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» Indigenous people and climate justice groups say Cop28 was ‘business as usual’
As the leaders of the developed world hailed the Cop28 agreement to “transition away” from fossil fuels as historic, Indigenous people, frontline communities and climate justice groups rebuked the deal as unfair, inequitable and business as usual.
By Rebecca Solnit, The Guardian
December 13, 2023
» COP28 Does Not Deliver Clear Path to Fossil Fuel Phase Out
Small island states that arrived after the document was approved don’t accept the outcome as a consensus decision.
By Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News
December 13, 2023
» Form Energy launching 5MW, 100-hour project in California with US$30 million grant
Iron-air battery technology firm Form Energy has won a US$30 million grant for a new 5MW/500MWh energy storage project in California
By Cameron Murray, Energy Storage News
December 14, 2023
» Eversource proposes significant cut to supply rate in New Hampshire
The cut would be significant, especially compared to last year. At the time, customers were paying more than 20 cents per kilowatt hour. Currently, the rate is 12.58 cents, and under the proposal, it would drop to 8.29 cents.
By Ross Ketschke, WMUR
December 14, 2023
» Salton Sea Could Supply Lithium Needs for Decades, Study Finds
The Salton Sea region of Southern California could produce enough lithium for more than 375 million electric vehicle batteries, potentially releasing the U.S. from its dependence on foreign sources of the key mineral, according to a new report. In fact, the region, which has been dubbed Lithium Valley, may have enough lithium to allow the U.S. “to meet or exceed global lithium demand for decades,” according to the Department of Energy, which funded the study.
By Elaine Goodman, RTO Insider
November 28, 2023
» Legislators Urge Hochul to Nix Plan for Increased Fracked Gas to NYC
The Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company’s proposal is the latest fossil-fueled infrastructure project to earn the ire of local environmental groups, who say such investments are at odds with the goals of New York’s Climate Leadership and Protection Act.
By Mariana Simões, City Limits
December 12, 2023
» The energy storage space is heating up. Here are some of the technologies making a dent.
Achieving the Biden administration’s goal of decarbonizing the power sector by 2035 will require a slew of energy storage technologies beyond just lithium-ion batteries, and multiple players are bringing new technology solutions to the market to fill that gap.
By Kavya Balaraman, Utility Dive
December 5, 2023
» State charts a new energy future for Mass., beyond natural gas
State officials on Wednesday laid out a new regulatory strategy to move utilities away from natural gas as part of a broader effort to effectively zero out emissions from fossil fuels by 2050. The order from the Department of Public Utilities offers this vision for the state in the mid 21st century: minimal gas pipelines; buildings powered by solar and wind, and warmed by heat pumps; and people cooking on electric stoves.
By Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe
December 6, 2023
» Clements Outlines Further Steps to Ease Interconnection Woes
Order 2023 is just the first step in addressing the interconnection backlogs in New England and across the country, FERC Commissioner Allison Clements said at Raab Associates’ New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable on Dec. 8.
By Jon Lamson, RTO Insider
December 11, 2023
» At COP28, the United States Will Stress an End to Fossil Emissions, Not Fuels
The Biden administration faces increasing international and domestic political pressure to endorse near-term cuts in coal, oil and natural gas.
By Marianne Lavelle, Inside Climate News
November 29, 2023
» US oil and gas production set to break record in 2023 despite UN climate goals
The United States is poised to extract more oil and gas than ever before in 2023, a year that is certain to be the hottest ever recorded, providing a daunting backdrop to crucial United Nations climate talks that hold the hope of an agreement to end the era of fossil fuels.
By Betsy Reed, The Guardian
November 27, 2023
» Can ERCOT show the way to faster and cheaper grid interconnection?
Using a “connect and manage” process that doesn’t require network upgrades, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas brought 14.2 GW online in the last two years, more than any other grid operator.
By Ethan Howland, Utility Dive
November 27, 2023
» Long-duration energy storage ‘viable and readily appliable’ to decarbonisation of industry
Long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies paired with renewable energy could reduce the emissions from industrial energy use by almost two-thirds, a new report has said.
By Andy Colthorpe, Energy Storage News
November 15, 2023
» Climate activists call on Gov. Hochul to stop natural gas pipeline expansion near Indian Point
The proposal from pipeline owner Enbridge would boost capacity along the Algonquin Pipeline by replacing existing underground pipes with larger ones, adding secondary lines, and expanding some compressor stations between New Jersey and Massachusetts. The plan is being called "Project Maple."
By Jonathan Gordon, News12 Westchester
November 14, 2023
» Pilot program will install batteries in 2,000 Mass. homes to reduce energy demand on the grid
Here’s how it'll work: When electricity demand on the grid spikes, special software will direct appliances in the homes to run off of the battery. Once demand begins to fall, homes can once again pull power from the grid and give the battery time to recharge.
By Miriam Wasser, WBUR
November 15, 2023
» More powerful, resilient and versatile: The next generation of solar tech is emerging
“This is a great time to be involved with solar technology,” said Chris Deline, head of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s photovoltaic field performance group.
By Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive
November 16, 2023
» California project is second in US to employ used EV batteries to sell power to the grid
B2U Storage Solutions said Tuesday it has begun operations at its second grid-connected hybrid storage facility, using hundreds of repurposed EV batteries from Honda for a 3 MW/12 MWh facility.
By Kavya Balaraman, Utility Dive
November 14, 2023
» New satellite will detect and share CO2 data from individual facilities
Canadian emissions monitoring company GHGSat on Saturday launched a satellite aimed at detecting carbon dioxide emissions from individual facilities like coal plants and steel mills from space for the first time.
By Nichola Groom, Reuters
November 13, 2023
» Environmental Justice a Key Theme Throughout Biden’s National Climate Assessment
The report finds that societal factors, including historic racism, have shaped the climate reality for many communities of color. It also details the impacts of climate change on Indigenous people, public health and agriculture.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Georgina Gustin, Liza Gross, Victoria St. Martin, Inside Climate News
November 14, 2023
» The world’s largest aircraft breaks cover in Silicon Valley
The world is getting its first look at Pathfinder 1, a prototype electric airship that its maker LTA Research hopes will kickstart a new era in climate-friendly air travel
By Mark Harris, TechCrunch
November 8, 2023
» A checklist for the region’s power grid operator
Greater accessibility, accountability and buy-in to climate fight needed
By Phelps Turner, Mireille Bejjani, Commonwealth Magazine
November 3, 2023
» Michigan Poised to Join States Requiring 100 Percent Clean Electricity
A suite of bills headed to the governor’s desk will also give the state, instead of local governments, the authority to approve industrial-scale renewable energy projects.
By Dan Gearino, Aydali Campa, Inside Climate News
November 7, 2023
» How Midwest Landowners Helped to Derail One of the Biggest CO2 Pipelines Ever Proposed
Lured by billions of dollars in federal funding for carbon capture, developers are proposing huge pipelines to carry the CO2 across the Midwest. In Illinois, one retired academic united her neighbors to fight a key project.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
November 5, 2023
» Vermont lawmakers want to require utilities to source 100% renewable electricity by 2030
Vermont lawmakers will take up their next big piece of climate legislation next year in the form of a bill that would require electric utilities to get more of their power from renewable sources
By Peter Hirschfeld, Vermont Public
November 2, 2023
» Gov. Healey sees merit in Mass Save overhaul
Gov. Maura Healey thinks changes need to be made to the Mass Save program that conducts home energy assessments and offers rebates to help Bay State residents save money on energy bills.
By Sam Drysdale, State House News Service
October 27, 2023
» Extreme Heat Pushes More Farmworkers to Harvest at Night, Creating New Risks
Working in the dark may help agricultural workers keep cool, but safety advocates worry the trend could also be causing more accidents and compromising worker health.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Utility Dive
October 31, 2023
» US large-scale BESS installations in 2023 already exceed whole of 2022
The amount of large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) completed in the US as of Q3 2023 already exceeds the whole of 2022, American Clean Power (ACP) said.
By Cameron Murray, Energy Storage News
November 2, 2023
» Flow battery player ESS Inc: ‘Bringing home the idea of green baseload’
Eric Dresselhuys, CEO of iron and saltwater electrolyte flow battery provider ESS Inc speaks to Energy-Storage.news about markets, strategy and profitability for long-duration energy storage (LDES).
By Andy Colthorpe, Energy Storage News
October 31, 2023
» Offshore wind could create more than 3,600 jobs in NH, according to new state report
Offshore wind developments in the Gulf of Maine could have a big impact on the state and all of New England if they’re built, a new report from New Hampshire’s Department of Energy shows.
By Mara Hoplamazian, New Hampshire Public Radio
October 30, 2023
» DOE picks National Grid, Berkshire Hathaway, Grid United transmission projects in first capacity buys
The planned transmission projects in New England and the West could carry 3.7 GW of clean energy while bolstering grid resilience.
By Ethan Howland, Utility Dive
October 30, 2023
» FERC accepts ISO New England plan facilitating storage as transmission-only assets
Because they would be built to improve transmission reliability, “SATOAs will not compete in the electricity markets and will have minimal effect on wholesale prices,” said ISO New England.
By Robert Walton, Utility Dive
October 26, 2023
» As Coal Mines Close, Displaced Miners Find Work in Renewable Energy Boom
A battery startup in West Virginia and the mineworkers union may have a blueprint for those left behind in the energy transition.
By Benjy Sachs, Capital & Main
October 30, 2023
» Oil Refiners Get a Taste of an Electric Future
The need to keep fuel pumps adequately, and affordably, supplied even as electrification takes hold will be made more challenging as some refineries simply shut down rather than run unprofitably.
By Liam Denning, Bloomberg
October 25, 2023
» Massachusetts climate chief calls for sweeping actions to reduce emissions
Massachusetts needs to shift from an era of statewide planning for climate policy to the key details of implementing it, according to a new report from the state's top climate official.
By Sam Drysdale, Statehouse News Service
October 25, 2023
» How Climate Change Drives Conflict and War Crimes Around the Globe
Human rights advocates want the International Criminal Court to begin gathering evidence on the way climate-amplified extreme weather, heat, drought and flooding are driving armed conflict, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
By Katie Surma, Inside Climate News
October 26, 2023
» DOE issues draft plan for speeding up, improving grid interconnections
The draft road map goes beyond the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s recent interconnection reform rule, in part by calling for fast-track interconnection options.
By Ethan Howland, Utility Dive
October 26, 2023
» FERC Accepts ISO-NE Filing to Allow Storage as a Transmission-Only Asset
Union of Concerned Scientists Among Groups Praising Decision: "This is only a first step in expanding the capability of the transmission system through the deployment and recognition of energy storage".
By Jon Lamson, RTO Insider
October 22, 2023
» Navigator CO2 pipeline is canceled, but Illinois opponents say the fight isn’t over
The company’s sequestration permit requests are still active, and legislation to impose a state pipeline moratorium is unlikely to advance this year.
By Kari Lydersen, Energy News Network
October 20, 2023
» Microgrids, battery storage projects get funding through US’ ‘biggest-ever investment in the grid’
A US$10.5 billion programme to “strengthen grid resilience and reliability” across the US includes funding for microgrids and other projects that will integrate battery storage technologies.
By Andy Colthorpe, Energy Storage News
October 19, 2023
» One key step in the energy transition: No new gas lines
The report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine says states and municipalities should consider adopting bans on new gas lines in areas that haven’t previously been served by gas.
By Maxine Joselow, Washington Post
October 18, 2023
» Teslas are now cheaper than the average new gas-powered car
EVs have hit a tipping point for adoption in the U.S. — and now two models from the market leader are cheaper than many fossil-fueled alternatives
By Eric Wesoff, Canary Media
October 11, 2023
» Groups blast fossil fuel focus of DOE hydrogen hub selections
The majority of the hubs selected by the DOE will use a variety of hydrogen production strategies instead of excluding methods that generate carbon emissions.
By Emma Penrod, Utility Dive
October 17, 2023
» Massachusetts' first electric aircraft charging station ready to plug in
By now, motorists have gotten used to seeing designated parking spots for electric cars. On Friday, Massachusetts inaugurated the state's first charging station for electric aircraft.
By Phil Tenser, WCVB
October 14, 2023
» Mountain Valley Pipeline construction – and protests – continue
State environmental regulators have cited Mountain Valley more than 300 times with violating erosion and sediment control regulations since 2018, allowing harmful sediment to be washed from the pipeline’s 125-foot wide right of way.
By Lawrence Hannack, The Roanoke Times
October 14, 2023
» Utilities still moving way too slow on clean energy
Despite historic wind, solar and battery subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act, U.S. utilities remain hooked on fossil fuels.
By Jeff St. John, Canary Media
October 16, 2023
» Biden Announces Huge Hydrogen Investment. How Much Will It Help The Climate?
The Energy Department awarded up to $7 billion in grants for clean hydrogen “hubs,” but environmentalists warn some of the money could prop up fossil fuels and fail to cut emissions.
By Nicholas Kusnetz and Jon Hurdle, Inside Climate News
October 13, 2023
» In New Zealand, Increasingly Severe Crackdowns on Environmental Protesters Fail to Deter Climate Activists
State and federal governments from the U.S. to Australia have enacted legislation punishing disruptive demonstrators, but many have been emboldened by the repression.
By Emma Ricketts, Inside Climate News
October 15, 2023
» Uneven pace of FERC Order 2222 implementation continues as grid operators face challenges
RTOs, ISOs and utilities need visibility, resource controls and market signals to connect distributed energy resources to the wholesale market, said Karen Wayland, CEO of GridWise Alliance.
By Robert Walton, Utility Dive
October 12, 2023
» Push for electric school buses faces procurement bump in the road
Current law complicates effort by requiring separate bids for buses and charging stations
By Jeffrey S. Shapiro, Commonwealth Magazine
October 15, 2023
» Delorean Power to build 5MW/22MWh energy storage project in Massachusetts
The facility will have an output of 5MW and a storage capacity of 22MWh, and the developers expect to finish construction at the project next year, and commission the facility in October 2024.
By JP Casey, Energy Storage News
October 12, 2023
» A Reality Check About Solar Panel Waste and the Effects on Human Health
The coming surge in photovoltaic panel waste is tiny compared to other categories, and most health concerns about solar equipment are unfounded.
By Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News
October 12, 2023
» Maine debate heats up as vote nears on public takeover of CMP, Versant Power
A potential $13.5 billion takeover has utilities, electrical workers and Maine Gov. Janet Mills squaring off against conservation groups and consumer activists heading into the November election.
By Rober Walton, Utility Dive
October 11, 2023
» Scientists Disagree About Drivers of September’s Global Temperature Spike, but It Has Most of Them Worried
The month’s shocking surge is likely to make 2023 the hottest year on record and drive extreme impact around the globe. It could also be a harbinger of even higher temperatures next year.
By Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News
October 11, 2023
» Oil giants unveil ‘game-ending’ strategy to kill climate cases
The legal battle over whether cities, counties and states can hold fossil fuel companies financially accountable for heat waves, flooding and other effects of climate change is entering a critical new phase.
By Lesley Clark, ClimateWire
October 10, 2023
» The Maine politicians being paid by CMP and Versant to oppose a takeover
Political groups funded by the utilities and their parents have spent 30 times more than Our Power, the group pushing the referendum for a public power utility, through the end of September.
By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News
October 9, 2023
» Cleveland green bank aims to bring clean energy to underserved communities
Growth Opportunity Partners is the lead applicant for 20 counties seeking Inflation Reduction Act funds under EPA’s Solar for All program.
By Kathiann M. Kowalski, Energy News Network
October 9, 2023
» ‘It’s not our job to pick winners’
How Jigar Shah and the DOE Loan Programs Office is backing the energy transition
By Andy Colthorpe, Energy Storage News
October 10, 2023
» PNNL projects up to $6B annual benefit from West Coast offshore wind transmission planning
The goal of the study is to guide state policy in Oregon and California and “stand as a rubric for future grid integration studies.”
By Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive
October 5, 2023
» Connecticut partnering with R.I. and Mass. for future wind power projects
Connecticut officials on Wednesday announced an agreement with their counterparts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to launch a joint effort to procure new wind power contracts for their respective states.
By Luther Turmelle, CT Post
October 4, 2023
» Mothballed West Springfield plant eyed for $70M battery storage system to meet peak-power demand
Owners of a shuttered power plant on the Connecticut River want to invest $70 million in a battery storage system that can meet peak power demands — without burning fossil fuels. Cogentrix, owner of the 74-year-old plant since 2016, is working with Berkshires environmentalists who want to see the same transitions at fossil-fuel plants around the country.
By Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican
September 29, 2023
» Climate models underestimate storage, renewables progress, overstate net-zero costs
Modeling has failed to account for cost decreases and efficiency increases for clean energy resources, said the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change.
By Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive
September 28, 2023
» Advocates press Healey to scrap Hanscom expansion
In a new surge of opposition, advocates are calling directly on Gov. Maura Healey to stop the expansion of the publicly owned airfield in Bedford that holds the most private jets in New England.
By Sam Drysdale, State House News Service
October 2, 2023
» Massachusetts’s municipally-owned utility to receive battery storage system
Battery storage developer, owner, and operator Convergent Energy and Power announced its plans to provide Massachusetts’s municipally-owned utility company West Boylston Municipal Light Plant (WBMLP) with a battery storage system.
By Renewable Energy World
October 2, 2023
» Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources: Xcel VP
Effective distribution system planning and merging analytic insights into comprehensive electricity planning both face barriers, analysts and stakeholders said.
By Harmon K. Trabish, Utility Dive
September 20, 2023
» We’re asking the wrong question about EVs and grid resiliency
The U.S. has already passed the tipping point for mass electric vehicle adoption. Grid modernization must quickly follow, writes Chris Baker, the head of Enel X Way North America.
By Chris Baker, Utility Dive
September 19, 2023
» Climate activists target jets, yachts and golf in a string of global protests against luxury
Climate activists have spraypainted a superyacht, blocked private jets from taking off and plugged holes in golf courses this summer as part of an intensifying campaign against the emissions-spewing lifestyles of the ultrawealthy.
By David Brunat, AP
August 31, 2023
» Biden launches American Climate Corps
President Joe Biden is launching a new federal program that aims to put more than 20,000 young people to work in jobs that promote renewable energy and combat climate change.
By Robin Bravender, GreenWire
September 20, 2023
» Biden-Harris Administration Releases Roadmap to Accelerate Offshore Wind Transmission and Improve Grid Resilience and Reliability
Interior and Energy Departments Release Comprehensive Transmission Action Plan to Unlock America’s Vast Potential of Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy
By Department of the Interior Press Office
September 19, 2023
» California’s Climate Disclosure Bill Could Have Nationwide Impacts
The legislation, passed by the state lawmakers this week, still needs the governor's signature. But it could be the first to require companies to report carbon emissions from supply chains.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
September 15, 2023
» EPA’s proposed carbon rules omit both the peaker problem and the peaker solution
The EPA completely overlooked co-located battery storage as a “best system of emissions reduction” in its latest proposal to reduce carbon emissions from fossil-fueled power plants.
By Shelley Robbins, Utility Dive
September 12, 2023
» Massachusetts’ clean peak incentive puts battery storage project on track
Clean energy advocate Rosemary Wessel of No Fracked Gas in Mass hopes a battery storage project under development at the former site of a fossil fuel power plant can be a model for phasing out fossil peaker plants.
By Sarah Shemkus, Energy News Network
September 11, 2023
» US solar installations expected to jump 52% to nearly 32 GW in 2023: SEIA
The industry outperformed SEIA’s March forecast, which predicted the best case scenario would see 2023 installations grow to 28.4 GW.
By Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive
September 7, 2023
» In the Fight Over Maine’s Utilities, the Future of the State’s Energy Transition Goes to Voters
“Our Power,” is trying to rally Maine voters to support a ballot question that would initiate a state takeover of Maine’s two investor-owned electric utilities, creating in their place a publicly run utility called Pine Tree Power, governed by board members who would be elected by Maine voters.
By John Lamson, RTO Insider
September 4, 2023
» North Atlantic states are weighing an offshore transmission “backbone”
The upsides could be huge — both in efficiency and cost. An ocean corridor of high-voltage power lines would smooth the way for wind turbines to connect to the electric grid, allowing states from Maine to New Jersey to more easily add new clean energy.
By Heather Richards, Miranda Willson, Energy Wire
September 5, 2023
» New Pennsylvania Legislation Aims to Classify ‘Produced Water’ From Fracking as Hazardous Waste
The bills would also require gas drillers to test the toxicity of the wastewater, mine tailings and runoff from landfills. Waste from fracking in the state contains radioactive radium isotopes.
By Jake Bolster, Inside Climate News
September 6, 2023
» Momentum gathering in the flow battery industry
Flow battery industry onlookers’ curiosity replaced by enthusiasm.
By Anthony Price, Energy Storage News
September 5, 2023
» Eversource, National Grid file draft plans to meet expected demand surge from electrification
Eversource expects a 150% demand increase by 2050, while National Grid says its peak demand will double.
By Robert Walton, Utility Dive
September 5, 2023
» Duke Energy unveils EV charging subscription service
The pilot program in North Carolina will allow Duke to call up to three demand response events per month and utilizes vehicle telematics to avoid the need for a second meter at the customer’s home.
By Robert Walton, Utility Dive
August 30, 2023
» Activists Crash Powerful Economic Symposium in Jackson Hole
Demonstrators called out the Federal Reserve and international financial regulators for inaction on climate and inattention to fossil fuels’ financial risks.
By Keerti Gopal, Inside Climate News
August 30, 2023
» Ecuador will shut down crude extraction in oil fields that are home to Indigenous communities
Their efforts follow a historic vote to end drilling in parts of Yasuni National Park, but uncontacted families and other Indigenous groups remain at risk from oil exploration.
By Katie Surma, Inside Climate News
August 30, 2023
» MassDEP adopts Large Entity Reporting Requirement
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is promulgating a
new regulation which requires owners of medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicle fleets to submit a one-time report to MassDEP. This report will enable MassDEP to assess the best way to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other programs to support and accelerate the MHD zero emission vehicle (ZEV) market in Massachusetts.
By Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
September 1, 2023
» Climate protesters disrupt Healey’s Nantucket fundraiser
Ten climate activists from a recently launched advocacy group disrupted a fundraiser for Gov. Maura Healey at a private Nantucket home over the weekend, urging the governor to halt the construction of new fossil fuel projects across the state.
By Allison Kuznitz, WWLP
August 22, 2023
» Closed-Loop Hydro’s Climate Impact Found Less Than Batteries
A new analysis of five types of grid-scale energy storage finds that closed-loop pumped storage hydropower has the smallest climate impact. Pumped storage hydro, or PSH, is the dominant form of utility-scale energy storage in the U.S., accounting for most of the installed capacity nationwide.
By John Cropley, RTO Insider
August 27, 2023
» DOE Projects Strong Growth for US Wind Industry
The Department of Energy issued three reports on wind-generated electricity, projecting strong but not uniform growth for the nation’s onshore, offshore and distributed wind power sectors.
By John Cropley, RTO Insider
August 24, 2023
» Study reveals America's wealthiest 10% responsible for 40% of US greenhouse gas emissions
The study, published in PLOS Climate, is the first to link income, especially income derived from financial investments, to the emissions used in generating that income.
By University of Massachusetts Amherst
August 17, 2023
» Louisiana rushes buildout of carbon pipelines, adding to dangers plaguing Cancer Alley
As the Biden administration funds carbon sequestration projects, residents worry about ruptured pipelines and mass asphyxiation from leaks.
By Delaney Nolan, The Intercept
August 24, 2023
» US reached 5.4GW/15.2GWh of co-located energy storage by end-2022, LBNL says
By the end of 2022, US co-located renewable and energy storage projects totalled 41GW of generating power and 5.4GW/15.2GWh of energy storage, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) analysis.
By Cameron Murray, Energy Storage News
August 17, 2023
» BOEM identifies two wind energy areas with up to 2.6 GW of potential offshore Oregon
The governor and state lawmakers have pushed back against the pace of Oregon offshore wind development, asking for more time to consult ocean stakeholders.
By Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive
August 16, 2023
» Leading Light Wind NJ offshore wind proposal includes 253MW BESS option
A large offshore wind project proposal in New Jersey, US, by Leading Light Wind includes an option to include a 253MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
By Cameron Murray, Energy Storage News
August 7, 2023
» FERC interconnection reform welcome but plenty of work to do, says energy storage industry
A recent draft final rule on reforms of grid interconnection processes from US regulator FERC has been welcomed by the energy storage industry, although many hurdles still remain.
By Andy Colthorpe, Energy Storage News
August 16, 2023
» Why lasers could help utilities make the electrical grids greener
With thousands of renewable projects waiting to connect to the grid, some tech companies have quicker solutions than new transmission lines.
By Julia Simon, NPR
August 11, 2023
» Montana Youth Sued Their Government Over Climate Change and Won. Here’s Why That’s a Big Deal
The Monday ruling, which concluded that the state violated the plaintiffs’ constitutional right to a healthy environment, could set an important new legal precedent and spur similar lawsuits.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
August 15, 2023
» US virtual power plants expected to proliferate as reliability needs rise with increasing renewables
Battery storage and smart appliances make virtual power plants a viable option to address the intermittency of renewable energy.
By Patrick Cooley, Utility Dive
August 14, 2023
» A Growing Movement Looks to End Oil Drilling in the Amazon
Activists and Indigenous groups used a summit of South American leaders to highlight a campaign to phase-out drilling in the world’s largest tropical rainforest.
By Nicholas Kusnetz, Inside Climate News
August 10, 2023
» EPA power plant carbon plan relies on unavailable tech, violates law: EEI, trade groups
The EPA based proposed emissions standards on hydrogen blending and carbon capture technology that isn’t widely available, violating the Clean Air Act, utility and power sector trade groups said.
By Ethan Howland, Utility Dive
August 11, 2023
» Grid-scale battery boom as US quarterly installs go up 32%
The US saw roughly triple the amount of grid-scale battery storage installed in the second quarter of this year as it did in the preceding quarter, in megawatt terms.
By Andy Colthorpe, Energy Storage News
August 8, 2023
» California and New York Could Miss Their 2030 Climate Targets. Could Permitting Reform Help?
Officials in both states recently expressed doubts over meeting ambitious mandates to reduce emissions and expand renewables, noting that permit and interconnection delays are a big hurdle.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
August 4, 2023
» Clean Energy Group Urges Utilities to Replace Peakers with VPPs
Virtual power plants can economically replace many of the country’s 217 GW worth of peaking power plants, which emit pollution like nitrous oxide and are often located in population centers, the Clean Energy Group (CEG) said in a webinar Thursday.
By James Downing, RTO Insider
August 3, 2023
» New England states ask grid operator to create environmental justice position
Massachusetts and four other New England states formally asked ISO New England on Tuesday to create a first-in-the-nation executive-level position dedicated to environmental justice and energy equity. The goal, they say, is to ensure that the organization is focusing as much on the people who use electricity as it is on the infrastructure and markets that make the grid function.
By Miriam Wasser, WBUR
August 1, 2023
» Mayor Wu bans fossil fuels in new City of Boston buildings and major renovations
The executive order eliminates the use of common energy sources such as natural gas and heating oil in new municipal buildings. It also bars their use in renovations that affect 75% or more of a building's square footage.
By Walter Wuthmann, WBUR
July 31, 2023
» Emails Reveal Eversource’s Work Behind the Scenes to Push Gas Pipeline
In an exposé based on documents obtained by the Energy and Policy Institute through a public records request, the Boston Globe revealed how gas utility Eversource worked behind the scenes with Douglas, Massachusetts, and a major warehouse developer, to expand a pipeline into the town.
By Itai Vardi, Energy and Policy Institute
August 1, 2023
» Altus Power Announces New Solar & Energy Storage Asset in Massachusetts
A new combined 10 megawatt solar plus 15 megawatt-hour battery storage system will be located in Holliston, Massachusetts. The benefits of the electricity generated will be delivered under long-term agreements with a regional supermarket as well as local Community Solar customers under the Massachusetts DOER SMART Program.
By Business Wire
July 25, 2023
» The United States Helped Block a G20 Deal to Boost Renewables—an Ominous Sign for COP28
The United States actively blocked what would have been a major agreement between some of the world’s wealthiest nations to dramatically increase their development of renewable energy, largely because the proposal didn’t include language supporting carbon capture technologies, hydrogen fuel and other controversial solutions for addressing climate change.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
July 25, 2023
» Pilgrim Nuclear won’t get permit to dump contaminated water in bay
Cape Cod Bay waters will stay clean after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection denied a permit modification sought by the company decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.
By Jennette Barnes, WGBH
July 24, 2023
» Non-lithium battery tech deployments from CMBlu, Ambri and NGK
Projects using novel, non-lithium battery technology have been progressed by organic flow battery firm CMBlu, liquid metal battery firm Ambri, and the sodium-ion battery division of NGK Insulators.
By Cameron Murray, Energy Storage News
July 19, 2023
» Big oil quietly walks back on climate pledges as global heat records tumble
Leading energy companies are intent on expanding fossil fuel production and insisting that there is no alternative. It is evidence that they are motivated not by record warming, but by record profits, experts say.
By Dharna Noor, The Guardian
July 16, 2023
» Gas-fired generation accounted for 70% of unplanned outages in Winter Storm Elliott
The PJM Interconnection offered 30 recommendations to improve winter-time operations, including possibly setting capacity values for gas-fired power plants at levels that match their performance.
By Ethan Howland, Utility Dive
July 18, 2023
» ‘Giant Methane Factories’: Hydropower Has Long Been Touted as Clean Energy. But Is It?
Decades of research suggests that hydropower has a far greater climate impact than once thought. Now a growing chorus of scientists want to change the conversation about it.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
July 14, 2023
» California passes 5GW of grid-scale battery storage
The state has long been a leader for BESS deployments, with an ambitious renewable energy goal of 90% by 2030 and the Resource Adequacy framework enabling long-term remuneration of large-scale BESS projects providing certainty for investments.
By Cameron Murray, Energy Storage News
July 13, 2023
» As Budget Talks Heat Up in Congress, Republicans Ramp Up Attacks on Climate Spending
Congress is once again fighting over cuts to the federal budget, putting the government at risk of a shutdown in October. Many Republican proposals target funds for clean energy and climate change.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
July 11, 2023
» As Texas Cranks Up the AC, Congested Transmission Lines Cause Renewable Power to Go to Waste
Solar and wind input is setting records, but the state’s inefficient grid is unable to handle the full load it could deliver in the ongoing heat wave. Consumers are paying the price.
By Keaton Peters, Inside Climate News
July 10, 2023
» The Melting Glaciers of Svalbard Offer an Ominous Glimpse of More Warming to Come
New research reveals what one scientist called a “very stark image of climate change” as methane leaks from springs exposed by the glaciers’ retreat.
By Lydia Larsen, Inside Climate News
July 6, 2023
» June Extremes Suggest Parts of the Climate System Are Reaching Tipping Points
Research shows heat domes, wildfires and vanishing polar ice are the symptoms; unabated greenhouse gas emissions are the cause.
By Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News
July 4, 2023
» Litigation Over Misleading Climate Claims Has ‘Exploded’ Over the Past Few Years
New report details how more “climate-washing” lawsuits and complaints are being filed against corporations’ greenwashing than ever before, and experts warn complicit PR and ad firms could face legal risks.
By Dana Drugmand, DeSmog
July 3, 2023
» Lawmakers weigh wood-burning for energy, heat
Facilities that burn wood to create energy should not be eligible for credits under a state program that rewards generators of “clean heat,” advocates said last week, arguing that two bills would close loopholes in the state’s climate laws.
By Sam Drysdale, State House News Service
July 4, 2023
» Guess Who’s Been Paying to Block Green Energy? You Have.
Around the country, utility companies are using their outsize political power to slow down the clean energy transition, and they are probably using your money to do it.
By David Pomerantz, New York Times
July 5, 2023
» Prepare for More Smoky Summers in the Midwest and Northeast
Dry conditions led to massive wildfires in Canada and a flow of smoke into the Great Lakes region this week. It likely won’t be the last time, scientists say.
By Aydali Campa, Inside Climate News
June 30, 2023
» Oregon County Sues Fossil Fuel Entities and Enablers for Contributing to Deadly 2021 Heatwave
The climate lawsuit filed by Multnomah County is the first to name consulting firm McKinsey & Company as a defendant.
By Dana Drugmand, DeSmog
June 22, 2023
» Virtual Power Plants Are Coming to Save the Grid, Sooner Than You Might Think
This summer could be the first one in which virtual power plants—networks of small batteries that work in tandem to function like power plants—are large enough to make their presence felt by helping to keep the lights on during the hottest days.
By Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News
June 22, 2023
» Li-ion BESS costs could fall 47% by 2030, NREL says in long-term forecast update
The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has updated its long-term lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) costs through to 2050, with costs potentially halving over this decade.
By Cameron Murray, Energy Storage News
June 20, 2023
» Inexpensive Solar Panels Are Essential for the Energy Transition. Here’s What’s Happening With Prices Right Now
A rising supply of silicon is one of the factors behind a drop in solar panel prices globally.
By Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News
June 15, 2023
» In B.C.’s bone-dry northeast, what happens when wildfires and fracking collide?
The Donnie Creek wildfire, the second-largest ever recorded in the province’s history, is burning in one of the world’s biggest gas deposits, suspending fracking operations and raising questions about potential dangers to human health
By Sarah Cox, The Narwhal
June 14, 2023
» As New York’s Gas Infrastructure Ages, Some Residents Are Left With Leaking Pipes or No Gas at All
Even after the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, it’s taking time for state and local governments to get the money into the hands of residents who need it.
By June Kim, Inside Climate News
June 15, 2023
» Net zero’s missing link: Long duration energy storage
At present, short duration energy storage technologies are added to many electric grids and infrastructure across the globe, but have limitations on safety, how long energy can be stored, and expected lifetime value. Long duration energy storage (LDES) can help solve these challenges while providing an array of benefits to diverse industries and communities.
By Julia Souder, CEO, LDES Council, for Energy Storage News
June 13, 2023
» Youth vs Fossil Fuels
Sixteen young people are suing the state of Montana, arguing that its support of fossil fuels violates their constitutional rights.
By Kate Myers, Grist
June 9, 2023
» US residential heat pump sales pass gas furnaces for first time as interest in efficiency tech surges: IEA
In the United States last year, residential heat pump sales exceeded gas furnaces for the first time, making up 53% of heating system sales.
By Robert Walton, Utility Dive
June 7, 2023
» Puerto Rico Is so Hot This Week, It’s Astonishing Some Meteorologists
Parts of the U.S. territory reached a “life-threatening” heat index of 125 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, driven by a combination of an intense heat dome, El Niño and climate change.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
June 6, 2023
» As offshore wind projects and policies grow, floating turbines will be key to Biden’s 30 GW by 2030 goal
With 16 farms under construction, U.S. offshore wind has “achieved key momentum,” says Jocelyn Brown-Saracino, the Energy Department’s offshore wind lead.
By Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive
June 6, 2023
» Disruptive Climate Protests Spur Police Raids in Germany and the US
German police seized assets from one climate group known for blocking traffic and other aggressive tactics. U.S. police also arrested three organizers involved in Atlanta’s “Cop City” protests.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
June 8, 2023
» Energy Vault to reveal iterations to gravity solution this year, claims ‘lowest cost of storage in the world’
The company is currently building the first commercial system which will go online using its gravity energy storage technology in Rudong, China, set to commission this year.
By Cameron Murray, Energy Storage News
June 1, 2023
» Diversifying a US$200 billion market: The alternatives to Li-ion batteries for grid-scale energy storage
The global need for grid-scale energy storage will rise rapidly in the coming years as the transition away from fossil fuels accelerates. Energy storage can help meet the need for reliability and resilience on the grid, but lithium-ion is not the only option.
By Oliver Warren, Energy Storage News
February 21, 2023
» Environmentalists in Virginia and West Virginia Regroup to Stop the Mountain Valley Pipeline, Eyeing a White House Protest
The U.S. Forest Service’s recent pipeline approval, coupled with Sen. Joe Manchin’s unflagging support, help define the stakes in a long-running battle. One activist called the pipeline “a climate disaster.”
By Jake Bolster, Inside Climate News
May 28, 2023
» A new way to connect offshore wind power to the grid
The owner of the Canal Station power plants in Sandwich is telling state regulators it may have an easier way for offshore wind farms to feed their electricity into the regional power grid and save ratepayers as much as $200 million.
By Bruce Mohl, Commonwealth Magazine
May 26, 2023
» Federal judge dismisses whale case, upholds permits for offshore Vineyard Wind project
A U.S. district judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to overturn the environmental review of the 800 MW Vineyard Wind project and halt it with an injunction over allegations of future harm to the North American right whale, citing “evidence in the Administrative Record that the Project is unlikely to cause the death of any right whale.”
By Diana Digangi, Utility Dive
May 23, 2023
» The fossil fuel industry owes at least $23.2 trillion in reparations for climate change
Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and Chevron are the companies that owe the most for damages to the climate
By Clarisa Diaz, Quartz
May 24, 2023
» Mass. agency dismisses 2 battery storage projects, citing lack of legal clarity over ‘generating facility’
A Massachusetts agency has dismissed two proposed battery energy storage systems, saying state law does not provide “clear guidance” on whether a BESS is a generating facility and subject to its jurisdiction.
By Stephen Singer, Utility Dive
May 23, 2023
» A Fifth of the World Could Live With Dangerous Heat by 2100, New Study Warns
Most people live in a place with a mean annual temperature of 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. But billions of people could see that figure jump to 84 degrees or higher, research says.
By Kristoffer Tigue, Inside Climate News
May 23, 2023
» On Earth Day, a call for Harvard’s fossil fuel divestment
Some of Harvard’s students, faculty and alumni want the university to drop oil and gas companies from its investment portfolio. A spokesperson for the university said the endowment should not be used to achieve political or policy goals.
By Harvard School of Public Health
April 20, 2023
» Warming and Drying Climate Puts Many of the World’s Biggest Lakes in Peril
A new global study of lakes shows water levels falling and finds a global warming fingerprint.
By Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News
May 18, 2023
» A New Battery Intended to Power Passenger Airplanes and EVs
CATL, the China-based global leader in EV batteries, recently announced a “semi-solid state” design with the potential for super long range.
By Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News
May 18, 2023
» RTOs may be ‘sick’ but weren’t designed to manage a huge transition of US generation. Here’s how to help.
Recent opinion pieces have discussed the health and value of regional transmission organizations.
By Matt King and John Chiles, UtilityDive
May 19, 2023
» The "Electrify Everything" Movement's Consumption Problem
Electrification offers an opportunity to rethink how we use energy. Will we squander it?
By Amy Westervelt, The Intercept
May 8, 2023
» Fossil Fuel Companies Should Pay Trillions in ‘Climate Reparations,’ New Study Argues
A peer-reviewed paper proposes that the top 21 polluting companies pay $5.4 trillion over 26 years to compensate for climate damages
By Nicholas Kusnetz, Inside Climate News
May 19, 2023
» Springfield, MA: March and Rally to Stop the Pipeline and Halt Gas Expansion
The Springfield Climate Justice Coalition invites folks throughout Massachusetts to the Stop the Pipeline Rally & March in downtown Springfield (Sterns Square) at 1pm Sunday, May 21.
By Food & Water Watch
May 17, 2023
» Power Shift: In less than a decade, the state’s electric grid must dramatically transform. It won’t be easy.
As climate-fueled catastrophes mount and Massachusetts pushes hundreds of thousands of residents toward electric heat and electric cars, what’s powering the grid has become an increasingly urgent question.
By Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe
May 13, 2023
» Frustrated by Outdated Grids, Consumers Are Lobbying for Control of Their Electricity
Climate change is spurring interest in remaking local infrastructure to accommodate renewable energy, minimize power failures and expand consumer choice.
By Emma Foehringer Merchant, Inside Cllimate News
May 5, 2023
» Energy storage facilities hit regulatory black hole
The State's Energy Facilities Siting Board concluded on Wednesday that it lacks authority to approve large energy storage facilities, which means two projects in Carver and Medway may be in jeopardy.
By Bruce Mohl, Commonwealth Magazine
May 10, 2023
» VPPs provide same resource adequacy as gas peakers, large batteries at up to 60% less cost: study
The net cost for a utility to provide resource adequacy from a virtual power plant is about 40% to 60% less than natural gas peaker plants and utility-scale batteries, a study released Tuesday by the Brattle Group and prepared for Google found.
By Patrick Cooley, Utility Dive
May 5, 2023
» Overly Impacted and Rarely Heard: Incorporating Community Voices into Massachusetts Energy Regulatory Processes
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, in collaboration with the National Consumer Law Center, GreenRoots, Alternatives for Community and Environment, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Vote Solar, Massachusetts Climate Action Network and the Regulatory Assistance Project, today announces the release of a report making recommendations to improve opportunities for public participation in proceedings at the state Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB).
By Roxana Martinez-Gracias, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
May 4, 2023
» Massachusetts energy agency calls for 3,600 MW of offshore wind proposals in state’s largest RFP to date
If approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, the RFP will be the state’s largest procurement of offshore wind energy. The procurement could supply 25% of the state’s annual electricity demand, according to the DOER.
By Emma Penrod, Utility Dive
May 3, 2023
» New York State To Ban Fossil Fuels In New Buildings
In a landmark victory for the state’s grassroots climate movement, New York will soon become the first state in the nation to enact a law banning fossil fuels in new buildings — a stark contrast to industry-led efforts in states across the country to preemptively halt efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
By Phoebe Galt, Food and Water Watch
May 2, 2023
» Energy Dome gets $44M uplift into its CO2 battery for renewable energy storage
The system works by changing the chemical compound, CO2, from gas to liquid and back to gas (via compression and/or evaporation) in order to generate heat — which is either stored or used to drive a generator depending on whether the system is in charging or discharging mode.
By Natasha Lomas, TechCrunch
April 27, 2023
» Two new commissions helping Mass. transition to clean energy, offshore wind
As the state creeps closer to deadlines on its climate targets, the Healey administration will launch two commissions aimed at easing the transition to clean energy infrastructure in Massachusetts.
By Sam Drysdale, WBUR
April 20, 2023
» Climate protesters call out US banks for funding fossil fuel projects
Offices of Citibank in New York and Wells Fargo in San Francisco targeted by activists urging shareholders to act.
By Erum Salam, The Guardian
April 25, 2023
» FERC clears NextDecade, Glenfarne LNG export projects after revising carbon, environmental justice reviews
The decisions come amid growing U.S. natural gas exports, which critics contend are driving up domestic prices for the fuel tied to electricity prices.
By Ethan Howland, Utility Dive
April 25, 2023
» Intensifying Cycle of Extreme Heat And Drought Grips Europe
Last summer’s heat waves killed 15,000 people, and the odds for even hotter years keep rising.
By Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News
April 20, 2023
» Bechtel nixes $1B power plant after years of permitting battles
The Reston, Virginia-based contractor cited ongoing challenges from environmental groups as the main reason for scrapping its plans for a natural gas-fired electric generating facility.
By Sebastian Obando, Utility Dive
April 20, 2023
» Study warns critical ocean current is nearing 'collapse.' That would be a global disaster.
Due to global warming, a deep ocean current around Antarctica that has been relatively stable for thousands of years could head for "collapse" over the next few decades. Such a sudden shift could affect the planet's climate and marine ecosystems for centuries to come.
By Doyle Rice, USA Today
April 11, 2023
» ‘Heat-pump coaches’ help neighbors ditch fossil heat in Massachusetts
Since 2020, at least 14 heat-pump coaching programs have sprung up in the state, all with the aim of making it easier to adopt the increasingly popular appliance.
By Alison F. Takemura, Canary Media
March 29, 2023
» NY moves toward public ownership, operation of renewable power in budget negotiated by state leaders
New York is moving closer to public ownership and operation of renewable power in state budget legislation being negotiated by Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, and leaders of the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
By Steven Singer, Utility Dive
April 3, 2023
» DOE releases strategy to reach 30 GW offshore wind by 2030, aiming to cut costs 30%, to $51/MWh
The Department of Energy on Wednesday released its Offshore Wind Energy Strategy, outlining goals of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 while cutting megawatt hour costs by a third. Additional goals include reaching 15 GW of floating offshore wind deployed by 2035 and 110 GW total deployed by 2050.
By Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive
March 30, 2023
» US electricity from renewables surpasses coal for first time
Renewable energy for the first time comprised more electricity generated in the U.S. last year than coal or nuclear power, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).By Zack Budryk, The Hill
March 28, 2023
» After five years of bureaucratic limbo, Cape Cod clean energy program finally comes to fruition
The Cape and Vineyard Electric Offering will provide a mix of solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage to 100 low- and middle-income households in the region.By Sarah Shemkus, Energy News
March 27, 2023
» Wind industry predicts bounceback and rapid growth in 2023
By Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press
March 27, 2023
» Global renewable growth broke records in 2022, adding almost 295 GW: IRENA
By Diana DiGangi, Utility DiveMarch 22, 2023
» Energy storage can be a lifesaver for people with disabilities, but policymakers can do more
By Maria Chavez, Utility DiveMarch 6, 2023
» How the Ukraine war sparked a clean energy drive in the West
By Ned Temko, Christian Science MonitorMarch 2, 2023
» PacifiCorp plans nearly fourfold increase of solar and wind portfolio by 2032
PacifiCorp plans to increase its current solar and wind portfolio by nearly four times, to roughly 20,000 MW by 2032, and achieve 7,400 MW of energy storage by 2029, the utility announced in an integrated resource plan filed with the regulators of six states last week.
By Kavya Balaraman, Utility DiveApril 7, 2023/
» Warning: A Pillar of Utility Regulation May Be About To Topple
The New Hampshire House is about to vote on a bill to repeal the whole integrated resource planning statute and replace it with – well, nothing. In fact, House Bill 281 has a reasonably good shot at passage, having been reported out of the Science, Technology, and Energy Committee on a tie, 10-10 vote on February 16.
By Donald M. Kreis, Power to the PeopleMarch 2, 2023
» How the Electric Utilities Industry Created One of the ‘Largest’ Propaganda Campaigns in U.S. History
A new book documents how today’s prevailing anti-regulatory and anti-government postures that deride Big Government and cheer for Big Business did not arise simply from grassroots demands. Instead, they arose from well-funded industry campaigns creating what the authors have called a manufactured consensus “quasi-religious belief” in deregulated markets and an accompanying diehard opposition to governmental solutions to public policy problems.
By Steve Horn, DeSmogFebruary 21, 2023
» In phasing out emissions, Duke Energy looks to lean on new natural gas plants
“You have a hammer, and everything looks like a nail.” Critics say Duke’s proposed path to net-zero leans too heavily on natural gas, an approach that ignores methane emissions and risks creating stranded assets.
By Elizabeth Ouzts, Energy News NetworkDecember 7, 2022
» Pushing back against the defenders of natural gas
Business as usual is a dead end road. With a grasp on new technology, public education, and good leadership, it can be done. And it must be done.
By Monte Pearson and Sue Donaldson, Commonwealth MagazineMarch 4, 2023
» A utility plan to replace gas with climate-friendly fuels is deeply flawed, according to new report
Using so-called green hydrogen to heat homes and other buildings would require so much electricity to simply manufacture the gas that it would “cannibalize” all the wind power Massachusetts expects to be generating by the end of the decade, a new report concludes.
By Sabrina Shankman, Boston GlobeMarch 6, 2023
» Public forum on Greylock Glen campsite development in Adams draws hundreds
A public forum at the former Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Adams on Thursday night was standing room only as Shared Estates made a presentation about its proposed campground at the Greylock Glen. Members of the public turned out in force to ask questions and make comments about the project.By Sten Spinella, The Berkshire Eagle
March 23, 202
» Climate activists urge to ditch big banks for locals — ‘Do What’s Right, Not What’s Convenient’
Climate action group 350 MA-Berkshires held a standout at Park Square, Pittsfield, to urge the community to move their money out of the “Big 4” American banks, which have lent more than $1 trillion to the fossil fuel industry since the Paris Peace Accords in 2015.The protesters came with a simple message: individual action can change the course of climate change. One action you can take – reconsider where you bank.By Aina de Lapparent Alvarez, The Berkshire Eagle
March 22, 2023
» Outcry as scientists sanctioned for climate protest
Rose Abramoff, an Earth scientist, and Peter Kalmus, a climate scientist, walked on stage at the beginning of an AGU plenary talk and held up a banner reading “Out of the lab & into the streets”. In response to the protest, the AGU removed the scientists’ abstracts from the meeting programme, expelled them from the meeting and opened cases of professional misconduct against them.By Myriam Vidal Valero, NatureFebruary 15, 2023
» FERC climate reviews in limbo as Glick departs.
FERC enters 2023 with a new leader, a vacant seat and an agenda topped by transmission and grid reliability
By Ethan Howland, Utility DiveJanuary 24, 2023
» DivestNU to introduce student government referendum calling on Northeastern to divest from fossil fuels
By Ahir Verma, Huntington News
February 15, 2023
» Texas leaders threaten wind and solar boom with legislative push
By Justin Jacobs, Financial Times
April 4, 2023
A renewable energy boom in Texas is under threat at the state legislature, as lawmakers take up new bills that would hobble wind and solar projects.
» Biden backs $8 billion Alaska oil project despite climate peril
By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Boston Globe
March 13, 2023
President Joe Biden authorized a giant ConocoPhillips oil project in northwest Alaska that environmentalists argue has no place in a warming world, even as he sought to bar future drilling across US Arctic waters and lands
» What will it take for DPU to stop lagging in push for clean energy?
By Boston Globe
March 3, 2023
» As Prices Soar, Fossil Fuel Industry Looks After Its Interests on Beacon Hill
By Dig Boston
February 28, 2023
» Bonnie Heiple, an attorney, named MassDEP commissioner
By Colin A. Young, State House News Service
March 14, 2023
» NY Assembly Bill A4866 Enacts the “fossil fuel facilities replacement and redevelopment blueprint act”
By Dr. Anna R. Kelles – New York State Assembly
February 24, 2023
» Lawmakers, advocates call for faster rollout on local fossil fuel bans
By Hannah Reale, WGBH
February 23, 2023
» House Republican Bill Sacrifices Public Lands for Fossil Fuel Profits
By Geoffrey Nolan, EarthJustice
January 27, 2023
» PacifiCorp plans nearly fourfold increase of solar and wind portfolio by 2032
PacifiCorp plans to increase its current solar and wind portfolio by nearly four times, to roughly 20,000 MW by 2032, and achieve 7,400 MW of energy storage by 2029, the utility announced in an integrated resource plan filed with the regulators of six states last week.
By Kavya Balaraman, Utility Dive
April 7, 2023