AI, climate change, fuel cells among energy transition ‘disconnects’ for utilities: Morgan Stanley

“Not all incumbent utilities will gain from the energy transition,” analysts said in a report issued Wednesday. Those that could be challenged include Consolidated Edison, Entergy and NextEra.

By Ethan Howland • June 2, 2023

IHG ups sustainability efforts with community solar offerings for US hotels

IHG will provide renewable energy certificates to participating hotels, furthering the company’s 10-year march toward a 46% energy emissions reduction target.

By Noelle Mateer • June 2, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

Treasury issues further guidance for IRA’s $10B tax credit incentivizing clean energy manufacturing

The 48C investment tax credit and a related manufacturing tax credit, 45X, are “very substantial” credits that many companies aren’t aware of, said Moss Adams partner and certified public accountant Peter Henderson.

By Diana DiGangi • June 1, 2023

Record Q1 global wind turbine orders suggest US installation downturn is poised to end: WoodMac

Installations have yet to catch up with prior records, but an uptick in order activity suggests the industry has begun to turn a corner, a Wood Mackenzie analyst said.

By Emma Penrod • June 1, 2023

Environmental review of offshore wind in Gulf of Mexico finds ‘no significant impacts’: BOEM

The next step in the leasing process for the Gulf is for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to issue a final sale notice, which it plans to do later this year.

By Diana DiGangi • May 31, 2023

Full industrial electrification could more than double US power demand. Here’s how renewables can meet it.

Accelerating industrial electrification requires policymakers to ensure increased electricity demand is supplied with new least-cost clean generation in rural areas with high-quality renewable resources.

By Eric Gimon • May 31, 2023

Eversource sells 50% stake in offshore wind lease to partner Ørsted as it seeks a buyer for 3 other sites

CEO Joe Nolan said Eversource remains “fully committed to being a catalyst to the region’s clean energy transition” as its regulated companies build facilities to transmit more than 9,000 MW of offshore wind generation.

By Stephen Singer • May 26, 2023

Interior Department advances permitting for NV Energy Greenlink transmission projects

Greenlink West and Greenlink North would connect a total of up to 8 GW of renewable energy to the Western grid, the Bureau of Land Management said.

By Diana DiGangi • May 26, 2023

2023 global solar investment projected to overtake oil for the first time: International Energy Agency

The IEA expects more than $1.7 trillion will be invested in clean energy around the world in 2023, versus about $1 trillion in fossil fuels.

By Diana DiGangi • May 25, 2023

Enel chooses Oklahoma as home of first US solar panel factory

The more than $1 billion project will have up to 3 GW of production capacity by 2025, with the possibility of a future expansion to 6 GW.

By Kate Magill • May 23, 2023

Federal judge dismisses whale case, upholds permits for offshore Vineyard Wind project

Judge Indira Talwani found the case brought against the offshore wind project lacked merit because evidence indicated that it is “unlikely to cause the death of any right whale.”

By Diana DiGangi • May 23, 2023

BOEM completes environmental analysis for Ocean Wind 1 offshore New Jersey

The project could add up to 1.4 GW capacity to the grid if fully approved, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said.

By Diana DiGangi • May 23, 2023

DOE earmarks nearly $42M to produce, store and deploy clean hydrogen

The funding is intended to address “some of our hardest to decarbonize sectors — heavy transportation and industry,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

By Stephen Singer • May 23, 2023

PJM interconnection delays threaten state renewable energy goals: NRDC report

Some states could fall short of their renewable energy goals as projects become mired in lengthy interconnection queues at PJM, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

By Emma Penrod • May 22, 2023

DOE report outlines 10 actions needed to achieve 100% clean electricity

“We know the Inflation Reduction Act is not itself, alone, sufficient to get to 100% clean energy,” said Paul Donohoo-Vallett, an analyst in DOE’s Office of Policy and a lead author on the report.

By Diana DiGangi • May 18, 2023

Georgia’s Plant Vogtle is a $35B boondoggle. We need new and better solutions for a carbon-free grid.

Urgent utility business model reforms are needed to create a 21st-century, people-centered grid that delivers affordable fossil-free solutions.

By Patty Durand • May 18, 2023

As Sen. Carper releases permitting reform proposal, White House vows to update NEPA rules

Carper’s proposal joins a crowded field of legislative approaches to streamlining energy permitting reform.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2023

Colorado’s new clean hydrogen standards could push production out of the state, industry group says

A recently-passed bill would provide incentives for the use of clean hydrogen, but the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Association says the legislation’s narrow definitions and strict standards will limit production.

By Emma Penrod • May 17, 2023

House fails to overturn Biden’s veto on congressional resolution to end Southeast Asia solar panel tariff pause

The measure returned to the House and passed 214 to 205, falling short of the two-thirds margin needed for a veto override.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated May 25, 2023

Bipartisan Senate bill aims to preserve hydropower fleet, spur gigawatts of pumped storage

“We're optimistic that this can get through Congress this year, which is important because we do have that growing risk of license surrenders looming on the horizon,” Malcolm Woolf, National Hydropower Association CEO, said.

By Ethan Howland • May 17, 2023

USDA offers $10.7B for rural electrification and energy transition

“This represents the single largest investment in rural electrification since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936,” the department said.

By Diana DiGangi • May 16, 2023

IRS details which renewable energy components must be made in the US to qualify for IRA tax credits

The U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service notified owners of green energy projects — wind, solar and energy storage — how to apply tax rules for domestic content bonus credits.

By Emma Penrod • May 15, 2023

South Carolina could save electricity customers up to $362M a year by joining RTO: The Brattle Group

The current Southeast Energy Exchange Market is limited in benefits compared to a regional transmission organization, the consulting firm said in a report to a legislative committee.

By Diana DiGangi • May 15, 2023

Silicon Valley Bank closes $203M solar deal with Pivot Energy in first transaction since collapse

Pivot Energy was set to wrap up a deal on a 100 MW solar portfolio just before the FDIC seized Silicon Valley Bank. They closed the deal on May 9 — only six weeks later than expected.

By Emma Penrod • May 12, 2023

DOE directs $26M to PG&E, ConEd and other projects testing how clean energy can support a resilient grid

The Department of Energy announced it will offer $26 million for projects “to demonstrate how solar, wind, storage and other clean energy resources can support a reliable and efficient U.S. power grid.”

By Diana DiGangi • May 11, 2023