California Public Utilities Commission Proposes New Rules for Rooftop Solar

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has proposed new rules for rooftop solar that would reduce the amount of money that homeowners with solar panels receive for the electricity they generate and send back to the grid. The CPUC says the changes are necessary to ensure that all customers pay their fair share for the cost of the grid, but solar advocates say the changes would make it less affordable for homeowners to go solar.

Under the current system, homeowners with solar panels are paid a retail rate for the electricity they generate and send back to the grid. This means that they are essentially paid the same price for their electricity as they would pay for electricity from the utility.

The CPUC's proposed rules would change this system by reducing the amount of money that homeowners with solar panels are paid for their electricity. The CPUC says this is necessary because solar customers are putting a strain on the grid. Solar customers tend to use less electricity from the utility, which means that the utility must generate less electricity. This can lead to higher costs for customers who do not have solar panels.

The CPUC's proposed rules have been met with criticism from solar advocates. They say that the rules will make it less affordable for homeowners to go solar and will slow down California's solar industry's growth.

PJM Interconnection Approves New Transmission Lines to Support Clean Energy

PJM Interconnection, the nation's largest grid operator, has approved the construction of new transmission lines that will support the integration of more clean energy resources into the grid. The new lines will connect wind farms in the Midwest and solar farms in the Southeast to major load centers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

The new transmission lines are necessary to support the growth of renewable energy in the U.S. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are intermittent, meaning they do not produce electricity. The new transmission lines will allow PJM to move electricity from renewable energy sources to areas where it is needed, even when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.

The new transmission lines are also expected to create jobs and boost the economy. PJM estimates that constructing the new lines will create over 10,000 jobs.

New York State Sets Goal of 100% Clean Power by 2040

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order setting a goal of 100% clean electricity by 2040. The order requires the state to phase out fossil fuels from its power grid and replace them with renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

The executive order is a significant step forward for New York's climate goals. The state is currently on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050, but the new executive order will accelerate this progress.

New York is already a leader in renewable energy. The state has installed more solar capacity than any other state in the country and is also a major producer of wind and hydroelectric power. The new executive order will help New York grow its renewable energy sector and meet its climate goals.

FERC Approves New Natural Gas Pipeline in Texas

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the construction of a new natural gas pipeline in Texas. The pipeline, which Kinder Morgan will build, will transport natural gas from the Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast.

The new pipeline is necessary to support natural gas production growth in the Permian Basin. The Permian Basin is the most productive oil and gas field in the U.S., producing more natural gas than can be transported through existing pipelines.

The new pipeline is expected to create jobs and boost the economy. FERC estimates that the construction of the new pipeline will create over 10,000 jobs.

DOE Awards $100 Million to Support Development of New Grid Technologies

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $100 million to support the development of new grid technologies that will help the country transition to a clean energy future. The projects funded by the DOE include research on new battery storage technologies, smart grid technologies, and microgrids.

The DOE's investment in new grid technologies is essential to the country's clean energy transition. The grid needs to be modernized to support the integration of more renewable energy resources and to meet the increasing demand for electricity.

The new grid technologies funded by the DOE will help to make the grid more reliable, efficient, and resilient. They will also help to reduce the cost of electricity and to create jobs.

Other Notable Stories

• The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its annual Short-Term Energy Outlook, forecasting that U.S. electricity consumption will increase by 0.9% in 2023.

• The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its annual Renewable Energy Data Book, which shows that renewable energy accounted for 22% of U.S. electricity generation in 2022.

• The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released its annual Wind Technologies Market Report, which shows that the U.S. wind energy industry installed 13.2 gigawatts of new capacity in 2022, a record high.

• The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released its annual Solar Market Insight Report, which shows that the U.S. solar energy industry installed 25.2 gigawatts of new capacity in 2022, a record high.