James Walker

Check out what Justin Spencer has to say about the potential impacts on energy efficiency of PJM's proposal to eliminate energy efficiency capacity payments. We hope the impacts are small, but there's plenty of cause for concern.

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Electricity demand in New England is growing and the region’s grid operator is considering a host of changes, including to its capacity market and how it will deal with potential energy shortfalls.

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Reconductoring could enable 764 GW of transmission-connected solar by 2035. (My latest for PV Magazine USA) Replacing existing transmission lines, known as conductors, with advanced conductors could enable 764 GW of transmission-connected solar by 2035 even if transmission in new corridors was limited, found a study by UC Berkeley and GridLab researchers. 3M CTC Global TS Conductor Amol Phadke #Reconductoring

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Thanks to PJM Interconnection teams for this insightful #RTEP report showcasing your strategy towards: ➡ optimizing infrastructure investment ➡ fostering transmission and #interconnection planning ➡ strengthening regional planning to benefit consumers #powergrids Manu Asthana

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DOE proposes ten “national interest” transmission corridors (my latest for PV Magazine USA) Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; one would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s #PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains.

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PJM issued a Hot Weather Alert with expected temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s over the next 10 days. To ensure grid reliability during this hot spell, the alert is in effect from June 17 through June 21, and may be extended based on updated forecasts. This alert prepares transmission and generation operators for significant increases in electricity demand. However, PJM Interconnection’s currently has the generation capacity and transmission capability to meet the expected demand on the system during the heat wave, but extended periods of extreme heat does have the potential to stress the electric system and cause reliability challenges. It's interesting to note that in comparison to 2023, on the solar side, the biggest projects include the 427 MW Fox Squirrel Solar Farm, 150 MW phase of the Fox Squirrel Solar Farm, which will have 577 MW of capacity once fully operational later this year, however, the 325 MW AEUG Union Solar Project in Union County, Ohio is expected to support the grid this summer. The 2023 Cumulative Capacity of the renewables in PJM was around 220,827 MW, and they plan to add over 10,000 MW in the following years wherein 95% of the projects are all renewable generation sources. Solar energy will definitely play a key role this summer.

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The Governor’s Energy Office today announced that Maine has joined a total of 10 Northeast states in signing a memorandum of understanding for improved regional planning of electricity transmission to create a stronger, more reliable, and more efficient grid and accelerate the clean energy transition. Other states joining the MOU include Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Improving interregional electricity transmission planning and coordination can stabilize energy costs by increasing access to affordable clean energy while bolstering grid reliability at times of high energy demand and improving resilience against extreme weather. https://lnkd.in/e8nWPhD4

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Regional solar policy news to know: #RhodeIsland incentivized energy storage; funding is available for #agrivoltaic demo projects in #NewYork; and the #Massachusetts senate has passed a bill that sets solar permitting deadlines for utilities and makes it easier to purchase electric vehicles. #SolarPolicy #RhodeIslandSolar #NewYorkSolar #MassachusettsSolar #KinectSolar

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Think Microgrid | State Scorecard 2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY "Microgrids have the potential to play a pivotal role at a transformative moment for the electric grid. As communities and consumers seek solutions for the resilience, climate and equity challenges they face, the combination of advanced technology and market interest provide the opportunity for the widespread commercialization of microgrids. The U.S. Department of Energy has advanced a vision that by 2035, microgrids will be the core building block of a transformed grid where 30-50% of electricity generation comes from distributed resources. This vision, however, is not inevitable and there remain potentially existential barriers to microgrid commercialization. Over the past two years, Think Microgrid has led conversations with regulators and industry stakeholders about how to best identify and characterize these opportunities and impediments. From these discussions, a robust and extensible methodology was articulated that considers policy and market conditions in each state across five critical dimensions – deployment, regulation, resilience, market access and equity. The resulting State Scorecard is at once disappointing and encouraging. On the one hand, only a few states receive even a “B” and far too many receive a “C” or “D”. On the other hand, the results suggest how states can proactively and creatively begin to immediately take action to reform outdated policies and collaboratively move toward the coordinated action that this moment deserves." Our Combined Heat and Power products are at the heart of a microgrid. Source: Think Microgrid Visit our website to learn more and to reserve your systems today: https://lnkd.in/e-EQSR8 #enginuitypowersystems #microgrid #simplyefficient #resiliency #naturalgas #propane #hydrogen #sustainablesolutions #sustainablesolution #privategeneration #cogeneration #worldcogenerationday Jacques Steve Vince Jay John Xochitl Datta Derek Dan James Brian Pinstripes Media

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The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has proposed significant final changes to its regulations for the Permanent Community Solar Program. These updates aim to enhance access and streamline processes for community solar projects across the state. In this alert, Dan Skowronski and Pamela Goodwin highlight the key changes to be aware of ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eyzSs94w #SolarEnergy #PublicUtilities

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@RenewableEnergyWorld reporting that community solar is advancing again in PA. Maybe it will finally pass this time? "On March 26, 2024, the Community Solar Act, HB 1842, was passed by vote of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and sent for consideration by the Senate. The Act establishes a third-party-owned community solar program in the Commonwealth. Under the legislation, community solar facilities must have a maximum nameplate capacity of 20 MW (AC) for facilities located on a brownfield or rooftop and 5 MW (AC) if located elsewhere. Community solar facilities cannot have any single offtaker with a subscription for more than 50% of the facility’s capacity or energy output, except for master-metered multifamily residential or commercial buildings. At least 50% of the facility’s subscribed capacity must be for subscriptions of 25 kW or less. Some or all of the facility’s generated electricity must be credited to subscribers’ electric bills to offset all charges except volumetric or demand-based distribution charges. Community solar facilities may be remotely located and are not required to provide energy serving on-site load." Read more at https://conta.cc/49SgukV #solar #energy #solarenergy #renewables #renewableenergy #electricity #energystorage #ESS #distributedenergy #sola

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🌞 Vermont adjusts net-metering rates! Starting August 1, 2024, new net-metering systems will see a small decrease in compensation while existing systems benefit from an increase. The update aims to balance renewable energy growth with cost-efficiency. ♻️ #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #VermontEnergy #NetMetering #Sustainability

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How will the EPA’s latest power plant emissions regulations affect consumers, particularly for states like New Hampshire that depend heavily on natural gas? CEA's Marc Brown tackles this question in Patch.com, discussing the troubling impact of the EPA's new regulations on power plants, particularly for states like New Hampshire that depend heavily on natural gas, a critical #PermanentPower source 🏭💡 Marc warns that these regulations could jeopardize the stability and affordability of the state's power grid, threatening consumer access to affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy🔌 Dive into the details and learn about the potential repercussions for New Hampshire's energy future ⬇ #EnergyPolicy #NaturalGas #NewHampshireEnergy #PermanentPower

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It’s cheap, it’s plentiful, it’s renewable: The solar energy story | In the latest episode of New England Today, Richard talks to Meralli Solar's David Mailler about renewable energy, the people that are the most important part of any project, and why your power bill isn't going down. #newswithoutpaywalls #hyperlocal #newengland #netimes #News

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Our Jennifer Danis has offered some thoughts on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's soon-to-be-finalized transmission rule and the role that modeling should play in grid expansion planning. Read the full blog here ⬇ https://lnkd.in/g-_AP37S

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