent positions.
Why is this important? Most action will be in LA ports as ” the Port of Houston has space limitations and is already congested with ship traffic”
How will this be important? “The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to begin leasing the Gulf’s deep waters for offshore wind projects by 2025. Turbines could be spinning in the Gulf by 2028.” Hello TX Lege you’ve got 1 full regular session for this.
The Times-Picayune via Governing | Gulf of Mexico Wind Farms Could Create 17,500 New Jobs
NM Hydrogen Hub Legislation Stall
What’s happening? NM Legislature isn’t moving the Governor’s Hydrogen Hub Bill that would have New Mexico draw down some of the $8 billion for the industry included in the massive federal infrastructure bill
Why is this important? NM’s Hydrogen bill has the support of the oil & gas industry & will also increase natural gas production.
How will this be important? Consider the NM opposition coalition of environmentalists, progressives, indigenous tribes, and legislators who thought the bill was too complicated and too costly with no known return of the state.
Governing | Lawmakers Stifle N.M. Governor’s Clean Hydrogen Economy Plan
Why a Hydrogen Bill Got Tabled
What’s happening? New Mexico’s HB 4 (2022 | NM) , the Hydrogen Hub Development Act, would have offer tax incentives to fossil fuel companies and other industries developing projects using hydrogen to lower carbon emissions. The bill stalled.
Why is this important? The persuasive message was that the bill is an offer of tax incentives to energy companies and other industries developing projects using hydrogen to lower carbon emissions.
How will this be important? Is it environmental opposition or opposition to corporate incentives?
Meet the New Kid on the Block: Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance
What’s happening? A new geothermal group, Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance, is bringing together oil & gas and utilities. Member companies include Chevron, CenterPoint Energy, Baker Hughes, Halliburton, Repsol and Sage Geosystems.
Why is this important? Up 1st a road map for where to harness geothermal power thanks to knowledge from the oil and gas industry, and study funding from Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation.
How will this be important? In 2023, the Alliance will push for legislation that could help nurture the low-carbon industry. Currently there is no utility-scale geothermal electric generation on the ERCOT grid.
SP Global | Oil and gas, energy companies form group to kickstart geothermal power in Texas
BIPOC + Local Ban on Oil Drilling
What is happening? Los Angeles City Council approved a measure that will:
- prohibit oil and gas drilling in Los Angeles
- change zoning laws to make drilling illegal
- study how to legally phase out existing wells
- create a jobs program to transition oil and gas workers to other industries
Why is this important? “For far too long, neighborhood oil drilling has disproportionately affected the health of our low-income communities of color,” said council president Nury Martinez at a news conference ahead of the vote.
How will this be important? California Independent Petroleum Association referred to it as an unconstitutional taking of their property without compensation.
KXAN (Austin, TX) | Los Angeles City Council approves phaseout of oil drilling
Protecting Public Safety Buildings from Power Shutoff
What is happening? Maine is considering preventing utilities from shutting off power to buildings that are used for public safety.
Why is this important? A power payment dilemma almost caused a Central Maine Power technician showed up at Buckfield, Maine’s fire station. In reality, the utility had payment for 10 days but couldn’t figure out how to apply payment.
How will this be important? Does your state or city prevent power shut offs at public safety buildings like fire stations and police stations?
Sun Journal via Governing | Maine Considers Protecting Public Safety Building Utilities
Opposition Arguments: Nuclear Power Legislation
What is happening? Indiana is considering SB 271 (2022 | IN) supporting small modular reactors, or SMRs. The bill defines SMR as clean energy, opening the projects up to other financial incentives.
Why is this important? The supporters say the foot print is small, it can replace decommissioned gas or coal plants, offers clean air, and is reliable.
How will this be important? The opposition arguments are focusing on the cost shift to consumers, cost overruns of these types of projects, and that SMRs are unproved technology.
IndyStar via Governing | Will a Shift to Nuclear Power Increase Energy Costs?
EV: Resurgance of Smart Meters
What is happening? Pennsylvania is seeing a resurgence in smart meters as the number of EVs grow.
Why is this important? The smart meters are being touted as a way for EV drivers to have greater control over their electricity use. The EV owner gains great control over electricity use and control over when electricity use occurs, and utilities gain the ability to offer special rates that charge more during peak hours and less during lower-use times & incentivizing consumers to change their behavior.
How will this be important? 5.9 million smart meters are installed in Pennsylvania, and incentives have been slow related to smart meters generally, but customers with EV have been extended incentives.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via Governing | As EV Use Expands, Pennsylvania Smart Meters Resurface
Green Amendment for State Constitutions
What is happening? NM legislators are proposing a Green Amendment to the state constitution that would “recognize the rights of present and future generations to clean water and air, a stable climate and healthy environments, as well as recognizing the cultural, natural and human health values of the environment.”
Why is this important? The amendment also makes state officials trustees of the environment & adds environmental rights.
How will this be important? constitutional Green Amendments exist in Pennsylvania, Montana and New York. In addition to New Mexico, constitutional environmental rights amendments are being advanced in in Arizona, Washington, New Jersey, Hawaii, Delaware, Vermont, Iowa, West Virginia, Maine, Maryland and Kentucky.
ABQ.News | Legislators Galore Propose Adding Green Amendment to State Constitution
+1 More Way to Impact Energy in a Building Code
What’s happening? MIT Energy Initiative tells us that wood is a natural form of carbon sequestration.
Why is this important? Concrete and steel industries together account for as much as 15% of global carbon dioxide emission
How will this be important? Some countries are starting to call for more timber buildings.
Meet the New Kid on the bLock Installing Solar Shingles
What’s happening? GAF Energy recently released its solar shingles. GAF Energy has 10,000 contractors in the US
Why is this important? This is allegedly the first nail-able solar shingle. Meet Timberline Solar Energy Shingles that look similar to usual shingles, but are a bit bigger and about twice as heavy and are installed by roofers. Yes, that’s the kicker the solar shingles installed by roofers. Check your roofing legislation for solar rules…
How will this be important? Oh the laws, rules and regulations that are forth coming….
Bill Bans Gas Generators
What is happening? California enacted AB 1346 (2021 | CA) that prohibits the sale of gas powered lawn equipment and gas powered generators.
Why is this important? The legislation and authors stressed that there are alternatives to gas powered machinery for lawns. However, there is no 24 hour alternative to a gas powered generator.
How will this be important? One size fits all doesn’t work well in legislation. As a result of this bill, hospitals, homes and businesses in potential wildfire areas have stocked up on gasoline-powered generators
North Bay Business Journal | CalFocus: When ideology collides with reality at the Legislature
Creative Energy Bill Amendment
What’s happening? An amendment to a Vermont Energy bill prevents HOAs and other entities from preventing clothes lines, which naturally save energy over the use of a dryer that can account for 15% of a household’s energy use.
Why is this important? There is no direct line for amendments, keep your minds nimble.
How will this be important? Have a land use issue that can be tied to energy saving, give a big energy bill a go. In the alternative, want to ensure that dryers and energy are used- check out land use bills to make certain that clothes lines can be banned.
Executive Order for All Electric Building Codes
What is happening? The CT Governor used an Executive Order 21-3 to call for all electric building codes, thereby moving natural gas out of building codes.
Why is this important? The Governor action is attributed to the state not being on track to meet its emission reductions.
How will this be important? In addition to building code changes, the Executive Order will impact decarbonization of industrial thermal processes, updates to the state’s electric vehicle plan and updates to the state’s Integrated Resources Plan.
Faster HydroPower Licensing Proposal
What is happening? Federal licensing of hydropower often takes 7 or more years to complete. A proposal in Congress would establish a two-year licensing process for adding generation to non-powered dams and provide market changes so hydro projects can be paid for services they provide the grid.
Why is this important? Currently it takes longer to license hydro power than it takes to license nuclear power facilities.
How will this be important? Shortening licensing timelines is very popular
Rehabilitate HydroPower Plants with Crypto Miners
What is happening? As the government stopped buying power from the hydro plant during the pandemic, the hydropower plant began selling its power to crypto miners.
Why is this important? This isn’t unique to hydro, when power isn’t being purchased or is in the case of natural gas being flared, there is a market to sell power to crypto miners.
How will this be important? As a result of this use of hydropower for crypto mining, Costa Rica’s central bank is providing for technological innovation for a Fintech industry
Reuters | Costa Rica hydro plant gets new lease on life from crypto mining
Reversing Nuclear Power Bans
What is happening? West Virginia is considering reversing its prohibition on nuclear power.
Why is this important? The information that fueled this reversal, including the use of microreactors that produce 1 mw to 10 mw of power and may serve remote communities or areas prone to brownouts and blackouts. Also mentioned are small modular reactors that produce 300 mw or less and make a good replacement for coal plants in line to be phased out.
How will this be important? Does nuclear enter the discussion more as a means of power with lower emissions.
The Dominion Post via Governing | West Virginia Considers Lifting Ban on Nuclear Power
Anatomy of a Utility EV Incentive Program
What is happening? Vermont Electric Co-op has a list of EV credits that include:
- a bill credit of $250 for purchases (new or used) and $50/year for leases; for all-electric vehicles, a bill credit of $500 for purchases (new or used) and $100/year for leases
- For home Level II chargers, $250 (with additional $50 incentive if members allow VEC to communicate with the charger); and for publicly-available charging stations, $500 per connection
- https://www.driveelectricvt.com/incentives
Why is this important? Vermont’s list includes other items like heat pumps too, an issue crucial for Vermont, less crucial for Southern California
How will this be important? EV incentives come in multiple layers. (1) government: federal, state and local (2) utility incentives (3) manufacturer incentives
Vermont Biz | VEC energy transformation incentives continue for 2022
CO2 Capture + Breweries
What is happening? Carbon capture isn’t just for fossil fuel facilities, it is also invading breweries where breweries can capture CO2 released during fermentation and use it to add carbonation to their beers or in the bottling process
Why is this important? Have you seen how many craft breweries there are…. PLus, the technology was developed by a company in Austin, TX, @earthlylabs
How will this be important? Thinking about CO2 capture outside the traditional sense is a new phase for policy makers
The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain
What is happening? 2021 saw Spain’s major source of power become wind power.
Why is this important? Wind power will increase 10% in 2021, making 23.3% of Spain’s power source. Next up at roughly 21% is nuclear power.
How will this be important? Overall 14.3% of power in Europe is wind power. Soaring natural gas prices are attributed to a move away from fossil fuel sourced power.
Reuters | Wind spins more power in Spain while weaker elsewhere
Agrivoltics 2.0
What’s happening? We’ve been talking about projects in Arizona that involve agriculture production under the shade of solar panels. The crops require less water to grow in the shade.
Why is this important? it isn’t some new fangled idea. Native American farmers for 1000s of years planed under the shade of Mesquite and Palo Verde to allow crops to grow in the cooler microclimate and require less water
How will this be important? The agricultural goal is to fit the crops to the environment rather than change the Environment
EV Charging Station Standards. New Policy Horizon.
What’s happening? Oklahoma is considering joining California in implementing EV charging station standards.
Why is this important? I feel like I’m stating the obvious, but there are no standards for EV charging stations that’s why CA and OK are setting some. There are no current guidelines on locations for EV charging stations, inspection or calibration standards, fees, record keeping, and meter testing.
How will this be important? Oklahoma’s Corporations Commission is adopting regulations as required by the State’s DRIVE Act of 2021, HB 2234 (2021 | OK).
The Oklahoman via Governing | Oklahoma Considers Establishing EV Charging Station Standards
Edison Electric Institute EV Charger Estimate
What is happening? Edison Electric Institute estimates that utilities will need to increase the number of EV chargers 10x by 2030. That amounts to 100,000 EV fast-charging ports being needed to support the projected 22 million electric vehicles that will be on U.S. roads in 2030.
Why is this important? National Electric Highway Coalition supports this estimate and is comprised of 53 utilities. One of its members is TVA, and Tennessee is the biggest EV manufacturing state in the South.
How will this be important? The Coalition supports ste projects like Drive Electric Tennessee that seeks to have at least 200,000 light-duty electric vehicles in the state by 2028
Electrek | 53 US utilities will build a nationwide fast-charging EV network by end of 2023
Texas Grid Impacted by Crypto Miners
What’s happening? We talked about this last week in relation to the ERCOT report that texas will account for 20% of global cryptocurrency mining by the end of 2022.
Why is this important? There’s the economic development and tech innovation part of this, but what’s making news now is the impact to the grid.
How will this be important? Let’s watch and see how these arrangements with miners play out to stop mining during peak times.
Dallas Morning News | Why cryptocurrency miners pose the next big threat to the Texas electric grid
Exxon $15 B to Cut Greenhouse Gases
What’s happening? Exxon announced it expects to spend $15 B to curb greenhouse gases, and that it can meet its 2025 emissions reduction goal this year.
Why is this important? They plan to get to their goals by taking measures to cut emissions at facilities by reducing flaring and cutting methane emissions, and by investing in carbon business solutions.
How will this be important? Overall the company will make capital investments of $20 billion and $25 billion per year through 2027
Dallas Morning News | Exxon Mobil commits to spending $15 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
CA Stop Gap for Weatherization
What’s happening? California worries about weather and its electric grid as it relates to summer heat and wildfires. To address this, the California Public Utilities Commission told its 3 investor owned utilities to procure 2-3GW of additional demand and supply side resources.
Why is this important? Also included is double incentives to home owners who conserve when the grid is strained & authorized 4 microgrids with storage
How will this be important? All this action started with the Governor’s Proclamation of State Emergency that said extreme heat and transmission lines near wildfire prone areas create an emergency.
Utility Dive | California OKs bridge measures to bolster grid
Rate Increase Denied Due to High Energy Rates
What is happening? Public Utility Commissioners in MN cut a rate increase request and cited the impact of rising energy costs on rate payers.
Why is this important? let’s look to the commissioners. “As regulators, we can’t have our heads in the sand and ignore significant [economic] constraints, particularly for the residential class,” said Katie Sieben, chair of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
How will this be important? Did this ruling start a trend…
3rd Quarter Utility Scale Solar Numbers
What’s happening? World wide battery storage projects attached to solar account for:
- connected 2.4 gigawatts of utility-scale solar projects to its power grids
- that’s 46% growth over same period last year
- addition of 127 megawatts of battery storage paired with utility-scale solar PV systems
- Texas added 37% of these
- pipeline for new utility-scale solar projects grew by 6 GW in the third quarter
Why is this important? We just keep watching these numbers go up
How will this be important? Keep an eye on what companies are installing utility scale solar PV systems
Power Engineering | U.S. records red-hot quarter for utility-scale solar, battery storage
The Texas Grid v. CryptoCurrency
What’s happening? By the end of 2022, Texas crypto mining may account for 20% of electric use for crypto globally.
Why is this important? As we’ve talked about China banned crypto mining recently, leading to the uptick in places like Texas and Ireland.
How will this be important? Whether Texas power grid can sustain an additional pull of 5000MW annually, about double the size of Austin, is the big question.
Dallas Morning News | Why cryptocurrency miners pose the next big threat to the Texas electric grid
Tesla Energy Ventures
What’s happening? Earlier this month, Tesla Energy Ventures was authorized to sell electricity to retail customers in Texas on the ERCOT grid.
Why is this important? This isn’t new. Tesla has a virtual power plant up and running in South Australia and this summer began a beta version in California too.
How will this be important? “Usually an electricity service provider that doesn’t have generation on the ground essentially acts as a middleman, they buy on the wholesale market and turn around and sell to customers,” Ted Kury, director of energy studies for the Public Utility Research Center at the University of Florida, told UtilityDive at the time of the Tesla filing. “Tesla would have the ability to act as a buyer and seller simultaneously and have access to a lot of data. Regulators are going to have to think about what the implications might be.”
Gizmodo | Elon Musk Is Officially in the Texas Electricity Business
ERCOT CEO: NO Like the Gas Fine
What is happening? ERCOT CEO gave an interview to NBC DFW 5 in which he made it clear that “he is concerned that the plan could cause fuel supply issues for power plants that run on natural gas”
Why is this important? The ERCOT CEO also said there is time for RRC to make the right decision.
How will this be important? The sentiment is in the Legislature too with this characterization from Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst: “This is the Achilles heel right now. Right now.”
NBC5 DFW | ERCOT CEO Worries $150 “Easy Out” for Gas Companies Could Threaten Grid
Infrastructure Bill and EV Charger Rollout
What’s happening? The EV funds in the Infrastructure bill appear to be level 2 charger focused. “Companies applying for funding to build out more chargers can’t use a proprietary plug and have to work with local governments to figure out a long-term maintenance plan so the stations aren’t abandoned.”
Why is this important? It means most EV drivers will predominantly charge at home.
How will this be important? Since Level 2 chargers are cheaper to build, it will feel like the ubiquitous charger.
The Verge | Biden’s $7.5 billion EV charging plan will require a lot of patience
$1 Billion Solar + Battery Facility in Central Texas
What is happening? Chem-Energy Corp. will invest $1 billion in solar and battery power plants with two facilities in Caldwell County. Solar Plant #1 will be in Uhland with construction beginning in spring 2022 and opening in 2023. Solar Plant #2 will be in Martindale.
Why is this important? They will provide 600 megawatt/1,200 megawatt-hours in battery storage and 1 gigawatt of solar power generation over a decade. The power will serve ERCOT and will work in petrochemicals and refinery projects.
How will this be important? Included is an economic development deal under Chapter 381 that Caldwell County commissioners unanimously approved for performance-based incentives. Caldwell Co. will establish tax abatements and administer loans and grants of public money to promote economic development.
Austonia | $1 billion solar and battery plants coming to Central Texas
Power Engineering | Texas lands $1 billion investment in solar and battery projects
City Walks Back Electrification (No Natural Gas) Code Changes
What’s happening? Miami was one of the cities that saw its council move away from new building codes that would electrify new building and prohibit natural gas lines. The move was to support the city’s long term goal of net zero carbon emissions.
Why is this important? Miami is now walking back that change after the local gas utility said it was problematic for the industry.
How will this be important? The city will instead focus on carbon capture at landfills and waste water facilities as well as a switch to hydrogen for fuel.
Miami Herald via Governing | Miami Backs Away from Plan to End Natural Gas Hookups
2021: Utility Scale Batteries Are Shifting Purpose
What is happening? EIA Annual Electric Generator Report shows utility scale battery projects are being deployed 59% for frequency regulation, 39% for ramping or spinning reserve, 37% for arbitrage, 26% for load following, 17% for excess wind and solar, 15% for system peak shaving
Why is this important? “Frequency regulation remains the most common use for batteries, but other uses, such as ramping, arbitrage, and load following, are becoming more common as more batteries are added to the electric grid.”
How will this be important? Watch the percentages
EIA | Battery storage applications have shifted as more batteries are added to the U.S. grid
Texas Winter Strom Blackouts Alters NYISO Planning
What is happening? The New York Independent System Operator anticipates ample reserves, even though NY generators are starting off with lower natural gas reserves.
Why is this important? The New York Independent System Operator winter planning now includes “once in a century” scenarios in its risk assessments and experts say the more cautious approach is now common across the country. It is estimating that during century lows, capacity margins could decrease to 526 MW.
How will this be important? NY is also relying on a report from North American Electric Reliability Corp. that found that “most of the outages were due to gas-fired plant failures, including frozen equipment and fuel shortages.”
Utility Dive | Texas blackouts prompt New York ISO to consider ‘once in a century’ winter events
Port of Corpus Christi
What is happening? The “Port of Corpus Christi is the largest U.S. port in total revenue tonnage,”
Why is this important? An estimated 671 million barrels of crude oil will pass through the port. Liquified natural gas carriers more than doubled to 153.
How will this be important? In auditioning to the Governor welcome supply chain ships to texas ports, the Port of Corpus Christi is also “widening and deepening the ship channel, opening it to greater commercial traffic “
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