RI Climate Bill | Jump Ball | Reckoning
Happy Friday folks.
Here are a few interesting stories from this week.
Rhode Island lawmakers pass sweeping climate change bill, MassLive. Governor McKee says he’ll sign but as of the writing of this email he hadn’t yet done so.
For those of you who like detailed, wonky market stories there is news about a jump ball filing, NEPOOL pitches ISO-NE capacity market reforms aimed at boosting offshore wind, S&P Global Market Intelligence.
And on a subject that is likely to be important energy news going forward – transmission infrastructure – we have this from Politico Down to the wire: Biden’s green goals face a power grid reckoning.
That’s the recap. Enjoy the weekend and stay safe!
Climate Change
Biden’s Jobs Plan Is Also a Climate Plan. Will It Make a Difference?, New Yorker
Demand for climate grants outpaces funds, Salem News
Why the World Awaits Biden’s Pledge on Climate Change, Bloomberg Green
After passing a landmark climate law, Mass. officials now face the hard part: how to wean the state off fossil fuels, Boston Globe
CO2, methane emissions surged 2020 despite pandemic: NOAA, The Hill
Renewables/RGGI/TCI
For hydrogen to dominate the low-carbon world, batteries must fail, Renew Economy
Mass. Revokes Air Permit For Controversial Biomass Facility In Springfield, WBUR
Local governments set record for new renewable energy procurement in 2020, groups report, Utility Dive
How cities and counties can grow their clean energy profiles, Canary Media
Wind
NEPOOL pitches ISO-NE capacity market reforms aimed at boosting offshore wind, S&P Global Market Intelligence
US government agencies boosting offshore wind with financing, loan support, S&P Global Platts
Solar
The Subprime Solar Trap for Low-Income Homeowners, Bloomberg Green
Tesla continues beta-testing on live homeowners, moves to fifth version of integrated solar roof, Canary Media
Efficiency/Storage
DOE begins ‘repairing damage’ done by Trump to energy efficiency program, say advocates, Utility Dive
State of the Electric Utility 2021: Despite sharp drop, cost remains key obstacle to more storage, some say, Utility Dive
New York regulators have ‘effectively accelerated’ the state’s storage market, report finds, Utility Dive
EVs
Tesla praises, ConEd opposes different New York EV bills, Utility Dive
The Next Electric-Car Battery Champion Could Be European, Bloomberg Green
Buffett-Backed BYD’s Profit Surges 162% on Electric-Car Boom, Bloomberg Green
Volkswagen’s rebranding hoax could undermine marketer’s EV ambitions, Marketing Dive
Biden’s plan to rev up the electric car market is complicated by battery supplies, Washington Post
EV charging setup would cost Schneider, NFI more than 10 times annual fuel savings: study, Utility Dive
States, utilities must ensure equitable investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, new report warns, Utility Dive
Nuclear
‘Not bonkers’: Hydrogen could give US nuclear plants new lease on life, S&P Global
How Bill Gates’ company TerraPower is building next-generation nuclear power, CNBC
Natural Gas/Pipelines/Oil/Drilling
Gas industry says new rules not needed, Eagle Tribune
Massachusetts politicians push to shutter Weymouth gas compressor station after third unplanned release of gas, Boston Globe
Weymouth Compressor Reports Another ‘Unplanned’ Gas Release. Third Time In 8 Months, WBUR
As Texas Freeze Gas Bills Come Due, Cue Up the Lawsuits, Wall St. Journal
Sen. Markey reintroduces legislation to block infrastructure for exporting natural gas, Patriot Ledger
Granholm: American Jobs Plan will prioritize communities struggling with loss of coal, oil and gas jobs, Utility Dive
Market/Grid/Policy/Prices
New England power grid operator shelling out millions on salaries, Boston Herald
Down to the wire: Biden’s green goals face a power grid reckoning, Politico
Lawmakers in 20 States Introduce 69 Microgrid Bills, Microgrid Knowledge
NYPA officials detail work to be done during Northern New York Priority Transmission Project, NNY 360
State of the Electric Utility 2021: Gas doubts rise, DER focus wanes, and 5 other key takeaways, Utility Dive
Biden’s Grid Proposal May Be a Square Peg in a Round Hole, Wall St. Journal
State of the Electric Utility 2021: Utilities’ cybersecurity approach shows cause for concern, experts say, Utility Dive
Opinion
Why Are Oil Majors Investing In Offshore Wind,? Forbes.com
Municipal Light Plant elections loom large, CommonWealth Magazine
Plenty of low-hanging fruit: How FERC can catalyze transmission infrastructure, Utility Dive
Northeast Energy News 