Advanced Energy Perspectives

Advanced energy is making our grid more agile, modern, and interconnected. Beyond just corralling electrons, advanced energy technologies, when used together, are more than the sum of their parts: solar + storage, demand response + distributed generation. This week, one story that demonstrates this interconnection dominated the headlines in both the trade press and beyond – the merger between Tesla and SolarCity. And it seems all but a done deal.

This week in advanced energy we saw more news of utilities merging (or not) and issues facing a California utility looking to install EV charging infrastructure – or monopolize the EV charging market in Northern California, depending on your point of view. All that, plus an all-electric heavy urban transport truck from Mercedes-Benz in this week’s news round up.

Advanced energy is sweeping the nation. Between cheap natural gas and cheap renewable energy, electricity costs are falling. Where is the joy and jubilation? Plus, PACE is back and better than ever, re-opening opportunities for low and middle income homeowners to make their homes energy efficient and solar powered. It’s all good – and all thanks to advanced energy. Tooting our own horn? You bet! Read on. Here is this week’s big news.

This week's news includes some big news for the nascent American offshore wind industry and more calls for updates to the utility business model. Come along with us to the shores of Rhode Island for this week’s news round up.

This is the year, folks, it's finally happening! Offshore wind in the U.S.A.! Off the coast of Rhode Island, the Block Island project, which “broke water” last year, is set to install actual wind turbines that will actually deliver actual wind-generated electricity to the actual grid. This week GE Renewable Energy announced that the company is shipping five 6 MW offshore wind turbines to Rhode Island from the company’s manufacturing facility in France. From there, Deepwater Wind will install the turbines beginning in August, and voila! The race for offshore wind is over… or at least it has finally begun.

This week’s transportation news was a rollercoaster, which is ironic only because the only thing lacking was advanced trains. Instead, we’ve got a new (old) player vying for the title of top electric car magnate, plus solar panels on boats and planes and cars. Plus, the latest from the wild world of utility mergers. Please keep your hands and feet inside the moving vehicle – it’s this week’s news round up!