Massachusetts Regulator Approves Long-Term Contracts for 800-Megawatts of Offshore Wind Power

PJM, New Jersey Seek Federal Approval of Offshore Wind Transmission Proposal

PJM Interconnection LLC and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Jan. 27 filed a joint agreement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to implement an offshore wind transmission grid solicitation. The agreement is expected to serve as a national model for states to incorporate clean energy priorities into the regional transmission planning…...

U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Projects

Visual Primer: U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Marches On Despite Opposition Due to Impacts on Coastal Areas

U.S. offshore wind is gaining traction with new milestones spurred by state commitments of almost 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2040 and a federal goal of 30 GW by 2030. Recent developments include state-level project selections that could add more than 3.2 GW of new capacity, New Jersey’s proposal for a novel offshore wind transmission solution, and New York’s move to advance transmission technologies for offshore wind integration.

Pennsylvania Sets Emissions Reduction Goals in Line With Paris Climate Accord

Arizona Regulators Reject 100 Percent Clean Energy Rules Despite Stronger Utility Pledges

The Arizona Corporation Commission on Jan. 26 voted 3-2 to decline rules that would have required the state’s investor-owned electric utilities to supply 100 percent carbon-free power to their customers by 2070. Utilities already have voluntarily committed to more ambitious decarbonization plans. Arizona Public Service Company (APS) has committed to source all of its electricity…...

Colorado Utilities Aim to Join Southwest Power Pool’s Energy Imbalance Market

Colorado Utilities Aim to Join Southwest Power Pool’s Energy Imbalance Market

Xcel Energy-Colorado, Platte River Power Authority, and Black Hills Colorado Electric LLC on Jan. 25 revealed plans to join the Western Energy Imbalances Service (WEIS) Market, operated by the Southwest Power Pool, which manages the power grid across the central U.S. The utilities plan to join the market by April 2023 subject to approval through…...

New York Commission Issues Order Addressing Offshore Wind Energy Integration

New York Commission Issues Order Addressing Offshore Wind Energy Integration

The New York State Public Service Commission on Jan. 20 issued an order on recommendations related to offshore wind energy integration identified in the Power Grid Study released in January 2021. The order requires revisions to upcoming offshore wind procurements and establishes a technology working group to test and implement innovative transmission technologies. Further, the…...

Oregon Governor Orders Sweeping Climate Action Setting Sector-Specific Emissions Caps, Tougher Clean Fuel Targets

Colorado Introduces Framework to Implement Climate Policy

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Jan. 14 released its Climate Equity Framework which outlines steps to implement the state’s air quality and climate policies, and plans to promote environmental justice. The framework proposes various suggestions to ensure public engagement and opinion in climate change policymaking and to minimize climate impact on…...

New York Commission Issues Order Addressing Offshore Wind Energy Integration

U.S. Interior Issues Draft Review of Wind Area With 1.6 Gigawatts Potential Offshore California

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Jan. 11 announced the release of its draft environmental assessment on the possible environmental and socioeconomic effects of commercial leases as well as related site assessment activities in the offshore Humboldt Wind Energy Area of California. The Humboldt WEA covers an area of about 206 square miles…...

EIA Utility Scale Generating Capacity Additions

Solar Power to Lead New U.S. Electric Generating Capacity in 2022: EIA

Solar is expected to account for almost 50 percent of planned U.S. electric generating capacity additions in 2022, followed by natural gas-fired and wind encompassing 21 percent and wind 17 percent, respectively, according to a Jan. 10 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA forecasts 46.1 gigawatts of new utility-scale electric generating capacity…

Minnesota Governor Unveils Plan to Achieve 100 Percent Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050

New York Grid Operator Proposes Capacity Market Changes to Meet Decarbonization Mandates

The New York Independent System Operator submitted market rule changes for consideration by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposing to revise buyer-side mitigation, or BSM, rules, in a bid to advance the objectives of the state’s landmark climate law, according to a Jan. 10 press release. The changes would exempt clean energy resources from…...

New York Begins Process for Second Offshore Wind Solicitation to Procure At Least 1,000 Megawatts

New York to Invest $500 Million in Offshore Wind Infrastructure

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Jan. 5 announced a plan to enhance the state’s renewable energy footprint including an investment of $500 million in offshore wind infrastructure, as part of the 2022 State of the State. The plan calls for investments in offshore wind manufacturing and associated supply chain, and is expected to create…...