30Jan

A Failure to Connect the Dots

The U.S. has a growing energy infrastructure problem. More precisely, major transmission lines needed to move wind and solar power from regions of production to centers of demand aren’t being built at nearly the pace needed. Natural gas pipeline additions are also failing to keep up with gas demand. One infrastructure project after another is […]

On January 30, 2020
California, coal-fired power plants, Germany, infrastructure, Iowa, Minnesota, natural gas, north dakota, solar, south dakota, Texas, transmission lines, wind

22Aug

Walking the Reliability Tightrope in Texas

The Texas electricity market is nothing if not unique. It has been described as having a “Vegas-like quality,” referring to its boom and bust potential. There are moments when no one is quite sure if the lights will stay on that it possesses all the drama of a roll of the dice at the craps […]

On August 22, 2019
baseload power, California, electricity grid, renewables subsidies, solar, Texas, wind, Wood Mackenzie

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 […]

On August 7, 2019
California, Competitive Renewable Energy Zone, electricity grid, Germany, Green New Deal, grid reliability, National Renewable Energy Lab, renewables, solar, Texas, transmission lines, wind, Wood Mackenzie

25Jul

What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us

As Americans cranked up their air conditioners to gain relief from sweltering mid-July heat, the grid called for all-hands-on-deck to keep the power flowing. Soaring electricity demand was met by every power plant utilities and grid operators could throw at the challenge. Thankfully, for most Americans, the lights and the AC were there when they […]

On July 25, 2019
battery storage, California, electricity grid, Energiewende, Energy Information Administration, Morning Consult, renewable energy, renewables, renewables subsidies, utilities

10Jul

No Way in Hell

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) analyzes the reliability of our electricity supply. NERC’s reports and statements are consistently measured, typically packing all the flair and excitement of a buttoned-down white dress shirt. So, it’s with good reason that eyebrows were raised when NERC’s CEO, Jim Robb, recently told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission […]

On July 10, 2019
baseload power, batteries, battery storage, California, grid reliability, natural gas, New England, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), pipelines, Texas, Wood Mackenzie

02Jul

Trillions with a “T”

According to new analysis from Wood Mackenzie, transitioning to an all renewables grid in the U.S. by 2030 would cost roughly $4.5 trillion. Remarkably, that cost – estimated at about $35,000 per household – does not account for the costs of prematurely closing hundreds of existing power plants, the inevitable supply chain bottlenecks that would […]

On July 2, 2019
California, electricity grid, emissions, Germany, renewables, Texas, UK, Wood Mackenzie

08May

Affordability and Reliability First

In a nation that holds polarizing views on nearly everything, it’s telling when a poll returns decisive, bipartisan consensus on an issue. That’s precisely the case in a new poll from Morning Consult which asked Americans how they believe the current transformation of the grid should be approached. Asked if they would like to transition […]

On May 8, 2019
California, electricity grid, Ernie Moniz, grid reliability, poll, renewable energy, University of Chicago