Currently ‘not enough workers’ in the labor force to meet offshore wind’s 2030 goals: NREL

The national goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 will require both an increase in trainees and cross-training of workers from similar industries, said a National Renewable Energy Laboratory researcher.

NRC grants exemption for PG&E to operate Diablo Canyon nuclear plant during license renewal review

An environmental advocate said the NRC decision was “politically motivated and reckless” and ignored public safety concerns.

FERC orders PJM to revise plan for DER aggregations; Enel ‘encouraged’ that single-node limit may be lifted

States may not be able to make needed regulatory changes in time to meet the plan’s early-2026 start date, according to Commissioner Mark Christie.

As more Americans struggle to pay power bills, states must be ‘deliberate’ in equity efforts: report

“We know that disparities and disproportionate barriers exist in clean energy access and adoption across racial groups and across income groups,” said Tony Reames, the Energy Department’s deputy director for energy justice.

DOE expands reactors eligible for $1.2B second round of Civil Nuclear Credit Program

DOE issued guidance saying power plants that halted operations after Nov. 15, 2021, can apply for support.

FERC partly approves ISO-NE plan for aggregated DER but balks at behind-the-meter requirements

“ISO-NE needs to roll up its sleeves and pursue steps that genuinely open its markets to behind-the-meter” resources, FERC Commissioner Allison Clements said.

RWE completes $6.8B acquisition of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses

The new company, RWE Clean Energy, now operates a roughly 8-GW portfolio of renewable energy projects in the U.S. backed by a pipeline of more than 24 GW of wind, solar and battery storage.

New York eyes floating technology innovations as it aims to expand offshore wind to deeper waters

A commitment to launching offshore wind in deep waters will require technological advancements in floating wind, said NYSERDA’s vice president for large-scale renewables.

Performance credit mechanism could cost Texas energy consumers $5.7B annually, broad coalition warns

Energy producers and industrial consumers modeled a dispatchable reliability reserve service and found it would incentivize new generation for less than $1 billion in net annual costs.

White House releases national cyber strategy, shifting security burden

The long-anticipated policy will push the technology industry to shoulder more of the load for cyber risk, while promoting long-term investments and global cooperation against common threats. 

Inside a federally-funded strategy to strengthen US lithium supply chains

The U.S. is behind in its goal to capture domestic production of battery materials. Here’s what one Energy Department-backed group says needs to happen to catch up.

Divert teams with Enbridge for $1B plan to scale renewable natural gas volumes

The organics recycling company, which has private equity backing, aims to reach “every major geographic region” of the U.S. with this deal. Canada-based Enbridge will get a 10% stake as part of its investment.

California regulators find Diablo Canyon nuclear plant needed through 2030 to support grid reliability

The California Energy Commission on Tuesday approved a staff analysis recommending the state pursue extending the operation of the plant, citing potential energy shortfalls during extreme weather.

NARUC examines how states can make power grids more flexible with performance-based mechanisms

The analysis looks at Hawaii, which abandoned cost-of-service ratemaking in favor of a performance-based approach and now uses a menu of rewards and penalties to incentivize demand flexibility.

In a mild winter, high natural gas prices plunge, but the cost of electricity could fall more slowly

Gas prices have fallen to the lowest level since Q3 2020, contrasting with sharp spikes last year as demand rose following the end of COVID-19 restrictions and global markets were roiled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

House Republicans advance infrastructure permitting reform as part of 16-bill energy package

The first legislative step could lead to negotiations with the Senate this summer on permitting reform for transmission and pipelines, according to Akin Gump attorneys.

EPA launches first funding phase of $5B carbon reduction program for states, cities, tribes

New Jersey expects to use funding to look for ways to speed up its greenhouse gas reduction plans, Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, said Tuesday.

Private investors’ focus on single projects could stall offshore wind development: DOE loan office head

Recent legislation has allocated tens of billions of dollars to transmission and port upgrades, but aligning private and public capital is the next challenge, federal officials said Feb. 22.

SRP issues 500 MW all-source RFP as potential replacement for new gas resources

A 2021 request for proposals indicated gas resources were most cost-effective but Salt River Project said the “market is changing and evolving quickly,” and federal incentives may play a role.

DOE picks 10 winners of grid-scale storage innovation prize

Emerging technologies that disrupt or advance state-of-the-art storage research are the focus of the 10 winners of the American-Made Energy Storage Innovations Prize, which totals $300,000.

PJM capacity prices fall 15% for most of grid operator’s footprint as total cost remains steady at $2.2B

Ratepayers in a Duke Energy zone will pay more than triple the capacity prices that most others pay in PJM because of transmission constraints.

Duke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs

Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.

APS parent Pinnacle West’s 2022 net income plunges 22% on disallowed cost recovery

Arizona regulators denied APS recovery of more than $200 million it spent to modernize the Four Corners coal plant. As a result, the company “faced major financial headwinds” last year, officials said. 

PJM launches fast-track capacity market reform process in face of shrinking reserve margins

The effort comes as the PJM Interconnection finds new resources aren’t keeping pace with power plant retirements and load growth.

Property-assessed clean energy programs are popular for local decarbonization financing: report

PACE programs are more common than taxes and other strategies as a source of dedicated climate funds for local governments, a Brookings Institution report found.