Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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Getting real about reliability in PJM
The July capacity auction for the 2025/26 delivery was the first auction in over five years that sent a message to power suppliers: We need you to stay, and we need you to bring some more friends.
Glen Thomas • Aug. 29, 2024 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
Beyond Chevron: The future of FERC’s authority in a post-deference era
Challenges are anticipated in how FERC justifies its regulatory reach, particularly concerning its role in managing transmission systems and ensuring power grid reliability.
Lyle D. Larson • Aug. 21, 2024 -
Courtesy of Fluor
Surging data center power demand risks subtracting clean energy from the grid
Regulators and policymakers must react effectively to big tech’s acquisition of renewable resources by driving investments in new dispatchable energy and capacity.
Brad Viator • Aug. 16, 2024 -
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.
Joshua Rogers • Aug. 15, 2024 -
Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
Why wait? VPPs can help PJM now
Even though PJM’s capacity prices hit record highs for 2025-26, they could go even higher or remain elevated unless the grid operator’s generation capacity can catch up with its surging demand.
Michael D. Smith • Aug. 14, 2024 -
Permission granted by Enel X Way North America
Reconciling two competing goals: residential electrification and grid stability
By focusing on distributed resources, utilities will avoid overloading individual distribution feeder circuits and expensive upgrades that greater electrification might otherwise require.
Jerry Jackson • Aug. 13, 2024 -
davelogan via Getty Images
Stay the course on competitive electric markets
The narrative pushed by certain investor-owned utilities — that the recent PJM capacity auction outcome somehow signals a need for re-regulation — is misleading.
Ryan Augsburger • Aug. 9, 2024 -
gorodenkoff via Getty Images
How data centers are being used to bypass clean energy goals
It is possible that real growth is coming for the electricity sector from data centers, electric vehicles and electrification. But that growth can be met without expanding fossil fuels.
Patty Durand • Aug. 8, 2024 -
Ron and Patty Thomas via Getty Images
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.
Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Aug. 7, 2024 -
Andrey Semenov via Getty Images
It’s time to stop fretting about load growth and get serious about demand-side solutions
As electricity demand growth fuels a crisis of confidence, utilities and grid operators should prioritize least-cost, least-risk demand-side solutions to deliver valuable grid services.
Sara Baldwin • Aug. 6, 2024 -
kflGALORE via Getty Images
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.
Paolo Mastrangelo • Aug. 5, 2024 -
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Why energy-transition innovators need a sound patent strategy — and how to build one
Identifying existing IP early in the innovation process helps companies evaluate the viability of their project. It also affords them greater leverage to negotiate potential licenses, agreements and business collaborations.
Hilary Preston and Eric Klein • Aug. 1, 2024 -
wolv via Getty Images
Steering gas utilities toward calmer seas with an eye to the electric experience
State regulators need to begin assembling their tools to manage the impact of the energy transition — on both gas customers and the electric grid — before crises in affordability and reliability are upon us.
Sarah Steinberg and Brad Cebulko • July 30, 2024 -
Adam Kaz via Getty Images
The US lacks enough skilled clean energy workers, but solutions are close at hand
To build successful clean energy manufacturing businesses in the U.S. while revitalizing our domestic industrial base, companies need to take responsibility for developing the workforce their growth depends on.
Chris Dougher • July 26, 2024 -
kflGALORE via Getty Images
Competition may delay needed transmission, increasing costs
The process FERC and individual states set through future reforms will be determinative in whether there is added time to an already long transmission development timeline.
Benjamin Dierker • July 25, 2024 -
Courtesy of Nostromo Energy
Energy storage systems lower costs for building operators, even as average electricity prices rise
The return on investment for installing thermal energy storage systems is moving closer to between three and five years, with buildings joining programs like demand response, Nostromo Energy’s CEO says.
Yoram Ashery • July 24, 2024 -
FERC’s transmission rule will boost grid reliability and affordability without usurping state authority
“We represent states with diverse energy goals, but we are all satisfied FERC’s new planning rule will produce beneficial and fair outcomes for our residents and businesses,” five utility commissioners write.
Andrew French, Joseph Sullivan, Ann Rendahl, Gabriel Aguilera and Davante Lewis • July 23, 2024 -
Bim via Getty Images
What the 2024 presidential election could mean for commercial solar
Without full congressional support, and given various investment considerations, a change in administration will likely only stymie and delay certain parts of the IRA’s implementation.
David Wei and Raaghav Salem Karthikeyan • July 19, 2024 -
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With huge capital needs, the power sector’s founding regulatory principle is more critical than ever
Any possible energy future is a capital-intensive one, with capital needs that will only increase as the U.S. demand wave and load growth continue.
Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • July 18, 2024 -
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Nowhere to sell: As local bans proliferate, renewable energy companies must prioritize politics
The polluters who want to kill the energy transition have created political headwinds that are grinding the transition to a halt for everyone else, including the companies that really do want to move away from dirty fuels.
Ayelet Hines • July 17, 2024 -
Permission granted by Wärtsilä
When it comes to new thermal generation, small is beautiful
IOUs have long favored larger projects that benefit from economies of scale. However, the evolving energy market suggests investing in smaller, modular, flexible and decentralized power plants is a smarter approach.
July 15, 2024 -
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The No. 1 untapped tool for utilities to engage next-gen energy customers? Influencers.
To overcome existing frictions, energy companies must reach customers where they already are and seamlessly insert education and brand stories.
Kate Finley • July 9, 2024 -
Bilanol via Getty Images
Two bold ideas to change the energy industry forever
Now may be an ideal time to make dramatic, fundamental changes to how we transport electricity, deliver it to customers and fund new projects, writes Anthony Allard, head of Hitachi Energy, North America.
Anthony Allard • July 3, 2024 -
Fleem via Getty Images
Eliminating the discord over FERC Order 1920 — what’s the role for states?
Instead of fighting the rule, a coordinated effort by states of all stripes to help implement the order will ensure least cost, least regrets transmission planning.
Devin Hartman and Kent Chandler • July 2, 2024 -
A YIMBY approach to the transmission buildout
Just as housing advocates are finding new allies at the state and local level for their YIMBY — Yes in My Backyard — movement, the energy community should seek to cultivate proactive community demand for transmission projects.
Robin Allen • June 28, 2024
