News

Utility Dive highlights the importance of moving away from natural gas reliance in California, quoting Sarah Steinberg and Brian Turner on the importance of demand-side management, batteries, hydro storage, and more.

As California reels from the impact of high natural gas prices this winter – as well as the ripple effects on the electricity sector – some experts are urging policy-makers to focus on reducing the state’s dependence on natural gas in the first place.

Gas prices in the West touched their highest annual point in the second half of December and began to subside in January, although still at a relatively high level. CAISO pointed to several reasons for that in its recent report: colder than usual temperatures in the West and Canada pushed up gas demand; there were lower gas storage inventories than usual – in part because of the higher gas usage during the heatwave California experienced last summer; as well as California’s lack of local gas supply and position at the end of the interstate pipeline system. 

Demand-side management is one of the best short-term policies that policymakers and consumers have at their fingertips to mitigate the impact of gas and electricity price swings, according to Brian Turner, policy director, Western states, with Advanced Energy United. This can include adjusting electricity use through consumer behavior, but also using advanced energy devices. 

Utility Dive examined grid reliability issues popping up across the U.S., quoting Amisha Rai and Caitlin Marquis on regional and national solutions. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Power systems across the U.S. faced challenging grid reliability conditions over the past year, but managed to avoid the worst-case scenario of prolonged outages thanks to a combination of policy measures implemented over the last couple of years and luck, experts say.

Utility Dive outlined how the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to impact the clean energy sector, citing AEE's Harry Godfrey on how support for clean energy projects can help curb current inflation rates. Read snippets below and the full article here.

High inflation in the U.S. could make things difficult for the clean energy sector, but the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act could more than make up for those impacts, experts say...

UtilityDive analyzed AEE's Western RTO Economic Impact Study, quoting AEE's Amisha Rai on RTO conversations with policymakers. Read snippets below and the full article here.

The creation of a West-wide regional transmission organization could generate between 159,000 and 657,000 permanent jobs through 2030, as well as up to $79.2 billion in additional gross regional product per year across the 11 Western states, according to a new report.

Utility Dive detailed newly passed legislation that attempts to ensure the reliability of California's grid, quoting AEE's Emilie Olson on the bill's heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Read snippets below and the full article here.

California lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill that establishes a new certification process for solar, wind and other non-fossil fuel power plants that are larger than 50 MW, as the state works to build out the renewable projects it needs to ensure grid reliability.

Utility Dive examined Gov. Newsom's revised budget proposal earmarking funding for reliability, quoting AEE's Emilie Olson on what's next for negotiations. Read snippets below and the full article here.

Utility Dive summarized two CPUC grid proposals, quoting AEE's Noah Garcia on the state's power procurement. Read snippets below and the full article here.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has prepared two proposals for regulators to choose from to address the state's challenge of maintaining a reliable power grid after the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant and a suite of natural gas facilities are retired in the coming years.

Utility Dive covered a new UC Berkeley report concluding the U.S. could switch to 90% renewable energy by 2035, and create half a million jobs, referencing similar arguments that AEE and others delivered to Calif. leaders. Read excerpts below and the entire UD piece here. 

The U.S. can deliver 90% of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2035, according to a new report from the University of California, Berkeley, and experts say accelerating clean energy deployments could also play an important role in the country's economic recovery. Building out renewables to achieve this target will add more than 500,000 jobs per year as well as $1.7 trillion in investments into the economy, without raising customer bills, the report found...

Utility Dive covered Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak's signed executive order requiring state agencies to enact plans to limit greenhouse gas emissions across the state and included reaction by AEE's Sarah Steinberg. Read excerpts below and the entire UD piece here. This story was also covered by Smart Grid Today (sub. req.).

Sisolak has a growing record on climate-related issues; he was elected last year after supporting a 100% clean energy mandate for Nevada, and in March, the state officially joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, a group of 25 states that plan to reduce emissions 28% below 2005 levels by 2025. In April, the state passed a bill adopting a 50% renewable electricity target for 2030 and a 100% carbon-free electricity target for 2050.