Advanced Energy Perspectives

It’s been heartbreaking to witness the devastation in Texas, Florida, and now Puerto Rico, from the recent trio of deadly hurricanes pounding our shores, not to mention the impact on our island neighbors. This week’s tides carried in news reports of recovery but also about resilient technologies that helped keep power on and hastened the restoration of power. This deluge of examples demonstrates that preparedness and investment in advanced energy can help communities improve their resiliency in the face of catastrophic storms.

The usually sleepy month of August saw a flurry of activity around the build-out of plug-in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Duke Energy entered into a settlement agreement that, if approved by the Florida Public Service Commission, would result in the creation of an $8 million EV charging program. A settlement was also reached in an AEP rate case that, if approved by the Public Utility Commission of Ohio, will authorize a $10 million investment in charging infrastructure. Then there was Oregon, where separate settlement agreements were filed by PacifiCorp and Portland General that would include over $2 million (in PacifiCorp’s case) and just under $2 million (in Portland General’s case) to fund charging infrastructure. With models proliferating and costs coming down, is the charging station cavalry needed to keep these non-gas-powered vehicles moving finally on the way? An energy and mobility conference being held next week in Detroit may provide answers.

Block Island wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island, Luke H. Gordon ©2017.

This week in advanced energy news, it’s all about bigger, better, and cheaper! First, from the U.K., offshore wind prices so low they leave people used to traditional resources slack-jawed, plus a boost for U.S. solar as it reaches a 2020 cost goal three years ahead of schedule. Finally, GE decides it’s time for a bigger onshore turbine, and Anheuser-Busch buys enough wind to power 20 billion beers. Bottoms up!

Apex Clean Energy, a company headquartered in Charlottesville, is in the planning stages of its first Virginia wind farm.

Over the past four years, Virginians have seen the advanced energy industry grow, as it became a key priority for the McAuliffe Administration. The solar market grew from 18 MW installed in the Commonwealth in 2013 to over 200 MW today, with hundreds more on the way. Gov. McAuliffe also took executive and legislative action to improve the market for energy efficiency, and began regulatory initiatives to modernize the state’s grid with investment in advanced energy technologies. However, with Gov. McAuliffe’s term coming to an end and Election Day fewer than eight weeks away, voters (and the advanced energy industry) are asking how the next governor of Virginia will act on energy issues. Happily, both the Republican nominee – Ed Gillespie – and Democratic nominee – Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam – have announced policies to grow the advanced energy industry, shining a hopeful light in Virginia for what to expect for the next four years.

For several years now, we’ve seen advanced energy become the most cost-effective option for utilities. In 2013, Advanced Energy Perspectives first reported that a utility, Xcel Energy, planned to buy solar and wind because they cost less than any other generation resource. This week, Xcel Energy has done it again, this time retiring some older, more expensive power plants in the bargain. Duke Energy also made a major advanced energy announcement, and both energy storage and tidal generation reached new benchmarks. Just another week in the world of advanced energy.