Energy leaders yesterday offered insight into how the microgrid industry can secure its place at the table as US policymakers attempt to move the nation toward economic recovery. The discussion took place during the opening day of the Microgrid Knowledge Virtual Conference, a three-day event that has drawn several thousand participants. “Our … [Read more...]
Microgrid Policy: How Should the Industry Proceed in Light of Covid-19?
June 2, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Among the Coronavirus Pandemic’s Many Lessons for Businesses is a Greater Need for Energy Resilience
June 1, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Matt Cinadr, Veolia principal engineer, project development, walks readers through a series of business lessons from the coronavirus that highlight the importance of energy resiliency in today's climate. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to provide businesses profound insight about how quickly their fortunes can change, and how they can be … [Read more...]
New York Revises Demand Response in Light of Coronavirus Pandemic
June 1, 2020 By 1 Comment
In a big win for the demand response industry and its customers, the New York Public Service Commission (NY-PSC) issued an emergency order calling on the state’s utilities to revise their summer demand response programs in light of the coronavirus pandemic and New York’s stay-at-home orders. Effective May 14, the order compels many of the … [Read more...]
No Resiliency Strategy? You’re Taking a Big Risk, Report Warns Utilities
May 29, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Utilities without resilience strategies are taking a risk that jeopardizes their companies and customers, says a new report from Accenture. The report, “From Reliability to Resilience: Confronting the Challenges of Extreme Weather,” finds that most electric utility grid executives agree that extreme weather due to climate change poses … [Read more...]
California PUC Urged to Order Clean Energy Solicitation to Reduce Wildfire Outages
May 28, 2020 By 1 Comment
The California Public Utilities Commission should require Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to issue a clean energy solicitation this summer to reduce the effects of wildfire-related power shutoffs, according to Tesla and other stakeholders who are participating in a state microgrid proceeding. The call for the solicitation is in … [Read more...]
Sunbaked Texas Grid May Need Microgrids this Summer
May 15, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Even in a pandemic, it seems the Texas electric grid can’t catch a break. The grid operator for most of the state warned this week that the summer is likely to bring record-breaking peak demand for electricity, a situation that can threaten electric reliability and jack up prices. It’s not unusual for the heavily air-conditioned state to … [Read more...]
Microgrids are Ready for Prime Time in California. What’s Slowing Progress?
May 13, 2020 By 1 Comment
Microgrids can help solve important challenges right now in California, but development has been slowed by the COVID-19 crisis, regulatory uncertainty and questions about the role of utilities, among other issues. “We’re not moving fast enough. We’re not building as many distributed energy resources (DER) and microgids as we should. We need to … [Read more...]
Will the Trump Administration Security Order Impact the Microgrid Suppy Chain?
May 11, 2020 By 2 Comments
Catching the energy industry by surprise, the Trump Administration’s Executive Order on Securing the United States Bulk-Power System could have far-reaching implications for the microgrid industry throughout the supply chain. Released on May 1, the executive order gives the federal government the ability to restrict US power companies from doing … [Read more...]
California to Utilities: Move Faster On Microgrid Interconnection
May 5, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Acknowledging that microgrids face tougher interconnection hurdles than other energy sources, California regulators are scheduled to take a vote that would push utilities to speed things up as wildfire season nears. The California Public Utilities Commission plans to vote June 11 on a proposal that would require large electric investor-owned … [Read more...]
NARUC Issues Reports on Using Distributed Resources to Improve Grid Resilience
April 28, 2020 By Leave a Comment
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) has released a report on how distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids can improve grid resilience along with a guide state regulators can use to review proposed projects. “With more threats to the distribution grid, strategically placing generation resources or … [Read more...]
