The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Sept. 9 announced the state’s second offshore wind solicitation, seeking 1.2 to 2.4 gigawatts of capacity. The board also approved the final Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, the state’s comprehensive roadmap for reaching the goal of 7.5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035. The first round resulted…...
The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment on Sept. 3 denied petitions seeking rehearing of the agency’s decision permitting Baron Winds LLC to construct a 242-megawatt wind energy project in Steuben County. Petitioners challenged the approval of amendments to the siting permit in May on grounds that the board did…...
Duke Energy Carolinas LLC and Duke Energy Progress LLC on Sept. 1 unveiled their 15-year integrated resource plans for the Carolinas, presenting a range of scenarios with accelerated coal retirement options and substantial increases in solar, wind, and energy storage technologies. The proposal details six generation portfolios that would keep Duke Energy Corp. on a…...
The Michigan Public Service Commission on Aug. 20 ordered DTE Electric Co., Consumers Energy Co., and Indiana Michigan Power Co. to file electricity distribution and maintenance plans consistent with the goals set forth in MI Power Grid – Michigan’s grid modernization initiative. MI Power Grid, launched in October 2019 with support from Democratic Governor Gretchen…...
Recently, state regulators have stepped up efforts to value distributed energy resources (DERs) more accurately while looking for ways to better reflect the costs they impose on the grid. Among recent actions, New York adopted a mechanism to move the market towards more cost-reflective rates, while California decided to include avoided transmission costs in the valuation, and Connecticut unveiled a study on quantifying the benefits of these resources.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs on Aug. 20 announced lease agreements with Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind to use the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal as the main staging and deployment facility for their offshore wind projects. The agreements worth over $32.5 million commit the terminal for full-time use from 2023-2027…....
The New York Public Service Commission on Aug. 13 announced an update on transmission initiatives underway to implement the 2020 Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefit Act. This legislation calls for significant investment to meet New York’s target of sourcing 70 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. The 2019 Climate Leadership…...
Alternative ratemaking plans and innovative rate design proposals continue to emerge as utilities adapt to policy and technology changes driven by decarbonization efforts and distributed energy growth. With growing state mandates to increase renewable energy generation, regulators are devising performance metrics and incentives to encourage utility innovation in achieving policy goals.
The Bureau of Land Management on Aug. 14 issued a record of decision approving Borderlands Wind LLC’s 100-megawatt wind generating project, which consists of 34 turbines sited on 16,648 acres in New Mexico. The wind farm would be built near Quemado, New Mexico and the Arizona-New Mexico border. The project will include larger versions of…...
The offshore wind industry continues to progress in the U.S. with East Coast states proceeding with new solicitations to procure capacity to meet their ambitious goals. New York and New Jersey are seeking to add nearly five gigawatts alongside offshore port infrastructure. Massachusetts is considering a bundled solicitation for generation and transmission in its next round of procurement. The industry’s growth has prompted federal regulators to examine whether existing frameworks in regional transmission organizations can accommodate offshore wind integration.
The University of Maine on Aug. 5 announced a partnership with New England Aqua Ventus LLC, a joint venture of Diamond Offshore Wind and RWE Renewables to develop the nation’s first floating offshore wind demonstration project off the coast of Maine. The companies will invest $100 million to build the turbine and demonstrate the technology…...
A bipartisan group of 32 legislators from Ohio asked the state’s Power Siting Board to reconsider the restrictions imposed on Icebreaker Wind Inc.‘s 20.7- megawatt offshore wind project in Lake Erie, according to a July 29 press release. The construction certificate, issued in May, includes a condition that the turbines remain feathered during nighttime hours…...