New Mexico Regulators Approve Solar, Battery Projects to Replace San Juan Coal Capacity

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on July 29 approved a portfolio of renewable energy projects, including 650 megawatts of solar and 300 megawatts of battery storage, to replace the retiring capacity of the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station. Investment in the resources could total about $1 billion. The commission found that the plan is…...

Conversion Losses Accounted for Over 60 Percent of Power Sector Energy Consumption in 2019: EIA

Conversion Losses Accounted for Over 60 Percent of Power Sector Energy Consumption in 2019: EIA

U.S. utility-scale power generation facilities used 38 quadrillion British thermal units, or quads, of energy to provide 14 quads of electricity in 2019, according to a July 21 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Much of the difference is attributed to losses during the conversion process. In presenting this statistic, the industry at large…...

Western EIM Benefits Q2 2020

Western Power Market Benefits Top $1 Billion

The Western Energy Imbalance market generated about $79 million in savings in the second quarter of this year, with total benefits reaching about $998 million since its launch in 2014, according to a July 29 press release from the California Independent System Operator Corporation. The market constitutes an automated system that secures the lowest-cost energy…

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

New Jersey Seeks to Procure Up To 2.4 Gigawatts in Second Offshore Wind Solicitation

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on July 22 issued a draft guidance document for the second offshore wind solicitation for 1.2 to 2.4 gigawatts of capacity. The first round resulted in the selection of Denmark-based Orsted A/S to develop a 1.1-gigawatt wind project, known as Ocean Wind, off the coast of Atlantic City…....

Colorado’s Wind Generation

Colorado’s Wind Generation More Than Tripled Over the Last Decade: EIA

Renewables’ share of Colorado’s electricity generation grew from 10 percent to 25 percent between 2010 and 2019, according to a July 23 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Wind generation more than tripled since 2010, providing nearly 20 percent of the state’s electricity generation in 2019. Renewable electricity generation increased by more than double…...

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

New York Launches Largest Renewable Energy Solicitation for Up To 4 Gigawatts of Capacity

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, on July 21 announced solicitations seeking up to 4 gigawatts of renewable capacity, including 2.5 gigawatts of offshore wind and 1.5 gigawatts of land-based large-scale projects. In addition, a solicitation for $400 million in multi-port investment requires offshore wind generators to collaborate with any of the 11 prequalified…...

U.S. Electric Generators Attribute 18 Percent of Capacity Delays to COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts

U.S. Electric Generators Attribute 18 Percent of Capacity Delays to COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts: EIA

U.S. electric generators experienced more delays in commercial operation dates in March and April partly due to the COVID-19 mitigation efforts, according to a July 15 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Restricted travel of specialized workers, along with supply chain disruptions and permitting challenges increased the risk of project delays. According to a…...

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

Michigan Regulator Approves DTE Electric’s Revised Renewable Energy Plan

The Michigan Public Service Commission on July 9 approved DTE Electric Co.’s amended renewable energy portfolio. The new supply-side renewable resources approved incorporate a 225-megawatt wind farm and two 25-year solar power purchase contracts of about 128 megawatts. The generation capacity, to be added over the next two years, would enable the company to comply…...

AEP to Advance 1.5 Gigawatts of Wind Projects Despite Texas Commission’s Denial

AEP to Advance 1.5 Gigawatts of Wind Projects Despite Texas Commission’s Denial

The Texas Public Utilities Commission rejected a plan by Southwestern Electric Power Co., a subsidiary of American Electric Power Company Inc., to add 309 megawatts of wind energy to serve Texas customers, according to a July 2 news release. Despite the denial, the company said it can move ahead with its planned acquisition of 1,485…...

U.S. Energy Department Grants $100 Million to Accelerate Scientific Breakthroughs

U.S. Energy Department Grants $100 Million to Accelerate Scientific Breakthroughs

The U.S. Energy Department on July 1 announced $100 million funding for ten Energy Frontier Research Centers over four years to expedite the scientific breakthroughs needed to tackle the energy challenges of the 21st century. The move intends to strengthen the nation’s economic prosperity and energy security. The centers will bring together multidisciplinary scientific teams…...

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

Atlantic Wind Wins New York Approval for 100-Megawatt Deer River Wind Project

The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment on June 30 approved the 101-megawatt Deer River Wind Farm located in Lewis and Jefferson counties. The project is expected to generate up to $24 million in local property tax revenues over 30 years. Local governments are expected to receive up to $800,000…...

Distributed Solar Faces New Challenge From Petition Seeking Federal Oversight of Net Metering

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Distributed Solar Faces New Challenge From Petition Seeking Federal Oversight of Net Metering

As states continue to reexamine net metering programs in the evolving distributed solar landscape, the industry faces a new challenge: a petition asking federal regulators to exercise jurisdiction over these state-administered programs that compensate behind-the-meter generation for grid-exported energy.