Last Friday, tens of thousands of school students went on “strike”, imploring politicians to finally Get Serious about climate change policies, and urging a switch to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030. Can’t be done, they were told. Readers may remember, however, that ANU researchers Andrew Blakers and Matt Stocks in February said that if Australia continued at its current rate …
Eversource advances Cape Cod battery project, defers 13-mile distribution line
Eversource advanced plans to install a 25 MW / 38 MWh lithium-ion batteryin Provincetown, Massachusetts, after residents approved a lease for the project last week, the utility announced on Friday. Provincetown, on the northern tip of Cape Cod, has faced an increasing number of power outages as climate change has caused more severe storms, according to an Eversource official. The battery will help maintain power during power …
ICAST Selected by the Department of Energy to Launch Project SunLight: Bringing Solar Energy to Multifamily Affordable Housing
A few words from ICAST’s Solar Program Manager Chuck Watkins about being selected by the DOE to launch an affordable solar energy program for multifamily.
New Mexico commits to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045
The New Mexico legislature has passed the Energy Transition Act (SB 489), a bill that will make electricity generation 100% carbon-free by 2045 from the state’s investor-owned utilities. The bill, first introduced in February, passed the state Senate last week. The House of Representatives passed the bill 43-22. Pending Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signature on this legislation, New Mexico will join California and Hawaii …
Massachusetts Includes Batteries in Energy Efficiency Plans.
Massachusetts’ new energy efficiency program adds batteries to the mix. Clean Energy Group’s project director breaks down the new policy and next steps. Energy storage has been the coming thing for years. Now, it has arrived – as an efficiency measure. When the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) approved the state’s new three-year energy efficiency plan, known by many …
Scientists Develop Liquid Fuel That Can Store The Sun’s Energy For Up to 18 Years
No matter how abundant or renewable, solar power has a thorn in its side. There is still no cheap and efficient long-term storage for the energy that it generates. The solar industry has been snagged on this branch for a while, but in the past year alone, a series of four papers has ushered in an intriguing new solution. Scientists …
New report tracks projects that meet electricity needs without adding transmission lines
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Non-wires alternatives, or NWAs, represent one of the most exciting opportunities for the transformation of U.S. utility business models. NWA projects can use distributed energy resources—including energy efficiency, demand response, solar, storage and microgrids—as least-cost energy solutions. By using NWAs, some utilities are delaying or deferring the need for comparably more expensive infrastructure, such as transmission and …
County’s climate action plan set aside by judge; impact on backcountry developments unclear
judge has ruled that the County of San Diego’s climate action plan must be set aside and redone, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for the housing industry. San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor said the plan, adopted earlier this year by the Board of Supervisors, violates the county’s Gener al Plan because it allows developers to purchase …
PacifiCorp study prompts review of coal-fired power plants in six states, including Utah
SALT LAKE CITY — Its own analysis that shows 60 percent of its coal-fired power plant units are more costly to run than shutter is prompting PacifiCorp to request additional time to review their potential operational life. The December request for a delay before the Public Service Commission involves the depreciation schedule for power plant units it operates in six …
ICAST Moves Into Its New Headquarters
ICAST recently moved into TBL Fund’s recently acquired office building, located at 7400 W. 14th Ave., Denver, Colorado. In the first phase of renovations, new energy efficient windows, insulation, low-flow fixtures, appliances and LED lighting were upgraded. Construction cameras captured the action during the upgrades. Click on the video for a time-lapse of the renovation process. We announced the move …