Opinion: Page 2
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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For transmission planning, FERC Order 1920 is our dragon
Instead of repealing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order 100 to improve transmission planning, the focus should be on making Order 1920 as strong as possible.
Claire Wayner • March 4, 2025 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
Striking true or overreaching? How a new executive order clouds FERC’s decisional authority
The agency's independence and credibility depend on careful adherence to the law, not alignment with shifting executive priorities, according to Lyle Larson, a partner at Balch & Bingham.
Lyle Larson • March 4, 2025 -
Petra Richli via Getty Images
10 years of grid modernization: Major progress, stubborn challenges
Improving energy affordability and grid reliability can guide the way on modernizing the grid for tomorrow’s challenges, according to Grid Forward’s Bryce Yonker.
Bryce Yonker • Feb. 28, 2025 -
Alexander Farnsworth via Getty Images
What if Bruce Lee had set federal transmission policy?
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could help unlock transmission development in three steps, including by repealing its Order 1000 on transmission planning. Enter the Dragon!
Vincent Duane and Caitlin Shields • Feb. 25, 2025 -
Kat72 via Getty Images
Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council should appoint a ‘hydropower czar’
Federal hydropower can help meet load growth, onshore manufacturing of key defense components and help address burdensome regulations.
Charles Yang • Feb. 25, 2025 -
Cebolla4 via Getty Images
Are utility demand response program costs outstripping their benefits in California?
California Public Utilities Commission policy has been pushing customers to choose utility-run supply-side DR programs over third-party options that face pressure to keep costs low.
Collin Smith • Feb. 24, 2025 -
marekuliasz via Getty Images
Leveraging surplus interconnection could unleash 800 GW of energy the US needs today
By using existing interconnection sites to plug in low-cost clean energy sources, energy planners can increase grid reliability and lower costs.
Cassady Craighill • Feb. 21, 2025 -
luza studios via Getty Images
The AI energy challenge is coming to a head
There must be a seismic shift in how the industry defines and measures AI advancement, pivoting our idea of technological evolution from raw computing power to energy efficiency.
Krishna Rangasayee • Feb. 20, 2025 -
Gerville via Getty Images
How to reduce large load speculation? Standardize the interconnection process.
We can haphazardly continue down the path of a fragmented and increasingly untenable approach to large load-side interconnection, or we can introduce rational standardization to the process.
Peter Freed and Allison Clements • Feb. 19, 2025 -
Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
Achieving energy dominance without leaving small customers behind
Addressing load growth must be done in a way that ensures rate stability for all and avoids an energy system that houses haves and have nots.
Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Feb. 18, 2025 -
Dudbrain via Getty Images
Using energy storage to bridge gaps in gas-electric coordination
Energy storage offers a powerful solution for harmonizing gas and electric systems, providing flexibility and reliability for the grid.
Carrie Zalewski • Feb. 10, 2025 -
Lisa-Blue via Getty Images
Electricity is the next energy crisis
Electricity demand and distribution technologies won't solve the entire problem, but they can provide immediate relief.
Juan Macias • Feb. 6, 2025 -
Retrieved from US Department of Energy.
Doing the most with the transmission we have now
Western day-ahead markets will improve the status quo but should be seen as a “way station” to even more efficient RTO-like dispatch.
Scott Miller • Feb. 3, 2025 -
TexPhoto via Getty Images
Transmission is the key to American energy dominance
To remain competitive and win the AI race with China, we will need all the energy we can generate while expanding our ability to transmit those electrons wherever they need to go.
Christina Hayes • Jan. 31, 2025 -
Jim Glab via Getty Images
Why utility leadership is necessary to scale up VPPs in the residential sector
The most effective virtual power plants are embedded within utility operations, providing utilities with direct insight into and control of the distributed energy resources in their network.
Neil Veilleux and Nick Papanastassiou • Jan. 29, 2025 -
luza studios via Getty Images
Achieving AI dominance through competitive power markets
The solution lies in allowing data centers directly into the competitive markets — a lightly regulated market superstructure that gives the U.S. a strategic advantage over our international competitors.
Todd Glass • Jan. 27, 2025 -
Bilanol via Getty Images
Federal policy rollbacks won’t stop electricity growth
Regardless of federal climate and energy policy rollbacks over the next four years, the U.S. electric sector will need to plan for load growth at levels not seen for 20 years.
Rawley Loken, Amber Mahone, Tory Clark • Jan. 22, 2025 -
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It’s time for the US to adopt comprehensive battery legislation similar to the EU
As the world’s largest economy, with a fast-growing EV market, the United States can — and must — be a global leader on creating a circular economy for batteries.
Blaine Miller-McFeeley and Julia Poliscanova • Jan. 17, 2025 -
Allkindza via Getty Images
The 47th presidency offers hope for permitting reform
Republicans and President-elect Trump should take the win that a permitting reform compromise bill offers, and they should do this in the first 100 days of the new administration.
Jonathan Chanis • Jan. 16, 2025 -
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Load forecasts from data centers risk falling into irrational exuberance territory
There is a long history of overestimating load growth, which can drive overbuilding and the addition of resources that may exceed the increased demand.
Todd Snitchler • Jan. 15, 2025 -
TebNad via Getty Images
Will the success of Biden’s clean energy policies impede Trump’s agenda?
Because of the Inflation Reduction Act's success across the country, Trump may encounter obstacles in his attempt to undo it, including opposition from members of his own party.
Kenneth Irvin and Ogemdi Maduike • Jan. 13, 2025 -
hirun via Getty Images
AI applications in the energy sector — are you missing out on sustainable impact?
Despite the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence across the power and utility sector, its potential remains underutilized in many areas.
Mike Duffy • Jan. 10, 2025 -
Aranga87/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
How to keep electric vehicle investments on track in the new political climate
A clean fuel standard has worked in several states to fund EV infrastructure. It should be tried in more places.
Laura Sherman • Jan. 9, 2025 -
Bilanol via Getty Images
Midwest to lead in ‘build, baby, build’
MISO has proven itself as a national leader in regional transmission planning — and other regions should take note.
Ted Thomas • Jan. 7, 2025 -
Gerville via Getty Images
Big tech must stop passing the cost of its spiking energy needs onto the public
We need new policies that ensure the cost of new data centers is carried by the tech companies that profit from them, not by regular energy consumers such as family households and small businesses.
Julianne Malveaux • Jan. 6, 2025
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