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  Busting the solar myth: A call to embrace the circular renewable economy

  While there are significant global environmental and social incentives to using solar energy, its resource intensity calls into question whether solar is truly “green”. The bad news is it’s not — at least not yet.

  Zoe Gossett • Jan. 12, 2023

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  Transportation electrification and EVs: Who pays for grid upgrades?

  As more utilities file detailed transportation electrification plans, modifications to service upgrade policies will become essential to avoid financial and inequitable EV adoption roadblocks.

  Michael Hartnack and Jesse Hitchcock • Jan. 11, 2023

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  President Biden, creating a resilience corps will maximize our investments in climate and clean energy

  We must leverage effective strategies to engage the next, more diverse, generation and put them on pathways to good-paying jobs in our rapidly growing clean energy and resilience sectors.

  Emily Andrews, Kristen Bennett, Kevin J. Coyle, Trevor Dolan, Kaira Esgate, Karishma Merchant and Mary Ellen Sprenkel • Jan. 10, 2023

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  Solving the other half of the climate equation: Removing carbon

  Net zero is not just a number; it is an equation. On one side is cutting emissions; on the other is removing carbon altogether.

  Emma Gibbs, Mark Patel and Giulia Siccardo • Jan. 9, 2023

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  Clean energy tax credit transferability: Hero of the Inflation Reduction Act?

  Now that transferability exists for federal tax credits, financiers can unlock the tax equity portion of the capital stack to further fuel early-stage project development.

  Eric Rubinstein • Jan. 5, 2023

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  The hidden barrier to V2X: How states and utilities can open the floodgates for bidirectional EV charging

  Avoid reinventing the wheel, minimize unnecessary review, and provide flexible service connection and interconnection options.

  Ed Burgess and Dan Bowerson • Dec. 22, 2022

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  All I want for Christmas is my PTCs

  We have made a choice as a country that our federal energy policy will be brought to you through the Internal Revenue Code as opposed to through other means.

  Raymond L. Gifford and Matthew S. Larson • Dec. 21, 2022

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  Prioritizing energy efficiency to combat the climate crisis

  The lack of focus on energy efficiency as a solution is not new but is becoming increasingly problematic, writes Metrus Energy CEO Bob Hinkle.

  Bob Hinkle • Dec. 20, 2022

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  For energy transition equity, communities must run community solar

  Not just community solar, but community-owned community solar, provides an example of what a more equitable, decentralized clean energy transition could look like.

  Eric Sippert • Dec. 19, 2022

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  What would it take for the US to be the leader in floating offshore wind?

  The U.S. would need to construct upland port facilities on a scale not seen since the massive ramp-up in ship manufacturing for World War II and speed up processes for leasing, permitting, transmission and interconnection.

  Greg Matzat • Dec. 16, 2022

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  How states and utilities can lower consumer bills and accelerate the clean energy transition

  By acting now, state policymakers and utility regulators can put more consumers and communities on a path to long-term energy affordability and mitigate the impact of future energy price spikes.

  Sara Baldwin and Hadley Tallackson • Dec. 15, 2022

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  The ‘unprecedented’ risks facing our power grid this winter should be a wake-up call for government

  It’s imperative the Biden administration nominates a FERC commissioner who can set our power grid up for success by prioritizing its safety, reliability and affordability.

  Todd Snitchler • Dec. 14, 2022

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  Federal legislation completely changed the energy landscape. How do states take advantage of it?

  Implementing recent federal and state legislation will require Illinois and other states to modernize regulation of their energy systems to accommodate the anticipated rapid growth of clean energy.

  Carrie Zalewski, Tetyana Rabczak and Robert Haggart • Dec. 9, 2022

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  As abuse allegations proliferate, we must advance human rights across the renewable energy value chain

  It’s imperative that renewable energy developers, investors, buyers and producers don’t make things worse for the very communities already enduring the brunt of climate disasters.

  Malayah Redmond • Dec. 8, 2022

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  Electrifying US long haul trucks will require 504 TWh a year. But that won’t be the hardest part.

  The energy needed to support electric semis is enormous, from a generation perspective. However, it is the transmission and distribution angle that makes this challenge truly daunting for utility planning and investment.

  Will Sierzchula • Dec. 1, 2022

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  As private investment in nuclear fusion rises, what key milestones will bring it from hype to reality?

  Skeptics point out that practical fusion energy has been “20 years away for the past 50 years.” Recently, though, fusion has begun to catch up to the hype.

  Bill Lacivita and Geoff Olynyk • Nov. 29, 2022

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  Small modular reactors will not save the day. The US can get to 100% clean power without new nuclear.

  We can create a renewable electricity system that is much more resilient to weather extremes and more reliable than what we have today.

  Arjun Makhijani • Nov. 28, 2022

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  Today’s rate designs are defective. How can utilities better recover their fixed costs, and from whom?

  Volumetric rates, which place much of a utility’s fixed costs in the usage (KWh) charge of a tariff, have created a number of social problems as they relate to economic efficiency and equity.

  Kenneth W. Costello • Nov. 22, 2022

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  Second-life EV batteries can bolster the energy storage market — if major challenges can be overcome

  With 80% of a battery’s capacity left at the end of its useful life in a vehicle and current constraints on supply chains for new batteries, repurposing electric vehicle batteries seems like a no-brainer. 

  Emily Goldfield • Nov. 21, 2022

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  Cross-border power trade can help leaders at COP27 facilitate emissions reductions

  Enhancing cross-border power trade can help achieve global greenhouse gas reduction goals by efficiently integrating low-cost renewable resources while improving electricity affordability and security.

  Jennifer Chen, Edmund Downie and Noah Kittner • Nov. 16, 2022

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  The Inflation Reduction Act leaves low-income homeowners out of the clean energy transition. Or does it?

  The IRA has a major flaw in one of its most popular provisions – the residential tax credit for solar and battery storage. Low-income homeowners often do not have a tax liability and cannot access this 30% tax credit.

  Shelley Robbins • Nov. 15, 2022

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  The clock is ticking: Urgent steps New York must take to achieve its climate targets

  New York needs to act now to improve climate resilience, electrify the transportation system, decarbonize the gas system, and identify equitable economy-wide solutions to cut carbon emissions.

  Mary Barber • Nov. 11, 2022

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  Inflation Reduction Act adds fuel to RTO reform imperative, generator interconnection backlog

  The new law also puts transmission planning and permitting on center stage while increasing the need for on-demand generation.

  Tony Clark • Nov. 8, 2022

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  New York’s building decarbonization goals may be unachievable without a new technology boost

  Building developers and government mandates should consider newly developed solar PV windows to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, the author writes.

  Arnold R. Wallenstein • Nov. 4, 2022

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  As Memphis Light, Gas and Water weighs an exit, is TVA headed for a renewable energy sea change?

  TVA could soon be facing a widespread defection of other local power companies, opening the field to an increasingly renewable future for its customers, the author writes.

  Gaby Sarri-Tobar • Nov. 3, 2022

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