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Diana DiGangi

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Utility Dive: Moody’s warns of potential power price volatility from renewables oversupply

Posted by Diana DiGangi on Sep 14, 2023

Utility Dive  examines a recently published Moody’s analysis on the link between unsteady energy prices and the influx of renewable energy sources to the market, featuring United’s  Ryan Katofsky  explaining how the U.S. power sector can leverage demand flexibility and battery storage technologies and services to stabilize this transition.
 

Reliability costs associated with backstopping renewables could rise to $435 billion a year around the world by 2030, the company said in a report released Wednesday.

As utilities increase the amount of renewable energy in their fuel supply mixes, the associated need for an increase in resource buffers could lead to oversupply that would increase power price volatility and grid reliability costs, said Moody’s Investors Service in a Wednesday report.

“Because wind and solar power generation depends on weather conditions and is thus not dispatchable, load-serving utilities will likely build in a cushion of supply to enhance reliability and compensate for resource volatility,” the report says.
 
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Topics: Wholesale Markets, United In The News, Ryan Katofsky

Utility Dive: Grassroots buy-in will be vital to transmission buildout, say clean energy experts

Posted by Diana DiGangi on Jun 22, 2023

Utility Dive examines the role grassroots can play in leading the nation through its transmission obstacles, quoting Verna Mandez on the need for states to take more initiative.

As clean energy production ramps up, transmission reform is becoming a major priority for the renewables industry. Tens of thousands of megawatts of wind and solar capacity are in the interconnection queue, waiting to be able to connect to the grid.

The debt ceiling agreement reached by Congress and the White House earlier this month contained reforms to permitting, but not transmission. It instead requires the North American Electric Reliability Corp., or NERC, to study interregional transmission capacity needs between regions over 18 months.

“That will take time, it will take at least two years for that study to be completed,” Kasotia said in an interview. “So, personally, I do believe it’s going to delay meaningful action on transmission reform. I felt it was not a genuine request to address the transmission understanding or transmission knowledge that congressional members don’t have.”

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Topics: United In The News, Transmission, Verna Mandez

UtilityDive: Advanced Energy United Warns Frameworks Needed for Transmission Buildout ‘Don’t Really Exist’

Posted by Diana DiGangi on Apr 11, 2023

Utility Dive outlines Advanced Energy United's request to FERC to strengthen its transmission reform plan, quoting Verna Mandez on the importance of legal and procedural frameworks for cooperation on transmission systems.

With some exceptions such as a New York-New Jersey collaboration, states and regional transmission authorities are making their own interests a priority, said Verna Mandez, the group’s transmission campaign director. A new Department of Energy study found “a significant need” for interregional transmission between almost all regions of the U.S.

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Topics: United In The News, Verna Mandez

Utility Dive: Coca-Cola, Walmart and Salesforce call on Indiana utilities to offer green tariffs

Posted by Diana DiGangi on Dec 22, 2022

Utility Dive reports on a letter to Duke Energy and AES Indiana calling for a Green Tariff in the state. United's Caryl Auslander spoke to the demand of large customers for clean energy options in Indiana.
 
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Topics: United In The News, Indiana, Green Tariffs