Record-high electricity prices fail to boost residential energy management programs: JD Power

Time-of-use rates can help to engage customers with energy conservation programs, but utilities must be careful to explain how the new pricing structure works.

DOE charts commercialization paths for long-duration storage, advanced nuclear, clean hydrogen

With about $260 billion in spending needed this decade, the reports released Tuesday highlight possible solutions to the challenges facing the technologies and routes to commercializing them.

Global renewable growth broke records in 2022, adding almost 295 GW: IRENA

Despite the global energy crisis, renewables capacity worldwide increased by 9.6% in 2022, says a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Spearmint Energy acquires 900 MW/2,000 MWh battery storage portfolio in Texas

The acquisition makes Spearmint one of the largest battery energy storage developers in Texas, the company said.

The EPA’s hydrogen push is a federal endorsement of greenwashing

Burning hydrogen in power plants is no silver bullet for meeting decarbonization goals, in part because leaks could lead to higher levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

World hurtling toward critical global warming benchmark, but IPCC report highlights clean energy potential

For the electric sector, demand-side management technologies could play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by the IPCC.

Eversource, United Illuminating, Connecticut Green Bank launch next phase of energy storage program

Commercial and industrial customers are eligible for upfront incentives to help reduce the cost of purchasing a battery system with a maximum incentive of 50% of the project cost.

FERC approves canceling NextEra transmission project blocked by Texas right-of-first-refusal law

The agency rejected NextEra Energy’s argument the $129 million project should be kept alive because litigation over the law is ongoing.

Democrats press Interior secretary to direct more money to BOEM to reach US offshore wind goals

The rapid growth of the offshore wind industry will create a need for more staff at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the legislators argued in a March 15 letter.

NuScale Power, the canary in the small modular reactor market

SMRs are being marketed as a solution to the climate crisis, but they're already far more expensive and take much longer to build than renewable and storage resources — technologies we already have.

Energy Department to fund projects that aim to lower cost of wind energy production

The $30 million is meant for projects that improve lightweight composite materials and additive manufacturing for wind turbine components.

Texas court rules for Vistra, says PUC exceeded authority with Winter Storm Uri $9,000/MWh pricing order

The decision to hold prices at the system-wide cap added $16 billion to consumer costs, according to Texas energy market monitor Potomac Economics.

Transmission link between Puerto Rico, US mainland wouldn’t trigger FERC jurisdiction, agency declares

The clarification issued Friday could affect Alternative Transmission’s proposed undersea cable project that aims to bolster Puerto Rico’s grid.

Google, LevelTen Energy team up to improve PPAs, streamline corporate renewable energy procurement

Google pioneered the virtual power purchase agreement and introduced concepts such as 24-7 time-matched energy offsetting. Its latest goal for PPAs is contract standardization.

Bay Area regulators opt to phase out NOx emissions from furnaces, water heaters, prepare for grid impacts

Electric appliances are currently the only technologies that meet zero-NOx standards for these end uses, which means the new standards could lead to increased load, according to an analysis.

ISO-NE overvalues fossil fuel plants, reducing grid reliability, Sierra Club says, citing Synapse report

The coldest Christmas Eve in New England since 1975 has become a flashpoint between the Sierra Club, which opposes fossil fuel plants, and ISO-New England, which says the region was protected by an operating reserve.

Curbside EV charging startup wins urban infrastructure award at SXSW

Brooklyn-based itselectric plans to offer installation, management and maintenance of the chargers free to cities and property owners.

Biden ‘EV revolution’ delayed as utilities, carmakers await critical IRS guidance on Inflation Reduction Act

A domestic EV industry and a national charging network buildout await federal agency interpretations of complex IRA tax credit and supply chain requirements. 

FERC works ‘feverishly’ on transmission reform, with near-term focus on interconnection rule

“Transmission reform addresses all of the major priorities that I've set out for this commission: reliability, affordability and sustainability,” Acting FERC Chairman Willie Phillips said Thursday.

NuScale must triple subscription level for small modular reactor in Idaho by early 2024, company says

Asked by an analyst if NuScale will seek to increase subscriptions from members, power producers yet to join the consortium or others, Colbert said, “all of the above.”

PJM, MISO, ISO-NE. ‘The capacity markets are not all right,’ FERC’s Christie warns.

In New England, quick action is needed to ease ‘knife’s edge’ winter-time operations, Commissioner Allison Clements said Thursday.

Treasury Department guidance urgently needed to tap IRA’s clean energy ‘gold mine,’ analysts say

Clarifications defining Inflation Reduction Act provisions on labor, domestic content, energy community, and clean hydrogen are urgently needed to put the “boldest action” by Congress to work, they say.

FERC expands cybersecurity supply chain standards to low-impact assets

“To not protect these [bulk electric system] assets against one of the most frequent attack scenarios — supply chain — would be a big mistake,” said Willie Phillips, acting chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Renewables industry could address commodities squeeze with vertical integration: McKinsey

Proactive steps should be taken to account for the price volatility of raw materials needed for wind and solar, such as neodymium and polysilicon, the consulting firm says.

DOE offers $750M to help drive clean hydrogen production costs down 60% by 2026

The funding announced Wednesday aims to cut the cost of hydrogen produced with emissions-free electricity to $2 per kilogram by 2026 from around $5/kg today.