Power & Utilities
Heightened activity around energy storage reflects the growing importance of the technology to meet clean energy goals. Increasing levels of renewable energy, electrification of buildings and transportation, as well as retirement of fossil fuel generators are driving growth in battery storage installations.
Texas is completing its first full legislative session since the 2021 Winter Storm Uri exposed catastrophic reliability flaws. The Texas legislature convenes in odd-numbered years. In 2021, a package of laws was passed to address critical reliability flaws like weatherization. In the current session, lawmakers are looking at the big picture and proposing to fundamentally secure natural gas as the backbone of reliability.
Demand response (DR) is becoming an important tool in utility resource plans to manage demand on the power grid and integrate intermittent energy resources. DR programs allow consumers to play a role in the operation of the grid by reducing or shifting their electricity usage during peak periods in response to time-based rates or other forms of financial incentives.
This Earth Day, we discuss initiatives exploring clean hydrogen as an effective option to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
The electricity system is in a state of transition amid the increase in fossil-fueled generation retirements and the penetration of intermittent renewable resources. Grid operators and regulators across the U.S. are exploring tools and strategies to adapt resource adequacy planning to the changing generation mix.
Energy storage plays a key role in managing the pace of the transformation of the electric system. The versatility of the resource has allowed for multiple grid roles, including supporting transmission reliability.
Recent developments around grid modernization strive to enable greater adoption of clean energy resources while ensuring a more resilient and responsive grid.
State regulators in the U.S. are tightening regulations governing competitive retail electricity markets, as they closely examine supply offers to determine if they are fairly priced, offer intended benefits of competition, and support clean energy goals.
The U.S. is on the verge of a boom in transmission projects driven by a massive buildout of renewable energy generation and an increase in federal transmission planning initiatives. Several long-distance power lines, such as the Champlain Hudson and SunZia, have reached major permitting milestones after years of planning and review.
Recent long-term resource plans of several electric utilities include accelerated timelines to develop renewables or retire coal-generation fleet, reflecting the impact of policy changes ensuing from 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA includes provisions to support the transition of the U.S. electricity generation fleet to cleaner energy sources and lower carbon emissions.
Federal and state agencies across the U.S. are boosting efforts to support electric vehicles (EVs) through zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) goals and decarbonization mandates. EVs are poised to play a significant role in the transition to a decarbonized economy by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Ambitious federal goals and initiatives, coupled with state commitments, are driving the transition to a low-carbon future across the U.S. Investments and tax incentives included in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have added new momentum to the renewable and clean energy industries including offshore wind, nuclear power, and distributed solar.…. Read the full report…...
