Ambitious federal goals and initiatives, coupled with state commitments, are driving the transition to a low-carbon future across the U.S. Investments and tax incentives included in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have added new momentum to the renewable and clean energy industries including offshore wind, nuclear power, and distributed solar.…. Read the full report…...
The U.S. Energy Department on Dec 19 released a notice of intent to offer $45 million for states and local governments to advance the application of the latest building energy standards to aid in the development of buildings and cut down energy bills for residential and commercial consumers. The Building Energy Codes: Resilient and Efficient…...
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Petroleum Reserves announced on Dec. 16 that it will begin repurchasing crude oil for Strategic Petroleum Reserves, or SPR, by buying oil at a lower price than the $96 per barrel average it was sold for. This will be the first fixed price replenishment, in order to secure…...
Net metering policies, which have been instrumental in driving the growth of distributed solar across the U.S., are poised for further evolution as states explore a holistic approach to establish compensation mechanisms. In California, a long-time leader in solar adoption, regulators have approved a significant overhaul of the net metering program, a decision that will likely have broad implications for the industry nationwide.
The California Independent System Operator Board and the Western Energy Imbalance Market Governing Body have approved both the Energy Storage Enhancements and Resource Sufficiency Energy Enhancements initiatives, according to a Dec. 16 news release. The initiatives are expected to be adopted by the upcoming summer when extreme temperatures create high demand during peak hours. The…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff on Dec. 16 issued its seventeenth annual report on demand response and advanced metering. From 2020 to 2021, demand resource totals in the wholesale markets rose by about 1,833 megawatts representing a 6 percent annual increase. The estimated advanced meter penetration rates nationwide for each of the residential,…...
The growth in utility-scale power generation from renewable energy sources, the rapidly-growing electricity production sources, increased from 21 percent in 2021 to 24 percent in 2022 during the first half of 2022, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Among these, hydropower, wind, and solar are the major energy sources contributing to renewable electricity generation…...
The U.S. Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office closed a $2.5 billion loan to Ultium Cells LLC on Dec. 12 for the construction of its lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Michigan, and Tennessee, which will create more than 11,000 high-paying jobs across the three facilities. This will drive the country toward electric vehicles and…...
The average allowance price for carbon dioxide emissions increased in four of the world’s five largest carbon emissions trading platforms between Jan. 2021 and Jan. 2022, according to a Dec. 13 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Emission trading systems are used by governments to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. The four trading systems that…...
PacifiCorp announced on Dec. 8 that the company expects to participate in the California Independent System Operator Corp.’s (CAISO) Extended Day Ahead Market, or EDAM. This will allow the company to provide its customers with reliable, inexpensive and clean electricity when required. In addition to joining the EDAM, the company is also planning to join…
Demand response (DR) continues to garner attention as a key reliability tool amid the ongoing transition to renewable energy, increased electrification, and extreme weather. Traditionally intended to shed load and prevent blackouts during peak demand periods, DR is increasingly valued for its ability to address imbalances caused by the variability in wind and solar generation.
The Biden administration on Dec. 7 announced the first federal building performance standard and set a goal to reduce energy usage and electrify equipment and appliances in 30 percent of the buildings owned by the federal government by 2030. In addition, the U.S. Energy Department announced a proposed rulemaking to electrify new federal buildings as…
