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

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

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Jan. 4 joined the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC), a not-for-profit public-private partnership created in 2018 to support the U.S. offshore wind industry through research projects. The participation is expected to play a key role in helping the state achieve its goal of 7,500…...

EPA Releases Strategic Plan in Conjunction with President's Proposed $11.8 Billion Budget to Address Climate Change, Environmental Justice

New York Climate Action Council Unveils Draft Plan to Accomplish Emissions-Reduction Goals

The New York State’s Climate Action Council on Dec. 30 released a draft plan recommending policies and actions required to help meet the ambitious goals under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which calls for 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. The law requires New York to source 70 percent of…...

Year Ahead: Five Must-Watch Power Sector Trends for 2022

Year Ahead: Five Must-Watch Power Sector Trends for 2022

Across the U.S., the massive transformation of the power sector towards renewables and zero-emissions sources is set to accelerate, aided by supportive federal policies from an administration focused on climate action and ambitious state decarbonization goals. The exponential growth of renewables will continue to drive grid modernization and transmission development, while efforts to fortify the…...

U.S. Department of Energy Establishes Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations

U.S. Department of Energy Establishes Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations

The U.S. Energy Department on Dec. 21 formed the “Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations” to deliver on President Biden’s ambitious climate agenda, create jobs and reduce pollution. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted last month, offers over $20 billion to form the new office and enhance clean energy projects such as green hydrogen, carbon capture, grid level…...

New York Launches 2-Gigawatt Offshore Wind Energy Development Solicitation

Maryland Commission Approves 1.6 Gigawatts of Offshore Wind Projects

The Maryland Public Service Commission on Dec. 17 awarded offshore wind renewable energy credits to two developers, US Wind Inc and Skipjack Offshore Energy LCC. The developers have planned to build more than 1,600 megawatts of energy off the coast of Maryland. The new proposed projects are on top of the 368 megawatts of offshore…...

Visual Primer: Renewables and Reliability Needs Lead to Multi-Billion-Dollar Transmission Investments

Visual Primer: Renewables and Reliability Needs Lead to Multi-Billion-Dollar Transmission Investments

Regulators across the U.S. are accelerating electric transmission projects worth tens of billions of dollars to bring renewable power to consumers and make the grid more resilient against extreme weather events. Infrastructure updates have also garnered bipartisan support on the federal level, with more than $65 billion allocated for clean energy transmission and grid development in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enacted by the Congress last month.

President Biden Issues Executive Order to Promote Clean Energy

President Biden Issues Executive Order to Promote Clean Energy

The U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Dec. 8 directing the federal government to use its procurement power to achieve ambitious emissions reduction and clean energy goals. This action is expected to facilitate the development of at least 10 gigawatts of carbon-free electricity by 2030 and fast-track the nation’s capacity to supply…...

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

Virginia Regulator Seeks Public Input on Dominion Energy’s 2.6-Gigawatt Offshore Wind Project

The Virginia State Corporation Commission is seeking comment on Dominion Energy’s proposal to construct an offshore wind facility off the coast of Virginia Beach. The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project, estimated to cost about $9.8 billion, would consist of 176 turbines each having a capacity of 14.7 megawatts. Once fully built, the offshore wind…...

Policy Primer: U.S. Offshore Wind Industry December 2021 Update

Policy Primer: U.S. Offshore Wind Industry December 2021 Update

Interest in offshore wind energy has reached new levels driven by supportive federal action, ambitious state procurement targets, and evolving technology. Recent developments include federal approval of the second commercial-scale project, and plans to hold up to seven new lease sales by 2025 in the East Coast, as well as the West and Gulf Coasts. Despite the progress, the industry faces opposition with recent lawsuits challenging the approval of the nation’s first major offshore project, the 800-megawatt (MW) Vineyard Wind I venture, over its potential impact to the fishing industry and endangered species.