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Diverse Coalition Urges California Leaders to Reject Proposals to Cut Clean Energy Programs

Posted by Caroline Grace on Aug 21, 2024

Organizations classify cuts to SGIP, SOMAH, and CalSHAPE as short-sighted decision that would exacerbate costs

SACRAMENTO, CA – California decision-makers are considering cuts to key energy programs that benefit school children, low-income communities, and California ratepayers. In response, a coalition of more than 25 clean energy, environmental, education, and affordable housing organizations submitted a letter calling on state leaders to reject potential cuts to the California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency (CalSHAPE) program, the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), and the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program.

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Topics: State Policy, Press Releases, Energy Efficiency, California

Renewable Energy World: "It is Unacceptable”: Maryland Legislators React to PJM Price Increases

Posted by Paul Gerke on Aug 21, 2024

Renewable Energy World reports Maryland State Senator Ron Watson and five state delegates released a joint statement condemning the recent spikes in electricity prices within the PJM territory. The article cites United’s Generator Interconnection Scorecard, which assigned PJM with a “D-,” one of the worst scores across the nation, for its management of generation interconnection.

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Topics: Wholesale Markets, United In The News, Maryland

Maryland Legislators Respond to Potential Massive Utility Rate Increase 

Posted by Savannah Gribbins on Aug 16, 2024

Electricity capacity prices skyrocketed 900% in latest auction 

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Today, Maryland State Senator Ron Watson and Maryland Delegates Adrian Boafo, Lorig Charkoudian, David Fraser-Hidalgo, and Natalie Ziegler released a joint statement on the skyrocketing electricity prices announced last week byMaryland’s electric grid operator, PJM. Prices in its annual capacity auction rose over 900 percent, from $28.92 per megawatt-day to $269.92. The price increase was most significant in Maryland, rising to $466.35. Next June, most Maryland ratepayers will likely see electricity bill increases well over 30 percent.  

These prices are driven in large part by the grid operator’s years-long issues in getting more generating resources connected to the grid. At the end of 2023, PJM had 3,309 projects – mostly solar and battery storage – waiting to connect to the grid and provide cheaper power to the region. PJM earned a national-worst “D-” in a recent scorecard from Advanced Energy United of all grid operator interconnection processes earlier this year, with developers forced to wait longer in PJM than any other region in the country. These clean energy projects together have enough capacity to replace all the generation currently operating in the PJM system, even after planned fossil fuel plant retirements. Because of this backlog, new renewable projects cannot even apply to bring power to Maryland consumers until 2026.  

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Topics: Advanced Transportation, Press Releases, Transmission, Maryland

CAISO Approves Step 1 of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative Straw Proposal

Posted by Caroline Grace on Aug 13, 2024

Approval marks a significant development for the West, says Advanced Energy United

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) approved the first step of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative’s straw proposal. Step 1 of the straw proposal increases the independence of the existing CAISO real-time and day-ahead markets’ governance by providing more autonomy to the existing Western Energy Market Governing Body.

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Topics: Wholesale Markets, Press Releases, Leah Rubin Shen, Western RTO, California

New Study Demonstrates Critical Need for a Substantial Energy Storage Program to Meet Future Energy Demands in Illinois

Posted by Rory Coleman on Aug 12, 2024

CHICAGO, IL – Without rapid investments in clean energy storage, Illinois consumers will pay up to $30 more per month for energy, and the state will face energy shortfalls and a higher risk of blackouts, according to a newly released study.

The study, “Cost and Benefit Analysis of Energy Storage Resource Deployment in Illinois,” found that deploying at least 8,500 MW of clean energy storage would provide $3 billion in consumer cost savings, save $7.3 billion in blackout-related costs through increased grid reliability, and generate up to $16.3 billion in economic activity in Illinois by 2050.

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Topics: Press Releases, Illinois

The Nevada Independent: Can Permitting Reform Turn Nevada Into The Next 'Energy Highway?'

Posted by Gabby Birenbaum on Aug 10, 2024

United’s Emilie Olson and Harry Godfrey talk to The Nevada Independent about the bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act and highlight how it aims to streamline permitting processes for energy projects in Nevada. 

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Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Harrison Godfrey, Emilie Olson, Nevada

East Bay Times: Bay Area Faces Another Affordability Crisis, This Time With Natural Gas

Posted by Leah Rubin Shen on Aug 9, 2024

In an opinion piece for The East Bay Times, United's Leah Rubin Shen discusses the looming energy affordability crisis in California due to rising natural gas bills, urging state lawmakers to take decisive action for a sustainable energy transition. 

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Topics: United In The News, Leah Rubin Shen, California

Canary Media: New England Grid Gets $389M Boost to Help Plug in Offshore Wind

Posted by Hannah Chanatry on Aug 8, 2024

Canary Media covers the recent U.S. Department of Energy funding allocated from Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program to New England states, which will revolutionize offshore wind development. The article quotes United's Jeremy McDiarmid, who emphasizes the importance of improving the power grid to meet the increasing load growth demands.

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Topics: United In The News, Offshore Wind, Transmission, New England

The Boston Globe: More Federal Money Coming to Help Green New England’s Energy Grid

Posted by Jon Chesto on Aug 6, 2024

The Boston Globe covers the recent federal funding allocated to New England for grid upgrades to support clean energy goals. The article quotes United's Jeremy McDiarmid who highlights the importance of interstate cooperation, adding that state coordination should save money for New England ratepayers in the long run.

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Topics: United In The News, Massachusetts

Canary Media: Prices Just Spiked in the Biggest US Power Market. Blame the Grid Backlog.

Posted by Jeff St. John on Aug 6, 2024

Canary Media discusses a recent spike in electricity prices by PJM, the largest power market in the country. The article quotes United's Jon Gordon, who speaks to how PJM's interconnection queue delays are exacerbating market issues and negatively impacting energy costs.

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Topics: Wholesale Markets, United In The News, Jon Gordon