Steve McBee

Grid analysts challenge Bonneville Power’s pace in adopting advanced conductors--my latest for PV Magazine USA. As the White House encourages utilities to use advanced conductors to help interconnect new renewable generation, the federally-owned utility Bonneville Power is moving slowly to use the high-capacity conductors, analysts said. Mike O'Boyle, Casey Baker, Michelle Solomon #AdvancedConductors

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DOE proposes ten “national interest” transmission corridors (my latest for PV Magazine USA) Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; one would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s #PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains.

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For anyone who will be at IEEE Power & Energy Society T&D Conference feel free to stop by our panel session on #EVs and #gridreliability. Will be an interesting cross-sector discussion including technology provider, independent system operator, and utility perspectives among others. E-mobility is driving the blending of Transmission and Distribution system planning, design, and operations. Particularly with the growing prevalence of distributed energy resources, IoT and grid-edge technologies, and virtual power plants (#VPPs).

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Canary Media with an article on how rural electric cooperatives are tapping into the IRA to fund the shift from fossil to renewable generation. "How $7.3B will help rural co-ops build clean power—and close coal plants This Inflation Reduction Act program is offering 16 rural electric co-ops financing to overcome the up-front costs of shifting from dirty coal to clean power. Rural electric cooperatives, which bring electricity to the most sparsely populated parts of the country, are getting their biggest federal investment since the New Deal — and this time around, the money is going to help fight climate change. Last week, the Biden administration announced $7.3 billion in financing for 16 rural co-ops serving about 5 million households across 23 states. The money will be administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which implemented the Rural Electrification Act, the 1936 law that financed the buildout of the grid in more remote areas of the country. It will also be matched by more than $29 billion in private investments with a goal of building more than 10 gigawatts of clean energy. That’s a big jump from the nearly 16 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity co-ops have today." Read more at https://conta.cc/4d4kLmE #solar #energy #solarenergy #renewables #renewableenerg

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The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) released their new report, Collaborative Enhancements to Unlock Interregional Transmission, providing an assessment and solutions to challenges faced by regulators and other energy stakeholders. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eyV-8Q72 #interregionaltransmision #transmissionreform

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The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently issued a decision that sets timelines for the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities to complete customer energization projects. Energization is the process of connecting electrification projects—such as electric vehicle charging equipment—to the grid so that we can make use of our clean energy technologies. By setting timelines to complete energization projects, the CPUC decision recognizes that the state’s clean energy transition can’t happen without the timely integration of electrification projects to the grid. IREC has been actively engaged in the decision’s proceedings and contributed to the decision’s results. Our new blog post digs into the CPUC’s decision requirements for energization timelines, how the decision sets out to implement current clean energy laws and goals, and why accelerating energization is crucial for our transition to clean energy. Read it now at https://lnkd.in/g3fqQ_fD!

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Go to slide 9 showing how far and fast the grid is falling behind in being able to connect utility scale renewables. Yet, the California Public Utilities Commission continues to create obstacles to the growth of distributed generation.

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Alphabet’s Google, along with TPG Rise Climate and other investors, is supporting clean energy developer Intersect Power with more than $800 million in funding Read: https://lnkd.in/dkEx2ngf

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This is the most authoritative piece I’ve read on emissions, and really highlights the benefit of living and operating a business in California. It should make emissions accounting much easier if the cost is already included in electric rates. It should make businesses outside California want back in. https://lnkd.in/eeVkj-_3

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June's Energy Market Report reviews how global elections are defining energy policy. #electricity #oilandgas #carbonreduction #vote

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💡 Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has identified pathways for Washington’s investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities to contribute to the state’s overall GHG emission reduction goals. The report highlights key insights gained from our modelling work including: 🔀 multiple options exist to achieve desired emissions reductions targets 🔌 electricity consumption will not outstrip supply with energy efficiency gains 💰 implementing decarbonizing pathways sooner will lead to greater savings You can download the report here: https://lnkd.in/g8SUYTiQ

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🔄 Navigating the New Energy Landscape: How to Thrive Under NEM 3.0 🌞💡 With the recent shift to NEM 3.0 in California, the solar industry faces new challenges—and opportunities. Lower export compensation and time-of-use rates are changing the game, but savvy energy users can turn these changes to their advantage through strategic energy arbitrage. In our latest blog post, ClimaFi explores how microgrids can help businesses not only adapt to NEM 3.0 but thrive under its new rules. Discover how ClimaFi’s tailored microgrid solutions optimize energy storage and usage, turning potential setbacks into lucrative opportunities. Read more! #NEM3 #Microgrids #EnergyArbitrage #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #ClimaFi #GridResilience #EnergyManagement #Sustainability

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Today, Edison International published Reaching Net Zero, a forward-looking analysis that reinforces the urgent need for public-private collaboration, enhanced efficiencies and significant investment in clean firm generation to meet California’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.   While California’s clean energy future is within reach, it is not assured. We need proactive planning to address and navigate challenges and risks.   Edison International is committed to delivering 100% clean electricity to customers and reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2045. I hope you’ll take some time to read this significant new analysis.   Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gWVNyKCX   #NetZeroBy2045 #cleanenergy #sustainability #renewableenergy #ClimateWeekNYC

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📈 Corporate PPA activity in the ERCOT market has reached 1.8 GW, YTD 2024. Data from the Enerdatics Energy Transition PPA database indicates that ERCOT has seen ~1.8 GW in corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) since the start of 2024, constituting over 60% of the U.S. total. 💡 Tech giant Microsoft leads the way, having secured ~800 MW across three deals. Meanwhile, new entrants such as UnitedHealth Group, Sonoco, and AdventHealth are also stepping up their sustainability efforts. 🏆 Key Suppliers Making Waves: > Regional Leaders: Primergy, Leeward Renewable, Scout Clean Energy > International Players: Orsted, ENGIE 🤝 Positive PPA negotiations in ERCOT are driven by the market's lower land and interconnection costs, which help mitigate higher interest rates and supply chain issues. 🌟 Top Deals to Note: > Microsoft and Primergy Solar: 408 MW from Ash Creek solar project > Hyundai and Matrix Renewables: 147 MW (Hyundai’s first U.S. PPA) > RTX and ENGIE: ~38 MW from Priddy wind project #CorporatePPA #ERCOT #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Microsoft #Hyundai #RTX #ENGIE #Orsted #Primergy #LeewardRenewable #ScoutCleanEnergy #UnitedHealthGroup #Sonoco #AdventHealth

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Hybrid power plants should be able to systematically replace older combustion turbines anywhere in the world. The current push to install new fossil-gas power plants to meet computing demand is incredibly backward looking. The world is changing so fast at this point, if you try to advance while looking backward, you're going to end up flat on your ass, getting trampled by the people passing you.

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