California Independent System Operator Board of Governors on March 17 approved the grid operator’s 10-year transmission plan, which identified 23 projects estimated to cost $2.9 billion. The plan aims to boost grid reliability through system expansions, upgrades, and reinforcements required to enhance reliability and to achieve the state’s clean energy goals in an efficient and…...
Discussion around the social cost of greenhouse gases has drawn increased interest following the Biden administration’s renewed focus on establishing the climate metric for federal agencies to incorporate in their policy decisions.
The U.S. Energy Department on March 14 announced a $32 million grant to fund over thirty projects aimed at improving affordable housing technology. The seven recipients will pilot renovation methods that reduce disruptions to residents while advancing the energy and environmental execution of buildings speedily, inexpensively, and efficiently. These techniques include prefabricating walls and replacing…...
The 55th quarterly carbon auction of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, the nation’s first market-based emissions regulation program, sold all of the nearly 21.8 million CO2 allowances offered at a record high clearing price of $13.50, according to the results released on March 11. Bids ranged from $2.44 to $30.00 per allowance with…...
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which represents the largest investment in U.S. infrastructure, includes major provisions important to the energy industry, ranging from building out the first national network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to modernizing the electric transmission grid and expanding clean energy.
Commonwealth Edison Company filed a $1.7 billion plan with the Illinois Commerce Commission to expand initiatives for energy efficiency and low-income assistance from 2022-2025, according to a March 2 news release. The four-year plan updates the energy efficiency plan that the commission approved in 2021 to reflect changes enabled by the state’s new clean energy…...
The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy on Feb. 10 announced funds of $5 billion to be made accessible via the new National Electric Vehicles Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, to develop a national electric vehicle charging network, an imperative step towards expanding access to EV charging infrastructure. The program intends to provide the funding across…...
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy on Feb. 4 introduced legislation to create a renewable portfolio standard that would require utilities to use qualifying resources for 80 percent of their sales by the end of 2040. If enacted, Alaska would join 30 states and two territories, which have standards or goals to procure a certain percentage of…...
Puget Sound Energy has filed a three year rate plan with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission requesting revenue increases that revolve around delivering secure and efficient energy, improving climate resiliency and accelerating efforts towards meeting striving clean energy goals. Under the plan, proposed for the 2023-2025 period, a residential customer would see an average…...
U.S. President Joe Biden announced a four-year extension of tariffs on imported solar cells and modules first enacted in 2018 under the Trump administration, according to a proclamation issued on Feb. 4. Biden’s move includes an exemption for bifacial solar panels and doubles the tariff rate quota to 5 gigawatts per year. The proclamation follows…...
