Western Area Power Administration’s Post

Energy transition is a key focus of our traditional energy clients and new alternatives energy clients.

We're helping our clients do great things in a changing energy landscape. From assisting in the transition to clean energy to pipeline engineering, environmental permitting and integrity and compliance, our professionals have the skills to help our clients succeed. Learn more about how EXP can support your next energy project > https://bit.ly/49ZAIcW #Energy #Pipeline #EXPerienceMatters #GreenTransition 

The permitting process for energy projects can drag on for years, resulting in multiple state and federal hurdles, environmental studies and judicial reviews. This is true not only of traditional projects involving oil and gas but also renewables like wind and solar and long-distance transmission. Legislation proposed by a pair of influential senators aims to help move these projects along every step of the way. In today’s RBN blog we examine the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 https://lnkd.in/gGXYRH5v

"The #DepartmentofEnergy will issue #permitting decisions for proposed #transmission lines on #federalland within two years of applications being filed, about twice as fast as current averages, under a final rule issued Thursday. The #rule creates the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits program. In a change from current practice, it establishes #DOE as the lead agency on transmission line permitting applications and requires #developers to develop a #publicparticipation plan for their projects, which will improve project success rates, DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a media briefing Wednesday. Under the program, DOE will work with other #federalagencies to prepare a single National Environmental Policy Act environmental review document to support each agency’s permit decision making for transmission projects, the department said. Currently, it can take more than a decade to get new transmission lines approved and built, according to Ben Norris, vice president of regulatory affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association. “Coupled with updating #grid #infrastructure and resolving the growing #interconnection queue, streamlining transmission approvals is an urgent, near-term priority for the U.S. #solar and #storage industry,” Norris said, noting that a dozen federal agencies can be involved in permitting..." https://lnkd.in/eH6QuUQz

A recent Stanford study finds that 2/3 of large solar energy projects are litigated through NEPA, 51% of pipelines, 31% of transmission projects, 38% of wind projects. https://lnkd.in/dgG-_cQb #permitting #energy #solar #wind #Transmission

When you hear the words, "permitting reform", what does that mean to you? Don't assume the permitting process will now be easier and the requirements that have burdened project developers no longer exist. While the bill sets deadlines for court and federal agency reviews, the NEPA, CWA, ESA, NHPA requirements all still exist. There is no level of permitting reform that can replace the efficiency of an experienced environmental consultant. Hire a consultant early in the planning process to ensure your project not only gets off the ground, but makes it to the finish line on time and within budget. #teamues #environmental #permitting #NEPA #energy #solar

I've spoken to around 50 of PV & Wind project developers from all over Germany. Something I've noticed about the most successful ones is besides having a great understanding of the industry and having a realistic view on the upcoming developments, they all have a great attention to detail in common. The projects they are working on usually go over years. Starting with the site selection, land acquisition, permitting phase etc. and there are a million different things that have to be considered. Environmental studies, making sure the local municipalities are on their side, as well as conducting constraint analyses. Therefore, having a helicopter view is important but the attention to detail even more so. Curious to learn more keys to success in project development? Let's chat! #RenewableEnergy #ProjectDevelopment #SolarPV #Germany

California legislators are working on a set of laws to simplify and speed up the approval process for solar and offshore wind projects. The goal is to finalize these measures before the end of the legislative session this month. The proposed laws, which are still under wraps, aim to incentivize in-state production and components, provide tax credits, and update permitting and environmental review processes. Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire is reportedly involved in drafting these measures, which are intended to modernize the state’s energy grid and increase green energy facilities. https://lnkd.in/ebtnDzsj Here are some hashtags related to the proposed California energy legislation: #CaliforniaEnergy #GreenEnergy #SolarPower #OffshoreWind #EnergyReform #ClimateAction #SustainableFuture

Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company and Georgia’s main utility, received approval on Tuesday from the Georgia Public Service Commission on an integrated resource plan update which proposed 1,400 MW of new gas and oil-fired generation. Georgia Power filed the update with the PSC in October, saying in a release that the state is “attracting extraordinary customer growth” and needs to deploy additional electricity generation to reliably and economically support Georgia’s rapidly growing energy needs as a result. Environmental groups like the Southern Environmental Law Center have criticized the decision, raising concerns about the state’s continued reliance on fossil fuels and potential rate increases for customers. To save energy & cost for your business, contact me at https://buff.ly/2EjAMbu. #Reliability #EnergyStorage #EnergyEfficiency #Renewables #EnergyAudit #Procurement #Resilience https://buff.ly/3U71KZk

Just submitted the state level permitting documents for a new wind project in Maine. Amazing work Lindsay Deane-Mayer and Brooke Guiffre in preparing this 3600-page masterpiece that was over 2 years in the making. If our goal is to accelerate the energy transition, I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t a better way than to invent the wheel for every project developed.     I imagine a world where federal, state, and local officials have consistent permitting requirements which have been regionally coordinated. Imagine if these agencies could issue standards that could eliminate the additional review and study of individual sections of permits, leaving detailed reviews only for deviations from the standards. Imagine if we could consistently have a process to learn from the vast amounts of data collected by the government from past projects in order to reduce requirements for each subsequent project.   Bold thinking is needed to meet the promise and potential of a clean energy future. Until then #Palmer will continue to push projects forward just as we have for the past four decades.