［USA］APS Commits to Carbon-free Power by 2050

On January 22, 2020, Arizona Public Service (APS), Arizona’s largest electricity provider, announced a goal to deliver 100 percent clean, carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050.[1] APS also has a nearer-term 2030 target of achieving a resource mix that is 65 percent clean energy, including 45 percent from renewable energy. The utility also plans on ending all coal-fired generation by 2031 which is seven years earlier than previously planned. Currently, APS gets 22 percent of its power from coal and 26 percent from gas and oil.[2] The Palo Verde nuclear plant accounts for 25 percent of the mix, renewables deliver 12 percent, and demand-side management accounts for 16 percent. The APS commitment is notable because Arizona has not passed sweeping climate or carbon policy at the state level. The decision places APS on a list of major electric utilities committing to carbon-free energy sources. Other utilities committed to decarbonization include Xcel Energy, Duke Energy, and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG).

[1] https://www.aps.com/en/About/Our-Company/Newsroom/Articles/APS-sets-course-for-100-percent-clean-energy-future

[2] https://www.aps.com/-/media/APS/APSCOM-PDFs/About/Our-Company/Doing-business-with-us/Resource-Planning-and-Management/2017IntegratedResourcePlan.ashx

［USA］New Bill Introduced in Georgia Legislature Would Require Companies to Treat Coal Ash Like Municipal Solid Waste

A new bill—H.B. 756— that would require disposal of coal ash or combustion residuals (CCR) to be as rigorous as municipal solid waste (MSW) was introduced by Rep. Robert Trammell (D) in the Georgia legislature on January 14, 2020.[1] In December 2019, Georgia became the second state allowed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to run its own coal ash permitting program which will allow the state flexibility in how it cleans up the toxic waste. Georgia Power's current plans for closing its ash sites includes leaving CCR in unlined ponds. By contrast, MSW in Georgia is disposed in landfills with both bottom liners and collections systems for leachate.

Recently, concerns over the risk of groundwater contamination have grown and a number of states have mandated coal ash cleanup. North Carolina, for example, ordered Duke Energy to excavate roughly 72.5 million metric tons of CCR.[2] There has been no such order in Georgia, though a 2018 report on the coal-fired power plants in the state found that groundwater was contaminated near all but one site.

[1] http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20192020/187853.pdf

[2] https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-north-carolina-regulators-and-environmentalists-reach-agreement-to-permanently-close-all-remaining-ash-basins-in-north-carolina

［USA］Brookings Report Finds Land Battles Jeopardize Wind and Solar Development

A new report released in January 2020 by the Brookings Institution finds that although renewable energy is popular, siting projects may become more difficult as wind and solar take up more land across the United States.[1] The report emphasizes several problems with renewable energy siting. Wind and solar generation require about 10 times as much land per unit of power produced than fossil fuel plants and unlike fossil fuels, they are located only where the resource is available. In addition, most new wind turbines being installed in the United States today are the height of a 35-story building and can often be seen for long distances. All of these factors play a role in how accepting local communities are of new renewable energy development. People often cite concerns over property values, noise, and bird deaths caused by wind turbines.

According to the Brookings report, some renewable technologies like offshore wind turbines and rooftop solar could offer workarounds for these problems. However, the report states that technological solutions are not enough and policy solutions such as regulations that declare sensitive areas off limits while streamlining development elsewhere in designated renewable zones should be considered.

[1] https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/FP_20200113_renewables_land_use_local_opposition_gross.pdf

［USA］Seattle to Transition Municipal Buildings Away from Fossil Fuels

On January 8, 2020, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed Executive Order 2020-01 to advance a Green New Deal for the city.[1] The executive order’s goals mirror those in the city’s climate action plan, released in April 2018, and includes substantial provisions for transitioning municipal buildings away from using fossil fuels through electrification.[2] Under the executive order, all new or substantially altered city-owned buildings will be required to use electricity rather than fossil fuels for activities such as heating, cooling, or cooking. In order for buildings to be considered completed or altered during the 2021 or 2022 budget year, strategies for using electricity over fossil fuels must be submitted by June 1, 2020. An interdepartmental team is tasked with forming a strategy to electrify buildings by January 2021.

By electrifying its buildings, Seattle is taking a big step towards reducing its carbon emissions. According to the Sierra Club, buildings are responsible for 35% of Seattle’s emissions.[3] Although there are some concerns that electrifying buildings does not solve issues of fossil fuel reliance—79% of national energy production comes from fossil fuels—, Seattle is a unique case.[4] According to the city’s utility, Seattle City Light, 91% of the city’s energy mix is hydroelectricity while coal and natural gas make up 1% each.[5]

[1] https://durkan.seattle.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/01/Final-Executive-Order-2020-01-Advancing-a-Green-New-Deal-for-Seattle_.pdf

[2] http://greenspace.seattle.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SeaClimateAction_April2018.pdf

[3] https://www.sierraclub.org/washington/sierra-club-s-response-mayor-durkan-s-executive-order

[4] https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=41353

[5] https://www.seattle.gov/light/FuelMix/

［USA］Recent ACEE Report Finds Most Utilities Aren't Getting Full Value from Smart Meters

According to a report released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) on January 9, 2020, most utilities are missing the opportunity to utilize advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to help customers conserve energy.[1] AMI has grown rapidly in the past decade, now accounting for nearly half of all meters in the U.S. At the end of 2019, there were 98 million smart meters deployed by utilities and by the end of 2020, that number could reach 107 million.[2] However, ACEEE found that these smart meters are being underutilized by utilities; of the 52 utilities ACEEE surveyed, only one, Portland General Electric (PGE), was found to use smart meters to their fullest potential. PGE taps into all six use cases ACEEE identifies for applying API data: time of use rates, real-time energy use feedback for customers, behavior-based programs, data disaggregation, grid-interactive efficient buildings, and conservation voltage reduction.

These use cases leverage AMI data by pairing it with customer engagement tools, pricing strategies, and programs that support customer action. A failure to optimize AMI investments can lead to regulators denying future grid modernization efforts. In 2019, for example, Virginia regulators rejected Dominion Energy’s proposal for a smart meter deployment.

[1] https://aceee.org/sites/default/files/publications/researchreports/u2001.pdf

[2]　https://www.edisonfoundation.net/iei/publications/Documents/IEI_Smart%20Meter%20Report_2019_FINAL.pdf

［USA］ Elizabeth Warren Unveils ‘Blue New Deal’ With Support for Offshore Wind

On December 10, 2019, Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren announced an environmental proposal that recommends a variety of ocean-related conservation and energy plans titled the “Blue New Deal.” [1] One of the primary focuses of Warren’s proposal is how the U.S. can use the ocean as a place for energy development and production. While she cites a variety of clean energy technologies, including more out-there proposals for wave energy and algae-based biofuels, Warren emphasizes offshore wind as an area for major growth. The Blue New Deal lists several benefits of offshore wind including carbon-free energy production and boosts to the economy. Warren’s campaign cites statistics that by 2030 offshore wind from Maine to Maryland could provide 36,000 full-time jobs in the U.S. Currently, only one offshore wind project—the 30-megawatt Block Island farm off the coast of Rhode Island [2]— is in operation but several developers have major offshore installations in the works. Under the Blue New Deal, federal clean energy tax credits would be extended but any incentives available to offshore wind would depend on the project benefiting nearby communities. These promises address current concerns in coastal communities that offshore wind will hurt their economies.

[1] https://elizabethwarren.com/plans/blue-new-deal

[2] https://kokosingindustrial.com/projects/block-island-wind-farm/

［USA］Vineyard Wind wins 804 MW bid for offshore wind in Connecticut

On December 5, 2019, Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) selected Vineyard Wind, an offshore wind developer, to proceed to contract negotiations with electric distribution companies in the state to provide 804 MW of offshore wind through the development of the Park City Wind Project.[1] The bid was selected through a request for proposals from DEEP following the signing of HB 7156 (also called Public Act 19-71) on June 7, 2019 which requires the state to solicit up to 2,000 MW of offshore wind. [2],[3] The project is the largest purchase of renewable energy in Connecticut’s history—accounting for 14% of the state’s electricity supply—and is considered a major step toward Governor Lamont’s goal of a 100% zero-carbon electricity supply by 2040. The Park City Wind Project is Vineyard Wind’s second offshore wind project in the U.S. and will be built in the same federal waters lease area as the developer’s Massachusetts project. It is expected to come online in 2025.

[1] https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?Q=610542&A=5009

[2] https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2019&bill_num=7156

[3] https://www.cga.ct.gov/2019/ACT/pa/pdf/2019PA-00071-R00HB-07156-PA.pdf

［USA］ NorthWestern Energy to acquire 25% share of Colstrip; plans to reduce carbon by 90%

NorthWestern Energy, a utility company based in Sioux Falls, SD, announced on December 10, 2019 that it plans to purchase Puget Sound Energy's (PSE) 25% share of Montana's coal-fired Colstrip Unit 4 for just $1.[1] If the plan is approved by the Montana Public Service Commission and Washington Utilities Transportation Commission, NorthWestern would procure 185 MW of generation from Colstrip Unit 4 which would bring its totally share of the unit to 55%. According to NorthWestern, the purchase, although contrary to its carbon-reduction goals, will help the utility to meet a winter peak capacity deficit and preserve reliability for its customers. Currently, NorthWestern’s energy portfolio for Montana is 60% carbon-free. The utility will set aside the benefits from the transaction to address the environmental costs associated with its existing ownership when the time comes to retire Unit 4. For PSE, the sale of its share of the Colstrip unit will help the utility reduce its coal fleet by 50% and give them a lead on meeting Washington state’s requirement for electric utilities to eliminate coal-fired generation from their portfolios in the next five years.[2],[3]  

[1] http://www3.northwesternenergy.com/our-company/media-center/current/news-article/2019/12/10/NorthWestern-Energy-to-acquire-25-share-of-Colstrip-Unit-4-from-Puget-Sound-Energy

[2] https://www.pse.com/press-release/details/pse-moves-closer-to-coal-free-electricity-years-ahead-of-schedule?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=TWITTER&utm_campaign=Engagement

[3] https://www.utc.wa.gov/regulatedIndustries/utilities/energy/Pages/CETAoverview.aspx

［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."