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Bound to silence by politics, state regulators plan quietly
Meetings of state electricity regulators have for years been dominated by conversations about how to cut greenhouse gas levels under U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan. But at a conference here of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners this week, mentions of the federal climate change rule were few and far between. More than five months since the Supreme Court halted implementation of the rule, a majority of states are no longer actively talking through compliance options. And regulators from those states don’t want to disrespect the wishes of their political leaders by speaking about the Clean Power Plan publicly, several commissioners noted. [ read more … ]
Venture capital ‘broken’ for clean energy — analysis
The venture capital system is “broken” for clean energy technology, according to a new paper from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The analysis concludes that alternative funding streams from government or elsewhere are needed to boost the next wave of clean energy innovations. “The picture for clean tech venture capital looks grim — especially for companies developing breakthrough energy technologies,” said Benjamin Gaddy, director of technology development at Clean Energy Trust and author of the new research released by MIT’s Energy Initiative. [ read more … ]
Headlong or plodding, Western market is moving forward
California and its neighbors are in the throes of birthing a new electricity market, with features just beginning to emerge. The Golden State is spearheading proceedings to form a full-fledged Western electricity market — an idea that hasn’t been entertained since the energy crisis of 2000-01. Several states, including California and Nevada, are already sending electricity cross-border in five-minute increments, but now California is exploring forming a regional transmission organization with the five other states that share utility PacifiCorp’s territory — Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. [ read more … ]
Alliant to invest $1 billion in Iowa wind energy
Standing with Kirkwood Community College’s 2.5 megawatt wind turbine at his back, Gov. Terry Branstad shared the latest news for Iowa’s growing wind industry — Alliant Energy’s $1 billion investment in wind power. That investment will add 500 megawatts — equal to 200 of Kirkwood’s turbines — to Iowa’s renewable energy infrastructure. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Alliant CEO Patricia Kampling announced the utility’s plans during a Wednesday news conference. [ read more … ]
Legal settlement may salvage biggest wind project in Iowa history
The largest proposed wind energy project in Iowa’s history appears to be back on track this week after a tense period when it seemed the deal might fall apart over differences between a utility and large energy users. On Tuesday, MidAmerican Energy — the utility pursuing the $3.6 billion Wind XI project — reached an accord with several major customers that objected to the plan, including tech giants Google, Microsoft and Facebook and a group of large industrial customers known as the Iowa Business Energy Coalition (IBEC). [ read more … ]
Europe Offshore Wind Investments So Far This Year Already Beating 2015
Europe’s offshore wind-power industry attracted more investment in the first half of 2016 than it did during the whole of last year, according to figures from trade association WindEurope. Investment hit a record 14 billion euros ($15.4 billion) in the first six months of 2016, exceeding the 13.3 billion euros invested in 2015, according to the organization’s report Wednesday. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.