Week Ahead: National Transmission Needs Study, NY’s Extreme Heat Protections, Green Mountain Power’s Reliability Plan
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California Approves $95.2 Million Plan to Expand Zero-Emission Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
The California Energy Commission on Aug. 18 approved a $95.2 million investment plan to expand zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and support the state’s transition to cleaner transportation. The funding, administered through the commission’s Clean Transportation Program, or CTP, will support electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as…...
Visual Primer: Interconnection Reforms Target Faster Grid Access and Better Use of Existing Capacity
Rapid growth in both new generation and large electricity loads is prompting regulators, utilities, and grid operators to rethink interconnection rules. The focus is shifting beyond queue management toward faster project approvals, better use of available grid capacity, and more efficient use of existing infrastructure.
Visual Primer: Virtual Power Plants – From Demonstration Projects to Grid Resources
Virtual power plants (VPPs) are evolving from demonstration projects into grid resources as states increasingly recognize the ability of aggregated distributed energy resources (DERs) to support a more flexible and resilient electric grid. Recent legislative measures, regulatory actions, and utility initiatives reflect the role of VPPs in resource planning and grid operations amid growing electricity demand.
Visual Primer: Emerging Grid Reliability Challenges in the Western U.S.
Utilities and regulators across the Western U.S. are advancing interconnection reforms, transmission expansion, and wildfire mitigation measures as rapid load growth and climate-related risks place increasing pressure on grid reliability. Recent actions by grid operators, federal regulators, and state policymakers indicate a growing emphasis on modernizing interconnection and transmission planning processes while embedding wildfire resilience into long-term reliability planning.
U.S. EPA Seeks Two-Year Delay of Vehicle Emissions Standards, Citing $1.7 Billion in Savings
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on May 14 proposed a two-year delay of Biden-era vehicle emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles, extending compliance deadlines from model year 2027 to model year 2029 as the Trump administration moves to ease regulatory pressure on automakers and lower vehicle costs. The proposal is part of a broader…...
California Announces $1 Billion Electric Truck Rebate Program
The California Air Resources Board on May 13 announced the launch of a $1 billion rebate program for electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks through the California Clean Fuel Reward program. The initiative is funded by the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, or LCFS, program with more than $1 billion in total rebate funding expected through 2030…....
Visual Primer: Transmission Expansion Efforts Accelerate as Load Growth Reshapes Grid Planning
Rapid growth in electricity demand is reshaping transmission planning across the U.S., prompting new strategies and technology solutions to optimize the capacity and efficiency of existing infrastructure.