The 2015 New York State Energy Plan (SEP), released on June 25, 2015, provides a roadmap to advance the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative, which seeks to transform New York’s utility regulatory structure by integrating greater levels of distributed energy resources (DER) and empowering customers with better energy management options. Unveiled in April 2014,… Keep reading →
A groundbreaking, just-filed blueprint to bring distributed solar, batteries, EVs and more into billion-dollar grid investment plans. Two years ago, California told its three big investor-owned utilities to do something they’ve never done before — make distributed energy resources (DERs for short) a fundamental part of their billion-dollar distribution grid investment plans. Under state law… Keep reading →
President Obama has committed the United States to the goal of generating 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. “This would nearly triple the amount of wind- and solar-generated electricity on the national grid. The EPA ran afoul of the law by failing to conduct a cost-benefit analysis before it acted to reduce… Keep reading →
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR, is a complex of four locations that stockpile emergency oil in deep underground storage caverns created in salt domes along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coasts. Although the idea of stockpiling emergency oil arose as early as 1944, it took the oil embargo of 1973-74 to spur the creation… Keep reading →
This weekend our country celebrates 239 years of independence, as well as our collective belief in equality and unalienable rights – enumerated in the Declaration of Independence as “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Heading into Independence Day 2015, it’s fitting to draw some connections between American energy and American life, liberty and the… Keep reading →
A more informed utility is a smarter utility. One way that utilities are getting more informed is the use of predictive analytics developed for Adaptive Planning solutions. As the concepts involved with Adaptive Planning are embraced by the industry, utilities will find a better understanding of their asset management programs and improved operational strategies. “Adaptive… Keep reading →
The Vatican may consider divesting its holdings in fossil fuels without a categorical commitment, a Catholic church official has stated, despite Pope Francis’s call for bold action to fight climate change and global warming. “The statement – made at a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the pope’s recently released encyclical on the environment –… Keep reading →
The energy industry – oil & gas sector in particular – is bracing itself for a massive wave of retirements over the short to medium term, which has been dubbed “The Great Shift Change.” As the industry prepares for this turnover, companies are looking to the next generation of candidates with skills ranging from finance, geology,… Keep reading →
Last week we looked at the potential impacts on domestic energy production and U.S. households of two approaches to energy policy described in Wood Mackenzie’s new study. Today, let’s focus on jobs. Again, here’s Wood Mackenzie’s overview chart showing, side-by-side, the effects of pro-development energy policies (green column) and regulatory-constrained policies (red column): Note the… Keep reading →
The Supreme Court dealt a major blow for clean energy companies by voting against mercury regulations as part of the Clean Air Act. “The Supreme Court ruled Monday the EPA has to factor in the costs of regulations aimed at curtailing mercury and other toxins from coal-burning power plants. Shares of the iShares Global Clean… Keep reading →
