Transmission & Distribution


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    US clean energy jobs grew 4.2% in 2023: DOE

    The U.S. added clean energy jobs at more than twice the rate of the broader economy, according to the Department of Energy.

    By Aug. 28, 2024
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    Interregional power transfer capability ranges from 1% to 92% across North America: NERC

    Total import capabilities between transmission planning regions also vary depending on the season, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said Tuesday.

    By Aug. 28, 2024
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Grid Resiliency

    Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.

    By Utility Dive staff
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    Clean energy groups push for more interconnection reforms ahead of FERC workshop

    They called for fast-track processes that would give construction-ready projects access to existing and planned interconnection capacity, among other things.

    By Aug. 27, 2024
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    jtstewartphoto via Getty Images
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    Southwest Power Pool seeks FERC OK to delay 2024 interconnection queue process

    The delay would give SPP time to finish studying and restudying interconnection clusters going back to 2018, the grid operator told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

    By Aug. 26, 2024
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    ERCOT successfully navigates heat wave, new peak demand record

    Thousands of megawatts of new solar, wind and battery storage have helped keep the grid reliable this summer, said Electric Reliability Council of Texas officials.

    By Aug. 26, 2024
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    CAISO interconnection reform plan draws support from SoCal Ed, PG&E, PUC

    However, renewable energy developers and trade groups urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject provisions they say would favor utility-backed projects.

    By Aug. 23, 2024
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    MISO, SPP advance ‘unprecedented’ transmission plan that could support up to 30 GW

    The grid operators are seeking Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approvals that are needed to build $1.7 billion in transmission projects along their northern border.

    By Aug. 22, 2024
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    Deep Dive

    California pioneers new ways to ease interconnection of large DERs

    Limited generation profiles in California will schedule limits to DERs during system constraints. New York, Illinois, Colorado and others are testing more flexible approaches.

    By Aug. 21, 2024
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    FERC rejects Basin Electric’s cryptocurrency mining rate proposal

    Basin Electric failed to show it was fair to treat cryptocurrency loads differently from other similar-sized loads, the agency said in a potentially precedent-setting decision.

    By Aug. 21, 2024
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    franckreporter via Getty Images
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    New York encourages electrification with new grid planning process, affordability pilot

    “The rate at which consumers are electrifying buildings and vehicles has the potential to outpace the existing grid planning processes,” the New York Public Service Commission said.

    By Aug. 19, 2024
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    Sponsored by West Monroe

    Navigating FERC orders: Strategies for successful transmission development

    How FERC orders impact utilities on their journey to high clean energy growth.

    By Kevin Hade, Senior Manager, West Monroe and Cecilia Fung, Manager, West Monroe • Aug. 19, 2024
  • CenterPoint cannot cancel $800M lease for large mobile generators unused during Beryl

    The utility should weigh its options, including subleasing the generators and renegotiating contracts, members of the Public Utility Commission of Texas said Thursday.

    By Aug. 16, 2024
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    "sunset2" by Barbara Eckstein is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Opinion

    To get more transmission, we need a bottom-up approach

    A bottom-up process to build support for transmission development can deliver more line miles faster at lower cost with broad popular support.

    By Joshua Rogers • Aug. 15, 2024
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    Stuby, James. Retrieved from Wikimedia.
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    Maryland electric customers face up to 24% bill hikes from PJM capacity auction: report

    Reliability-must-run contracts for two Talen Energy power plants added about $5 billion to PJM’s capacity costs in its last auction, Synapse Energy Economics found.

    By Aug. 15, 2024
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    Permission granted by Black & Veatch
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    Sponsored by Black & Veatch

    The high stakes of extra high voltage: engineering effective EHV transmission lines

    To realize visions of integrated renewable energy systems delivering reliable, efficient power over long distances, we need transmission lines with high-voltage capacity.

    By Wil Michalski, Overhead Transmission Solution Lead, Black & Veatch • Aug. 14, 2024
  • Mutual assistance crews working with CenterPoint Energy work to restore power around Houston, Texas, following Hurricane Beryl.
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    Texas AG investigates CenterPoint storm response, possible ‘fraud, waste’

    Hurricane Beryl left 2.3 million CenterPoint customers without power in July, spurring questions about the utility’s storm preparedness and restoration efforts.

    By Aug. 14, 2024
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    Permission granted by DBOX
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    New York ISO reforms interconnection queue, launches cluster study reviews

    The changes, which comply with FERC Order 2023, “deliver greater efficiencies and transparency in our interconnection process,” New York ISO President and CEO Rich Dewey said.

    By Aug. 13, 2024
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    Gerville via Getty Images
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    59 GW in data center load seeking to connect to Oncor’s system: CEO

    Nearly three-fourths of new interconnection requests are coming from data centers, Oncor officials said.

    By Emma Penrod • Aug. 8, 2024
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    Ron and Patty Thomas via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Do Tri-State’s member exits signal ‘the next episode’ for PJM?

    PJM may look “too big to fail,” and reliance interests are always tough to overcome, but the same inflexibility and internal contradictions that are leading to Tri-State’s demise are roiling PJM.

    By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Aug. 7, 2024
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    John Randall Alves via Getty Images
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    Innovative transmission, energy storage projects in 18 states get $2.2B from DOE

    Companies involved in winning projects include Allete, Duke Energy, Eversource, Grid United, National Grid, Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison.

    By Aug. 6, 2024
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    kflGALORE via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Senate permitting reform compromise is a win for American energy and American politics

    The legislation would provide a good foundation to undo unreasonable timetables and fragmented planning processes inhibiting investments in clean energy projects.

    By Paolo Mastrangelo • Aug. 5, 2024
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    istockphoto.com/shulz

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    Sponsored by Copper Labs

    It’s time for a new approach to ensure utilities can get the data they need without driving up customer bills

    A modern AMx framework can help utilities better balance meter infrastructure and affordability needs by enabling mixed-meter portfolios and improving cost-effectiveness.

    Aug. 5, 2024
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    USTR to decide soon on proposed tariff hikes for Chinese solar cells, EVs, other items

    The White House’s rationale for increasing tariffs is to make the U.S. more competitive in the clean energy and technology sectors, a major focus during the Biden administration.

    By Philip Neuffer • Aug. 2, 2024
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    PJM capacity auction to lead to double-digit rate hikes for Exelon utilities: CFO

    When asked about possible power plant ownership, Exelon President and CEO Calvin Butler said, “We're working with our [state utility] commissions on all types of scenarios.”

    By Aug. 2, 2024
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    FERC calls SPP Western market proposal ‘deficient,’ requests more info

    Southwest Power Pool is developing a response to questions about its Western day-ahead electricity market, including rules around transmission capacity availability and resource aggregations.

    By Aug. 2, 2024