The California Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 16 approved $830 million in new funding for the Self-Generation Incentive Program, or SGIP, prioritizing energy storage projects for communities most impacted by utilities’ public safety power shutoff events to avoid the risk of power lines starting wildfires. When added to unspent funds from previous years, the decision…
The U.S. Energy Department on Jan. 8 announced a comprehensive program aimed to establish and sustain U.S. leadership in energy storage utilization and exports, with a domestic manufacturing supply chain that does not depend on foreign sources of critical materials, by 2030. The initiative, called Energy Storage Grand Challenge, establishes a set of goals to…
State measures are transforming the way utilities procure energy in light of continued growth in intermittent large-scale energy, customer-sited generation, and clean energy commitments. Competition among U.S. states eager to take the lead in the nation’s nascent offshore wind sector is bringing the industry to new highs. Battery storage is poised for strong growth with the…...
The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management on Dec. 30 released a favorable environmental review for the Gemini solar project, a proposed 690-megawatt facility that would span 7,100 acres of BLM-administered land, located about 33 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The $1 billion project, which includes 380 megawatts of battery storage, would be the…
The Nevada Public Utilities Commission on Dec. 5 approved NV Energy’s integrated resource plan, which will add 1,190 megawatts of new solar energy projects and 590 megawatts of energy storage. The new capacity will come from three projects located in Clark County, southern Nevada, and are scheduled to be operational by Jan. 1, 2024. The…
More U.S. states are exploring programs and policies to leverage the application of battery storage for the benefit of the power grid and to examine how the technology may provide value to consumers. Studies and investigations are intended to help craft initiatives that can tap the resource for multiple applications ranging from offsetting peak loads, supporting renewable integration and stabilizing the distribution system, to providing peaking capacity and replacing fossil generation.
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has received an application from El Paso Electric Company to build a solar generation project paired with energy storage at the New Mexico State University, according to a Nov. 20 filing. El Paso Electric is seeking expedited approval for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a 3-megawatt…
The Nevada Public Utilities Commission on Nov. 26 proposed to establish an energy storage procurement target of 1,000 megawatts by 2030 for utilities that are required to file a triennial resource plan. The measure stems from agency’s finding last year that setting battery deployment goals by regulation results in net benefits. A 2017 law directed the agency to determine whether targets for energy storage…
Community choice aggregation has existed for over two decades, but it has gained popularity in recent years, driven by competitive rates, consumer interest in controlling their electricity source, and the desire for renewable energy options. The procurement model allows local governments to buy power on behalf of their communities, tailoring their purchases to meet customer preferences.
East Bay Community Energy, Peninsula Clean Energy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and municipal utility Silicon Valley Power on Nov. 5 issued a request for proposals for about 33 megawatts of behind-the-meter battery projects to protect their customers and communities from Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s massive fire-prevention power outages. The entities noted that the growing threat…
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Oct. 17 largely approved plans filed by PJM Interconnection LLC and Southwest Power Pool Inc. addressing electric storage participation in their wholesale markets. The orders mark the agency’s first move to implement the landmark Order No. 841, which directed grid operators to establish a market model that recognizes the…
The Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC on Oct. 1 issued a request for proposals for 2,600 megawatts of solar, wind, and storage to satisfy a 2023 capacity need identified in its integrated resource plan, which proposes to phase out coal-fired generation by 2028. The company is requesting proposals in three areas: 300 megawatts of…