Alternative Energy

Feb132018

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Wind Industry Faces New Roadblocks as Tax Credit Deadline Looms

The U.S. wind energy industry has grown significantly over the past decade thanks to federal and state support, along with technology advancements improving costs and performance. The federal production tax credit (PTC) has left the greatest impact on the industry. However, the PTC expires in 2019 narrowing the window for new projects as the industry prepares for a slowdown. Other challenges, such as attempts to redefine PURPA terms and assess the impact of wind farms on tourism, along with slow growth in electric demand, make the outlook on wind less certain.

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February 13, 2018

Dec202017

New York Grid Operator Counts on Natural Gas to Replace Indian Point Nuclear Capacity

The New York Independent System Operator says the deactivation of the Indian Point nuclear plant in 2021 will not affect system reliability if approximately 1,800 MW of gas-fired generation come online as planned. Competition from cheap natural gas and Westinghouse reactor design failure have caused nuclear operators and developers to retire their plants early and cancel new projects. Amid state and federal actions to help nuclear power plants remain operational in the face of financial pressures, it remains to be seen whether advanced technologies bring a resurgence and expansion.

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December 20, 2017

Dec192017

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – New York Grid Operator Counts on Natural Gas to Replace Indian Point Nuclear Capacity

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December 19, 2017

Nov292017

Solar Set to Grow under Michigan’s New Avoided Cost Rules for Consumers Energy

The Michigan Public Service Commission has ﬁnalized a formula to determine the avoided cost that Consumers Energy Co. must pay to buy power from qualifying facilities under the federal Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978. The new methodology extends the power purchase contract period to up to 20 years, and boosts the capacity of eligible projects to 2 megawatts, up from 100 kilowatts. While current contracts are based on the costs of running a coal plant, new contracts will be based on the energy and capacity costs of natural gas-fueled plants. The ruling, which marks the first update to avoided cost payments in almost 30 years, is expected to increase certainty for distributed energy resources, such as solar.

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November 29, 2017

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EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Wind Industry Faces New Roadblocks as Tax Credit Deadline Looms

New York Grid Operator Counts on Natural Gas to Replace Indian Point Nuclear Capacity

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – New York Grid Operator Counts on Natural Gas to Replace Indian Point Nuclear Capacity

Solar Set to Grow under Michigan’s New Avoided Cost Rules for Consumers Energy