Renewable Northwest’s Post

A new study by the clean energy research and advocacy group RMI highlights the significant economic potential of expanding interstate transmission lines for clean energy in the Western U.S. States like Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Montana, which traditionally export fossil-fuel-based electricity, could potentially grow their clean energy market to $50 billion by 2050. This potential hinges on the development of extensive transmission networks. Without this development, the market could shrink to just $3 billion. The study suggests that a coordinated approach to building these lines could cut the cost of creating a carbon-free grid by 30%, benefiting ratepayers across the West and helping states achieve their clean energy goals. According to RMI, renewable energy projects are increasing in the West, with significant development in solar and wind farms. However, lengthy permitting procedures and high costs complicate the integration process. A backlog of nearly 12,000 projects exemplifies the need for faster approvals and better transmission planning. FERC is introducing new rules to expedite this process, but the challenge remains in building the necessary infrastructure. RMI's analysis emphasizes the need for more regional planning in the West to support clean energy goals. The study suggests that investing in transmission planning could reduce reliance on expensive baseload generation and make renewable energy more cost-effective in the future. #EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #TransmissionPlanning https://lnkd.in/gc8JvBkq

As we frequently discuss – quantum of clean infrastructure implementation ahead of us is massive as we install the capacity to power our nation’s continued growth as well as meet our targets for electrification and decarbonization. Of the many development challenges along the road from “project concept” to “development complete” – the permitting stage is one that each and every project will traverse. USA Today covers a troubling trend of renewable energy permitting bans that are cropping up in markets and targeting projects of varying sizes and technologies. This will be an area for regulators, customers and developers to dig into to ensure that we are putting the right assets in the right places, and providing the benefits of the renewable energy transition in a stable, scalable and equitable manner. #madeinamerica #development #permitting https://lnkd.in/eGTxtwQP

Comments due on December 13, 2024 for the new Integrated Energy Resource Plan Consultation: Ontario is seeking feedback from the public, stakeholders and Indigenous communities that will inform Ontario’s first integrated energy resource plan through releasing a vision document: “Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power” #ontario #energy #energyplanning #energytransition #integratedplanning #electricity

🍃 Renewable Energy Industry News 🍃 Extensive developments have begun to unite the Western Electricity Gird, with California playing a crucial role. As key decisions are yet to be made, the region remains at a crossroads posing the question: Will it embrace a unified market to enhance renewable energy flow and reduce costs? California's influence sparks debate and two proposals command for attention highlighting the urgency of governance concerns. The initiative strives to balance state interest and climate goals setting the stage for transformative change in the region. Please see a full link to the article below: https://lnkd.in/d9nWA-sv #WesternGridUnity #ElectricityIntegration #RenewableEnergyFlow #GovernanceChallenges #CaliforniaEnergy #EnergyMarketDecision #RenewableIntegration #UtilityDecisions #GridReliability #CostReduction #RegionalEnergyMarket #PathwaysInitiative #StateInterests #ClimateAction #GridTransformation #EnergyMarketVision #SustainableGrid #RenewablePowerSharing #WesternEnergyMarket #DecarbonizationGoals #EnergyPolicy #GreenEnergyTransition #GridModernization #SustainabilityEfforts #EnergySectorCollaboration Mackinnon Bruce International

The clean energy transition continued to speed along last year, with an evolving regulatory environment and improving economics for renewables driving their adoption. In the article below, Canary Media Inc. illustrates the progress made in 2023. One key takeaway: 84% of new power capacity added to the grid last year was clean energy. As renewable capacity grows, reliable, cost-effective LDES solutions like Quidnet’s geomechanical pumped storage technology will become ever more critical. https://lnkd.in/e76xKjN9 #EnergyStorage #CleanEnergy #LDES

Minnesota’s Bold Move for Clean Energy 🌱⚡ TL;DR: Minnesota regulators have approved CenterPoint Energy's $106 million clean energy plan, targeting a 14% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over five years. The initiative includes investments in renewable natural gas and geothermal systems, with a projected monthly cost increase of $1.50 for consumers. Highlights • Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approves CenterPoint's clean energy initiatives • Funded by the Natural Gas Innovation Act, promoting carbon-reduction technologies • Average consumer bills to rise by $1.50 monthly for long-term environmental sustainability • $40 million dedicated to renewable natural gas sourced from organic waste • Plans for retrofitting homes with electric heat pumps and networked geothermal systems • Mixed stakeholder reactions with calls for regulatory safeguards #CleanEnergy #CenterPointEnergy #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #Minnesota Article Source https://lnkd.in/g39WdqYd

It’s no small sign of progress to see increased investment across North America in the development, storage, and deployment of renewable energy sources like wind and solar and thus, parallel decreases in greenhouse gas emissions. Along with that crucial shift comes a host of changes and challenges to electricity market regulation as the old ways of making sure there is always enough electricity to meet demand no longer work when an increasing amount of power supply depends on whether the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. ☀ 🌬 🔌 With Stage 1 funding from Stanford Impact Labs, Mark Thurber and Frank Wolak of the Stanford Program on Energy and Sustainable Development and David Brown of the University of Alberta, along with the Western Interstate Energy Board, are working to address that need by building a coalition across the U.S. and Canada that includes regulators (Alberta Utilities Commission), ratepayer advocate groups (California Public Advocates Office), and system operators (AESO). Their aim? To empower regulators to translate the latest scientific knowledge about long- and short-term market design for high-renewables grids into regulatory policies that benefit consumers and to model improved policy for jurisdictions everywhere grappling with the challenges of the new renewable energy paradigm. 🌎 #renewableenergy #cleanenergy #greenenergy #electricity #energypolicy #energymarkets #wind #solar #evidencebased #research #solutions #socialimpact #environmentalimpact

BREAKING NEWS: New rules passed today by federal regulators will help increase reliance on renewable energy — and decrease reliance on planet-killing fossil fuels. Utilities are too oriented to profits now, and they value shareholder profit over long-term thinking. According to the The New York Times: "The new federal rule, which was two years in the making, requires grid operators around the country to identify needs 20 years into the future, taking into account factors like changes in the energy mix, the growing number of states that require wind and solar power and the risks of extreme weather." This aligns perfectly with the workshop my company, Brooklyn Story Lab, helped produce for the nonprofit Blue Planet Alliance this past week in Hawaii, where we invited attendees from 10 island countries to share tips on how they can go 100% renewable energy by 2045. Here's the just-published story in today's NYT: https://lnkd.in/emCuyYNU

It’s a clean power record for the Golden State! For the past month, clean energy has provided 100% of California’s energy demand—for between 15 minutes and six hours per day—in 30 of the last 38 days. Clean energy is powering our future—and our present. https://bit.ly/4aY2abt

California has hit a remarkable milestone on its journey toward 100% clean energy. For 100 days this year, the state operated on 100% carbon-free, renewable electricity for part of each day, showcasing what a green future could look like. This achievement comes amid the hottest July on record, with no blackouts or emergency power cuts. This progress reflects significant investments in renewable energy, particularly in #batterystorage allowing #solarpower to be utilized even when the sun isn’t shining. Yet, the road ahead remains challenging. California must transition away from fossil fuels while managing an increasing demand for #electricity as more #electricvehicles and appliances come online. The state aims to run on 60% renewable energy by 2030, ramping up to 100% by 2045. While challenges like grid reliability and the ongoing reliance on natural gas persist, California’s progress serves as a blueprint for a sustainable future. #cleanenergy #renewableenergy #california #sustainability #solarenergy #growth #renewables #solarpowered #sustainabledevelopment #roadmap