Tag: united states

Biden Administration Proposes First-Ever California Offshore Wind Lease Sale

Biden Administration Proposes First-Ever California Offshore Wind Lease Sale

May 31, 2022 |

On May 26, 2022, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) that includes three proposed lease areas in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area (WEA) off central California and two proposed lease areas in the Humboldt WEA off northern California. The lease sale in two regions hundreds of miles apart is novel. Taken together, the five proposed lease areas total approximately 373,268 acres that have the potential to unlock over 4.5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy.

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US Offshore Wind Supply Chain: Report by NREL

US Offshore Wind Supply Chain: Report by NREL

May 31, 2022 | ,

NREL released a report outlining supply chain needs required to reach the United States’ national offshore wind goal of 30 gigawatts by 2030. With international offshore wind supply chains already near capacity, there is an immediate need to develop a domestic network to scale up this industry. This report estimates achieving 30 GW of offshore wind capacity will require at least 2,100 wind turbines and foundations and 6,800 miles of cable.

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Ensuring an Inclusive Clean Energy Transition: Report by RMI

Ensuring an Inclusive Clean Energy Transition: Report by RMI

May 26, 2022 | ,

Climate policy that is effective and durable must comprehensively address these social and economic challenges. The framework presented here can help federal and state policymakers to design and implement comprehensive climate policy that works for communities affected by the energy transition — and equip advocates to fight for strong policies. Comprehensive policies can help create a healthy and thriving clean energy economy for all.

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RGGI Lowers Bills, Saving US Consumers Billions on Energy

RGGI Lowers Bills, Saving US Consumers Billions on Energy

May 25, 2022 |

At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, here’s some good news for residents in 11 Eastern states: according to a new report out recently, RGGI, a regional power plant program, is working to lower electricity bills for households and businesses by billions of dollars and improve cost of living through investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification, and other measures that are also cutting pollution and cleaning up our air.

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3 Ways US Cities Broke Clean Energy Records in 2021

3 Ways US Cities Broke Clean Energy Records in 2021

May 22, 2022 |

New data from the annual update of the Local Government Renewables Action Tracker shows that U.S. cities bought 4,370 megawatts (MW) of clean energy in 2021 — enough to power more than 940,000 U.S. households annually. The 2021 figure surpasses the 2020 total by about 4%, and the number is expected to increase as additional public information becomes available about 2021 deals. In 2021, 155 local governments signed 290 renewable energy deals, 25% more cities and 55% more deals than the 2020 record.

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Achieving a clean power system in California: Report

Achieving a clean power system in California: Report

May 18, 2022 | ,

This companion policy report provides California policymakers with no-regrets actions to implement reliability insights from the technical analysis. The recommendations show how the state can mitigate risks from deploying resources too slowly, and reduce air pollution impacts of legacy natural gas power plants, while expanding resource diversity and regional coordination to improve reliability.

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Clean Energy Is Key to National Security for European Union and United States

Clean Energy Is Key to National Security for European Union and United States

May 15, 2022 |

Later this month, the E.U. will roll out plans to phase out Russian gas and coal as well, completely severing ties with Russian energy sources over the coming years. The United States must help. Immediately, that means assisting E.U. nations in finding emergency alternatives to Russian energy supplies, to reduce the hardship the shift imposes on families and businesses across Europe. Longer term, E.U. nations are committed to slashing demand for fossil fuels altogether, from Russia and elsewhere.

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US’s Energy Transition To Move Forward With Creative Solutions To Major Grid Connection Challenges

US’s Energy Transition To Move Forward With Creative Solutions To Major Grid Connection Challenges

May 13, 2022 |

The US energy transition will see considerable new renewable capacity added over the decade, yet significant challenges remain to the sector’s growth. Non-hydropower renewables will continue to be the largest capacity growth segment in the US power market with over 200GW of new capacity expected between 2022 and 2031. We expect the segment’s share of total generation to rise from 17% to 27.7%.

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Beyond Highways: Funding Clean Transportation through the US Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Beyond Highways: Funding Clean Transportation through the US Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

May 11, 2022 |

U.S. President Biden has touted the potential climate benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which makes historic investments in transportation, the country’s largest and fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. But while the bill’s investments could significantly lower transportation emissions, those reductions are not guaranteed. States and cities will face choices in the coming months and years on how they want to spend the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s transportation-related funding.

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US Senate Reconciliation Package: Factsheet by ACORE

US Senate Reconciliation Package: Factsheet by ACORE

May 10, 2022 | ,

The hope and expectation are that, similar to prior iterations of the Build Back Better Act, the package will include 10-year extensions of the renewable energy production and investment tax credits, coupled with new direct pay provisions
and incentives for key enabling technologies, like energy storage and high-voltage transmission. The clean energy industry is ready to put additional capital to work immediately to take advantage of this crucial package.

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These US cities are producing the most solar energy

These US cities are producing the most solar energy

May 8, 2022 |

Many cities in the US enjoy an abundance of sunshine all year round, and according to a new report they are taking advantage of that. The eighth Shining Cities survey from Environment California’s Research & Policy Center shows that much of America is investing in solar energy. The amount of solar power installed in just nine US cities now exceeds the level in the whole of the country a decade ago, the report says.

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PJM’s Interconnection Reforms: Paper by ICF

PJM’s Interconnection Reforms: Paper by ICF

May 3, 2022 | ,

ICF summarizes the latest developments and provides analysis of the key provisions for transitioning existing queued projects, as well as which projects are exempted from this reform process. It also discusses PJM’s proposed transition plan for existing queued projects and associated interconnection cost and timing implications using a case study example.

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Renewable energy transition takes off in the US

Renewable energy transition takes off in the US

April 21, 2022 |

IEEFA predicted last year that wind, solar and hydro’s share of the U.S. electric power market would approach 30 percent by the end of 2026. IEEFA now believes the forecast reflected the low end of possible growth, given the significant acceleration in expected solar and wind (particularly offshore) capacity installations through 2026. We now expect that clean energy’s share of the electric generation market could hit 33 percent or more.

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NY Solar Milestone Proves Policies Work

NY Solar Milestone Proves Policies Work

April 18, 2022 |

New York has become the top community solar market in the U.S., with more than one gigawatt (GW) of community solar installed and operational—enough to provide clean energy to more than 200,000 homes across the state. And much more is on the way: New York also has the largest pipeline in the nation with over 700 projects totaling 2.3 GW, enough to power an additional 400,000 homes.

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RMI’s Report on Community Solar in US

RMI’s Report on Community Solar in US

April 12, 2022 | ,

The first generation of community solar — typically midsize, grid-connected solar projects that community members or organizations can subscribe to — enabled greater access to solar energy in many US states. This report outlines the concept of community solar+: community solar projects that are strategically deployed to maximize local value streams and advance community-wide sustainability and equity goals.

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New US ESG Regulations: Goldman Sachs Briefing

New US ESG Regulations: Goldman Sachs Briefing

April 7, 2022 | ,

The climate disclosure rule proposal from the SEC on March 21, 2022 opens the door for the broadest federally mandated corporate ESG data disclosure requirement ever in the US. The proposed rule’s aim is to improve the consistency, quality and comparability of company-reported climate-related risks. This would enable investors to incorporate these risks and opportunities into their fundamental assessments more effectively while simplifying and clarifying the reporting expectations for companies.

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Federal Support on Capacity Can Boost Regional Wind Goals in US

Federal Support on Capacity Can Boost Regional Wind Goals in US

April 6, 2022 |

In December 2019, FERC expanded the Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR), effectively prohibiting offshore wind and other state-supported resources from participating in capacity-market auctions. The rule made it difficult for offshore wind providers to participate in capacity market auctions. Now, to advance the buildout of renewable energy, FERC should “enhance” the expanded MOPR and set a process and timeframe for adopting a new market structure.

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US solar module supply faces disruption with pending decision

US solar module supply faces disruption with pending decision

April 4, 2022 |

The U.S. Department of Commerce has chosen to investigate one rogue solar firm’s disingenuous complaint that the rest of the American solar industry is circumventing trade law. During the review of this egregious petition, tariffs of up to 250% are effectively applied to the majority of America’s solar module supply — artificially raising the total cost of domestic solar projects to a level that essentially freezes project construction.

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