Opinion: Page 12

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders

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  • Solar panels in a field surrounded by colourful trees at the peak of autumn foliage
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    Albert Pego via Getty Images
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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
  • An offshore wind turbine.
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    MR1805 via Getty Images
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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
  • First Solar's Series 6 modules deployed in a project in Kern County, California
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    Permission granted by First Solar
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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
  • High voltage power lines in the winter.
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    Polina-Petrenko via Getty Images
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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
  • GE Renewable Energy's wind turbine generator, Haliade-X
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    Courtesy of GE Renewable Energy
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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
  • Electricity from solar panels, dams, and wind turbines. Environmentally-friendly renewable energy concept.
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    bombermoon via Getty Images
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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
  • An electric truck charges at a charging station.
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    Scharfsinn86 via Getty Images
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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
  • Close-up of a tokamak fusion power reactor, generating fusion power
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    Aranga87 via Getty Images
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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
  • Construction of Vogtle Nuclear Plant Unit 4
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    Courtesy of Bechtel
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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
  • Close-up View Of Electric Meters On Wall With Blurred Background
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    istockphoto.com/onurdongel

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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
  • A Hyliion hybrid battery
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    Courtesy of Hyliion
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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
  • Electrical power grid and power line towers at sunset.
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    YinYang via Getty Images
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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
  • Overhead view of a suburb in Utah.
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    RichLegg via Getty Images
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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
  • Northeast's Largest Public Electric Vehicle Fast-Charging Station Opens At JFK Airport.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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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
  • Solar panels in front of the U.S. Capitol dome.
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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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
  • New York City, USA midtown Manhattan skyline at dusk.
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    Sean Pavone/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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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
  • TVA nuclear plant
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    "TVA nuclear plant" by Tennessee Valley Authority is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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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
  • Xe-100 reactor
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    Courtesy of X-energy
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    Storage, demand-side innovation, neighbors and a bit of luck — reliability lessons from summer 2022

    Examining how the U.S. avoided major power shortages this summer can help grid operators, utilities and regulators improve reliability and avoid resource adequacy challenges without disrupting the transition to low-carbon resources.

    Eric Gimon and Mike O’Boyle • Nov. 2, 2022
  • Wind farm with transmission lines.
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    Rolf Wittke via Getty Images
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    Clean energy expertise for the PJM board should be the easiest vote members ever cast

    At a time when some 95% of the energy projects waiting to connect to the PJM grid are solar, wind, hybrid or battery storage, how could the grid’s board of directors not include someone with expertise in these energy sources? 

    Albert Pollard • Oct. 24, 2022
  • Solar Panels covered in Snow during Winter Storm in Austin , Texas.
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    RoschetzkyIstockPhoto via Getty Images
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    How two Minnesota cooperatives agreed to a new relationship to prepare for the future grid

    An agreement last month between Great River Energy and Connexus is a novel way for generation and transmission cooperatives and local co-ops to develop new relationships during the energy transition.

    Gabriel Chan and Matthew Grimley • Oct. 21, 2022
  • A Volvo VNR Electric charges at the high-powered chargers available to fleets at TEC Equipment, Fontana.
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    Courtesy of Volvo Trucks
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    As the electric truck transition shifts into high gear, utilities must lead the charge

    Utilities can support truck and bus electrification with streamlined infrastructure processes, proactive planning and active outreach.

    Pamela MacDougall and Katie M. Sloan • Oct. 18, 2022
  • A picture of wind turbines in front of solar panels in Palm Springs, California.
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    Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
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    California’s far-reaching climate law will usher in a zero-carbon economy. Now the state needs a follow-up plan.

    Our clean energy deployment plan calls for a single agency to lead state efforts while ensuring transparency, accountability, equity and environmental justice.

    Armond Cohen and Michael Colvin • Oct. 17, 2022
  • Power lines course through the hills east of San Francisco Bay.
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    John Randall Alves via Getty Images
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    FERC isn’t acting fast enough to strengthen the grid. Here’s one thing Congress can do.

    Congress can and should shore up energy resilience by establishing a clear standard for inter-regional transmission support, the authors write.

    Liza Reed and Andrew Xu • Oct. 11, 2022
  • Solar energy
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    Pixabay.com/seagul

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    How an unlikely trio helped secure billions for rural electric cooperatives

    As rural communities watch wind and solar farms begin to dot their landscape, many want to ensure rural America can own, not just host, the clean energy transition, the authors write.

    Duane Highley, Ramón Cruz and Erik Hatlestad • Oct. 10, 2022
  • High voltage pylons with electric power lines transfering electricity from solar photovoltaic cells at sunrise.
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    Bilanol via Getty Images
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    A transmission boom is needed to realize the Inflation Reduction Act’s benefits, and it will pay for itself

    Transmission is the key enabling technology for a clean electricity system because it allows higher-quality energy resources and better utilization of those resources, the author writes.

    Barbara Tyran • Oct. 6, 2022