Nuclear Power

Visual Primer: Nuclear Power Increasingly Viewed as Vital Resource to Support Energy Transition

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Nuclear, Nuclear Power, REC Feed, Renewables

Nuclear power is increasingly viewed as a necessary resource to compensate for the decline in fossil fuel-based electricity in the transition towards a low-carbon future. Recent actions range from the U.S. Energy Department’s launch of a $6 billion program to sustain the existing nuclear fleet to West Virginia’s move to end a ban on nuclear plant construction and efforts to delay the closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California.

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer IRP 2022 02 15 Blog preview

Visual Primer: Utilities’ Long-Term Plans Reflect Efforts to Expedite Coal Plant Retirements

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Smart Grid, Solar, Wind

Long-term planning strategies of electric utilities across the U.S. reflect the growing trend towards phasing out coal-fired power generation while embracing renewables. Coal power plants account for 85 percent of electric generating capacity scheduled to retire in the U.S. during 2022, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

EnerKnol Research PU Policy Primer Retail Electric Competition 2022 02 08 Blog preview

Policy Primer: Competitive Retail Electricity Markets February 2022 Update

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, REC Feed, Retail Power, Retail Power and Gas, Solar, Wind

Revisions to rules governing competitive retail electricity markets are focused on strengthening customer protections while exploring ways to expand access to these markets. Recent actions include efforts to open retail electric competition in Arizona, Connecticut’s investigation into supplier offers, and Maine’s update to marketing standards for retail electric services.

U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Projects

Visual Primer: U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Marches On Despite Opposition Due to Impacts on Coastal Areas

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Transmission, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Renewables, Request for Proposal, Retail Power and Gas, Wholesale Power, Wind, Wind Power

U.S. offshore wind is gaining traction with new milestones spurred by state commitments of almost 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2040 and a federal goal of 30 GW by 2030. Recent developments include state-level project selections that could add more than 3.2 GW of new capacity, New Jersey’s proposal for a novel offshore wind transmission solution, and New York’s move to advance transmission technologies for offshore wind integration.

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer Distributed Solar

Visual Primer: Evolving Distributed Solar Landscape Prompts Policy Changes

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Transmission, Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Smart Grid, Solar

Several states are reshaping their distributed generation policies and programs amid the proliferation of distributed solar and other solutions prompted by changing customer needs and clean energy goals. Recent actions range from California’s proposed net metering successor, which has triggered cost-shift debates in the nation’s largest solar market, to New York’s roadmap to achieve 10 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar by 2030.

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer Electric Vehicles

Visual Primer: Climate Goals Spur New Measures to Accelerate Transition Towards Zero-Emission Vehicles

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Vehicles, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

Federal and state agencies are advancing policy measures and incentives to foster transportation electrification, a key strategy to achieve ambitious emissions reduction mandates. Recent actions range from stronger national fuel efficiency standards to California’s $1.5 billion annual investment in clean vehicle incentives, and clean truck rules in New York and New Jersey.

Visual Primer: Climate Push Intensifies Across U.S. to Meet Ambitious Environmental and Energy Goals

Visual Primer: Climate Push Intensifies Across U.S. to Meet Ambitious Environmental and Energy Goals

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Transmission, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Environmental Markets, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Natural Gas, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Solar, Wind

Federal and state government agencies across the U.S. are advancing climate measures for effective implementation of emissions-reduction strategies to progress towards ambitious goals. Federal actions include an executive order directing the federal government to use its procurement power to achieve net-zero emissions, stronger auto fuel standards, and a methane reduction proposal. Recent state actions range from New York’s plan to implement its landmark climate law to Colorado’s oil and gas emission standards, and a cap-and-invest program in Oregon.

Visual Primer: Renewables and Reliability Needs Lead to Multi-Billion-Dollar Transmission Investments

Visual Primer: Renewables and Reliability Needs Lead to Multi-Billion-Dollar Transmission Investments

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Transmission, Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Smart Grid, Solar, Wind

Regulators across the U.S. are accelerating electric transmission projects worth tens of billions of dollars to bring renewable power to consumers and make the grid more resilient against extreme weather events. Infrastructure updates have also garnered bipartisan support on the federal level, with more than $65 billion allocated for clean energy transmission and grid development in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enacted by the Congress last month.

Visual Primer: Weather-Induced Energy Crises Drive Resiliency Efforts Across U.S.

Visual Primer: Weather-Induced Energy Crises Drive Resiliency Efforts Across U.S.

Climate Change and Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Smart Grid

The growing incidence of extreme weather events has triggered regulatory and legislative efforts across the U.S. to improve the reliability and resilience of the energy system. Winter Storm Uri, which caused widespread outages in the South Central U.S. in February, prompted a regulatory upheaval in Texas, which suffered the brunt of the storm, leaving more than 4.5 million people without power. California has adopted measures to ensure reliability in the event of extreme weather in the summers of 2022 and 2023. Federal regulators have approved new cold weather electric reliability standards.

Policy Primer: U.S. Offshore Wind Industry December 2021 Update

Policy Primer: U.S. Offshore Wind Industry December 2021 Update

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Transmission, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Power & Utilities, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Request for Proposal, Retail Power and Gas, Smart Grid, Wholesale Power, Wind

Interest in offshore wind energy has reached new levels driven by supportive federal action, ambitious state procurement targets, and evolving technology. Recent developments include federal approval of the second commercial-scale project, and plans to hold up to seven new lease sales by 2025 in the East Coast, as well as the West and Gulf Coasts. Despite the progress, the industry faces opposition with recent lawsuits challenging the approval of the nation’s first major offshore project, the 800-megawatt (MW) Vineyard Wind I venture, over its potential impact to the fishing industry and endangered species.

Visual Primer: Biden Administration’s Climate Agenda Set Back By New Fossil Fuel Activity

Visual Primer: Biden Administration’s Climate Agenda Set Back By New Fossil Fuel Activity

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Natural Gas, Oil, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Wholesale Power

The Biden administration is walking a tightrope on climate action as recent moves in the oil and gas industry challenge its aggressive climate agenda, which calls for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Visual Primer: Grid Reliability Needs, Clean Energy Goals Spur Discussion Around Western RTO

Visual Primer: Grid Reliability Needs, Clean Energy Goals Spur Discussion Around Western RTO

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Transmission, Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Solar, Wholesale Markets, Wholesale Power, Wind

Western U.S. states are evaluating options to join or form a regional transmission organization (RTO) as regional coordination would strengthen electric system resilience and reliability, enhance clean energy adoption, and address transmission challenges.