As of January 7, 2025, President Joe Biden announced an executive action to protect over 625 million acres of US coastline areas from future offshore drilling. [1] This includes the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the North Bering Sea in Alaska. President Biden invoked the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which gives presidents broad authority to withdraw federal waters from future oil and gas leasing and development. To reverse the ban, this law would have to be changed.
[USA] Voltus agrees to pay $18M to settle allegations it violated MISO demand response rules
As of January 7, 2025, according to a settlement approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Voltus agreed to pay a $10.9 million penalty and return $7.1 million in profits to settle allegations that it registered uncontracted and over-stated demand response resources with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Voltus aggregates retail customers to provide MISO with “load-modifying resources.” [1] FERC contends that Voltus CEO Gregg Dixon caused Voltus to register demand response resources with MISO without the owner’s knowledge. Furthermore, they clear load-modifying resource capacity that would not have performed if MISO dispatched the resources from Oct 2006 to June 2020. Around the time when Voltus partook in the 2017/18 planning resource auction, MISO did not require companies like Voltus to show that they had a contractual relationship with the entities providing load-modifying resources they were registering, according to FERC. As part of the settlement, Voltus will file annual compliance monitoring reports to FERC’s enforcement office for two years or longer at the office’s discretion.
[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20250106-3066&optimized=false
[USA] MN8 Energy to own, build, and operate solar project supporting city of Cambridge’s historic VPPA
As of December 17, 2024, MN8 Energy announced that it will own and operate the 135MWac Prairie Solar project in Champaign County, Illinois, which includes 50MWac of capacity dedicated to the City of Cambridge’s groundbreaking virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA). [1] The project will support the largest VPPA ever undertaken by a US city. The City of Cambridge’s 50MWac portion will generate 113,000 MWh of clean energy annually, enough to cover the average electricity consumption of over 25,000 households in Cambridge. Boston-based Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. facilitated the City of Cambridge’s transaction through their Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB). The NCZB is a buyer’s community for utility-scale clean energy. The project is located on the MISO grid, where only 32% of energy comes from low-carbon sources. This means it will deliver 2.6 times the emissions reductions compared to equivalent solar generation in Massachusetts. The project is expected to achieve commercial operation by 2026. Cambridge’s 50MWac portion is expected to avoid 70,510 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually by replacing fossil fuel generation.
[USA] US Department of Energy completes LNG study update, announces 60-day comment period
As of December 17, 2024, the US Department of Energy (DOE) released an updated study of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. [1] The study came about because the DOE was given responsibility by Congress via the Natural Gas Act to evaluate the public interest of proposed exports to countries with which the US does not have a Free Trade Agreement. The study will have a 60-day comment period set to begin once published in the Federal Register. The public may submit comments to inform how DOE may apply the study’s findings to its public interest analysis of export applications going forward. In addition to the study release, US Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm released a Secretarial Statement outlining departmental leadership’s perspective on the final version of the study. Given the fact that the US is the largest exporter of LNG in the world and will remain the top exporter by 2030, DOE leadership recognized the need for a comprehensive update to ensure the most updated analysis possible of the market, national security, economic, and environmental considerations of different potential volumes of US LNG exports.
[USA] PSE&G to pay $6.6M for inaccurately reporting need for local PJM transmission project
As of December 6, 2024, Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) agreed to pay $6.6 million to settle allegations that it gave the PJM Interconnection misleading information about a $546 million transmission project. [1] This was during the grid operator’s Regional Transmission Expansion plan process, according to the settlement approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC enforcement staff found that PSE&G violated agency rules requiring market participants to provide “accurate and factual information” about the state of power line towers in communications with agency-approved regional transmission organizations. The settlement agreement centers on a $546 million project PSE&G, a Public Service Enterprise Group subsidiary, recommended to PJM in 2017 to replace a transmission line in New Jersey.
[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20241205-3039&optimized=false
[USA] Five-year US load growth forecast surges 456% to 128 GW
As of December 6, 2024, A report by consulting firm Grid Strategies found that US electricity demand could rise 128 GW over the next five years, driven by data centers and manufacturing growth, mainly in six regions. [1] The estimate represents a five-fold increase in load growth forecasts over the past two years. The estimates are based on annual planning reports submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by electric balancing authorities, with updates from utilities and planning regions. FERC Form 714 in 2022 estimated a five-year peak load growth of about 23 GW. A review of utility planning documents indicated that 61 GW could be added to FERC’s 2024 five-year estimates. According to the report, an additional 61 GW of growth means nationwide electric demand is forecast to increase by 15.8% by 2029. Texas added 37 GW to its 2029 forecast, resulting in an updated forecast of 43 GW through 2029. The report also noted that PJM’s 2029 peak load forecast increased from 153.3 GW to 165.7 GW – an 8.1% increase in two years. However, PJM utilities have increased their projections of large load additions for 2029 from 15 GW to 30 GW.
[1] https://gridstrategiesllc.com/wp-content/uploads/National-Load-Growth-Report-2024.pdf
[USA] Small volumes of renewable diesel are now consumed on the U.S. East Coast
As of December 3, 2024, the US Energy Information Administration noted that the US East Coast became a recurring destination for small volumes of renewable diesel as a few suppliers began offering or consuming it. [1] Since it is not produced on the East Coast, suppliers and local governments are procuring their supply from imports and interregional US shipments. Renewable diesel is used for transportation and heating as a chemical equivalent to petroleum-based distillate, and it is produced using fats, oils, and greases rather than petroleum. It is primarily consumed on the West Coast because California, Oregon, and Washington are the only states with active clean fuel programs. However, small volumes of renewable diesel are now being consumed in other regions like the East Coast. In each of the five recent months with historical data (May – September), consumption of renewable diesel has superseded the previous record high, ranging from 5,000 barrels per day (b/d) to 7,000 b/d. The increase in the consumption of this fuel in the East Coast is attributable to certain suppliers and local governments, including Sprague, Neste, and Global Partners.
[USA] LPO announces conditional commitment to StarPlus Energy to construct lithium-ion battery factories in Indiana
As of December 2, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) announced a conditional commitment for a loan of $7.54 billion to StarPlus Energy LLC to finance up to two lithium-ion battery cell and module manufacturing plants in Kokomo, Indiana. [1] The borrower is a joint venture between FCA US LLC (a subsidiary of Stellantis N.V.) and Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. The output from the facilities will be sold to Stellantis for use in electric vehicle models that will be sold in North America, with the goal of ensuring that the US can meet domestic demand and maintain its leadership in the electric vehicle industry. At full capacity, the StarPlus project will produce 67GWh of batteries, enough to supply 670,000 vehicles annually. The DOE estimates that the EVs produced using StarPlus batteries will displace the usage of 260.3 million gallons of petroleum per year.
The project is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to onshore and re-shore domestic manufacturing technologies. If finalized, the loan would be offered through the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program, which provides loans to support US manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles, qualifying components, and materials that improve fuel economy.
[USA] I&M and stakeholders file large load settlement to advance grid reliability and support economic growth
As of November 22, 2024, Indiana Michigan Power, an American Electric Power (AEP) utility, filed a joint settlement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft, the Citizens Action Coalition (CAC), and the Data Center Coalition, outlining the terms for connecting new large loads to the grid. [1] The settlement with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission requires new large-load customers, such as data centers, to make long-term financial commitments to ensure they pay for the costs to serve them and that those costs are not passed on to existing customers.
The agreement comes amid rapid data center development in Northern Indiana. Amazon Web Services made progress on an $11 billion data center campus near New Carlisle, Indiana, and Google was building a $2 billion data center in Fort Wayne. The settlement recognizes the energy needs of new large customers and proposes additional commitments that the customers must meet when establishing electric service. Furthermore, the companies that are signatories to the joint settlement – AWS, Microsoft, and Google – have each agreed to provide an annual contribution of $500,00 for five years to the Indiana Community Action Association.
[USA] EPA report shows US fuel economy hits record high and CO2 emissions reach a record low
As of November 25, 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency released its 50th annual Automotive Trends Report, showing that model year 2023 vehicle fuel economy reached a record high while greenhouse gas emissions dropped to record low levels. [1] The report shows that all 14 large automotive manufacturers complied with EPA’s light-duty GHG program requirements through the MY 2023 reporting period. New MY 2023 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road have led to 11% lower CO2 emissions. The fuel economy has improved from 13.1 miles per gallon in MY 1975 to 27.1 mpg for MY 2023 vehicles. However, passenger cars and light trucks still accounted for 17% of total US GHG emissions in 2022.
In MY 2023, the combined category of battery-electric vehicles, PHEVs, and fuel cell vehicles rose from 6.7% of production in MY 2022 to 11.5% of production in MY 2023. They are projected to reach 14.8% of production in model year 2024. This trend will likely continue as EV production is expected to grow across the industry in the next few years.
[USA] Governor Abbott, PUCT release Texas advanced nuclear reactor working group report
As of November 18, 2024, Governor Greg Abbott and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) announced the release of the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group’s final report on Texas’ plan to build a world-class nuclear power industry to enhance reliability and energy security. [1] The plan includes seven major recommendations, starting with creating a new state authority to oversee nuclear development. A single point of contact will be established to help companies navigate the complex permitting process. There will also be significant investment planned in manufacturing and supply chain, sponsored by new funding programs that help companies transition to nuclear component production. Governor Abbott states that by utilizing advanced nuclear energy, Texas will enhance the reliability of the state grid and produce affordable power to Texans state-wide.
[USA] Biden-Harris Administration awards $2.2 Billion to accelerate regional clean hydrogen hubs
As of November 20, 2024, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $2.2 billion in award commitments for two Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) that will accelerate commercial-scale deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen. [1] The two awardees – Gulf Coast H2Hub and Midwest H2Hub – are critical pillars of the program. DOE is committing $1.2 billion of federal cost share for the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub and up to $1 billion of the federal cost share for the Midwest Hydrogen Hub. These awards follow three previously awarded H2Hubs and will collectively drive private-sector investment in clean hydrogen.
Clean hydrogen is a flexible carrier that can be produced from a wide range of domestic energy resources, such as renewables, nuclear, and fossil resources with carbon capture. Its unique characteristics enable the hubs to reduce harmful emissions from energy-intensive sectors like chemical and industrial processes, and heavy-duty transportation. The seven selected hubs are expected to collectively produce millions of metric tons of hydrogen annually.
[USA] NASA Stennis Secures Grant for Clean Energy Project
As of November 14, 2024, NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was awarded a competitive US Department of Energy grant to transform its main administration building into a facility that produces as much renewable energy as it uses. [1] NASA Stennis will receive $1.95 million through the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) Program, which will fund installation of a four-acre solar panel array onsite that can generate up to 1 megawatt of electricity. The AFFECT Program awards grants to enable the federal government to achieve its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions of all federal buildings by 2045. Over $1 billion in funding proposals was requested by federal agencies for the second and final phase of the initiative. Subsequently, a total of $149.87 million was awarded for 67 conservation and clean energy projects at federal facilities across 28 states and territories, and 6 international locations.
[1] https://nasa.gov/news-release/stennis-secures-grant-for-clean-energy-project/
[USA] US Department of Energy announces $7 million to advance high-performance computing for energy innovation
As of November 14, 2024, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $4 million federal investment in 10 projects across 8 states that will harness the processing power of the world’s most powerful supercomputers in order to solve the most complex manufacturing challenges and strengthen American manufacturing. [1] Within the DOE’s High-Performance Computing for Energy Innovation (HPC4EI) initiative, the selected teams will use advanced modeling, simulation, and data analysis to projects that enhance manufacturing efficiency, lower industrial emissions, and explore the use of new materials and processes for clean energy applications. Under the HPC4EI initiative are the High-Performance Computing for Manufacturing (HPC4Mfg) and High-Performance Computing for Materials (HPC4Mtls) programs. The former aims to help manufacturers streamline processes, increase productivity, and lower their carbon footprint. The latter focuses on developing materials that perform well in harsh environments. Both programs serve to leverage high-computing technology to help companies improve performance, increase efficiency, and achieve cost savings.
[USA] FERC rejects interconnection pact for Talen-Amazon data center deal at nuclear plant
As of November 4, 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected an amended interconnection service agreement (ISA) that would have enabled expanded power sales to a co-located Amazon data center from a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, which is majority-owned by Talen Energy. [1] The vote was 2-1, with FERC commissioners Mark Christie and Lindsay See in the majority. The agency found that PJM Interconnection’s amended ISA failed to show that provisions in the agreement that contravene the grid operator’s existing ISA were needed due to “specific reliability concerns, novel legal issues, or other factors.” In dissent, FERC Chairman Willie Phillips stated that the decision threatened national security and grid reliability. The other two FERC commissioners, David Rosner and Judy Chang did not participate in the case. The decision surprised investors and caused a sharp negative share response for companies that own nuclear power plants that could serve data centers. The decision comes at a time when data center companies are exploring co-locating their facilities at existing power plants.
[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20241101-3061&optimized=false
[USA] DOE Announces $11M in high voltage direct current transmission projects
As of November 4, 2024, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity (OE) and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced selections for four new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission research and development projects that will affordably integrate renewable energy generation onto the grid via HVDC lines. [1] The program, called the Innovative Designs for high-performAnce Low-cost HVDC Converters (IDEAL HVDC), will also reduce transmission system costs by 35 percent by 2035. OE is providing $8.1 million in funding while EERE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office is providing $3 million. The projects aim to reinvent the power grid, which serves as an interstate highway for high-voltage electricity. HVDC transmission systems are more efficient than traditional alternating current (AC) transmission system, both in terms of cost and power. Furthermore, many renewable generation resources are in remote locations and HVDC transmission provides a cost-effective solution for renewable integration onto the grid. The selected IDEAL HVAC projects include: GE Vernova Advanced Research, Sandia National Laboratories, University of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
[USA] FERC bars payments for reactive power within the standard power factor range
As of October 25, 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a rule that bars payments to power plant owners for reactive power within the standard power factor range (deadband). [1] The reform is intended to ensure that transmission providers do not pass unjust charges onto customers that do not yield a commensurate benefit for ratepayers. The decision, opposed by generators, means that interconnection customers will only be paid for reactive power when the transmission provider asks the interconnection customer to operate its facility outside the “deadband” range. According to FERC, generating facilities must either produce or absorb reactive power for the transmission system to maintain the required voltage levels. Reactive power outside the range – within 0.95 leading to 0.95 lagging – is considered an ancillary service. Only PJM Interconnection, ISO New England, and the New York Independent System Operator pay generators for reactive power within their deadband ranges. Opponents of FERC’s proposal include the American Council on Renewable Energy, the Solar Energy Industries Association, the American Clean Power Association, the North American Generator Forum, and Public Service Enterprise Group companies, along with NYISO and ISO-NE. Supporters of the rule include PJM, ratepayer advocates in New England, and American Electric Power.
[USA] Biden-Harris administration invests in clean, more affordable energy for seven rural electric cooperatives from South Carolina to Colorado as part of Investing in America agenda
As of October 25, 2024, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced more than $3 billion of funding through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Empowering Rural America (ERA) program to lower electricity costs as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda. [1] The USDA is awarding about $2.5 billion in financing for the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, having selected 6 rural electric co-operatives to progress to the next round in the awards process. They award nearly $1 billion in New ERA funds. The Tri-State’s award is expected to lower electricity rates by 10 percent for cooperative members by 2034, amounting to $430 million in rural consumer benefits over a decade. New ERA funds, meanwhile, will finance the purchase of 1,040 MW of renewable energy and over 200 MW of energy storage. They will also aid the Tri-State to refinance the retirement of 1,100 MW of previously and newly announced coal-fired energy generation.
The 6 electric cooperatives announced to move forward in the New ERA process are Connexus energy in Minnesota and South Dakota, Central Electric Power Cooperative Inc in South Carolina, Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association Inc., in Colorado, Nebraska Electric Generation in Nebraska, Rayburn Country Electric Cooperative in Texas, and Yampa Valley Electric Association in Colorado. This will leverage investments of $6.4 billion for 1.75 GW of clean energy for rural communities across the country.
[USA] MISO, TVA to sell ‘emergency energy’ under proposed agreement
As of October 25, 2024, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will be able to send “emergency energy” to each other under an unprecedented agreement filed at FERC on October 24. [1] Because of TVA Act restrictions, the TVA is unable to supply emergency energy directly to MISO. The restrictions limit exports only to neighboring electric systems that the agency had power arrangements with as of July 1957. As a result, MISO members Ameren and Entergy will be able to buy electricity from the TVA during emergencies on behalf of MISO, since they meet the requirements of the TVA Act. During Winter Storm Elliot in December 2022, about 7,000 MW flowed to TVA’s region from MISO, according to FERC and NERC. The TVA instituted 8 hours of rolling blackouts at their peak during the winter storm. The agreement makes it so emergency energy can only be requested when an Energy Emergency Alert Level 2 or higher has been declared. The agreement is similar to those that MISO has with other balancing authorities.
[1] https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_number=20241024-5041&optimized=false
[USA] Biden-Harris administration announces nearly $200 million to replace aging gas pipes, lower household energy bills, and cut methane emissions
As of October 22, 2024, the US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced $196 million in grants, funded by the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to repair aging natural gas pipes. [1] This round of funding will support 60 modernization projects for gas pipelines across 20 states. The awards are funded through the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The law authorized almost $1 billion in investment over 5 years to modernize community-owned gas distribution pipes, lowering energy costs for rate-payers, reducing methane pollution, and avoiding the dangers of pipeline failure. The announcement brings the total amount awarded under the grant program to almost $800 million distributed among 227 projects in underserved rural and urban communities in 29 states since the start of the program in 2022. Some of the grants awarded include: $40 million to Philadelphia Gas Works to replace high-risk cast-iron pipe, $15.7 million to City of Richmond, Virginia, to upgrade natural gas mains in its service system, $6.4 million to Toccoa Natural Gas to replace outdated gas service lines, $6.4 million to Tallahassee, Florida, to make major upgrades to the city’s high-density polyethylene pipe, and $3 million to Sterling City, Texas, to replace high-risk bare steel pipe.