The Trump administration on Wednesday completed one of its biggest rollbacks of environmental rules, replacing a landmark Obama-era effort that sought to wean the nation’s electrical grid off coal-fired power plants and their climate-damaging pollution. Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist, signed a replacement rule that gives states leeway in […]
New York nears passage of aggressive law to fight climate change
NEW YORK : New York state lawmakers could pass as early as Wednesday one of the nation’s most ambitious plans to slow climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. That would make it the second U.S. state to aim for a carbon-neutral economy, following an executive order signed by former California […]
Duke Energy Renewables’ largest solar project now online in California
– 150 MW North Rosamond solar project achieves commercial operation – California solar plant provides clean, renewable energy to Southern California Edison customers CHARLOTTE : Duke Energy Renewables, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), today announced that its 150-megawatt (MW) North Rosamond solar project in Kern County, Calif., has begun commercial operation. It is […]
A Californian business is using A.I. to change the way we think about energy storage
If renewables are to become a crucial part of the planet’s energy mix, they will need to rely on smart and intuitive energy storage systems. In the U.S., California-based Stem is using artificial intelligence to help firms store energy. While sources such as solar and wind may be good for the planet, they do not […]
PG&E’s Bankruptcy Judge Leaves Door Open to Shedding Renewables Contracts
The bankrupt California utility’s plan to renegotiate expensive legacy PPAs with developers wins a legal victory—but an appeal looks likely. Bankrupt California utility Pacific Gas & Electric won a victory Friday in the legal battle over whether it can shed billions of dollars’ worth of renewable energy contracts. But the ultimate fate of those contracts […]
Xcel Energy Fast-Forwards Minnesota Coal Plant Closures but Extends Nuclear Window
The utility struck a deal with environmental and labor groups in the Upper Midwest that will allow it to reduce its carbon emissions while easing job losses related to coal plant retirements. Xcel Energy plans to close its last two coal-fired power plants in Minnesota by 2030, a decade earlier than scheduled, while keeping its […]
Goldman Sachs Becomes Solar Supplier to California CCAs as Its Acquisition Spree Continues
The purchase of Recurrent Energy’s equity stake in the 100 MW Mustang project adds to Goldman subsidiaries’ growing solar portfolios. Canadian Solar subsidiary Recurrent Energy has sold its remaining equity stake in the 100-megawatt Mustang solar project, a key resource for California’s flagship community-choice aggregators, to the Renewable Power Group of Goldman Sachs Asset Management. […]
Sunrun Puts Up Strong Deployment and Sales Growth as It Prepares for ITC Phasedown
The company sees itself as well-positioned to serve the market for California’s new-home solar requirement. Sunrun didn’t chalk up a fourth consecutive deployment record in Q1, but the largest U.S. residential solar company showed strong growth on a number of key metrics compared to last year. Sunrun installed 86 megawatts in the first quarter of 2019, up […]
Clearway Hit by Weak Q1 Renewables Production as It Awaits PG&E Resolution
The renewables operator is heavily exposed to contracts with bankrupt California utility PG&E. Clearway Energy Inc. reported a net loss of $47 million for Q1 2019, citing ongoing challenges with the bankruptcy of Pacific Gas & Electric Company and weak renewable energy performance across its portfolio. The report comes after the company cut its dividend […]
California utilities reject automated demand response incentives for battery storage controls
Dive Brief: California’s three large investor-owned utilities last month called for dropping automatic demand response (Auto-DR) incentives for battery energy storage controls, saying developers are not currently focused on those incentives. In a final proposal required by the California Public Utilities Commission, utilities noted most battery integrators manage batteries from their cloud, thus specific or add-on Auto-DR controls […]
