Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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Courtesy of Climeworks — The Mammoth plant
How good data can fuel carbon capture and storage adoption for power plants
CCS is vital to complying with recent EPA emissions mandates, but slow permitting and inadequate data are delaying deployment.
John Tombari • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Stock via Getty Images
In the wake of increased scrutiny, ESG leaders aren’t backing down.
Amid a polarized political landscape, companies are beginning to view sustainability and corporate social responsibility through the same strategic lens.
Sona Khosla • Nov. 1, 2024 -
iStock via Getty Images
To minimize AI’s cyber risks to energy infrastructure, start with the design phase
Artificial intelligence will escalate cyber threats, and — if left unprotected — it could create new vulnerabilities at the heart of energy infrastructure.
Leo Simonovich • Oct. 31, 2024 -
imaginima via Getty Images
Where the wires meet the road: Fixing missed opportunities for long-distance transmission
We need to find ways to better integrate the planning of transmission and the siting of transmission from the get-go so that we don’t end up in situations where ideal pathways for transmission are missed.
Adam Kurland • Oct. 28, 2024 -
davelogan via Getty Images
Utilities’ hidden clean energy tax is at the heart of our energy challenges
Ending utility self-funding is central to FERC’s efforts to change utilities’ incentives and push them to tackle more ambitious high-voltage projects.
Ari Peskoe • Oct. 24, 2024 -
heyengel via Getty Images
Amid hurricanes and wildfires, the legacy grid, not clean power, is failing local communities
The latest bout of extreme heat is proving that we can increasingly and reasonably rely on renewable energy and storage to save us from catastrophic power outages even as the planet warms.
Akshat Kasliwal and Anirudh Mathur • Oct. 23, 2024 -
Alex Cristi via Getty Images
Accelerating utility rate case filings with generative AI
By leveraging generative AI, utilities can draw on a wealth of information to construct more robust and evidence-backed rate proposals.
Huzaifah Basrai • Oct. 22, 2024 -
halbergman via Getty Images
Can America keep up with AI’s energy appetite in the race with China?
Even with companies like Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft making big moves on clean energy, without an improved permitting process, their data centers might struggle to get the power they need to go online.
Divyansh Kaushik • Oct. 21, 2024 -
Marco_Piunti via Getty Images
Achieving energy resilience: Deep insight into threats, assets and national policy is the first step
While many energy companies maintain business continuity plans, true resilience requires moving beyond this standard approach to become more innovative and adaptive in this heightened threat environment.
Brian Harrell and Mark Freedman • Oct. 18, 2024 -
Allkindza via Getty Images
Creating a clean and reliable grid for Illinois
The recent price spike in PJM’s capacity market is drawing attention to the growing need for policy that moves Illinois towards an affordable clean energy future.
John Delurey • Oct. 17, 2024 -
Just_Super via Getty Images
Mining for talent: Education’s crucial role in America’s clean energy, mineral-driven future
Amid a clean energy revolution and a precarious geopolitical landscape, effectively bridging the educational gap in mining and engineering is pivotal for securing America's technological and environmental future.
Misael Cabrera and Bill Zisch • Oct. 15, 2024 -
Scharfsinn86 via Getty Images
Turning the US hydrogen field of dreams into reality
Perhaps a line from the classic American film “Field of Dreams” best summarizes the approach to hydrogen production and infrastructure: “If you build it, they will come.”
Jeremy Harrell • Oct. 14, 2024 -
BJP7images via Getty Images
How clean energy legislation can incentivize US mineral production
Both presidential candidates generally agree on the importance of supporting U.S. critical mineral projects given their role in securely supplying key industries, from defense manufacturers to automotive companies.
Gregory Wischer and Morgan Bazilian • Oct. 11, 2024 -
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Unfinished business: The bipartisan appeal of distributed power plants
Policymakers can best address the grid’s problems by leveraging existing regulatory authorizations to make better use of our assets and infrastructure, former FERC chairs Jon Wellinghoff and Neil Chatterjee write.
Jon Wellinghoff and Neil Chatterjee • Oct. 10, 2024 -
CatLane via Getty Images
Opportunities and obstacles for the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission
The memorandum of understanding that established the collaborative is remarkable for the sheer number of states involved and the fact that it covers three independent system operators: ISO-NE, NYISO and PJM.
Oct. 9, 2024 -
simonkr via Getty Images
Hawai‘i’s electricity problems expose a failed energy transition strategy
Hawai‘i, like several other states, is taking fossil fuel generation out of the system faster than it is bringing on alternative generation.
Jonathan Chanis • Oct. 8, 2024 -
narvikk via Getty Images
Big Tech is upending the clean energy landscape
Big Tech’s demands for specific project development plans and contractual provisions can create — or destroy — millions of dollars in value for renewable companies.
Akshat Kasliwal, Jesse Gilbert, and Anirudh Mathur • Oct. 7, 2024 -
Marc Piscotty/Getty Images via Getty Images
5 ways utilities and other climate planners can tackle extreme heat
As climate change causes extreme heat to spread and become more frequent, the health and energy insecurity impacts faced by vulnerable populations will grow, too.
Judsen Bruzgul and Mason Fried • Sept. 27, 2024 -
ArtemisDiana via Getty Images
C&I customer needs are rapidly changing. How can utilities maximize their relationship?
Utilities risk being blindsided by the capacity needs of commercial and industrial customers by not engaging them early and often to understand their electrification plans.
Julia Hamm and Chase Weir • Sept. 26, 2024 -
Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
Results show carbon capture’s alleged promises are full of hot air
The happy-talk DOE press information says nothing about the difficulties associated with building a first-of-its kind technology and hooking it up to a large-scale electric generator.
Dennis Wamsted • Sept. 25, 2024 -
Rolf Wittke via Getty Images
Permitting reform’s false choice
Any benefits to green infrastructure that would be gained by undoing federal protections are likely to be more than offset by the proliferation of fossil fuels.
David E. Adelman • Sept. 20, 2024 -
Getty Images via Getty Images
Renewable energy claims under scrutiny: Preparing for the updated FTC Green Guides
Public utilities and energy companies, in particular, should brace for increased scrutiny of their environmental claims.
Shawane L. Lee • Sept. 19, 2024 -
samxmeg via Getty Images
Misguided DOE rules on fossil fuel use will harm human health and risk national security
Two recent DOE actions will effectively ban more resilient building solutions like microgrids and combined heat and power that are among the cleanest, most versatile and efficient ways to power buildings.
Cameron Brooks • Sept. 18, 2024 -
Allkindza via Getty Images
The Energy Permitting Reform Act is our best shot at advancing critical climate goals
The bill would be a crucial step toward America realizing its potential as a 21st century clean energy superpower, but only if we can put our desires for a perfect policy aside and embrace practical compromise.
Danielle Russo • Sept. 17, 2024 -
MRaust via Getty Images
Detractors take note: Tri-State is meeting its reliability, affordability and clean energy obligations
A recent report from the Colorado Energy Office shows Tri-State, unlike some other power suppliers in our region, has ample resources in the years ahead, the general manager of K.C. Electric Association writes.
David Churchwell • Sept. 16, 2024
