Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo on Jan. 17 announced new goals as part of the state’s “Green New Deal” to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040. The initiative, outlined in Cuomo’s 2019 policy agenda, calls for an offshore wind target of 9 gigawatts by 2035, up from 2.4 gigawatts by 2030, adding to the combined…...
NextEra Energy Inc. and NextEra Energy Partners L.P on Jan. 18 asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order that Pacific Gas and Electric Company may not reject its wholesale contracts in bankruptcy without the federal regulator’s approval. PG&E announced it will file for bankruptcy protection on or about Jan. 29 as it faces billions…...
In the case of a fossil fuel facility, a plan shall include provisions to construct or invest in one or more renewable energy facilities in conjunction with construction and operation of the proposed fossil fuel facility. The aggregate estimated cost or investment in one or more renewable energy facilities shall be equal to no less…
In 2019, the U.S. is expected to add 23.7 gigawatts of generation capacity and retire 8.3 gigawatts, according to a Jan. 10 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. About 8 gigawatts of coal, nuclear, and natural gas generation are scheduled to retire this year, with coal accounting for 53 percent of the retirements. Texas,…
Colorado House lawmaker Chris Hansen, a Democrat, introduced legislation on Jan. 4 that would increase the maximum size of community solar gardens to 10 megawatts, up from 2 megawatts permitted by current law. The bill would broaden access to community projects, which offers consumers the opportunity to participate in solar installations through subscriptions, by allowing…...
The Virginia State Corporation Commission on Jan. 7 approved Appalachian Power Company’s proposal that allows customers the option to meet 100 percent of their electricity needs from renewable energy resources. Participating customers would pay a premium of $4.25 a month above the standard electric rate. State law permits utilities to design a tariff that customers…...
The power sector evolution continues unabated, marked by rapid growth of wind and solar, and a growing shift toward distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles. Interest in batteries is accelerating as states seek to capitalize the multiple benefits the technology provides to the grid, while the smart grid evolution…...
The Hawaiian Electric Companies submitted power purchase agreements for seven grid-scale, solar-plus-storage projects to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, according to a Jan. 3 press release. The projects total 262 megawatts of solar and 1,024 megawatt-hours of energy storage, with contract prices ranging from $0.08 to $0.12 per kilowatt-hour. The utilities said that the contracts…...
The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Dec. 17 granted solar installer Insource Renewables LLC’s request to exclude solar generation produced by medium and large non-residential customers of Central Maine Power Company and Emera Maine from gross metering provisions due to excessive costs that are shifted onto other ratepayers. The commission agreed that the cost of…...
Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy on Dec. 28 announced the selection of two nuclear plants — Dominion Energy Inc.’s Millstone Power Station in Connecticut and NextEra Energy Inc.’s Seabrook Nuclear Power Station in New Hampshire — along with nine solar projects and one offshore wind project in the state’s solicitation for zero-carbon electricity. The procurements totaling nearly…...
The New York Public Service Commission on Dec. 14 approved phase III of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s plan to implement the Clean Energy Standard or CES, adopted in August 2016, to achieve the state’s goal of obtaining half its electricity from renewable resources by 2030. The program includes a renewable…...
Virginia is striding towards a clean energy future by paving the way for faster and larger deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Grid Transformation and Security Act of 2018 declares that 5,000 megawatts of solar and wind energy are in the public interest, making it easier for these projects get regulatory approval. The state’s 10-year energy plan emphasizes grid modernization and innovative technologies, setting goals for renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles.