Strategic actions to optimize the distribution grid are imperative to meet the demands of the evolving power sector. Changing policies, climate action, and customer preferences have led to the growth in distributed energy resources and demand-side opportunities, prompting regulators and utilities to explore robust grid planning approaches that accommodate the growth and meet increased demand from electrification.
There is a growing focus on regional collaboration to improve transmission planning and operations as grid operators and states explore strategies to enhance system reliability while transitioning to a lower-carbon grid. Recent actions include a comprehensive action plan to connect offshore wind projects to the electric grid and a multi-state proposal to establish a collaborative on interregional transmission.
Carbon management is emerging as an important component of regulatory strategies to progress towards a net-zero economy. Recent actions range from…Read the full report…...
Carbon management is emerging as an important component of regulatory strategies to progress towards a net-zero economy. Recent actions range from funding for the first direct air capture facilities to establishing an action committee to advance marine carbon dioxide (CO2) removal.
Clean hydrogen is expected to play an integral role in the transition to a decarbonized energy system. Federal and state initiatives are aimed at addressing barriers to scale hydrogen deployment and facilitate a sustainable clean hydrogen economy.
In the face of a rapidly evolving energy landscape, federal and state initiatives continue to support the growth and expansion of energy storage solutions. Energy storage plays a key role in the transition to a zero-emission electric grid by enabling the integration of large quantities of renewable energy while improving grid-operating capabilities.
Wildfires have significantly impacted the utility industry in recent years. Utilities in the U.S. West have come under intense scrutiny for failing to implement critical safety measures to prevent wildfires caused by power lines. The types of challenges that utilities face are changing, calling for new methods of reliability, resilience, and response programs to address the risks of power lines igniting a wildfire.
Regulators across the U.S. are advancing grid transformation measures to support the growth in new sources of power generation driven by clean energy commitments. Recent actions include reforms adopted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to address backlogs in the interconnection queue, New York’s grid planning process to identify transmission investments, and Maine’s proceeding examining priorities for utility grid plan filings to assist the transition towards a clean electric grid.
U.S. carbon markets demonstrated robust participation in recent auctions including Washington’s two consecutive auctions that sold out of carbon permits and raised over $850 million under…Read the full report …...
U.S. carbon markets demonstrated robust participation in recent auctions including Washington’s two consecutive auctions that sold out of carbon permits and raised over $850 million under the state’s cap-and-invest program launched this year. However, carbon-trading programs continue to face opposition in some jurisdictions over concerns of higher ratepayer bills.