Ana Almerini, M.A.

Very, very useful analysis. In addition to the main headline that no plan out of the 26 submitted National Energy and Climate Plans is fully compliant with the new #EED requirements..."Only Cyprus and Poland provide a precise quantification of the energy savings to be achieved among #vulnerable customers and people affected by #energypoverty." Clearly A LOT more work to do to make sure the potential of the EED to alleviate energy poverty is realised.

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Exciting new report by my ACEEE teammates Emily Garfunkel and Mike Waite identifying building performance standards (BPS) as a ready opportunity for utility code programs. BPS could have enormous impact given that they apply to existing buildings, which are responsible for a much greater share of energy consumption than new buildings (the main focus of code programs). Utilities can already get credit for advancing or implementing codes in 14 states plus DC. Ten of those states are now in the process or have adopted BPS. Utilities can help with adoption or implementation, but as the paper points out, states must set up a way for utilities to get credit for BPS so they can participate and help transform existing buildings!

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The ongoing feud between Connecticut utilities and their regulators has spilled over into the state’s efforts to implement performance-based regulation (PBR) for its electric utilities. PBR essentially covers to efforts to better align the profit incentives for utilities, which have regulated monopolies, with state policy goals. PBR mechanisms can be used to better-incentivize affordability, resilience, distributed energy deployment, and electrification. I spoke with a whole bunch of people about what the fight in Connecticut could mean for the state's clean energy transition, and whether it will influence PBR in other states. While the utilities are concerned that they will not be able to recover a reasonable rate of return on their investments in the new proposed framework, consumer and environmental advocates have argued that these concerns are overblown. Read the full story here at RTO Insider LLC https://lnkd.in/eYgeCEWN

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Check out Solar Oregon’s Green Energy Series #17: Building Resilient Community Microgrids with Mayfield Renewables - free webinar reviewing how to build a more energy efficient home on June 1.

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First Unitil proposed a lower price for heat pump users, and now National Grid will be doing the same thing. That will mean close to 1.5 million households with access to discounts for using heat pumps. My latest for the Energy News Network.

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First Solar released its 2024 Sustainability Report this morning, which breaks new ground on highlighting the increasing need to clean up global manufacturing supply chains and the virtues of First Solar’s vertically integrated domestic manufacturing and recycling base.  Most interestingly, the report highlights recent findings that if the global solar industry maintains the “status quo”, emissions from #PV manufacturing will surpass aluminum manufacturing emissions, currently the fourth most emissions intensive commodity, by 2040. When considering that we will likely need millions of #solar panels to meet our climate goals, how and where we manufacture can make or break our climate efforts.  Check out our release and the report below 👇 https://lnkd.in/ezM5rPjn

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📣 Looking forward to attending VCM Day at New York Climate Week on September 25 where we'll be talking about how to unlock the potential of voluntary carbon markets to mobilize much needed climate finance, and deliver real impact. Co-hosted by VCMI, The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) and GCMU, this event will bring together high-level leaders to address the critical role of #VCMs in bridging the gap between the goals of the Paris Agreement and the current trajectory of global emissions. 🌍 Organizations including WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development, US ETA, We Mean Business Coalition, Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) and GenZero will host sessions that explore current challenges, and real-world solutions, including the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in a reformed #VCM, corporate best practice for tackling Scope 3 emissions, managing risk in nature-based solutions, demand scenarios, and more. The event will include insights from those pledging to step up, debate on what’s getting in the way, and agreements on how to make progress quickly. 🖇 Read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/eqrC3H_2 #ClimateAction #VoluntaryCarbonMarkets #NetZero #Sustainability #ClimateWeekNYC

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🎉This is big news indeed! An effective community solar bill in Pennsylvania would free the state up even further around meeting the goals set by the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards. https://hubs.li/Q02s-51N0 #PoweringTheEnergyTransformation #communitysolar #commercialsolar #asset-acquisition

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Countries must enact policies for a balanced energy mix of #Clean, #Green, #Affordable, and #Modern #EnergySources, with #Hydropower crucial to achieving #TriplingRenewables by 2030. The International Energy Agency (IEA)’s new report highlights the need for actionable roadmaps to meet these targets. Bizbell Bizbell Ventures Hydro Village Nepal Portfolio Energy Sushmit Energy #sustainablehydropower #renewableenergy #renewables #resources #growth #development #opportunities #3XRenewableswithHydropower

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If you want VPP - ‘virtual power plants,’ first define them ... Clarity around terminology and end goals can break through years of policy inertia. After a period of relatively slow growth, virtual power plants are having a moment. A recent Brattle Group study finds VPPs could save California consumers over a half-billion dollars per year. PJM mostly finalized its VPP rules in late 2023, shortly after the Department of Energy’s “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff” report offered a U.S. roadmap for VPP deployment. Every other week, it seems, there’s news about a successful VPP pilot or financing for a new large VPP project. The discourse around VPPs is broken Virtual power plants are aggregations of distributed energy resources that can function as a single resource to provide certain services associated with traditional power plants. And while it’s a virtue that VPPs can include diverse resources and offer a variety of services, their complexity has often hindered policymaking efforts. Level 1 VPP: Utility program where individual DERs respond to utility signals to provide grid services. (Examples: Massachusetts’ Connected Solutions program and California’s Demand Side Grid Support program.) Level 2 VPP: DERs are aggregated into a “fleet” that responds as one resource to a utility’s call for grid services. (Example: SunRun VPPs in contracts with PG&E and California Community Choice Aggregators.) Level 3 VPP: DERs are aggregated into a “fleet” that operates as one resource in a wholesale market while staying coordinated with the local distribution utility. The fleet and individual DERs may also provide retail market services. (Example: FERC Order 2222 aggregations, when they appear.) Again, the purpose of defining terms like “virtual power plant” — or “energy storage,” “resilience,” etc. — isn’t to uncover some sort of existential truth about these resources. Nor is it to constrain anyone’s marketing efforts — go ahead and call your VPP offering whatever you want. Patented TNi Energy-BESS, we've innovated a groundbreaking method that repurposes recycled lead-acid batteries, extending their life span to 20 years for energy storage purposes. Previously, the industry lacked a safe and environmentally conscious alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, our patented proprietary technique reveals that lead-acid batteries are not only safer but also 50-60% more cost-effective than their hazardous counterparts. #TNiEnergy, #nebulositycloud, #BESS, #C3Energy, #Energy, #ZEROemmissions, #ZEROcarbonfootprint, #energytransistion, #LeadAcid Battery, #windpower, #solarpower, #VPP, #MicroGrid, #DERM

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As New England strides towards a greener future, balancing peak winter energy demands with renewable resources remains a challenge. The ISO's latest analysis highlights that while wind and solar power are increasing, their reliance on weather conditions introduces variability to the grid. The region will require dispatchable and zero-carbon generation, including long-duration storage that will aid in lofty demands during passing cold snaps. Read more here: https://ow.ly/keSK50Tgkeo

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As society continues to navigate 🗺 the complex journey toward a #sustainable future, understanding the unseen impacts of #grid congestion is critical. A recent article by Latitude Media based on recent report by REsurety, supported by The Johns Hopkins University , Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and WattTime.org sheds light 💡 on a reality that’s often overlooked: the #emissions impact tied to congested ⚡power grids⚡ is bigger than we think 🧠 . In a 🌎 #world pushing toward #decarbonization, every setback matters. Grid congestion isn’t just an operational challenge; it’s an #environmental one. When #renewable #energy sources are unable to reach demand due to these constraints, #fossilfuels fill the ➡gap⬅. This means that despite our #investments in clean energy, congestion on the grid could be undermining our #progress in making #shift happen. At Akamai Technologies, we recognize the importance of addressing this issue and view it as an #opportunity to enhance our #sustainability efforts. We are committed to not only sourcing renewable energy but also applying it as effectively as possible across our global operations. By collaborating closely with our partners to tackle energy #infrastructure challenges, we strive to #reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to amplify the positive impact of our renewable energy initiatives. 📌 📌 #TheBrassTacks: Grid optimization is a shared responsibility. 📌 📌 👉 #JoinUs in pushing for policies, building stronger partnerships, and developing innovations that ensure renewable energy can flow where it’s needed. Together, we can turn these invisible barriers into catalysts for a #cleaner, #greener 🌳 future. ⏬ #BottomLine: Every step toward an un-congested grid brings us closer to a truly #sustainable world. 🌱

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☀ What causes heat waves?  🌞 How do heat waves impact demand and renewable energy production? 💲 How should extreme events be accounted for in power price forecasts? Learn the answers from REsurety's Jessica Tomaszewski, PhD in this blog post - Hot Grid Summer: Insights Gained from the 2023 ERCOT Heat Event. Summer is well underway across the United States, ushering in another year of heat and drought. The National Weather Service has issued over 4,800 excessive heat warnings nationwide this summer, invoking memories of the anomalous heat many parts of the country experienced just a year ago. The state of Texas notably experienced its second-warmest summer on record in 2023, with an average temperature over 85°F, four degrees warmer than the 20th century average. Energy demand and power prices soared alongside the temperatures – all variables that can be difficult to predict and prepare for without the right tools and data. We at REsurety are reaffirming our commitment to data-driven practices and are reflecting on the insights gained from the summer of 2023 in order to best understand and predict heat waves’ impacts on the electrical grid in 2024 and beyond. Continue reading the blog post: https://lnkd.in/gnmy5zFb #cleanenergy

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🌐 Exciting news from the Northeast US!  University at Albany and University of Connecticut are joining forces to fortify Northeast US grid resilience against extreme weather. 🌩️ Funded by the Department of Energy, these projects aim to enhance grid resilience through cutting-edge modelling and risk assessment tools. UAlbany will analyze climate trends, while UConn focuses on outage prediction models to recommend resilient solutions. "This partnership will drive advancements in energy industry reliability amidst climate challenges," highlighted Chris Thorncroft, Director at UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center. Emphasizing the impact on clean energy, Professor Anagnostou Emmanouil from UConn stated, "As we face escalating climate risks, enhancing grid resilience is vital for accelerating clean energy adoption." Supported by Maria Robinson from the DOE, these initiatives are part of a broader effort to secure grid resilience funding and promote sustainable energy solutions. Managed by ENERGYWERX, this partnership aims to expedite the deployment of clean energy technologies. Together, let's build a resilient energy future! 💡🌍 #GridResilience #CleanEnergyFuture #ClimateAction #ResearchPartnerships https://lnkd.in/g-MeQMX2

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Starts tomorrow, last chance to register! New course focusing on Distributional Equity Analysis with Quinn Parker, CDP, Alice Napoleon, and Jasmine McAdams. Many states and utilities are looking for ways to account for energy equity when deciding whether and how utilities should support DERs. This multi-day course will describe how distributional equity analysis (DEA) can be used in conjunction with benefit-cost analyses (BCA) to assess the equity impacts of distributed energy resources (DERs). https://lnkd.in/ensJKFyR

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🌍 Must Read: Dialogue NOT Disinformation Should Lead in the Climate Transition 🔋 Setting the Record Straight on Energy Storage and Clean Energy Costs by Francis Pullaro, President of RENEW Northeast, and Joe Curtatone, President of ACT | The Alliance for Climate Transition, is a powerful op-ed in Commonwealth Magazine, which addresses the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance’s alarmist claims about the just-passed energy storage legislation. As Massachusetts navigates a critical transition to a modern, clean energy grid, honest, fact-based dialogue is essential. Key points from the op-ed: ✔️ Energy Storage Saves Money: Strategic investments in energy storage reduce grid congestion, prevent wasted renewable energy, and lower long-term system costs for ratepayers. ✔️ Public Health & Equity: By displacing fossil-fueled peaker plants in vulnerable communities, energy storage cuts harmful emissions, addressing longstanding health and economic inequities. ✔️ Winter Reliability: Far from leaving us “freezing,” storage enhances energy security and reduces dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets. Any honest discussion of energy costs must include the cost of inaction. Failing to invest in clean energy infrastructure will perpetuate reliance on expensive, polluting fossil fuels, leaving taxpayers to bear the financial and human costs of climate disasters, increased healthcare expenses, and food system disruptions caused by extreme weather. The costs of wildfires, floods, and droughts—all exacerbated by climate change—are already being paid by Massachusetts residents in real dollars and lost jobs. Massachusetts has always been a leader in innovation. Let’s ensure we continue to make data-driven decisions to build a sustainable and equitable energy future. 📖 Read the full op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/ejqNGN4R #CleanEnergy #EnergyStorage #ClimateAction #GridModernization #Massachusetts #Sustainability #ACT

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