ENERGY STORAGE

DOE Funding to Support Solar Energy Grid Integration

The DOE has announced new funding to support cost-effective integration of distributed, on-site solar power systems to the electric grid. On October 29, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $15M in funding to facilitate cost-effective and reliable distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage to overcome challenges of increasing solar deployment – such as variability of…...

NYSERDA Partners with NY-BEST Members to Advance Energy Storage Innovation

NYSERDA has announced new partnerships with NY-BEST members to facilitate commercialization of innovative energy storage devices. On October 27, 2014, the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced partnerships with nine member companies of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology (NY-BEST) Consortium to advance innovative energy storage research and development projects…...

U.S. Army and NREL Partner on Net-Zero Energy Pilot Program

The Army has partnered with NREL to install net-zero energy installations at nine pilot sites, potentially replacing eight percent of its current installation site energy supply with renewable energy. On October 27, 2014, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a partnership with the U.S. Army to advance Net Zero Energy…...

New York Green Bank Begins Transactions

NY Green Bank’s initial transactions will produce more than $800M in investments supporting clean energy projects that would annually avoid 575,000 tons of carbon emissions. On October 22, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the NY Green Bank’s first seven transactions, which – supported and agreed to in principle – will produce more…...

[Report] State-Backed Green Bonds Emerge Following International Model

Massachusetts offered its first green bond sale in June 2013, and several additional states have offered green bonds over the last two years. Green bonds offer issuers access to capital to finance projects for water quality and infrastructure, energy efficiency, renewable energy, pollution cleanup, and other capital-intensive projects.. With the Green Bond Principles gaining marketplace…...

[Report] New England’s Eighth Forward Capacity Auction Draws Market Design Concerns

ISO-NE’s eighth Forward Capacity Market Auction (FCA-8) rates became effective September 16, 2014, despite FERC being unable to reach agreement on whether the filing was “just and reasonable.” The final price for existing sources was set at the administrative price of $7.025/kW-month, a 123 percent increase from the FCA-7 clearing price. The Northeast Massachusetts (NEMA)/Boston…...

Ohio State University Develops First Rechargeable Solar Battery Hybrid

An innovative solar cell-battery hybrid developed at OSU is expected to reach 100-percent efficiency and reduce costs by 25 percent. On October 3, 2014, Ohio State University (OSU) reported the invention of the world’s first solar battery – a patent-pending technology that combines a battery and solar cell into one hybrid device.  The new design…...

Massachusetts Attorney General Seeks DPU Investigation to Mitigate Winter Rate Spikes

The Massachusetts Attorney General has sought DPU action to mitigate spikes in winter rates and extend the state’s Winter Moratorium by one month. On October 2, 2014, Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Martha Coakley wrote to the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) requesting an investigation into ways to mitigate National Grid’s winter rate spikes that will…...

Massachusetts Clean Energy Sector Report Highlights $10B Industry

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry has grown by 47 percent from 2010-2014 with significant growth in energy efficiency and solar deployment. On September 29, 2014, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center released the 2014 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report.  The fourth annual report highlights that the Massachusetts clean energy sector has grown by 47 percent since…...

California Enacts Demand Response Legislation

Governor Brown has signed SB 1414 into law to include demand response into resource adequacy and procurement planns. On September 29, 2014, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed Senate Bill 1414 (SB 1414) into law, facilitating implementation of demand response (DR) programs to meet the state’s growing electricity needs.  SB 1414, sponsored by Sen…....

[Report] Lawmakers Consider Energy Tax Reform as December Deadline Nears for Extending Expired Provisions

On September 17, 2014, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing entitled “Reforming America’s Outdated Energy Tax Code.” Retroactively extending tax provisions has significant impact on financial accounting for multiple energy industries, including wind and solar, and also small and mid-sized businesses such as commercial building owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and design-construction companies…....

Massachusetts Grants $7.4M for Municipal Resiliency Projects

Massachusetts has awarded the first round of grants under the Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative for six municipal resiliency projects. On September 25, 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) awarded $7.4M in the first round of project implementation grants under the Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative.  The funding will support six projects designed…...