Advanced Energy Perspectives

Actual peak load forcast in Massachusetts in 2015 was 12,287 MW. Photo: Boston from above via Robbie Shade.

Demand for electricity can spike during just a few hours a year, and typically 10 percent of our electric system capacity is built to meet demand in just 1 percent of hours during the year. This comes at a significant cost to consumers. Last week, Advanced Energy Economy released a new report, “Peak Demand Reduction Strategy,” showing that states that implement peak demand programs can significantly reduce costs for customers, strengthen reliability of electric service, and ease compliance with EPA’s Clean Power Plan. The day before, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that will determine whether the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has authority to regulate payments for demand response, a primary mechanism for reducing peak demand. In all, it was a big week for efforts to get spikes in electricity demand under control.

The future is a world of electric vehicles, from cars without drivers to scrambles for charging stations – but the transition is not without friction. Buckle up for a ride with Tesla’s Autopilot. Plus, on offshore wind, New Jersey tangles things up once again. The news this week is a mix of futuristic technology and old-fashioned bureaucracy as advanced energy breaks through.

Ending the longest legislative session in 13 years, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned on Wednesday, Sept. 30. It was a busy, and contentious, session for the advanced energy industry, and results were mixed. Due to the tireless efforts of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA), AEE’s partner in the Tar Heel State, the state’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiently Portfolio Standard remains intact. But a tax credit that has made North Carolina a national leader in solar power development was allowed to lapse after this year.

Another giant of industry has gone all-in on advanced energy, this one a company that will be on both sides of the transactions. In an op-ed in the New York Times published last week, CEO John Kaesser announced that Siemens A.G. would incorporate a variety of advanced energy generation technologies and energy efficiency measures to completely eliminate or offset CO₂ emissions by 2030. This would make Siemens both a supplier of advanced energy products and a customer making full use of them to meet the company’s energy needs. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.

Straight out of August recess, Congress wasted no time to making national headlines. The District was abuzz with votes on the Iran nuclear deal, a visit from Pope Francis, and a potential government shutdown – which the surprise resignation of Speaker John Boehner helped to avert. Despite all the attention of these events, the House Energy and Commerce committee continued its efforts to enact sweeping energy legislation. As predicted, however, the committee turned once-unanimous agreement into a mostly party-line vote.