［USA］Dan Brouillette Confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be Secretary of Energy

On December 2, 2019, the day after Secretary Rick Perry resigned, the United States Senate confirmed Dan Brouillette—former Deputy Secretary of Energy under Secretary Rick Perry—to be the 15th U.S. Secretary of Energy in a bipartisan vote of 70-15.[1] The vote follows the November 14th Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on Brouillette’s nomination where he pledged to fight for Department of Energy’s (DOE) budget and reiterated his commitment to a holistic approach to energy which includes using coal and other fossil fuels as baseload energy.[2] Before his transition to the DOE, Brouillette worked in the transportation private sector for United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and Ford Motor Company, where he served in leadership positions.[3] He also worked in several government positions prior to his private sector work such as Chief of Staff to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/dan-brouillette-confirmed-us-senate-be-secretary-energy

[2] https://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/11/full-committee

[3] https://www.energy.gov/articles/dan-brouillette-sworn-deputy-secretary-united-states-department-energy

［USA］ITIF Releases Report on Using Tax Incentives to Drive Clean Energy Innovation

The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a think tank that promotes innovation-friendly policies in science and technology, released a report on December 2, 2019 that found that existing federal tax credits for solar and wind power need to be reformed and are not conducive to development of new clean energy technologies.[1] According to the report, an extension of credits would favor the most widely used technologies over younger, more expensive alternatives that could eventually prove superior. Currently, tax credits for solar and wind are set to wind down over the next few years. The investment tax credit (ITC), most typically used for solar, drops from 30% in 2019 to 10% in 2022 for utility-scale systems and for residential systems it disappears completely in 2022. Starting next year, wind developers can no longer claim a production tax credit (PTC) for new projects. Despite these phase-downs or phaseouts, the ITIF says that both the wind and solar industries would keep growing. Instead of an extension to these tax credits, the ITIF report envisions new tax credits for early adopters of new technologies and innovations, which would allow companies to scale up and work out the kinks in their product.

[1] https://itif.org/publications/2019/12/02/less-certain-death-using-tax-incentives-drive-clean-energy-innovation

［USA］Nevada PUC floats proposal for 1,000 MW storage target by 2030

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) submitted a proposal to the Nevada state’s Legislative Counsel Bureau on November 26, 2019.[1] Under the proposal, PUCN would adopt a 1,000 MW statewide energy storage target for utilities by the end of 2030. To achieve this, it is proposed that there would be biennial targets, beginning with 100 MW by the end of 2020 and then ramping up to 400 MW and 800 MW by 2024 and 2028, respectively. Beginning in 2022, utilities in Nevada would be required to file progress updates with the commission. The proposal comes more than two years after SB 204 directed the commission to look into requiring utilities to purchase storage.[2] PUCN has looked into the costs and benefits of storage and commissioned a report on these concerns in 2018 which found that the most cost-effective amount of storage for Nevada’s market conditions in 2030 was in the 700 MW to 1,000 MW range.[3] Most recently, NV Energy, a public utility, proposed on June 24, 2019 to procure 590 MW of energy storage which would put the proposal by the PUCN seven years ahead of schedule.[4]

[1] http://pucweb1.state.nv.us/PDF/AxImages/DOCKETS_2015_THRU_PRESENT/2017-7/43083.pdf

[2] https://legiscan.com/NV/bill/SB204/2017

[3] https://brattlefiles.blob.core.windows.net/files/14618_economic_potential_for_storage_in_nevada_-_final.pdf

[4] http://pucweb1.state.nv.us/PDF/AxImages/DOCKETS_2015_THRU_PRESENT/2019-6/39888.pdf

［USA］Lyft Adds 200 EVs to Denver Rental Program

Lyft, a ride-share company similar to Uber, announced on November 14, 2019 that it deployed 200 long-range electric vehicles (EVs) into its Express Drive program in Denver. This is the largest EV deployment in state history and one of the largest in the country. The introduction of EVs in Denver follows an announcement earlier this year on February 6, 2019 that Lyft intends to introduce thousands of EVs to their program across multiple cities, and will make it easier for riders to request them through Green Mode, an option to ride in EVs instead of their gasoline-reliant counterparts. The Express Drive program operates in nearly three dozen U.S. cities and allows drivers to rent vehicles through Lyft’s partners instead of committing to longer-term options. Having EVs as a rental option will help solve one of the biggest barriers to adoption of EVs: cost. According to Lyft, the EVs will also help the drivers save on cost, potentially saving them $70-100 per week on fuel costs alone.

References：
https://blog.lyft.com/posts/lyft-denver-ev-2019
https://www.lyft.com/expressdrive
https://blog.lyft.com/posts/2019/2/6/making-cities-more-liveable-with-electric-vehicles

［USA］SRP to Cut Emissions Through Major Solar + Battery Energy Purchase

On November 14, 2019, Arizona’s Salt River Project (SRP) announced plans for two solar plus storage projects (Sonoran Energy Center and Storey Energy Center) which are expected to come online by June 2023. The following day, November 15, 2019, SRP introduced its new plan to add 1 GW of new utility-scale solar by 2025. The solar plus storage projects will push the utility more than 60% toward this goal. The Sonoran Energy Center will include a 250 MW solar array charging a four-hour battery system capable of storing 1GWh, and will be the largest solar-charged battery project in the state. The Storey Energy Center will be an 88 MW solar and energy storage system. Both projects will be owned and operated by subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources. The projects will help serve the utility’s peak load as SRP retires coal-fired resources.

References：https://media.srpnet.com/srp-to-cut-emissions-through-major-solar--battery-energy-purchase/
　　　　　 https://media.srpnet.com/srp-plans-new-solar-energy

［USA］PSEG in Talks to Acquire 25% of Ørsted’s 1.1 GW New Jersey Offshore Wind Project

Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind, a Danish offshore wind developer, and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), a New Jersey-based utility, announced on October 29, 2019 the beginning of exclusive negotiations for PSEG to become an equity investor in the 1.1 GW New Jersey offshore wind project, Ocean Wind. If negotiations are successful, PSEG would acquire 25% of the Ocean Wind project. PSEG was already connected to the project, having pledged its energy management services and leased land for its development. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities unanimously granted Ørsted the winning bid in June of this year and the project serves as the first of three solicitations by New Jersey to secure 3.5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. The project, located 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, is the single largest award for offshore wind in the country to date and will supply power to half a million New Jersey homes. Ocean Wind is expected to come online in 2024 but it remains subject to permitting and final investment decisions.

References：https://nj.pseg.com/newsroom/newsrelease112

［USA］Commonwealth of Virginia, Dominion Energy Partner on Historic Renewable Energy Agreement

Under a new agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Dominion Energy, the state will receive 420MW of renewable energy for its universities, state offices, and other facilities, Dominion Energy announced on October 18, 2019. Dominion plans to deliver power for the contract from four proposed solar projects and a 75W wind facility currently in development. The historic contract is the largest procurement of renewable energy by a state and is line with the current goals of both Virginia and Dominion Energy. Just last month, Gov. Ralph Northam signed an executive order committing the state to 100% carbon free energy by 2050 and 30% renewable energy by 2030. The new deal with Dominion, when combined with previous solar projects, will meet 45% of the state government’s annual energy use. The agreement is also a next step for Dominion Energy which committed itself to being one of the most sustainable companies in the United State in their most recent Sustainability Report.

---

References：Dominion Energy, Oct. 18, 2019, Virginia Executive Order 43 (2019)

［USA］DOE Awards $28 Million for Wind Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Projects

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced on October 22, 2019 that it selected 13 wind energy projects with a total of $28 million in funding. This follows an announcement by the DOE in March calling for concept papers and full applications for the funding. The 13 selected projects cover the full spectrum of technology development, from testing to integration, and include all three sectors of the wind energy industry: distributed, offshore, and land-based utility-scale wind. As of October 2019, utility scale, land-based wind energy had grown to 96 gigawatts in the United States. Despite this growth, the DOE still sees significant opportunities for improvements in cost through projects that focus on upgrades in current infrastructure, developing innovative technologies, and supporting rural electric utilities. Daniel R Simmons, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, commented, “These projects will be instrumental in driving down technology costs and increasing consumer options for wind across the United States as part of our comprehensive energy portfolio.”

---

References：DOE, Oct. 22, 2019, DOE, Mar. 28, 2019

[USA]“Detroit Zoo to Meet 100% Renewable Energy Goal”

[Detroit Zoological Society, 22 August 2019]

The Detroit Zoo, located in Michigan, has announced that they will aim to achieve 100% renewable energy use through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program by the end of 2020. The energy will be sourced from three new wind energy sites. As a result, 7,425 metric tons of CO2 will be offset. This is not the first time the Detroit Zoological Society has taken steps towards sustainability; in fact, the organization has already received four awards for its environmental initiatives (including a permeable pavement for diverting storm water, an anaerobic digester for transforming animal waste into compost and energy, and the use of solar/electric hybrid golf carts and bicycles for transportation within the zoo. The zoo is also the first of its kind to install a Smartflower, which is “an all-in-one ground-mounted solar panel system that generates more than 4,000 kw of electricity annually.” The Detroit Zoological Society is also working towards energy efficiency by upgrading over 50 of the zoo’s buildings and will install LED lighting throughout the zoo.

[USA] “WFEC, NextEra Energy Resources, Planning Largest Combined Wind, Solar and Energy Storage Facility in U.S.”

[Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, 23 July 2019]

The Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) will enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with NextEra Energy Resources. The project will be the “largest combined wind, solar and energy storage project in the U.S.” There will be two phases to the project, the Skeleton Creek Wind site (250 MW capacity) will come online by the end of 2019; Skeleton Creek Solar (250 MW of solar) and Skeleton Creek Storage (200 MW – 4 hour duration battery project) will both come online at the end of 2023. The Skeleton Creek projects will help WFEC diversify their energy portfolio which will soon consist of 521 MW of solar generation, 955 MW of wind generation, and 270 MW of hydroelectric generation. Additionally, by the time these projects come online, 50% of WFEC’s nameplate capacity will come from wind, solar, and hydro energy. Furthermore, these new projects will also revitalize the local economy, create hundreds of construction jobs, full-time operational jobs, and millions of dollars of additional revenue to the residents and the communities in the region. John Ketchum, President and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources, said of the upcoming projects, ““Pairing renewable energy with battery storage presents a tremendous advantage for Western Farmers and its customers. With this combined facility, we can optimize and maximize the amount of low-cost, emissions-free electricity we provide, while helping Western Farmers diversify its power generation portfolio, reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and set a great example for others to follow.”

[USA] “Duke Energy Renewables Announces the Largest Wind Power Project in its Fleet – 350 MW Frontier Windpower [sic] II in Oklahoma”

[Duke Energy, 24 July 2019]

Duke Energy Renewables, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, has announced their largest wind power project of its fleet as of yet. The Frontier Windpower II project of 350 MW is located in Kay County, Oklahoma. Nordex Group will provide the 74 4.8 MW turbines needed for this project. The project will be fully operational by December of 2020. The project is a continuation of an existing site -Frontier Windpower; together, Frontier I and II will generate a combined total of 550 MW of wind energy which will then be able to power around 193,000 homes. Ball Corporation – involved in the packaging and aerospace industries- has signed onto a 15 year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for 161 MW of the Frontier II site and another corporation has agreed to a VPPA for the purchase of 160 MW (the name of this corporation will be announced later in 2019). John A. Hayes, Chairman, President, and CEO of the Ball Corporation, signaled the importance of sustainability credentials for his company saying of the VPPA, “The renewable energy agreement with Duke Energy Renewables places Ball among the leading corporate buyers of renewable energy in our industry and the U.S., marking a critical moment in our sustainability journey. Utilizing renewable energy is an important lever to further enhance the sustainability credentials of our packaging and demonstrates our commitment to have the aluminum can recognized as the most sustainable package.”

[USA] “NextEra Energy Transmission Completes Acquisition of Underwater Transmission Cable System”

[NextEra Energy, 16 July 2019]

NextEra Energy Transmission, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, has finalized its acquisition of Trans Bay Cable, LLC. Trans Bay Cable is a transmission utility that owns a 53-mile high-voltage dc underwater transmission cable system. This cable system goes from Pittsburgh, California to San Francisco, California. Jim Robo, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy, said of the acquisition, “This transaction furthers our goal of creating America's leading competitive transmission company and is consistent with our strategy of adding high-quality regulated assets to our portfolio."

[USA] “Portland General Electric’s Ambitious Smart Grid Test Bed Launches”

[Portland General Electric, 15 July 2019]

Portland General Electric (PGE) has launched its latest venture into new and innovative technologies, the Smart Grid Test Bed. The Test Bed aims to “integrate smart grid technology on a scale never before attempted in the United States.” The project will cover three neighborhoods in its service territory – and over 20,000 of their customers will be able to participate in the demand response programs involved with the test bed; they will also be able to receive incentives for using smart-home technologies. The pilot will also help boost the development of distributed energy resources like rooftop solar, batteries, thermostats, water heaters, and EV charging.  PGE hopes this project will be a major step in creating a virtual power plant and “will help address climate change, empower communities in how they consume energy and create a more resilient power system, all while saving customers money.”

[USA] “Governor Phil Scott Details Initiatives to Increase Electric Vehicles in Vermont”

[Office of Governor Phil Scott, 12 July 2019]

Phil Scott, the Governor of Vermont, is steadily working on boosting the use of EVs in Vermont. Vermont has a Comprehensive Energy Plan that targets having 50,000 plug-in electric vehicles (with Vermont registration) by 2025; there are only 3,100 PEVs registered to the state at the moment. In his FY 2020 budget, Scott also suggested a $1.1 million incentive to encourage low and moderate-income residents to purchase or lease and EV. In addition, the state released a Transportation Bill that stipulates requirements for encouraging the development and deployment of public chagrining infrastructure. Governor Scott said of EVs, “Electrifying the transportation sector will help clean the air and keep millions of dollars within our economy. While more work needs to be done, Vermont has taken strong steps toward a renewable transportation sector. Accelerating vehicle electrification will continue to be a priority of my Administration.”

[USA] “Duke Energy Passes Major Renewable Milestone: 1 Gigawatt of Owned Solar Energy Capacity”

[Duke Energy, 2 July 2019]

Duke Energy’s North Rosamond Solar Facility came online this past June, and with it, Duke “passed the 1 GW threshold of utility-scale owned and operated solar facilities nationwide.” Duke energy’s solar portfolio is spread over 10 states and includes nearly 70 projects amounting to 1.1 GW – which at peak, could power around 2 million homes. Most of these projects are located in North Carolina, where the utility owns 40 solar facilities. In addition to its owned solar, Duke is also a large purchaser of solar energy. As a result, Duke’s 4 GW of owned and purchased renewables account for over 9% of it’s total generated electricity. Rob Caldwell, senior vice president of Duke and president of Duke Energy Renewables & Business Development, stated that, “One GW is a notable milestone, but we have plans for much more.”

[USA] “Construction Begins on Dominion Energy Offshore Wind Project”

[Dominion Energy, 1 July 2019] 

Dominion Energy has begun construction of their new Offshore Wind project that can be found off the coast of Virginia. The wind site consists of two 6 MW turbines that once online, the project will supply 3,000 homes with power at peak. Dominion has partnered with Ørsted, a Danish offshore wind developer, is supporting Dominion with the offshore aspects of the project, while the L.E. Myers Company is covering the onshore construction work. Customers are not expected to face a rate increase for this pilot project as stipulated in the Grid Transformation and Security Act of 2018; instead, the project will be funded from through existing base rates. Dominion plans to continue their investments in wind with a goal of investing $1.1 billion by 2023.

[USA] “Gov. Whitner, MDARD to Allow Commercial Solar Panels on Michigan Farmland”

[The Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, 3 June 2019]

Michigan Governor Whitmer along with the state Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will allow land “currently enrolled in the department’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program to be used for commercial solar array purposes.” There is currently 3.4 million acres of farmland that is enrolled under the state’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation program (which provides tax incentives for landowners to keep their land for agricultural use only. By changing this rule to allow commercial solar panels, the state’s clean energy program will also grow. If an area is converted back to open land after the use of solar panels, the policy also dictates conditions to ensure this is properly done. MDARD Director Gary McDowell stated of the effort, ““This administrative decision will not result in a loss of useable farmland. The change ensures that Michigan’s farmland is preserved so we can continue to feed our communities while also balancing the need to develop renewable energy sources. This is an exciting new opportunity for Michigan's farmers to diversify while they continue to face challenging circumstances.”

[USA] “Ameresco Helps Town of Westport, Massachusetts Transform Closed Landfill into Source of Renewable Energy and Revenue”

[Ameresco, 11 June 2019]

Ameresco, an energy efficiency and renewable energy company, has partnered with the city of Westport, Massachusetts to install a 622 KW DC solar panel facility at the city’s shuttered landfill. Ameresco will be responsible for the facility’s “design, construction, operations and maintenance of the solar farm, at its own expense.” This project has been a goal for this town for the past 10 years by turning a “non-productive asset (the closed landfill) for a revenue-generating activity” while also meeting the city’s clean energy goals. The project will begin operation in August of 2019.

[USA] “Deputy Secretary Brouillette Statement on G20 Energy and Environment Ministerial”

[Department of Energy, 18 June 2019]

G20 Energy and Environment Ministers met in Karuizawa, Japan and at the end of their meeting, they release a joint communique saying that it is important to talk about how best to lead energy transitions and still improve the “’3E+S’ (Energy Security, Economic Efficiency, and Environment + Safety). This message also takes important note of the issue of climate change and changes in the environment. In his statement about the meeting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy, Dan Broillette:

·         Thanked Japan for hosting the meeting

·         Said that the G20 continues to support strengthening the energy security of all countries

·         Agreed that energy diversity is vital to achieving energy security

·         Condemned the oil tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

·         Stated that “according to the IEA, the United States has reduced our energy-related emissions more than any nation”

·         Appreciates the G20 members achievement of finalizing a “reasonable and common-sense communique”

［USA］First Solar, Rocky Mountain Power to Deliver Clean Energy for Facebook Data Center

[First Solar, 30 May 2019]

First Solar’s Cove Mountain 2 solar power plant will provide energy to Facebook’s Eagle Mountain Data Center in Utah through a Power Purchase Agreement with Rocky Mountain Power (part of PacifiCorp and Berkshire Hathaway Energy). Cove Mountain 2 will be a 122 MW AC site and will begin its operations in 2020. The project is expected to provide electricity equivalent to 36,000 average Utah homes to Facebook and through the use of solar energy, it is equivalent to removing 46,000 cars from the road. In addition, the project is expected to save 800 million liters of water annually. Paul Clements, Director of Energy and Infrastructure at Facebook, stated, “This project is an important part of our commitment to support all of our data centers and offices with 100 percent renewable energy in 2020. Our data centers are among the most water- and energy-efficient facilities in the world. Working with First Solar and Rocky Mountain Power allows us to ensure that our data center will be supported by new renewable energy resources – like this solar power plant – in the same electrical grid as our data center.”