The ongoing conversation on the role of natural gas utilities in reducing emissions continues as utilities work towards achieving ambitious state decarbonization goals.
The market for renewable natural gas (RNG) is in transition as decarbonization mandates have led more states and jurisdictions to embrace strong policies lowering barriers to market access.
The U.S. trading hubs’ average wholesale electricity prices increased in 2022 compared with 2021 on account of extreme weather conditions and the limited supply of coal to replace higher-priced natural gas, according to a Jan. 10 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Extreme weather and manpower shortages in the railroad and coal mine industries…...
Ambitious federal goals and initiatives, coupled with state commitments, are driving the transition to a low-carbon future across the U.S. Investments and tax incentives included in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have added new momentum to the renewable and clean energy industries including offshore wind, nuclear power, and distributed solar.…. Read the full report…...
PacifiCorp announced on Dec. 8 that the company expects to participate in the California Independent System Operator Corp.’s (CAISO) Extended Day Ahead Market, or EDAM. This will allow the company to provide its customers with reliable, inexpensive and clean electricity when required. In addition to joining the EDAM, the company is also planning to join…
Demand response (DR) continues to garner attention as a key reliability tool amid the ongoing transition to renewable energy, increased electrification, and extreme weather. Traditionally intended to shed load and prevent blackouts during peak demand periods, DR is increasingly valued for its ability to address imbalances caused by the variability in wind and solar generation.
The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on Dec. 6 announced a voluntary curtailment program, which permits large flexible consumers to reduce their electricity usage during periods of elevated demand. The large curtailment program for Large Flexible Loads, or LFL, aims to give bitcoin miners and data centers incentives to reduce usage, since they have…
The New England region relies on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the winter to meet natural gas demand due to an inadequate gas pipeline network. The reliance on imports is increasingly fraught as the region competes in the global market where high and volatile prices pose supply risk and pricing uncertainty.
Grid modernization efforts are increasingly focused on resilience and reliability to protect the system against extreme weather and cyberattacks. Lawmakers and regulators are pursuing reforms to ensure that policies keep pace with the rapidly changing resource mix to facilitate the transformation to a future grid capable of integrating the increasing number of intermittent resources and electric vehicles.
The Illinois Commerce Commission on July 22 directed Ameren to carry out a cost-benefit analysis of the company’s continued membership in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) versus joining the PJM Interconnection. MISO’s failure to fulfil resource demand in a capacity auction for the period June 2022-May 2023 triggered rising wholesale prices and utility bills…...
The U.S. Energy Department on June 30 circulated a request for information seeking public input on the implementation of a $630 million hydropower incentive program pursuant to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This information would assist the department in studying the structure of hydropower incentive programs, selection criteria, timing and distribution of funds,…...