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We’ve been talking about a national grid for years. It might be time to do it.
The virtues of grid expansion apply on every level. Even within the three big grids, coordination and interconnection could certainly be improved. (California is currently deciding whether to link up with a larger Western energy market, in part due to the lure of savings from operating a bigger grid.) But those virtues especially apply at the national level. If there was any doubt about that, it has been put to rest by the release of a massive new study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). [ read more … ]
DOE announcement caps stellar week for offshore wind
To top off a series of positive developments for the offshore wind industry, the Department of Energy put out a request for information (RFI) today asking how it can leverage its research capabilities to boost the technology even more. The RFI, which asks for input from the public and industry, is focused on research and development test facilities. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
How Big a Deal Is Trump’s Fuel Economy Rollback? For the Climate, Maybe the Biggest Yet
President Trump’s proposal this week to weaken fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks could be his most consequential climate-policy rollback yet, increasing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by an amount greater than many midsize countries put out in a year. Assuming the plan is finalized and survives legal challenges, America’s cars and trucks would emit an extra 321 million to 931 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere between now and 2035 as a result of the weaker rules, according to an analysis by the research firm Rhodium Group. A separate estimate by the think tank Energy Innovation pegged the number even higher, at 1.25 billion metric tons.
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Trump makes his biggest move on climate with car rules
Of the many climate rollbacks the Trump administration has undertaken, its proposal to freeze vehicle fuel efficiency standards stands to increase emissions the most. Experts said it’s difficult to make direct comparisons between President Trump’s various moves on regulations and their effect on rising temperatures. He’s weakened emissions rules on the power sector and, separately, oil and gas operations. He’s also threatened to remove the United States from the Paris climate agreement. [ read more … ]
How weakened fuel rules could lead to EV haves, have-nots
The weakened fuel-efficiency standards that the Trump administration unveiled yesterday arrive at a pivotal time for electric cars and the infrastructure to charge them. Is momentum strong enough to keep them growing as Washington applies the brakes? The answer may come down to the states, where decisions are made on whether to spend millions of dollars to build charging infrastructure. Some, like California and Massachusetts, seemed poised to zoom ahead, their resolve stiffened by early successes and a desire to clean the air and repudiate the president. [ read more … ]
Two solar officials exit as trade group shuffles priorities
The Solar Energy Industries Association recently removed two senior officials as part of a shift in “strategic priorities.” The trade group ousted Tom Kimbis, executive vice president and general counsel, and Christopher Mansour, vice president of federal affairs, late last month. Both are well-known in Washington solar circles. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.