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Energy storage, a potential solution for integrating intermittent renewables and improving grid stability, again saw rapid growth this past year. A “transition year” for U.S. energy storage, 2016 saw a more diverse market emerge “both in terms of the types of systems (market segments) deployed and the business models.” These trends are expected to continue in the U.S. with combined residential, commercial, and industrial energy storage deployments predicted to surpass 2 GW by 2021. Despite this rapid growth, there are those who claim that the adoption of storage has been slowed by a “web” of regulations at all levels. Some… [more]
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Editor
Bloomberg's First Word Energy
Over the course of his first weeks in office, President Trump has outlined an America-first energy policy that appears to mean essentially one thing: More U.S. oil production. His policies are decidedly aimed at boosting oil production: green-lighting more drilling on federal lands, building more oil pipelines, and rolling back rules that harm the oil industry. But America First doesn’t necessarily mean a focus on American oil. From a different perspective, the Fuel Freedom Foundation aims to boost the American economy and cut its dependence on OPEC by expanding the fuels available for automobiles. Fuel Freedom, argues for “ending our… [more]
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Managing Director
The Roda Group
Climate change poses a threat to the safety and prosperity of America’s and the world’s citizens. Every major scientific academy agrees that global warming is real, is mostly caused by humans, and requires urgent action. The signs of climate change are all around us. For example, the volume of the summer Arctic sea ice has dropped about 70% in the past 30 years and global temperatures have set records for the past 3 years in a row. And while most world leaders and climate scientists agree that we should not let the world warm more than +2ºC, we are on… [more]
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Senior Scientist
UFA Ventures, Inc.
In January, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Advanced Nuclear Technology Act of 2017 (ANTA). At the same time, the latest version of the Interim Consolidated Storage Act (ICSA) was introduced. These bills address two of the most important recommendations made in 2011 by then President Obama’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (the BRC). The nuclear power industry has also been waiting for legislation to break the logjam of bureaucratic red-tape that has hamstrung developing and building new-design reactors as well as to create a central place for used fuel that can be burned later. ANTA would… [more]
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On the fourth day of his administration, President Trump signed multiple executive actions designed to advance the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, since related memos specifically invited project developers to re-submit applications for permits and approvals to begin or continue construction. Many view these decisions as a signal the president intends to fulfill campaign promises promoting the oil and gas industries, as described in his America First Energy Plan. Pipeline opponents, however, are already preparing for legal battles seeking to block these projects. Keystone XL proponents have consistently argued the pipeline will create thousands of good paying jobs while… [more]
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Director, New York Clean Energy
Environmental Defense Fund
While it is clear that energy and the environment did not play a decisive role in the election, 2017 will nevertheless bring a new set of challenges for energy policy, and elevate the conversation to a higher level. At the federal level, the fight to stop climate change looks bleak. State Environmental Commitments and clear, deliberate leadership at the state and local levels will become essential to advance clean energy goals. Fortunately, New York’s history of advancing favorable environmental policies has resulted in valuable lessons that can be adapted and implemented in other states to increase economic development, create jobs,… [more]
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President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and former Texas Governor, Rick Perry, as the next Secretary of the Department of Energy. Some observers have noted that the nominations of Pruitt and Perry suggest that Mr. Trump intends to follow through on campaign promises to pursue energy policies supporting the development of fossil fuels. Pruitt and Perry each hail from states with strong oil and gas industries and both are known for their at-times skeptical views regarding the EPA and DOE, respectively. Mr. Pruitt describes himself as “a leading… [more]
View InsightNYCEEC is a non‐profit financial services firm dedicated to financing energy efficiency and clean energy projects in buildings that save energy and reduce greenhouse gases. NYCEEC’s single-focus and deep expertise allow us to provide fast, flexible and streamlined financing to meet the full range of a project’s needs. NYCEEC has provided leadership in the multifamily and commercial market, working closely with incentive providers and utilities on some of the deepest and highest-return retrofits. Visit www.nyceec.com.
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Consultant
Future Fuel Strategies
Citizens and policymakers in many countries have never been more committed to combating climate change across all sectors. One high-emitting sector that is often overlooked, when compared to industry and manufacturing, is transportation. Transport currently contributes 23% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of energy use. Globally, the sector is expected to double by 2030, according to IEA. Decarbonizing transport is a major challenge with some strong and powerful advocates calling for a single one-shot solution (electrification). However, achieving decarbonization in the transport sector will require multiple strategies that understand fossil fuel demand will remain in place for some… [more]
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Senior Energy Consultant
Ascend Analytics
Historically, the US power grid has primarily treated electricity demand as a (mostly) unalterable requirement that must be met by ramping dispatchable generation up or down to adjust the electricity supply. This system creates several drawbacks, including i) challenges associated with integrating intermittent renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind) that cannot be dispatched; and ii) inefficient use of resources, since the transmission, distribution, and generation systems must be built to meet the peak demand even though the peak occurs only a few hours during each year. Demand-side management (DSM) approaches can alter the net electricity required from the… [more]
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