The completion of a new reactor at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle is viewed as a significant milestone for the U.S. nuclear industry despite massive cost overruns and years of delays. The lessons learned are expected to inform best practices…Read the full report …...
The completion of a new reactor at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle is viewed as a significant milestone for the U.S. nuclear industry despite massive cost overruns and years of delays. The lessons learned are expected to inform best practices for new projects even as a host of advanced technologies ranging from small modular reactors to microreactors are being developed. The development comes at a time when focus on decarbonization and energy security has elevated the importance of nuclear power as a critical technology to achieve national and state goals.
Low-carbon fuel programs are gaining prominence as an important avenue to help decarbonize the transportation sector, which accounts for a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Recent actions range from biofuel mandates under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program to legislative proposals across half a dozen states to establish clean fuel standards.
The deployment of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies is expected to increase in the U.S., driven by federal and state initiatives to meet emissions reduction targets. Supportive policies, including $12 billion in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 and enhanced tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, are driving carbon capture projects across the U.S. Initiatives to expand carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines to connect to sequestration sites have also gained momentum.
Community solar is poised for significant growth across the U.S. driven by state actions to encourage solar power and incentives in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Also known as shared solar, community solar allows multiple energy customers to participate in projects that are remotely located and receive credits to lower their electricity bill.
Heightened activity around energy storage reflects the growing importance of the technology to meet clean energy goals. Increasing levels of renewable energy, electrification of buildings and transportation, as well as retirement of fossil fuel generators are driving growth in battery storage installations.
Policy developments around nuclear energy continue to evolve driven by new reactor technologies and the need for carbon-free power to support clean energy goals. Nuclear operators can have their yellowcake and eat it too as massive federal and state subsidies protect traditional nuclear power plants while underwriting the development of advanced reactors.
Demand response (DR) is becoming an important tool in utility resource plans to manage demand on the power grid and integrate intermittent energy resources. DR programs allow consumers to play a role in the operation of the grid by reducing or shifting their electricity usage during peak periods in response to time-based rates or other forms of financial incentives.
Heightened activity around carbon pricing mechanisms reflects the need for expedited measures to align with ambitious emissions reduction trajectories.
This Earth Day, we discuss initiatives exploring clean hydrogen as an effective option to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.