Distributed Energy
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EV-specific rates are the gateway to direct load management, SEPA report finds
A new report from the Smart Electric Power Alliance illustrates the effectiveness of time-varying rates for electric vehicles, including steps utilities can take to boost enrollment.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 14, 2019 -
Deep DiveHow does AI improve grid performance? No one fully understands and that's limiting its use
"For 75% of what utilities are doing, outside of maybe forecasting or managing capacity, AI is at the infancy stage and there is no real use case," a data management specialist said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 14, 2019 -
As Oregon lags behind on its EV goals, PGE makes TOU rates optional to expand access
State regulators are pushing utilities to move quickly in order to boost electric vehicle adoption.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 11, 2019 -
OpinionSacramento utility's plan could block addition of new community solar, storage to local grid
SMUD’s shared solar proposal misses the point and could set a damaging precedent for other utilities and energy providers throughout California, according to Vote Solar's Ed Smeloff.
By Ed Smeloff • Nov. 11, 2019 -
Deep DiveIn the 'cat and mouse game' of utility cyberattacks, AI and machine learning show promise, limits
"There is so much low hanging fruit in utility system challenges that can be addressed by advanced data analytic strategies that AI and machine learning are not the place to start," a cybersecurity expert said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 07, 2019 -
Tesla, Walmart settle lawsuit over fires; solar panels to remain in place
Walmart and Tesla have settled a lawsuit in which the big box retailer alleged the company's solar panel installations caught fire and caused millions in damages.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 06, 2019 -
Congressional Policy Tracker: Everything you need to know from carbon capture to wind energy
Renewable energy developers are lobbying for tax credit extensions while Republican leaders seek bipartisan research-focused solutions to support advanced nuclear, carbon capture and energy storage.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 06, 2019 -
Deep DiveUS power grid attack points surge with proliferating DERs: A hacker 'will eventually get in'
Critical infrastructure protection standards are essential — but they're also just a starting point, say experts focused on maintaining a reliable electric grid.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 04, 2019 -
Alliant Energy to add 1 GW of solar in Wisconsin by end of 2023
The utility teased out plans for its coal generation fleet in its clean energy plan, issued Oct. 31, and will release more information in early 2020.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 01, 2019 -
Deep DiveCalifornia may be a climate leader, but it could be a century behind on its carbon goals: study
Renewables are driving carbon out of the power sector, but economic expansion has led to much less progress in reducing emissions from the transportation, building and industrial sectors, the nonprofit Next 10 found.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 29, 2019 -
Puerto Rico grid modernization plan tops $20B
The plan, which the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority sketched out over the summer, includes installing almost 1.4 GW of solar generation and 920 MW of battery storage.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2019 -
Adding renewables and storage in LA is hard. Clean Power Alliance wants to change that.
Community choice aggregators like Clean Power Alliance are looking for local energy resources, but that has proven difficult in congested metropolitan areas where space is very expensive, such as Los Angeles County.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 25, 2019 -
OpinionMicrogrids alone cannot eliminate wildfire risk
Fully self-contained microgrids are not economic today, given all the ways in which they can serve as grid assets, so Edison Electric Institute warns against relying on them as an alternative to de-energizing power lines.
By Scott Aaronson • Oct. 25, 2019 -
Deep DiveUtilities' failure to plan for DER surge promises missed opportunities, increased costs, analysts say
Utilities can use skyrocketing customer-owned DER to balance rising penetrations of variable renewables on their systems, if they take on the big work of distribution system planning.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 24, 2019 -
DTE, Consumers Energy push back on Michigan legislators' plan to rewrite 2016 energy law
The 2016 statute "created needless challenges and roadblocks for the solar industry," according to one lawmaker, but Consumers says newly proposed legislation would unfairly create subsidies for private solar ownership.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2019 -
SponsoredCarbon-free – are we at a tipping point?
Julia Hamm reflects on 20 years with SEPA and the ways in which the sector and organization have changed.
By Julia Hamm, President SEPA • Oct. 21, 2019 -
Deep DiveEV charging promises a demand response bonanza for utilities, if they can handle it
Aggregated flexible load of high EV penetrations will be lucrative in demand response markets, but for now smaller EV demand gives utilities management practice.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2019 -
New York adopts utility-ESCO cybersecurity standards, rejects insurance requirements
Regulators established minimum requirements for third parties to access customer data through utility IT systems, but rejected a proposal to require a $5 million insurance policy for damages that could arise from a cybersecurity breach.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 18, 2019 -
With 10% penetration, EVs could shift all residential peak load to night, analysis of SoCal Ed finds
Jackson Associates analyzed 5,000 Southern California Edison customer loads and concluded that electric vehicles could be used as a Virtual Power Plant capable of smoothing out the utility's residential peak demand.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2019 -
FPL settles with Walmart, clean energy groups to advance largest US community solar project
The 1,490 MW project would almost double the amount of community solar currently installed in the U.S., but renewables advocates were initially concerned the program wasn't accessible to low income customers.
By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 15, 2019 -
OpinionClean Peaks & Polar Vortexes: Aligning climate and reliability goals in an extreme weather world
If states do not align digitization, decentralization and decarbonization policies with a fourth dimension of diversification, industry may need to take unprecedented action, the authors write.
By Brian Evans-Mongeon, Dan Kopin and Lon Huber • Oct. 14, 2019 -
Deep DivePlugging In: Colleges seek partners to help reach energy goals
As more energy customers set goals for lower emissions, some institutions are tapping the private sector for technical expertise and financial support to advance sustainability.
By Hallie Busta • Oct. 14, 2019 -
Mass shutoffs to remain a reality for PG&E as utility calls long-term DER solutions 'speculation'
The utility says its Public Safety Power Shutoff program is already "granular," and larger system improvements will take years.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2019 -
Massachusetts rejects National Grid EV plan, advocates say oil interests sowed disinformation
National Grid proposed moving ahead with Phase II of its plan to support electric vehicle growth, but regulators say they want to see data from Phase I.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 09, 2019 -
OpinionAs renewables and DER expand, can IPPs be investment grade?
The few remaining IPPs must adapt to new market realities or face an uncomfortable future, writes Aneesh Prabhu, senior director of U.S. Energy Infrastructure at S&P Global Ratings.
By Aneesh Prabhu • Oct. 09, 2019
