A report released late last week for the nation’s capital calls for a new regulated entity known as a microgrid operator, part of the city’s far-reaching effort to modernize its electric grid. The 433-page report came out of a multi-year effort launched in June 2015 by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. The effort was … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania is the now the center of a pivotal, national industry debate over who pays for utility microgrids, with the introduction of legislation into the General Assembly that gives utilities a path to recover costs. HB 1412 allows utilities to recover costs within customer rates for microgrids and energy storage projects. Rep. Stephen … [Read more...]
A lot of people are wondering where the fast-changing energy industry is heading. But some already are living the future of energy, and they will gather in St. Paul, Minnesota next week to share their experience and insight. About 800 energy leaders from 22 countries are expected to attend “Embracing Change,” the 107th annual conference of the … [Read more...]
Questioning the legality of utility-owned microgrids, regulatory advisors in Maryland on Friday came out against a microgrid pilot plan by Baltimore Gas & Electric. Instead, the staff of the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) called for the commission to launch a larger, generic proceeding on microgrid policy in the state. The … [Read more...]
New York appears to be moving in the direction of making electric utilities into something like an Internet marketplace for energy -- and this may not be a wise move. That’s the word from the Microgrid Resources Coalition (MRC) in written comments filed this week on Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), a much-watched strategy to decentralize New … [Read more...]
In three easy-to-understand charts, Princeton University's Ted Borer explains how microgrids add reliability and efficiency to the larger electric grid. Microgrids reflect the local community priorities Microgrid operators often choose not to own enough behind-the-meter power generation to meet peak electric demands. Most don’t find it … [Read more...]
Here’s a look at events that shaped the microgrid industry in 2014, a pivotal year for the growing sector. The timeline is made up of articles from MicrogridKnowledge.com and EnergyEfficiencyMarkets.com. They show microgrids advancing from planning to action; from a prospect to a trending technology. States crafted polices and offered … [Read more...]
Should New York let utilities both manage and compete in the distributed energy market the state is planning? That's one of the big questions the industry is debating in New York's “Reforming the Energy Vision,” or REV. The Department of Public Service last week confirmed its intent to let utilities act as the distributed grid operator in a … [Read more...]
Rocky Mountain Institute’s Andrew Allee describes a problem arising out of electrification in Nigeria. Minigrids are electrifying rural areas, but residents do not benefit if they cannot afford appliances.
In the early 20th century, the centralization of electricity production made huge process, enabling significant economies of scale and improved power plant efficiency. Today, decentralization could help tackle the energy challenges of the 21st century by creating an optimized way to access reliable, green and resilient energy. Download the white paper from Schneider Electric that explores decentralization and the role of microgrids.
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