Smart Grid

New York Announces Large-Scale Renewable Projects under RPS Program

Four large-scale renewable energy projects selected through RPS Main Tier solicitations will add approximately 164 MW to New York’s renewable energy capacity. On November 12, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $206M in funding to four Upstate large-scale clean energy projects aimed to reduce emissions and improve energy infrastructure resiliency.  Once operational, the…...

ISO New England Releases Annual Regional System Plan

ISO New England’s 2014 Regional System Plan underscores that retirements indicate the need for new resources to address future demand despite energy efficiency measures projected to flatten demand over time. On November 6, 2014, ISO New England (ISO-NE) issued the 2014 Regional System Plan, its annual guide on New England’s long term power-system planning efforts.  The…...

Federal Agencies Unveil Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Plans

The White House has released federal agencies’ sustainability and climate plans outlining methods to incorporate energy and climate considerations into their decision-making. On October 31, 2014 – the fifth anniversary of the 2009 Executive Order on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance – the White House released federal agencies’ sustainability and climate change adaptation plans, detailing…...

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…...

DOE Launches Lap-Corps to Commercialize Clean Energy Technologies

The DOE’s Lap-Corps will enable national laboratory teams to access private sector opportunities to commercialize innovative clean energy technologies. On October 29, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of Lap-Corps, a $2.3M pilot program to accelerate commercialization of innovative clean energy technologies developed by DOE National Laboratories.  Lap-Corps – modeled on the…...

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…...

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…...

CAISO Opens Wholesale Electricity Market to PacifiCorp Service Areas

Starting October 1, CAISO will open its subhourly wholesale electricity market to PacifiCorp’s service areas, marking the first time that CAISO will dispatch electricity to regions outside its footprint. On September 30, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report on the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) effort to open subhourly wholesale electricity markets to…...

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…....