14Aug

The Texas Reliability Two Step

The Texas grid has been pushed to its limits this week. Demand for power has exceeded supply, prices have soared and energy experts and consumers alike have waited with bated breath for rolling brownouts or blackouts.   On Monday, electricity demand hit a new record and electricity prices spiked to $6,500 per megawatt hour. On […]
08Aug

Column: Natural Gas, Renewables Pose Unexpected Challenge

Via The Duluth News Tribune: There’s no doubt the U.S. power grid is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Wind turbines and solar panels are achieving greater prominence. And a “deep electrification” of the U.S. economy could be on the horizon, thanks to the growing use of heat pumps and electric vehicles. The question, however, is whether […]
07Aug

When Down is Up

The reduction in the price of electricity from solar and wind power over the last decade has made for a fantastic story. But it’s hiding a more complex and troubling truth. While the price of generating power from renewables has fallen, the cost, or burden, of integrating these intermittent sources of power onto the grid […]
07Aug

Rising Electricity Prices to Come as Wind, Solar Mandates Increase

Via The Arizona Capitol Times: California continues to lead the nation in mandating the deployment of wind and solar power. Unfortunately, that translates into rising electricity costs that are now poised to climb higher. It’s a development that should concern families in every state. Since 2011, electricity prices in California have jumped 30 percent – the most  […]
01Aug

Costly Alternative Energy Cause for Concern

Via The Colorado Springs Gazette: California continues to lead the nation in mandating the deployment of wind and solar power. Unfortunately, that translates into rising electricity costs that are now poised to climb higher. It’s a development that should concern families in every state. Since 2011, electricity prices in California have jumped 30 percent — […]
01Aug

Proposed Revisions to Clarify New Source Review Permitting Process

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule to clarify the process for evaluating whether a New Source Review (NSR) preconstruction permit is needed when an existing major-emitting facility plans to make changes or expand. “Today’s proposal is an important step towards President Trump’s goal of reforming the elements of NSR that […]
31Jul

Grappling with the Global Challenge

As the great climate debate continues to dominate the news – Green New Deal? Green Real Deal? The Green Dream? – more policymakers need to wake up to the reality that any effective emissions reduction strategy must be globally replicable. Policy, and most importantly technology, must be advanced that can effectively slash emissions in the […]
31Jul

Rising Electricity Prices are Coming

Via The Troy Daily News: California continues to lead the nation in mandating the deployment of wind and solar power. Unfortunately, that translates into rising electricity costs that are now poised to climb higher. It’s a development that should concern families in every state. Since 2011, electricity prices in California have jumped 30 percent — […]
29Jul

State Power Grids Feel the Strain of Summer Heat

Via The Tribune-Democrat: As the peak of summer arrives, Americans are turning up their air conditioners.  But this added demand for electricity can greatly tax power grids. And in some states, it could pose real problems.  As North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) CEO Jim Robb recently explained, backup power reserves in Texas are stretched […]
25Jul

Montana’s Energy Future Must be Guided by Facts

Via The Bozeman Daily Chronicle: Montana must continue discussions about our energy future. We respect the views Mary Sedwick expressed in letters to the editor. We all need to work for cleaner energy. Here things that need to be included in a fact-based energy policy dialog. NorthWestern Energy’s Montana electric portfolio is approaching 70% carbon […]