Efficiency & Demand Response: Page 2

Deep Dive

As utilities tackle immediate COVID-19 impacts, analysts stress need to focus beyond the pandemic

Power systems across the country need new approaches for today's shifting loads, but focusing on recovery and tomorrow’s resources can be even better, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 20, 2020

Con Edison commits $1.5 billion to energy efficiency

The pledge amounts to a tripling of the utility's current investment in such programs and will include customer incentives for ground and air-source heat pumps.

By Guy Burdick • May 20, 2020

Opinion

Energy efficiency has been hit hard by COVID-19; don't question its merits

The goals of reducing energy waste and maintaining affordability are not at odds with each other, the president of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council writes.

By Laura Sherman • May 20, 2020

Electric trucks are the 'inevitable future,' fleets say

Despite the pandemic environment, states and fleets push forward on electric tractors.

By Jim Stinson • May 19, 2020

New York grants flexibility, works to limit 'bad actors' in demand response programs hit by COVID-19

Experts say the economic shutdown and uncertainty related to COVID-19 have created "a real concern" for the demand response industry, which profits by delivering predictable reductions in electricity usage.

By Robert Walton • May 19, 2020

Miami pilots e-cargo bikes to reduce congestion, pollution

The city partnered with DHL and Reef Technologies to pilot the bikes for last-mile deliveries, a move that's expected to reduce 101,000 kg of CO2e annually.

By Cailin Crowe • May 19, 2020

Opinion

6 reasons why California needs to deploy dynamic pricing by 2030

The state's mandate for 100% renewable energy by 2045 will create challenges for system reliability, which can be maintained if load responds dynamically to changing system conditions, a Brattle Group Principal writes.

By Ahmad Faruqui • May 19, 2020

Opinion

The risk to beneficial electrification: residential demand charges

Electrification is only beneficial if it achieves one of society's goals without harming another, the author writes.

By Patty Durand • May 18, 2020

Opinion

Time to revisit utility energy efficiency programs

Utility regulators should consider whether energy efficiency programs should be scaled down or even exist at all, the author writes.

By Kenneth W. Costello • May 13, 2020

St. Louis' building efficiency standards pave way for the Midwest

New legislation in St. Louis marks a major step forward in reducing building emissions, which make up 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

By Chris Teale • May 12, 2020

Opinion

Energy optimization: Shaping — and increasing — electricity use to reduce emissions

Meaningful carbon emissions reductions will require fuel-switching as well as prioritizing efficiency at certain times more than others, the authors write.

By Mike Henchen and Sherri Billimoria • May 12, 2020

Cities 'finally waking up' to the benefits of smart streetlights: survey

The Northeast Group found 59% of the largest U.S. cities are actively converting to LED streetlights, which could help lead to an $8.2 billion investment in smart street lighting over the next decade.

By Chris Teale • May 07, 2020

MISO: Majority of coal is self-committed, 12% was uneconomic over 3-year period

Advocacy groups say the numbers support their arguments that running coal plants uneconomically is costing ratepayers billions of dollars.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 07, 2020

Buildings are huge sources of load flexibility, but what's that worth to utilities? DOE investigates

Buildings account for 75% of U.S. electricity consumption, making them key to an interactive grid, a report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds.

By Robert Walton • May 05, 2020

Tesla delays electric semi truck delivery to 2021, citing battery supply issues

CEO Elon Musk said the production schedule slowed as the company needed to increase battery production to serve all its products. 

By S.L. Fuller • May 05, 2020

Google machine learning shifts data center operations to maximize efficiency, renewables use

Data centers consume about 1% of worldwide electricity, but while the computing power to run the internet has grown steadily over the last decade, its energy demand has remained relatively consistent.

By Robert Walton • May 04, 2020

Opinion

Elevating energy efficiency – At last!

Imagine if, instead of paying for energy efficiency improvements through arcane ratepayer programs, we paid for them with project financing like we do power plants or transmission lines.

By Ken Colburn • May 01, 2020

Chicago requires new residential, commercial construction include EV charging capabilities

Customer advocates say the new rules make the city a national leader in efforts to increase emissions-free vehicles, and called for similar policies to be adopted across Illinois.

By Robert Walton • April 28, 2020

Transportation Electrification Partnership proposes $150B federal stimulus package

The proposal calls for investments in zero emission infrastructure, EV adoption, workforce development and other areas to build climate resilience amid COVID-19.

By Cailin Crowe • April 27, 2020

New York expedites energy efficiency vendor payments to bolster industry rattled by COVID-19

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and utility administrators will grant additional flexibility to energy efficiency programs in a first phase of support for the state's clean energy industry.

By Robert Walton • April 27, 2020

Dominion tries again on rejected AMI plan amid Virginia's new clean energy law

Regulators rejected the petition to reconsider the $752 million proposal for smart meters, which the utility deems important to meeting state clean energy goals.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: April 28, 2020 at 9:53 a.m.

'It's really heartbreaking': California's clean energy programs hit hard by COVID-19

Behind-the-meter solar and storage, energy efficiency and low-income customer programs are seeing negative effects, stakeholders told the California Public Utilities Commission. 

By Kavya Balaraman • April 24, 2020

Opinion

Dear efficiency advocates: Don't fear electrification

Many people in the energy efficiency space perceive building electrification as a threat to energy efficiency, but the Sacramento Municipal Utility District doesn't see it that way, the author writes.

By Richard Oberg • April 22, 2020

New York demand response providers press regulators for flexibility as COVID-19 challenges mount

The demand management sector is important not just to optimizing the state's electric grid but also providing revenue streams that will assist in economic recovery.

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2020

Sponsored by Armada Power

The next generation of load shifting

Demand response (DR) conjures images of invasive curtailments with customers having to turn off appliances and their HVAC system. However, load shifting provides the same benefits of DR often without the negative customer experience.