Energy & Water

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

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.

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

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

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

Route Fifty | Can My Electric Car Power My 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.

Route Fifty | Can My Electric Car Power My House?

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

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

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.

Electric | 3 record-breaking things that happened with EVs, clean energy, and battery storage in 2021

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

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

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

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.

Utility Dive | Florida poised to solidify its status as the nation’s waste-to-energy capital with supportive new legislation

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

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.

CPR News | Colorado is about to rapidly expand its transmission network. Should it double as a bike highway system?

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

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.

Utility Dive | California clean energy advocates urge regulators to ‘go big’ with offshore wind goals

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”

Minnesota House of Representatives | With renewable energy storage in infancy, House panel looks at bill laying out state standards

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.

CALCCA | California Assemblymember Tim Grayson Introduces Bill to Accelerate Local/Regional Transportation Electrification 

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

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

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.

Minnesota House of Representatives | With renewable energy storage in infancy, House panel looks at bill laying out state standards

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

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

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

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham | New Mexico, coalition of mountain west states sign MOU to develop a regional clean hydrogen hub

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

Deloitte 2022 Power

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

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

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

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

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

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.’

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?

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.

President Biden, USDOT and USDOE Announce $5 Billion over Five Years for National EV Charging Network, Made Possible by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

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

The Conversation via Governing | Offshore Wind Farms Could Help Capture Carbon from Air and Store It Long Term – Using Energy That Would Otherwise Go to Waste

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

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

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?

Carlsbad Current Argus | Lawmakers table bill to expand hydrogen power in NM amid environmental concerns

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

GreenAmendment.Org

ABQ.News | Legislators Galore Propose Adding Green Amendment to State Constitution

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.

@mitenergy

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….

@goodgoodgoodco

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

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.

Route Fifty | 5 Unusual State Laws Across the US

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. 

Utility Dive | Connecticut targets building emissions, energy equity as it moves to update energy strategy

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

Utility Dive | Senate energy committee considers calls to speed ‘glacial pace’ of hydropower permitting

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

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

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

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

@GoodGoodGoodCo

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.

@goodgoodgoodco

Reuters | Wind spins more power in Spain while weaker elsewhere

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

@wahingtonpost

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

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

Chattanooga Times | Laying the electric vehicle highway will require 100,000 recharging stations by 2030

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

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

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

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…

Minneapolis Star Tribune | In unusual move, utility regulators slash CenterPoint’s interim rate request

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 “

Caller Times | Chairman: Community should take pride in Port of Corpus Christi during record-setting 2021

What’s happening? Ithaca, NY became the first city int he US to approve electrification + decarbonization for every building in the city.

Why is this important? Ithaca has 30,000 people and approximately 6,000 homes and buildings. It estimates it will save approximately 160,000 tons of carbon dioxide

How will this be important? Saving 160,000 tons of CO2 is the equivalent of 35,000 cars annually

@washingtonpost

What’s happening? St. Louis region has new  local development ordinances that will impact EV chargers going into effect in 2022.

Why is this important? The new ordinances will:

• requires all commercial, entertainment, and institutional locations undergoing construction or extensive renovations within the county to reserve 2% of their parking spaces to be reserved for EV charging beginning in January. 2022
• require 10% of a project’s total parking spaces to be ready to supply power if the demand for EVs increases. 
• A $500 daily fine until compliance
• Separate ordnance will require multi-family residential and non-residential construction and building rehabs to include EV-ready spots for 5% of spots for parking lots housing more than 50 spaces. 

How will this be important? As a result of these ordinances, “investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives across Missouri are investing in EV infrastructure in cities and rural areas of the state.”

Missouri Times | St. Louis region enacts EV development regulations

What’s happening? GM is partnering with its dealers to install up to 40,000 electric vehicle chargers across North America & to pour nearly $750 million into charging infrastructure .

Why is this important? Dealers will then identify and partner to install chargers locally. Dealers will also be empowered to provide incentive programs.

How will this be important?  The project is marketed as Ultium Chargers, so they’ll have clear GM branding, but the chargers will not be proprietary like Tesla chargers and will be open to all EVs

Tech Crunch | GM will work with dealers to install 40,000 EV charging stations across North America

What’s happening? California has banned gas powered lawn equipment in AB 1346 (2020 | CA) . To offset the cost of new equipment, the prohibition comes with $30 million in funding to help aid the transition

Why is this important? People say : “Operating a gasoline-powered leaf blower for one hour produces as much volatile organic compounds and NOx as driving a 2017 Toyota Camry from New York City to Orlando, Florida”

How will this be important? This debate occurred in Texas when TERP was being debated. Opposition in California included the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Hawaii has a leaf blower restriction and cities, including Washington D.C., also have prohibitions on certain gas powered lawn equipment.

Route Fifty | California First State to Outlaw Gas-powered Lawn Mowers and Leaf Blowers

What is happening? Texas elected officials are welcoming cryptocurrency touting the renewable reserve power in Texas. Energy experts are split.

Why is this important? Supporters say for this work and help the grid, cryptocurrency has to be willing to shut down when the grid asks it to do so.

How will this be important? Opponents say:

• miners draw a lot of electricity & will increase ratepayer costs if new generation isn’t added
• there will be a CO2 increase
• simply adding new demand doesn’t fix the grid or automatically add supply

Houston Chronicle via Governing | Can Texas’ Power Grid Withstand Cryptocurrency Mining?

What’s happening?  Gazelle Wind Power opened its first U.S. office in Austin, Texas. 

Why is this important? this is the company’s 1st US office and its focus is offshore wind. Offshore wind is growing from Massachusetts to Lousiana.

How will this be important? “The addition of this U.S. office is a significant milestone for Gazelle as we take our innovative technology to the global market. We chose Austin for our U.S. office because several leading sources rank the city as a top cleantech innovation hub, which gives us unparalleled access to potential partners. Austin also provides Gazelle with convenient access to the robust offshore wind market that is taking off in the Gulf Coast region and throughout the United States.” — said Jon Salazar, founder, and president of Gazelle Wind Power

Windpower Engineering | Offshore platform developer Gazelle Wind Power opens Texas office

What’s happening? In Jack County and Palo Pinto County, Texas Hecate Energy will use 7,000 acres along the Jack and Palo Pinto County line to build a solar energy plant and a battery storage facility. 

Why is this important? The project sweet spot is 10,000 acres.

How will this be important? With battery storage the project will be a  $2 billion capital investment

Jacksboro Herald Gazette | HECATE ENERGY SEEKS TO BUILD SOLAR PLANT

What’s happening? Maryland Counties are looking to creating a resilience authority. Resilience authorities are unique to Maryland,. They can seek grants, issue bonds and even levy fees to carry out projects that would otherwise compete with schools or health or safety for public funds.

Why is this important? An authority created by Anne Arundel County and the city of Annapolis is “tackling a $56 million problem, the redevelopment of the capital’s often-flooded City Dock.”

How will this be important? Know any Red states with Blue Counties?

Baltimore Sun via Governing | Maryland Counties Propose New Agency to Combat Climate Impacts

What is happening? Illinois’ Ameren Corp.’s Sioux Energy Center added a data center to mine bitcoin “to guzzle energy from the electric grid and help its power plants avoid ramping their production down and back up again, which wastes energy and stresses the plants.”

Why is this important? If it works, it could cut power plants’ carbon emissions and make millions. Opponents at the regulatory level want to ensure that ratepayers are not on the hook for the bitcoin mining.

How will this be important? Critics say this can’t be used as a reason to support coal and that same energy should be used to power other technologies like battery storage or electric vehicle charging stations

STL.com via Governing | Illinois Electric Utility Mines for Bitcoin to Reduce Emissions

What’s happening? In the past year electric generation from coal has increased 22% , with high demand from the Pacific and Asia. In contrast 2020 was a 50 year low for coal.

Why is this important? Coal is stably priced

How will this be important? With continued supply chain interruptions and inflation, stable prices become alluring. Energy Information Administration does not expect long term growth.

NPR | U.S. coal production is up sharply after hitting a 50-year low last year

What’s happening? Health and Science experts stand behind a new drilling buffer zone of a 3,200-feet — equal to roughly one kilometer or just over half a mile — that will go into effect in California in 2023.

Why is this important? The impacts of drilling disproportionally impact Black and BIPOC neighborhoods. The set back would apply to homes, schools and healthcare facilities.

How will this be important? The rules will also require emissions monitoring of existing wells within those buffer zones, because of the disproportionate impact to Latino and Black communities.

Los Angeles Times | New California oil drilling must be set back from homes and schools, Newsom says

What’s happening? Tarrant Water District adopted new rules concerning nepotism and board management.

Why is this important? A former general manager of the district hired his girlfriend, and fast forward to the former GM and the district getting into a legal kerfuffle over a $300,000 payment from the Board President to the GM.

How will this be important? New nepotism rules go beyond state law to include: three degrees of separation from a domestic partnership or dating relationship.

Star Telegram | Tarrant Regional Water District adopts new rules on nepotism and board management

What is happening? This week the Texas Public Utility Commission released its blue print to winterize electric facilities in Texas. The two phase process will begin with resolving known, acute issues and implementing the recommendations of the 2012 Quanta Report, a study commissioned by state regulators after another winter storm caused outages in Texas in February of 2011.

Why is this important? Phase 2 will include winterization requirements after a comprehensive weather study is completed by the Texas State Climatologist and ERCOT.

How will this be important? Whether market reforms enter the vernacular of the PUCT.

WFAA | PUC imposes new winterization rule on the state’s power generators and transmission companies

NBC DFW | Texas Two-Step Proposed to Protect Power Plants in Winter

Power generators must winterize in Texas | kvue.com

PUCT | Project No. 51840 – Rulemaking to Etablish Electric Weatherization Standards

Texas Regulators Tee Up Market Changes | Utility Dive

What is happening? Denmark is using decommissioned wind turbine blades as bike shelters, pedestrian bridges and guard rails working through an organization called, Re-Wind Network.

Why is this important? The lifespan of a wind turbine blade is 20 years. The blades are often made with components that are difficult to recycle.

How will this be important? It is estimated that by 2050 40 million tons of wind turbine equipment will need to be repurposed.

@goodgoodgoodco

What’s happening? Massachusetts Governor is proposing $750 million in ARPA funds be put into clean energy and pull back strict pricing requirements on procurements to further offshore wind development by repealing a 2016 price cap, and move procurement power from utilities to the state oversight agency.

Why is this important? The state wants to be a leader in offshore wind. It currently has 1600MW of offshore wind generation, soon to add another 1200 MW, and this final funding pushing to add an additional 1000 MW.

How will this be important? Lousiana is looking to do the same in the Gulf and as we’ve talked about has taken actionable steps to move that program forward.

Boston Herald via Governing | Massachusetts Proposes $750M Offshore Wind Energy Investment

What’s happening? MIT Energy Researchers along with Shell are studying the role of hydrogen and electric power.

Why is this important? With an eye on a future low-carbon, integrated energy system, the researchers found that co-optimizing electric power & hydrogen supply chain infrastructure can lead to emission reductions and decreased infrastructure costs.

How will this be important? Everyone seems to be talking about hydrogen lately.

@MIT Energy

What’s happening? Scientists inspired by agrivolatics, growing crops under solar panels, are encouraging solar panels to be installed over aqueducts to limit evaporation while also generating power.

Why is this important? Evaporation is a major cause of shrinking water supplies. If California covered 4000 miles of aqueducts with solar panels, it could save save 63 billion gallons of water from evaporating

How will this be important? There is a potential emissions savings if farmers, who usually use diesel to pump water, could use the solar power generated from the aqueducts to pump their water, then the diesel emissions could be eliminated.

Wired | Why Covering Canals With Solar Panels Is a Power Move

What’s happening? The Carbon Neutral Coalition has formed in Texas to ”  partner with stakeholders, government, and industry to make Texas carbon neutral by 2050 and preserve our quality of life.” Its board includes:

• Susan Combs
• Thurmon Andress
• Mike Belenkie
• Sarah Biller
• Sarah Biller
• Tina Yturria Buford
• Tom Carter
• James H. Clement, Jr.
• Dan E. Cole
• Elizabeth Coleman
• Jack Coleman
• Robert Eckels
• Don Evans
• Scott Frazier
• Maynard Holt
• Devin Hotzel
• Jodie Jiles
• Tom Luce
• Dave Marchese
• Tim Matthews
• Charles McConnell
• Kenneth Medlock
• Reed Morian
• Harriet O’Neill
• Julie Parsley
• Carl Ray Polk Jr
• Beth Robertson
• Ron Simmons
• Sean Strawbridge
• Cliff Thomas
• Bobby Tudor

Why is this important? Their offering solutions including:

• renewables
• Permanent Storage For Nuclear Waste From Nuclear Electricity Generation
• Mitigate Methane Emissions
• End Routine Flaring
• Carbon Capture with Storage underground
• Create a Hydrogen Economy

How will this be important? New Mexico is vying to be A Hydrogen hub. Since when has Texas not wanted to outshine its neighbors?

Carbon Neutral Coalition

What’s happening? Orlando is building partnerships to build vertiports, which are landing pads for oversized drones. It’s like the Jetsons are arriving.

Why is this important? The infrastructure fora vertiport requires that they be electric vehicle charge ready.

How will this be important? Yep, add vertiports to your electrification plans.

Orlando Sentinel via Governing | Orlando Partners With NASA to Prepare for Flying Vehicles

What is happening? Northwest Power and Conservation Council 20 year power plan for the energy needs of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana focuses on renewables and resiliency. The plan gets revised statutorily every 5 years.

Why is this important? This year’s review of the power plan is the most “dramatic changes in the future power supply.” They’re planning is robust to ensure that they spend enough money to ensure they don’t overbuild, but spend enough to keep rates good.

How will this be important? Onlookers say the dramatic revision of the power plan is because these elements came together:

• At least 2 coal plants are being retired
• Cities & states within the area are setting carbon emission reduction goals
•  Rapid cost reduction for solar and wind power technologies

Spokane Review via Governing | Northwest’s 20-Year Energy Plan Emphasizes Solar and Wind

What’s happening? MIT Sloan Business School paper concerning Decarbonizing Our Toughest Sectors — Profitably. Let’s check in on their arguments supporting their theory.

Why is this important?

• Costs keep going down for new green technology that can replace obsolete equipment
• Opportunity to create novel incentives, reward innovative competitors challenging incumbent industries with breakthrough technologies
• Integrate new technology
• Migrate production and manufacturing to make use of renewables and cut costs
• Reward frugal infrastructure design

How will this be important? In 2020, during the pandemic, the growth of renewables accelerated by 45%

MIT Sloan Management Review | Decarbonizing Our Toughest Sectors — Profitably

What’s happening? WeaveGrid and Elemental are building software to connect EVs to the Grid.

Why is this important? The software compares grid needs as well as learns driving patterns and EV chartering patterns to ensure capacity limits on transmission lines are adequate.

How will this be important? Utilities are using the software to enroll EV customers in time of use charging programs

Fast C0mpany | The Next Step for electric cars is to make them part of the grid

What’s happening? NM is one of 4 locations receiving federal funding as a hydrogen hub. It is in the process of transforming the coal-fired Escalante Generating Station into a hydrogen production and generating facility. Libertad Power is constructing the state’s first newly-built hydrogen production and generating facility to be up and running by 2025. BayoTech Inc. has mobile generating facilities.

Why is this important? NM lists these attributes as the reasons it is well positioned to be a carbon hub:

• highly skilled workforce
• topography for underground storage
• vast reserves of natural gas needed for steam methane reform
• availability of grey, blue and green hydrogen to being

How will this be important? Beyond oil & gas industry of carbon storage and capture. Being a carbon hub will include state Legislation that will:

• establish industry standards such as designed to measure the carbon intensity of the entire life-cycle process for hydrogen production to determine how much operators actually lower emissions
• establish a regulatory framework that is technology neutral
• creative incentives for this innovative industry

GOVERNING & Albuquerque Journal  | New Mexico Wants to Be the Nation’s First Hydrogen Hub

What is happening? A public private partnership is combining data from flyovers and satellite images to identify high concentrations of methane. Minimizing high concentrations of methane is said to be the fastest approach to mitigating climate change.

Why is this important? We have the technology to minimize methane it is efficient and cost effective. Using data will make targeting methane concentrations much easier. More than 50% of methane emissions is related to human behavior from agriculture to oil & gas to landfills.

How will this be important? Let’s look at the public private partnerships that are flying over Texas, Utah, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico

• Carbon Mapper, a nonprofit that will deploy satellites to spot methane emissions and alert regulators and facility operators of their existence
• California Air Resources Board
• JPL (NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab)
• the satellite imagery firm Planet
• University of Arizona
• Arizona State University
• renewable energy research organization RMI

Governing | How Satellites and Planes Are Fighting Climate Change

What is happening? Private businesses have to put up the cost for EV charging infrastructure themselves. And utilities across the country are already seizing the opportunity to control the EV charger market as they can pass the cost of installing and operating new EV chargers onto their consumers by simply increasing rates.

Why is this important? In Maryland  we have the Exelon EV charging network to support private businesses with EV infrastructure.

How will this be important? Utilities will be vital as private businesses transition to EV charging infrastructure and EV use

Maryland Matters | Fraser-Hidalgo: Private Sector Is Critical in Meeting Demand for EV Charging Stations

What’s happening? Australia is supporting the Regional Australia Microgrid Pilots Programme with $50 million to fund microgrid pilot projects

Why is this important? The program has 2 goals:

• improve the resilience and reliability of electricity supply in regional communities
• demonstrate solutions to technical, regulatory or commercial barriers to the deployment of microgrid technologies

How will this be important? For local communities this program will help coordinate local energy resources, like solar panels and battery storage, to provide secure and reliable electricity as well as optimise renewable energy generation and usage. For remote communities, microgrids offer a pathway to switch to renewable energy, reduce emissions, costs and fuel security issues while improve reliability and security 

Energy Live News | Australia launches $50m fund to ramp up microgrid projects

What is happening? Georgia Power  “Make Ready” Electric Transportation Program allows businesses to apply for funding for the installation of infrastructure required to charge EVs at business, manufacturing and corporate facilities. 

Why is this important?  Georgia Power will install, own and maintain all of the charging infrastructure behind the customer meter through the EV charger.

How will this be important? Georgia Power’s Make Ready Program funds passenger vehicle, transit bus, short- and long-haul package delivery, school bus, airport ground support, fork-lift charging, and more

www.GeorgiaPower.com/ET.

Metro Atlanta CEO | Georgia Power’s Make Ready Electric Transportation Program Helps Fund EV infrastructure for Georgia Businesses

What’s happening? A former landfill in the Sunnyside area of Houston., TX will become the largest urban solar farm in the U.S. The landfill has been closed for 50 years. 120 million pounds of CO2 per year is expected to be offset.

Why is this important? The 240 acre urban solar farm will be on land will be leased from the City.

How will this be important? Converting environmentally sensitive land to a renewable use will lead to local jobs and increased property values with revitalization. It can be done in other communities as well according to Mayor Sylvester Turner.

KHOU 11 | The largest urban ‘solar farm’ in the country is being built in Sunnyside