Solar & Renewables
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Permission granted by Enel Green Power
Deep DiveSheep, ag and sun: Agrivoltaics propel significant reductions in solar maintenance costs
The cost savings impressed Tampa Electric when it put its solar O&M out to bid in 2018, with grazing representing a 75% cost savings over traditional mowing, said Paul Davis, director of solar operations.
By Lynn Freehill-Maye • Aug. 04, 2020 -
The image by Sulfur is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
WEC Energy Group targets carbon neutrality by 2050 after hitting emissions goals a decade early
The Wisconsin-based electric provider plans to nearly double existing emission reductions over the next decade with $900 million investment in renewable energy.
By Emma Penrod • Aug. 04, 2020 -
Kendall Davis, Dive Design
OpinionLet Project Icebreaker break the ice
The Ohio Power Siting Board should remove its 11th hour "poison pill" condition on the construction permit for the first freshwater offshore wind project in North America, a clean energy attorney says.
By Theresa Carroll • Aug. 04, 2020 -
Dominion shakes up leadership, focuses on renewables after pipeline cancellation
CEO Tom Farrell is transitioning to a new role in a "long designed succession process" as the company takes a $2.8 billion charge related to the canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 03, 2020 -
GE's renewables division reports nearly $200M in Q2 losses due to COVID-19 delays
GE Renewable Energy reported year-over-year orders down 19%, but revenues for the first half of 2020 have increased slightly, hinting at a gradual recovery after cost-saving measures.
By Emma Penrod • July 31, 2020 -
Deep Dive
A blow to small solar, a win for states and utilities? Regulators, analysts assess FERC's PURPA rule
Federal regulators issued a ruling on the law earlier this month that stakeholders say could disproportionately benefit vertically-integrated utilities in non-competitive markets in particular.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 30, 2020 -
New Mexico approves 100% renewables + storage replacement for San Juan coal capacity
A full renewables portfolio, along with battery storage, was the only replacement option that fully satisfied the state's 100% carbon-free energy transition goals, according to regulators.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 30, 2020 -
Fotolia
Opinion2050 too far off? How facilities can achieve net zero carbon today
Facilities across a range of sectors — including high-heat industrial sectors — have a realistic path to eliminating 100% of their carbon emissions, the author writes.
By Tim Lukes • July 29, 2020 -
Opinion
Geothermal energy is surging — battered oil and gas companies should take advantage
America’s idled oil and gas workforce can get back into the field with geothermal operations, which similarly involve deep-well drilling, according to the authors.
By Jigar Shah and Tim Latimer • July 28, 2020 -
Companies press for renewables support in COVID-19 recovery package, but near-term effects in doubt
Federal investments in clean energy infrastructure, as requested by Edison International, Unilever and 30 other businesses, may not address the rapid short-term growth needed for post-pandemic economic recovery, analysts said.
By Emma Penrod • July 27, 2020 -
Permission granted by Pittsburgh International Airport
Construction begins on Pittsburgh International Airport microgrid
The microgrid will completely power PIT by next summer, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative among major U.S. airports.
By Chris Teale • July 24, 2020 -
New Jersey drafts offshore wind solicitation for up to 2.4 GW
The announcement follows New York's landmark 2.5 GW solicitation for offshore wind, but regulators say existing lease areas can satisfy both procurement processes.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 24, 2020 -
"NC Senator Thom Tillis at the Keep America Great rally in Fayetteville, NC on 9/9/2019" by Jackson A. Lanier is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Senate Republicans urge McConnell to include clean energy in COVID-19 recovery package
The letter, led by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is likely "the largest number of Republican senators" to have signed onto an effort urging clean energy be included in a federal recovery package.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 24, 2020 -
Alliant Energy to operate at 100% net-zero emissions by 2050
The utility would retire all eight of its remaining coal-fired plants by 2040 or sooner under its "new aspirational goal."
By Catherine Morehouse • July 23, 2020 -
Grid operators agree on short-term gas benefits, but say it shouldn't limit renewables growth
"If we get to 100%, we're gonna have to solve some of these really, really challenging problems, but I think that compared to where we are today, we shouldn't let the great be the enemy of the good," PJM Interconnection President and CEO Manu Asthana said.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 22, 2020 -
From Goldwind (used with permission)
Enel plans to deploy 1 GW storage capacity across renewable portfolio through 2022
The company started constructing its first North American utility-scale hybrid project in Texas.
By Kavya Balaraman • July 22, 2020 -
Catherine Morehouse, Utility Dive
COVID-19 should not prevent utilities from investing in renewables: Xcel CEO
Although transmission "bottlenecks" and other barriers exist "that's just a matter of will, not a matter of the technology or the underlying economics," said Xcel CEO and Edison Electric Institute Chairman Ben Fowke.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 22, 2020 -
New York announces 4 GW renewables solicitation with 2.5 GW offshore wind
The request for proposals could move New York halfway to its goal of having 9,000 MW of offshore wind by 2035 and is the largest renewables solicitation in U.S. history.
By Robert Walton • July 22, 2020 -
Morgan Stanley joins group aiming to measure, reduce climate impact
The move comes less than two weeks after JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo were revealed as backers of a renewable energy group's Center for Climate-Aligned Finance.
By Dan Ennis • July 21, 2020 -
Courtesy of Kiwi Power
UK-based DER company enters North American market as US sits 'on the cusp' of mass transition
As the costs of battery storage drop in North America, a technology company focused on virtual power plants crosses the Atlantic to launch two new projects.
By Emma Penrod • July 21, 2020 -
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/49565662436/in/album-72157713108522106/.
COVID-19 puts spotlight on equity considerations in utility clean energy, efficiency and relief efforts
Utilities are engaging in programs and actions, including cost shifting, that can bring benefits to low-income customers, according to participants of the NARUC summer policy summit.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 21, 2020 -
SMUD aims for carbon neutrality by 2030 in new climate emergency declaration
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District's new goal is aggressive among the 25 other utility commitments to carbon-free or net-zero emissions by 2050.
By Kavya Balaraman • July 20, 2020 -
PREPA CEO sees bright future for embattled utility, but funding, grid mod challenges remain
PREPA plans to develop 1,800 MW of new renewable generation and signed a private sector partnership to manage its grid more efficiently.
By Robert Walton • July 20, 2020 -
FERC finalizes PURPA overhaul in move Glick says "discourages" small solar development
Changes include allowing states to set the rates paid to qualifying facilities at a variable wholesale rate rather than a fixed cost and reducing the size of a project that can qualify for PURPA rates from 20 MW to 5 MW.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 17, 2020 -
Senate ENR
FERC shuts down petition to upend net metering, McNamee signals issue could return
Though all four commissioners voted against the petition, Commissioners James Danly and Bernard McNamee issued separate concurrence statements.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 17, 2020
