High Costs, Infrastructure Challenges Hinder Electric Vehicle Penetration

U.S. Administration Announces Interagency Commitment to Decarbonize Transportation

The U.S. Transportation Department, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Energy Department have entered into a memorandum of understanding to coordinate efforts to advance innovative solutions and technologies towards achieving a decarbonized transportation sector, according to a Sept. 16 press release. The transportation sector is a major source of greenhouse gas…...

Biden Administration Approves $40 million to Lower Energy Costs

New York Commission Begins Process to Implement Utility Thermal Energy Network Projects

The New York State Public Service Commission has launched a proceeding to commence the implementation of the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act, according to a Sept. 15 press release. The law, enacted in July, is part of initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through decarbonizing buildings and homes throughout the state. The law…...

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

New York Regulator Undertakes Review of $10 Billion Clean Energy Programs

The New York Public Service Commission on Sept. 15 commenced its review of a number of its innovative clean energy programs, incorporating utilities’ endeavour’s under New Efficiency: New York, or NENY and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Clean Energy Fund, or CEF. Collectively, these initiatives represent approximately $10 billion in customer…...

New Mexico Enacts Trio of Bills Supporting Renewable Energy Expansion

Illinois Utilities Report 44 Percent Diverse Spend in 2021

The 2021 supplier diversity spend reported by Illinois’ six investor-owned utilities showed that of the $5.1 billion spent among the utility companies, 2.2 billion – 44 percent –  was diverse spend. The largest investor owned electric, natural gas, water, and sewer companies in Illinois on Sept. 16, presented progress reports at the Annual Utility Supplier…...

oil drilling pulse

U.S. Interior Proposes Rules to Strengthen Offshore Drilling Safety

The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement on Sept. 14 proposed new and revised safety rules and standards for oil and gas operations at the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. This proposal is in the extension of the 2019 Well Control Rule and mainly focuses on well integrity and…...

U.S. Energy Department Announces $225 Million Program to Encourage Adoption of Efficient Building Codes

California Eliminates Subsidies for New Natural Gas Connections to Advance Building Decarbonization

The California Public Utilities Commission on Sept. 15 announced the removal of subsidies for new natural gas connections, a first-in-the-nation move to accelerate the decarbonization of the state’s buildings. This decision, which eliminates the subsidies effective on July 1, 2023, is expected to lower utility bills, saving consumers about $164 million per year by accelerating…...

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

New York Approves 602 Megawatts of Wind and Solar Projects

The New York Public Service Commission on Sept. 15 approved compliance filings for three major wind and solar projects in upstate New York. The approval allows 602 megawatts worth of clean energy projects to move forward that will benefit the state by reducing the usage of fossil fuels, increasing renewable energy investment, and creating job…...

Oil Gas Methane

U.S. Reinstates Results of Largest Oil Lease Sale Following Inflation Reduction Act

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Sep. 14 announced it has accepted 307 valid high bids from lease sale 257 in the Gulf of Mexico totalling about $190 million. The sale, held in November 2021, offered about 80 million acres, but only 1.7 million were leased. A January 2022 decision by the District Court…...

Senate Bill Aims to Restore U.S. Leadership in Nuclear Energy, Promote Safe Civil Nuclear Programs

About 80 Percent of Coal Power Plant Sites Could Host Advanced Nuclear Reactors: DOE Study

The U.S. Energy Department on Sep. 13 released a study evaluating the benefits and challenges associated with a coal-to-nuclear, or C2N, transition in the U.S. The transition could increase nuclear capacity to over 350 gigawatts, according to the report. By comparison, the existing nuclear power fleet has a capacity of 95 gigawatts and provides half…...

Ohio Lawmakers Pass Bill to Revoke $1.1 Billion Nuclear Subsidy

Michigan Governor Expresses Support to Reopen Palisade Nuclear Power Plant

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has sent a letter to the U.S. Energy Department, in support of Holtec International’s application for a federal grant under the Civil Nuclear Credit, or CNC program, to save the Palisades Nuclear Facility in Southwest Michigan. Governor Whitmer noted that keeping Palisades operational is critical for the state’s competitiveness and future…...

Transmission requirements

U.S. Interior Approves Gateway West Transmission Lines in Wyoming

The Bureau of Land Management on Sept. 9 announced the approval of two segments of the Gateway West Transmission line in Wyoming. The project is a part of PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway Transmission Expansion, a multi-year plan to add about 2,000 miles of new transmission across the West. The lines would help integrate up to 765…...

lngterminalproject

FERC Issues Final Environmental Review for Commonwealth LNG Export Project

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Sept. 9 issued its final environmental report for the Commonwealth LNG project, which includes a proposal to construct a natural gas liquefaction and export terminal in Louisiana. The study found that the project, with recommended mitigation measures in the report, would result in some adverse effects on the environment,…...