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…
Coal accounted for the largest share of electricity generation in 15 U.S. states during 2021, according to a report published on Dec. 7 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The number of states using coal as compared to other energy sources has declined from 32 in 2001, with the U.S. shifting away from coal generation…
The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on Dec. 6 announced a voluntary curtailment program, which permits large flexible consumers to reduce their electricity usage during periods of elevated demand. The large curtailment program for Large Flexible Loads, or LFL, aims to give bitcoin miners and data centers incentives to reduce usage, since they have…
The U.S Energy Department’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) issued requests for information to implement initiatives to expand carbon dioxide transport and deploy field labs for carbon storage. The two RFIs pertain to the Future Growth Grants under the Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation, or CIFIA program, and the expansion…...
As the transition to a carbon-free grid relies on the integration of diverse renewable energy resources, the need for long-duration energy storage has become more essential. Storage systems capable of supplying energy for 10 hours or more, or adequate stored energy to provide firm capacity to the grid have been garnering attention to accommodate renewables and support grid stability.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Nov. 30 announced the start of of construction activities of the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a 1,250-megawatt transmission line that will supply hydropower from Canada to New York city. This initiative, planned to be commissioned in 2026, will help the state achieve its goals under the 2019 Climate Leadership…...
The Massachusetts Commission on Clean Heat on Nov. 30 published its final recommendations on reducing emissions from heating fuels. The recommendations incorporate the utilization of essential principles and procedures centred on guaranteeing an equitable approach to decarbonization of both present and new buildings, including suitable resourcing, institutional coordination and alignment and the development and application…...
Across the U.S. between January 2016 and August 2022, wind plant capacity factors reached their highest levels in March and April and were at their lowest in July and August, according to a Nov. 30 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Geographical variations in wind resource potential implies wind production varies significantly across regions…....