Advanced nuclear solutions are garnering broad support with a slate of initiatives including funding research, developing regulatory frameworks, and planning or constructing advanced reactors. The ability of nuclear energy to produce carbon-free power is increasingly considered critical for decarbonizing the power sector to fight climate change while ensuring a reliable electricity supply.
The U.S. Senate approval of President Biden's three nominees to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) brings the agency to its full complement of five commissioners. The move comes as FERC is considering key issues including those pertaining to electric reliability and transmission rules, liquefied natural gas export projects, natural gas pipelines, and energy markets.
Regulatory developments are shaping the trajectory of carbon markets amid mixed outcomes in recent allowance auctions. California, Quebec, and Washington are considering a shared carbon market highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts to tackle climate change, while Pennsylvania lawmakers have proposed a state-specific cap-and-invest program.
New and expanded federal tax credits, along with funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All residential program, have set the stage for further growth in the community solar industry. Several states have taken action to establish or expand community solar programs. Also known as shared solar, community solar allows multiple energy customers to participate in projects that are remotely located and receive credits to lower their electricity bill.
Even as transportation electrification expands to medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, states across the U.S. are examining policies to harness the benefits of vehicle-to-grid functionality. The ability of electric vehicles (EVs) to inject power from their batteries into the grid has the potential to optimize charging and mitigate grid impacts.
Regulators and lawmakers across the U.S. are increasingly exploring the possibilities of deploying virtual power plants (VPPs) as a cost-effective means to provide grid services. VPPs have garnered attention as fossil fuel-fired power plants retire and renewable energy resources continue to grow amid increasing electricity demand.
Hydrogen technology continues to garner interest as an effective tool to support the progress towards net-zero emissions and decarbonize hard-to-electrify sectors. Recent developments include establishing a multi-year program plan to guide hydrogen innovation and selecting a consortium to help accelerate commercial liftoff of the clean hydrogen economy.
The notion that natural gas serves as a transition fuel to a low-carbon future has been challenged by a number of studies indicating that emissions of methane, the primary component of natural gas, significantly contributes to global warming. Methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period.
The Biden administration continues to advance policies and programs to catalyze offshore wind deployment to achieve the goal of deploying 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030 and 15 GW of floating offshore wind energy capacity by 2035. States are also expediting offshore wind procurement efforts to align with ambitious deployment goals.
The U.S. electric grid is undergoing a significant transformation, with renewable energy sources accounting for an increasing share of the nation's electricity supply. To support this transition, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and various state regulatory commissions have recently announced a series of initiatives aimed at streamlining the deployment of clean energy technologies and improving grid reliability and resilience. Renewable generation accounted for as much as 21 percent of the U.S. electricity supply in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The Biden administration has been resolute in its efforts to integrate environmental justice and equity into agency operations. From launching the Environmental Justice Scorecard to allocating billions of dollars in funding for clean energy and climate projects, the administration has made notable progress.
States across the U.S. are increasingly embracing energy storage solutions to complement their clean energy initiatives. The growing share of renewables continues to drive the expansion of battery storage technologies, which can help integrate intermittent resources into the grid. U.S. battery storage capacity is projected to double this year, with planned additions of 14.3 gigawatts (GW), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.