The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Sep. 24 announced the creation of a new national program office devoted to advancing environmental justice and civil rights. This office will act as an enabler fulfilling the agency’s commitment to delivering justice and equity for all, while pushing the critical issues to the highest levels of the…...
The California Air Resources Board on Sept. 22 approved the 2022 State Implementation Plan, or SIP, strategy for reaching the federal health based standard for ozone emissions within the next 15 years. The net cost of the strategy is projected to be $96.2 billion, which involves $33.8 billion in board actions and $62.3 billion in…...
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy on Sept. 21 signed an executive order, increasing the state’s offshore wind target to 11,000 megawatts (MW) by 2040, nearly double the existing goal of 7.5 gigawatts by 2035. The order instructs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to examine the viability of raising the target further. In addition…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on Sept. 23 released a staff proposal to create a framework to replace Southern California Gas Company’s Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility. Regulators seek a solution in place to substitute the gas facility by using non-gas-fired electricity generation, storage energy efficiency, and building electrification. Approval of the proposal could…...
The U.S. Energy Department on Sept. 22 launched a $7 billion program to build regional hydrogen hubs, or H2Hubs throughout the U.S. The H2Hubs, coupled with a grander $8 billion hydrogen hub package sponsored through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA will be a key driver in aiding groups across the U.S. make…...
A handful of states are revisiting natural gas line extension policies to eliminate subsidies for new gas hookups and support state climate policies that call for lower gas use and electrification of buildings.
The New York Independent Systems Operator on Sept. 22 released its 2021-2040 System and Resource Outlook providing a comprehensive overview of potential resource development over the next 20 years and potential pathways for transmission and supply investments to transition to a reliable zero-emissions power grid. The report notes that unprecedented levels of investment are required…...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sept. 21 announced the state’s sixth competitive solicitation, seeking 2 gigawatts or more of new large scale renewable energy projects. The projects are expected to have the capability to provide electricity for around 600,000 homes and sustain the conventional speed of state contracted opportunities for private renewable energy developers…....
New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sept. 21 declared four gigawatts of distributed solar have been installed across the state. Community, residential, small commercial and industrial projects have been mounted, capable of providing enough electricity to supply more than 710,000 homes. Distributed solar power generation refers to technologies that produce electricity from solar energy near…...
Natural gas contributed nearly half of California’s electricity generation mix to meet peak demand during an extreme heat wave in early September, according to a Sept. 21 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The heat wave during the week of Sept. 4 led to record demand for electricity, amid elevated air conditioning use. Moreover,…...
The U.S. Energy Department on Sep. 19 announced a $156 million grant to establish a unique refinery facility for separating rare earth elements and critical minerals from mining wastes and other unconventional sources. Rare earth elements and critical minerals are considered important for clean energy technologies’ manufacturing. The funding, provided by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment…