[USA] “Duke Energy’s $62 Million Solar Rebate Program Approved for North Carolina Residential, Business and Nonprofit Customers”

[Duke Energy, 16 April 2018]

North Carolina’s Utilities Commission has approved “Duke Energy’s $62 million solar rebate program- which will help North Carolina customers with the upfront cost of installing solar panels on their property.” North Carolina residential customers will be able to receive a rebate of 60 cents/ watt for solar energy systems that are less than 10 kW; nonresidential customers will be able to receive 50 cents/watt, while nonprofits can receive 75 cents/watt on 100 kW systems or less. For systems greater than 100 kW, nonresidential customers can receive a maximum rebate of $50,000, while nonprofit customers may receive up to $75,000. The program also includes a solar leasing option for customers.  The program is also expected to fuel the economy of the state as it will double North Carolina’s private solar market over the next 5 years. It is also just one part of North Carolina’s House Bill 589 (2017)- also known as the Competitive Energy Solutions for North Carolina. The state’s push into renewables likely accounts for its status as second in the country for total solar capacity. 

[USA] “Large Corporations are Leading America’s Surge in Solar Deployment”

[SEIA, 19 April 2018]

As detailed in the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) Solar Means Business 2017 report, the solar industry is being driven largely by America’s top businesses. 4,000 US companies have installed over 2.5 GW of solar capacity spanning around 7,400 projects. Abigail Ross Hopper, the President and CEO of SEIA, spoke of solar as a common-sense answer to energy: “Large corporations have found that going solar not only benefits the environment, but also their bottom-line, satisfying both shareholders and customers alike.” Some companies pursuing an aggressive solar agenda include: Target (who ranked number 1 in 2017 solar installations), Walmart, Apple, Macy’s, and Amazon.

[USA] “PJM Files Capacity Market Proposals on Generator Subsidies- Seeks to Protect Benefits of Competition While Accommodating States’ Policies”

[PJM, 9 April2018]

PJM has requested FERC to identify how the wholesale electricity capacity market should respond to state subsidies of energy generators. In their filing, PJM has included two proposed solutions: 1) PJM’s recommended solution, Capacity Repricing, would “create a two-stage capacity auction process to accommodate state subsidies without distorting market prices;” and the other proposal 2) MOPR-Ex, which (as the name implies) extends the Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) to “require a subsidize generation resource to remove the effect of the subsidy” from its capacity market bid. PJM has requested FERC make a decision on its subsidized proposals by June 29. A decision by this date would see tariff changes implemented by January 2019 and thereby allow the chosen proposal to take effect by the May 2019 annual capacity auction.

[USA] “U.S. Department of Energy and National Association of Manufacturers Announce Sustainability in Manufacturing Partnership”

[DOE, 10 April 2018]

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), have announced their new partnership, “Sustainability in Manufacturing Partnership,” to encourage U.S. manufacturers to implement energy productivity, efficiency improvements and new technologies. Regarding the partnership, Rick Perry stated, “Working alongside our private sector partners, we are driving cost savings and a stronger, more secure U.S. industrial base.” NAM CEO and President Jay Timmons added that this partnership will be another example of the Trump Administration’s ability to prioritize both industry and the environment- without sacrificing one for the other: “Manufacturers accept the responsibility to better the future of our communities, our environment and our children, which is why over the past decade, we have reduced emissions by 10 percent even as our value to the economy has increased 19 percent.”

[USA] “Trump Administration Proposes Sale for Wind Energy Off Massachusetts Coast”

[DOI, 6 April 2018]

The Department of Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, has revealed the proposed lease sale of two offshore wind projects in Massachusetts. Together, the projects will extend over 390,000 acres and has been identified because of its minimal impacts on fishing habitats and marine animals.” These two projects are seen to be part of Trump’s “America-First Offshore Energy Strategy” and the Administration’s commitment to build a diversified energy portfolio. Zinke also stated, “The Trump Administration supports an all-of-the-above energy policy and using every tool available to achieve American energy dominance.” The Proposed Sale Notice will be open for a 60-day public comment period commencing on April 11, 2018.

[USA] “EPA Administrator Pruitt: GHG Emissions Standards for Cars and Light Trucks Should Be Revised”

[EPA, 2 April 2018]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced at the conclusion of the “Midterm Evaluation (MTE) process for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for cars and light trucks for model years 2022-2025” that current emission standards (set by the Obama Administration) are higher than necessary. Accordingly, the EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will work together to begin a notice and comment rulemaking process to set standards that are in line with the Trump Administration’s views on this regard. Pruitt intends the new standard to apply at a national scale and is meant to encourage the affordability of new cars “while still expanding environmental and safety benefits of newer cars.”

[USA] “Department of Energy Partners with NASA to Call for Transformative Energy Ideas”

[Department of Energy, 29 March 2018]

DOE’s ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) team have announced that they, along with NASA, will launch an iTech challenge. This challenge would feature the country’s top entrepreneurs’ and researchers’ “transformative energy concepts.” This challenge seeks innovative technologies that would “improve energy generation, storage and distribution to the benefit of both space exploration and life on Earth.” Some of the technology groups that will be showcased in this competition include [regenerative] fuel cells, solar power systems, smart grids, wireless distribution systems, small fission power systems, etc. The challenge will continue until April 29, 2018 and the top 10 finalists will present their findings to experts in the field as well as potential investors.

[USA] “President Donald J. Trump Sparks Renewed Focus on American Infrastructure”

[White House, 27 March 2018]

Trump has identified this past week (week of March 26) as infrastructure week in the US. Accordingly, key members of the administration have released their own statements regarding the state of the US’s infrastructure system and the Trump plan.  Some of the key themes from these statements surround topics such as a bipartisan push for infrastructure development and easing regulatory burdens and permitting processes. Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Greg Walden (R-OR), commented on the importance of investing in energy infrastructure in order to ensure reliability and resiliency. The Chairman also mentioned in his statement that 24 energy infrastructure bills have passed the House of Representatives; these bills focus on “pipeline and electric transmission lines infrastructure, hydropower licensing, Brownfields, air quality standards, and energy efficiency.” As seen by the various calls for action put out by the Administration, the push for infrastructure spending remains strong.