Grid Modernization Strategies

Visual Primer: Grid Modernization Strategies Increasingly Center on Innovation and Customer Engagement

Climate Change and Emissions, coal, Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Smart Grid, Solar, Wind

State policy goals are driving comprehensive grid modernization endeavors aimed at transitioning to a flexible and efficient grid that caters to the needs of the evolving electric sector and diverse customer interests. A growing number of state regulators and utilities alike are embarking on innovative ventures, striving towards necessary enhancements to accomplish energy and environmental goals.

renewables

Maine Selects 546 Megawatts of Projects for Long-Term Renewable Energy Contracts

EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Solar, Wind

The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Sept. 23 approved 17 renewable energy projects totaling 546 megawatts to enter into long-term contracts with the state’s investor-owned utilities. The projects represent solar, wind, hydro-electric, and biomass resources, with solar accounting for 482.5 megawatts of the capacity. The selection, which marks the largest renewable energy procurement in Maine,…...

U.S. Court Upholds New England Capacity Market Exemptions For State-Sponsored Renewables

New York Proposes Regulations to Implement Renewable Energy Siting Law

Climate Change and Emissions, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Solar, Wind

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, on Sept. 16 announced a draft regulatory framework to implement a recently-enacted law, which established the Office of Renewable Energy Permitting to expedite the siting and regulatory review of large-scale renewable energy facilities. The proposed framework is expected to dramatically speed up clean energy project development and help…...

New Jersey Board Joins Prominent U.S. Offshore Wind Research Organization

New Jersey Launches Second Offshore Wind Solicitation for Up To 2.4 Gigawatts of Capacity

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, PRODUCTS, Request for Proposal, Wind

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…...

New York Regulator Reaffirms Decision Approving Calpine’s 124-Megawatt Wind Project

New York Regulator Reaffirms Approval of Innogy’s 242 Megawatt Wind Project

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Pulse, Grid Modernization, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Wind

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…...

Resource Plan for Carolinas Examines Options to Accelerate Coal Plant Retirements

Duke Energy’s 15-Year Resource Plan for Carolinas Examines Options to Accelerate Coal Plant Retirements

Climate Change and Emissions, coal, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Pulse, Integrated Resource Plans, Natural Gas, Oil, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Solar, Wind

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…...

100-Megawatt Solar Power Contract

Michigan Regulator Orders Utilities to File Distribution Plans to Advance Grid Modernization

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Solar, Wind

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…...

EnerKnol Research AE Visual Primer Value of DER 2020 08 25 Blog preview

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Distributed Generation Compensation Evolves to Reflect Benefits With Greater Accuracy

Climate Change and Emissions, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Renewables, Retail Power and Gas, Solar, Solar Power, Wholesale Power, Wind

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.

New Jersey Board Joins Prominent U.S. Offshore Wind Research Organization

Massachusetts Announces Agreements With Offshore Wind Firms for New Bedford Marine Terminal

EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, PRODUCTS, Wind

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…....

NY Green Bank Commitments Exceed $900 Million, Driving $2.4 Billion in Clean Energy Investments

New York Advances Transmission Projects to Deliver Clean Energy to Downstate Market

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Transmission, Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Grid Modernization, PRODUCTS, Solar, Wind

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…...

States Advance Alternative Ratemaking Plans to Support Clean Energy Transition

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – States Advance Alternative Ratemaking Plans to Support Clean Energy Transition

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Vehicles, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid, Solar, Wind

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.

New York Regulator Reaffirms Decision Approving Calpine’s 124-Megawatt Wind Project

U.S. Interior Department Approves NextEra’s 100-Megawatt Wind Project in New Mexico

EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, PRODUCTS, Wind

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…...