Smart Grid

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

Biofuels, Coal Power, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

On September 17, 2014, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing entitled “Reforming America’s Outdated Energy Tax Code.”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

Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

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…...

Massachusetts’ Second Green Bond Sale Shows Strong Demand

Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Hydropower, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Massachusetts’ second Green Bond sale resulted in orders exceeding $1B for $350M worth of bonds and $429M in refinancing transaction that will save taxpayers $45M. On September 22, 2014, Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman announced that the Commonwealth’s second Green Bond sale generated more than $1B in buy orders for a $350M bond offering.  Retail investors placed…...

NY Climate Week Highlights Clean Energy and Climate Preparedness Efforts

Electric Vehicles, Energy Storage, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power

Governor Cuomo has designated September 22-28 as Climate Week, highlighting the state’s transformational clean energy accomplishments and proactive climate preparedness efforts. On September 22, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo designated the week of September 22-28 as Climate Week to increase climate awareness and highlight New York’s ongoing efforts to meet climate challenges.  Governor…...

New York City Launches Building Retrofit Plan to Reduce Emissions

Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power

NYC has committed to reduce emissions to 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050, beginning with a comprehensive plan to retrofit all public buildings by 2025 and set target reductions and mandates for private buildings. On September 21, 2014, New York City (NYC) Mayor de Blasio announced a new goal of reducing emissions to 80…...

Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Energy Tax Policy Reforms

Biofuels, Carbon Markets, Coal Power, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

On September 17, 2014, the Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing titled “Reforming America’s Outdated Energy Tax Code” to discuss possible reforms to the U.S. energy tax policy. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) underscored the need for predictable, level playing-field tax policy that puts renewables on the same footing as other…...

DOE Announces $8M for Microgrid Projects

Renewables, Smart Grid

The DOE has announced seven awards to advance microgrid projects focused on enhanced microgrid control systems and technologies to strengthen electric infrastructure resiliency. On September 8, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $8M for microgrid projects across seven states to develop advanced technologies that facilitate more resilient and adaptive communities.  The projects…...

New Funding to Modernize Rural Electric Infrastructure

Energy Storage, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power

The USDA has announced new funding to modernize the rural electric infrastructure across 15 states. On September 9, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a funding of more than $518M to rural electric cooperatives to modernize the rural electric infrastructure, increase electric system reliability, and improve electricity delivery across 15 states.  The funding,…...

[Report] NY REV Straw Proposal Recommends Utility-Owned Distributed Energy Resources

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

The New York Department of Public Service (DPS) staff has issued a Straw Proposal on achieving the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) Track One goals. The straw proposal reaffirms the initial April 24 proceeding which identified utilities’ role in managing a distributed system platform (DSP) and growing the state’s existing Distributed Energy Resource (DER) assets. Despite…...

Hawaiian Electric Companies Propose Comprehensive Energy Plans

Biofuels, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Hydropower, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Hawaiian Electric Companies have proposed comprehensive electric energy plans with a goal to achieve more than 65 percent renewable energy by 2030.   On August 26, 2014, the Hawaiian Electric Companies – Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawaii Electric Light Company – proposed electric energy plans in response to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC)…...