[Report] Non-Hydro Energy Storage Gaining Traction in Grid-Scale Applications

Coal Power, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Non-hydro utility-scale energy storage solutions are landing record-setting contracts in multiple regions, marking a transition beyond small-scale ancillary services. Fast-reacting and flexible energy storage resources can efficiently provide ancillary services to free-up traditional generation assets for wholesale market participation. The U.S. Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change recently cited that by 2022, the worldwide demand…...

DOE Launches Industry Partner Network to Engage Minorities in Energy Sector

Coal Power, Energy Efficiency, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Renewables, Solar Power, Wind Power

The DOE’s Minorities in Energy Industry Partner Network aims to build minorities’ capacity to compete for energy sector opportunities. On November 18, 2014 — the first anniversary of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Minorities in Energy Initiative (MIE) — DOE launched the MIE Industry Partner Network to increase engagement of underrepresented communities in the energy sector…....

DOI Authorizes First Renewable Energy Transmission Line in Federal Waters

Power & Utilities, Renewables, Wind Power

The DOI has offered a right-of-way grant authorizing an offshore wind energy transmission line from Block Island to the Rhode Island mainland. On November 17, 2014, the Department of Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a right-of-way (ROW) grant to Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission System LLC for its proposed Block Island…...

SunEdison Acquires First Wind for $2.4B

Renewables, Solar Power, Wind Power

The acquisition of Massachusetts-based First Wind marks SunEdison’s entry into the global wind market, potentially making it the world’s largest renewable energy company. On November 17, 2014, global solar developer SunEdison Inc. and its indirect subsidiary TerraForm Power Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire Boston-based First Wind, a leading independent wind development and asset management…...

New York Announces Large-Scale Renewable Projects under RPS Program

Environmental Markets, Hydropower, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Four large-scale renewable energy projects selected through RPS Main Tier solicitations will add approximately 164 MW to New York’s renewable energy capacity. On November 12, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $206M in funding to four Upstate large-scale clean energy projects aimed to reduce emissions and improve energy infrastructure resiliency.  Once operational, the…...

Federal Agencies Unveil Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Plans

Biofuels, Coal Power, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

The White House has released federal agencies’ sustainability and climate plans outlining methods to incorporate energy and climate considerations into their decision-making. On October 31, 2014 – the fifth anniversary of the 2009 Executive Order on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance – the White House released federal agencies’ sustainability and climate change adaptation plans, detailing…...

DOE Launches Lap-Corps to Commercialize Clean Energy Technologies

Biofuels, Hydropower, Nuclear Power, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

The DOE’s Lap-Corps will enable national laboratory teams to access private sector opportunities to commercialize innovative clean energy technologies. On October 29, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of Lap-Corps, a $2.3M pilot program to accelerate commercialization of innovative clean energy technologies developed by DOE National Laboratories.  Lap-Corps – modeled on the…...

U.S. Army and NREL Partner on Net-Zero Energy Pilot Program

Biofuels, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Renewables, Solar Power, Wind Power

The Army has partnered with NREL to install net-zero energy installations at nine pilot sites, potentially replacing eight percent of its current installation site energy supply with renewable energy. On October 27, 2014, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a partnership with the U.S. Army to advance Net Zero Energy…...

New York Green Bank Begins Transactions

Biofuels, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Hydropower, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power1 Comment

NY Green Bank’s initial transactions will produce more than $800M in investments supporting clean energy projects that would annually avoid 575,000 tons of carbon emissions. On October 22, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the NY Green Bank’s first seven transactions, which – supported and agreed to in principle – will produce more…...

[Report] State-Backed Green Bonds Emerge Following International Model

Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Hydropower, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Massachusetts offered its first green bond sale in June 2013, and several additional states have offered green bonds over the last two years. Green bonds offer issuers access to capital to finance projects for water quality and infrastructure, energy efficiency, renewable energy, pollution cleanup, and other capital-intensive projects.. With the Green Bond Principles gaining marketplace…...

Share of Imports in U.S. Energy Consumption Reaches Record-Low Levels

Coal Power, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Solar Power, Wind Power

According to EIA, the share of imports in U.S. energy consumption for the first half of 2014 reached the lowest level in 29 years. On October 10, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report showing that net U.S. energy imports as a share of consumption for the January-June 2014 period reached the lowest…...

[Report] New England’s Eighth Forward Capacity Auction Draws Market Design Concerns

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

ISO-NE’s eighth Forward Capacity Market Auction (FCA-8) rates became effective September 16, 2014, despite FERC being unable to reach agreement on whether the filing was “just and reasonable.” The final price for existing sources was set at the administrative price of $7.025/kW-month, a 123 percent increase from the FCA-7 clearing price. The Northeast Massachusetts (NEMA)/Boston…...