Brent spot prices began at $50 per barrel in January 2021 and climbed to a high of $86 per barrel in October before falling in the final weeks of the year, according to a Jan. 4 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on crude oil prices recovery last year. The agency highlighted that…...
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission on Dec.30 issued an order that governs the topics and concerns that will be covered in a comprehensive study that examines the costs, benefits and compensation of excess energy that is generated by Idaho Power customers who produce on site generation. The parameters of the study are expected to minimise…...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Dec. 28 announced an increase in emergency aid for low-and middle-income families to keep their homes heated during the winter. The move aims to prevent disconnecting or exhausting sources amid expected increases in fuel prices. Compared to last year, the emergency benefit planned for this winter ranges from 32…...
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…...
The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) announced on Dec.30 it has completed on-site inspections of mandatory winterization efforts and concluded that the independently owned power generation fleet and transmission companies serving the region are prepared for winter weather. The grid operator conducted inspections at facilities, which represent 85 percent of the megawatt hours lost…...
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…...
The New York State Public Service Commission has approved an agreement allowing the corporate transfer of four upstate nuclear power plants from their parent company Exelon Corporation, to a newly formed, independent parent entity. The deal provides $331 million in financial support for the state’s nuclear facilities and includes protections regarding decommissioning and enhanced state…...
The U.S. Interior Department on Dec.21 announced it has approved two solar projects, with a third one nearing completion on public lands in Riverside County, California. The three projects are projected to generate 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy and are the first to be approved under the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) in the…...
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…...
The Bureau of Land Management on Dec. 20 announced that it is seeking proposals for solar project development on about 90,000 acres of land located in Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. It is the agency’s biggest solicitation since it defined 17 solar energy belts in its comprehensive solar energy plan in 2012. The regulator has…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Dec.20 announced their most progressive federal greenhouse gas emission standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The standards introduced for passenger vehicles are based on robust scientific knowledge and established in an environment of rigorous assessment of current and future technologies, according to the agency. The EPA estimates…...