Ty Fenton

Today MAREC Action Executive Director Evan Vaughan is offering public testimony on HB 2277, which would codify Governor Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS).    MAREC Action views HB2277 as a strong piece of legislation - it represents the single largest new market opportunity for energy investment currently under consideration by any state legislature in PJM. Through HB2277, Pennsylvania has an opportunity to diversify its electricity mix with clean and reliable energy storage projects paired with wind or solar.    MAREC Action is strongly supportive of the inclusion of energy storage in Tier 2 under HB2277. One note of concern about the legislation, however, is the strict limitations placed on regional market participants. The legislation as introduced prohibits any regionally sited clean energy projects larger than 150 MW from being able to participate in the Pennsylvania clean energy market. Leveraging the regional market for a portion of Pennsylvania’s electricity supply results in greater competition and the best outcomes for consumers. MAREC Action looks forward to continuing its work with the Pennsylvania General Assembly as the legislation moves forward.   For more information check out the link below: https://lnkd.in/e5_xNBuu

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What a great program from GridLab. Taking the plunge into entrepreneurship can be daunting. Don’t let the fear win out. Support like this in the beginning is a great way to help with the transition. Kudos to GridLab

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📈 Corporate PPA activity in the ERCOT market has reached 1.8 GW, YTD 2024. Data from the Enerdatics Energy Transition PPA database indicates that ERCOT has seen ~1.8 GW in corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) since the start of 2024, constituting over 60% of the U.S. total. 💡 Tech giant Microsoft leads the way, having secured ~800 MW across three deals. Meanwhile, new entrants such as UnitedHealth Group, Sonoco, and AdventHealth are also stepping up their sustainability efforts. 🏆 Key Suppliers Making Waves: > Regional Leaders: Primergy, Leeward Renewable, Scout Clean Energy > International Players: Orsted, ENGIE 🤝 Positive PPA negotiations in ERCOT are driven by the market's lower land and interconnection costs, which help mitigate higher interest rates and supply chain issues. 🌟 Top Deals to Note: > Microsoft and Primergy Solar: 408 MW from Ash Creek solar project > Hyundai and Matrix Renewables: 147 MW (Hyundai’s first U.S. PPA) > RTX and ENGIE: ~38 MW from Priddy wind project #CorporatePPA #ERCOT #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #Microsoft #Hyundai #RTX #ENGIE #Orsted #Primergy #LeewardRenewable #ScoutCleanEnergy #UnitedHealthGroup #Sonoco #AdventHealth

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As the push for renewable energy accelerates, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is poised to inject $7 billion into the development of rooftop solar, community solar farms, and energy storage through “Solar for All” grants. These investments are crucial for expanding solar energy access, decarbonizing the grid, and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. #renewables #power #energy #wind #offshore #onshore #solar #hydropower #floating #nuclear #geothermal #efficiency #transition #susteinability #circular #economy #esg #clean #decarbonization #electrification #climate #hydrogen #mobility #greensteel #ammonia #transportation #storage #fuelcell #smartgrid #der #powersystem #generation #transmission #distribution #electricity #machines #drives #sensors #iot #education #engineering #innovation #entrepreneurship #creativity #technology #digitalization #cybersecurtity #metering

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Nice interview on DERMS with ComEd’s Shikhar Pandey!

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Progress in the next 10 years is "critical," per BloombergNEF, to unlock renewable resource interconnection and achieve net-zero 2050 goals. Including a tripling of renewables buildout by 2030. We see from the interconnection queues that a large portion of these new resources will be solar #PV and battery energy storage systems #BESS (as well as notable increases in wind). All these technologies are inverter-based resources (#IBR) that will have a significant impact on how the grid is planned, designed, engineered, and operators. #IBRs change the fundamental characteristics, including stability, of the bulk power system. It is imperative that we collectively tackle forward-looking challenges proactively rather than waiting for reliability risks to emerge and acting reactively. Given the rapid pace of change, we need quick action that 1) balances limitations of the existing resource base and system, 2) fully leverages the technology of newly connecting resources (e.g., IEEE 2800-2022, grid forming, etc.), and 3) drives long-term wholistic grid planning solutions with adequate near term multi-value projects (e.g., grid-enhancing technologies #GETs, advanced conductors, etc.). #energytransition #gridtransformation #gridreliability #gridstability #standards #transmissionplanning #ibr #solar #bess Elevate Energy Consulting Source: https://lnkd.in/grKkZ_TP

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Capacity market prices for energy in PJM surged, signaling a crucial demand for additional generation. PJM Interconnection's footprint is set to allocate $14.7 billion for capacity in the 2025/26 delivery year, a substantial rise from $2.2 billion in the previous auction. Stay informed about the energy sector's evolving landscape: [Link to the article] #EnergyMarket #CapacityAuction #PJMInterconnection

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Via ESN: " Dominion Energy Virginia IRP includes 12GW of solar PV, 4.5GW energy storage: US utility Dominion Energy Virginia has outlined options for meeting future power demand, including an additional 12GW of PV and 4.5GW of battery storage. " #EnergyStorage #Energy #BatteryStorage

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We recently contributed to Tierra Climate's paper: Supercharging Battery Economics, Shrinking Emissions - along with WattTime.org, Grid Status, and MODOENERGY. The study provides a detailed assessment of the economic and environmental performance of the ERCOT fleet updated for the latest market changes in 2023. Layering on carbon contracts, Tierra Climate concludes energy storage assets could meaningfully reduce carbon emissions on the electricity grid. You can download the paper here: https://lnkd.in/gGC-6rQz #cleanenergy

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File under: energy regulatory observations, #RTO #complaints / #waivers when there are #tariff issues that don't make sense. I read a fair number of daily orders from / filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and this granting of a complaint against PJM stood out as a quick one to highlight for a few reasons. First, the level of tax-codification (like Shakespeare, I'll invent the words I need) that RTO tariffs have undergone. Read the intro paragraph of the order capturing the crux of the issue. My goodness. I cover issues across ISOs/RTOs from PJM, to NYISO, CAISO, and of course ISO-NE as well non-888/2000 regions like BPA and public utility districts and everyone has their own rules. For companies doing business in the US (which, for example, is common with generation, transmission developers, and large loads), it's like needing to be fluent in several languages. Observation: no wonder #FERC has some aspirations to more standardized language to at least create a bit of standardization in the tariff tower of Babel. Second, the complaint as a consensus tool. It's human nature to want to be right. Evolutionary, it's a mark of power. And power means safety. Humans are wired that way for survival, and it takes some self-awareness and reflection to engage the rational cortex over the non-verbal and much older limbic system and to hit the pause button to a challenge. The term "complaint" doesn't always help and neither does the "party v. party" case caption. The whole structure connotes conflict. Here, Dominion filed a waiver with a complaint in the alternative because PJM interpreted its tariff to not allow for a resource submission given a change in entity type. But instead of simply defending the tariff, PJM acknowledged the issue and supported a fix if the also supported waiver wasn't granted. FERC granted the complaint to fix the issue generally rather than a one off. While the stakeholder process - and all the interests that are encompassed therein - can make agreement to a change like this more difficult, the complaint and waiver processes are paths that can and should be used especially where time matters. One of the most critical things for those administering the rules to understand is: a delay is not harmless, a "comeback next time" is not without victims. Many projects have to have all elements align to move forward. Other issues may be more durable but can add needless costs to consumers, and those add up. This "how can we work with parties" approach is great to see and hopefully we'll see more of it. From capacity markets to interconnections, there is a lot of room for win-wins. Also, great to see Commissioner Rosner's name on these. #energy

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Feed-in-Tariff programs for promoting Renewable Energy (RE) are becoming less relevant as RE now constitutes a significant portion of the energy mix and influences wholesale market prices. This shift could render some utility-scale projects, both RE and conventional, economically nonviable. To keep these projects competitive and maintain their environmental benefits, new revenue sources must be explored. These could include leveraging social sustainability through tourism, cultural integration, and complementary product production, depending on local conditions. Capacity payments for allowing utilities to draw power from RE plants could provide additional financial stability, complementing income from electricity sales and societal benefits. #Research #RE #ClimateChange

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The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) Q3 2024 edition of the 50 States of Power Decarbonization has just been released! The report finds that 47 states, including D.C. and Puerto Rico, took a total of 344 actions related to electric power decarbonization and resource planning during the quarter. See the press release at https://lnkd.in/ePsxncae and purchase the full report at https://lnkd.in/ddAeQt4 #power #decarbonization #powerdecarb #50states #resourceplanning

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At the end of April, the EIA released a snapshot of wind-generated electricity use and development from 2010 to 2023. The data reveal some intriguing insights, relevant not only to ERCOT's constituents but nationwide. Despite over 6 GW of new installations, wind-generated electricity in 2023 reached an eight-year low—the first decline since the mid-1990s. The EIA identifies several potential contributing factors: "The 2023 decline in wind generation indicates that wind as a generation source is maturing after decades of rapid growth. Slower wind speeds than usual affected wind generation in 2023, particularly during the first half of the year, when wind generation dropped by 14% compared to the same period in 2022. Wind speeds increased later in 2023, and wind generation from August through December was 2.4% higher than during the same period in 2022. Wind speeds had been stronger than usual during 2022." It's important to note the comment, "slower wind speeds than normal affected wind generation in 2023..." This suggests that grid planners, who rely on historical data to anticipate grid supply, can sometimes be caught off guard when Mother Nature deviates from the norm. Businesses, especially those with large industrial loads, need to closely monitor how renewables are integrated into their specific power suppliers/grids due to the significant secondary and tertiary impacts on their daily operations. In ERCOT, wind and solar generation are crucial components of grid planning and real-time operations. However, when forecasts fail, the planned supply can be quickly depleted, and reserve margins become vulnerable. For example, in the last two weeks of April, wholesale energy prices spiked at $4500/MWh on two separate occasions due to demand exceeding the forecasted and planned supply at peak times (late afternoon when people return home). Often, the shortfall in actual wind and solar generation compared to the planned supply makes the grid highly vulnerable, increasing the risk of power outages and, in extreme cases, rolling blackouts. Lastly, Texas accounts for 28% of the nation’s wind-generated electricity. One might think this gives us an advantage. However, especially in the Texas Triangle of San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston—where population centers and the greatest demand for power are growing—this is not necessarily the case. Most of Texas' existing and new wind-generated electricity is produced in West Texas, creating a geographical imbalance that is challenging to manage, particularly with aged transmission and distribution infrastructure. Read more here: https://buff.ly/4dFGvXN If you're looking for tailored solutions to manage your energy needs, RPower is here to help. Visit us at https://rpower1.com for more information. #RPower1 #WindEnergy #RenewableEnergy #ERCOT #EnergyCrisis #SustainableEnergy #EnergyManagement #PowerGrid #TexasEnergy #WindPower

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Read our latest blog: $150 Billion Blackout Crisis: The Urgent Need for Grid Resilience Power outages are more than just an inconvenience; they represent a staggering $150 billion annual hit to American businesses. As climate change intensifies, these disruptions are becoming more frequent, exposing the vulnerabilities of our aging grid infrastructure. The time to act is now. Microgrids offer a powerful solution, allowing businesses to break free from the failures of an outdated grid. With localized control, renewable integration, and enhanced reliability, microgrids not only protect your operations from blackouts but also reduce energy costs and contribute to a sustainable future. At ClimaFi, we're at the forefront of this transformation, designing tailored microgrid solutions that ensure your business remains resilient, operational, and profitable, even when the grid fails. Don’t wait for the next outage to impact your bottom line. Learn how ClimaFi can help you armor against grid failures and secure your business's future. #grid #gridfailure #blackout #powerfailure #resiliency #microgrid #climafi #sustainability #cleanenergy #hurricane #flashflood #fire

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