Follow @EngelsAngle Construction is underway on New York's first offshore wind project. South Fork Wind is being jointly developed by Ørsted and Eversource, and is expected to come online in 2023. The project positions New York to lead the nation in offshore wind development, according to Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). She said it would establish a robust supply chain for future projects. "We are solidifying New York State's clean energy vision," Harris said. New York's goal is to develop 9 GW of offshore wind by 2 ..read more

By Allison Kite, Kansas Reflector Senators heard three hours of testimony from anti-wind sources and just one hour from proponents of renewable energy A series of bills professing to protect rural residents from industrial wind claim to bring transparency, limit abuse and enact safety measures to protect against the supposed health hazards of turbines. In reality, they would transform Kansas, one of the top producers of wind energy for two decades, into one of the most restrictive states in the nation, pro-wind experts say. “This is punitive. This is not progressive,” said Kimberly G ..read more

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved plans to add around 25,500 MW of renewable energy resources and 15,000 MW of energy storage and demand response resources by 2032.  The decision also adopted a 35 million metric ton (MMT) electric sector greenhouse gas emission (GHG) planning target. That goal, also to be achieved by 2032, is tighter than an earlier 46 MMT GHG target. The CPUC said its February 10 decision equates to 73% Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) resources and 86% GHG-free resources by 2032.   The preferred system plan portfolio differs from on ..read more

Follow @EngelsAngle Duke Energy said it plans to double its renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade, and stop generating electricity from coal by 2035. CEO Lynn Good announced the plans during a call with investors on Feb. 10. The announcement comes as Duke intends to deploy $63 billion of capital over the next five years, 80% of which is expected to support investments in grid modernization and zero or lower-carbon emitting generation. Good said Duke's wind and solar capacity would increase from 10,000 MW currently to 24,000 MW by 2030. Duke Energy's Edwardsport IGCC (integrated ga ..read more

Follow @EngelsAngle Grid operator ISO New England said it plans to extend the minimum offer price rule (MOPR) through 2024, a move that drew condemnation from renewable energy advocates. In a statement, ISO New England outlined the "transition" proposal that will be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the coming weeks. If allowed to proceed, the MOPR would remain in effect for next year's capacity auction. The transition proposal, paired with the renewable technology resource (RTR) exemption, will serve the region with a "dual objective of protecting power system r ..read more

Follow @EngelsAngle Texas' love affair with renewable energy is undeniable. But even after another banner year for clean energy in the state, a market redesign, fueled by political rhetoric from state leaders, could thwart future deployment, experts say. Wind and solar accounted for nearly all new generating capacity added to the Texas grid in 2021, according to newly-released market data. S&P Global Market Intelligence notes that power plant operators added 8,139 megawatts of new generating capacity to the ERCOT market last year -- 42% came from wind and 40% from solar. Natural gas-fired ..read more

Contributed by Zaki Robbins, Moye White LLP Despite facing industry-wide obstacles ranging from supply chain issues and COVID-19 pandemic-driven workforce shortages to continued mixed signals coming from governmental and business leaders, 2021 was a banner year for renewable energy policy and development. Although 2021’s headwinds are unlikely to subside in the near future, all indications forecast continued momentum in the clean energy industry over the course of 2022. While it is impossible to predict with certainty all that will occur over the year ahead, there are four possible trends that ..read more

ILI Group said it started the initial planning phase for the 1.5 GW Balliemeanoch pumped storage hydro (PSH) project at Loch Awe, Dalmally in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The project would supply 1.5 GW of power for up to 30 hours, enough to power 4.5 million homes. The project will create a new upper reservoir in the hills above Loch Awe capable of holding 58 million cubic metres of water when full. It is estimated the project will offset over 200 million tonnes of CO2e over its lifetime. This is ILI’s third PSH project. Its 450 MW Red John project at Loch Ness was awarded planning consent from ..read more

Mitsubishi Power inked an agreement with HydrogenPro for the delivery of 40 electrolyzers to produce green hydrogen for power generation, transportation and industrial uses. HydrogenPro’s electrolyzers will use wind and solar energy to produce green hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The initial value of the contract exceeds $50 million, making it one of the largest electrolyzer system contracts ever signed. The EPC and other project deliverables for a turn-key electrolyzer green hydrogen production plant will be supplied by other companies, HydrogenPro said in a statement ..read more

A lawsuit accuses developer Tom Buttgenbach of misappropriating the University of California system’s money after the latter invested in a collection of solar projects. The complaint, filed by public university regents in January in Alameda County Superior Court, claims that Buttgenbach submitted false claims to the university system to induce solar project investments worth $150 million, which he allegedly used to enrich himself. Buttgenbach is the co-founder and chief executive of 8minute Solar Energy, LLC. The complaint names both him and the company as defendants. The lawsuit details alleg ..read more