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Trump solar tariffs draw challenges from around the globe

Energize Weekly, February 21, 2018 The Trump administration tariffs on imported solar cells and modules are drawing fire from around the world. In the latest challenge, three Canadian companies—Ontario-based Silfab Solar Inc., Heliene Inc. and Canadian Solar Solutions Inc., along with U.S.-based distributor Canadian Solar (USA) Inc.—filed a complaint with the U.S. Court of International…

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Utility trade organization and environmental group team up on policies to spur clean energy

Energize Weekly, February 21, 2018 Politics may make strange bedfellows, but apparently, so can the utility business as the environmental group, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the industry trade group, teamed up on 21 policy recommendations to bolster clean energy and a modern grid. The recommendations include supporting energy…

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Renewable generation challenges nuclear as electricity got cleaner in 2017

Energize Weekly, February 21, 2018 The restructuring of the U.S. electricity generation portfolio continued in 2017 with renewable sources coming close to nuclear, while reductions in natural gas and coal made the total kilowatt-hours consumed by Americans cleaner, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Renewable generation was up 14 percent to 717 terawatt-hours (TWhs) in…

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EIA forecast shows increase in oil and natural gas production, with gas playing biggest role by 2050

Energize Weekly, February 14, 2018 Oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production are all projected to grow steadily over the next five years, with oil and gas liquids leveling off and natural gas continuing to climb slowly, according to the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). Oil production has already surpassed the 9.6 million barrels…

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US growth in renewable energy is strong, global growth is stronger, NREL study finds

Energize Weekly, February 14, 2018 Renewable energy generation doubled in the U.S. between 2006 and 2016, reaching 18 percent of the country’s generating capacity. As strong as those numbers are, global renewable energy growth has been even greater. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) recently released 2018 Renewable Energy Data Book found that while renewable…

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Coal and nuclear electricity generation off to a rocky start in 2018

Energize Weekly, February 14, 2018 The prospects for coal-fired and nuclear electricity generation got off to a shaky start in 2018 with a projected record number of coal unit closures and three nuclear power plants set for shutdown. The Trump administration has been trying to find ways to bolster the two sectors. It proposed giving…

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U.S. wind industry installed 7,017 MW in 2017, according to AWEA

Energize Weekly, February 7, 2018 The U.S. wind industry installed 7,017 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity in 2017, $11 million in new investment, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) fourth quarter market report. Helping to spur project development were agreements to buy power by a growing list of corporate customers seeking clean…

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Maryland would have nation’s second largest EV charging network under $105 million plan

Energize Weekly, February 7, 2018 The Maryland Public Service Commission is reviewing a plan, proposed by the state’s utility companies, to create a statewide network of 24,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The $105 million “Statewide Electric Vehicle Portfolio” would set up the second-largest charging network in the nation. California has the largest program. Signing…

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People living around winds farms view them positively and see few negative impacts, survey finds

Energize Weekly, February 7, 2018 The majority of people living within five miles of a windfarm view the projects positively, although attitudes are more polarized among residents within a half-mile of the turbines, according to a survey by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The survey of 1,700 people found that attitudes were shaped by whether…

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EV growth may not affect overall residential power demand, but may impact local areas, study finds

Energize Weekly, January 31, 2018 The growth in plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) will not have a big impact on overall residential power demand, but even one vehicle charging at home could stress a local transformer, according to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The modeling study using data for 200 Midwest homes…

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Trump solar tariff roils market, slows growth but is far from the ‘worst-case scenario’

Energize Weekly, January 31, 2018 The tariff placed on imported solar cells by the Trump administration last week is roiling markets and is projected to slow growth, but not blunt the development of the solar industry. On Jan. 22, President Donald Trump approved a four-year tariff, starting at 30 percent and stepping down 5 percent…

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Utilities need to adapt to a changing market with new business approaches, RMI study says

Energize Weekly, January 31, 2018 A rapidly shifting, yet slow-growing electricity market is forcing utility executives and state regulators to redefine the role of utilities—from expanding their monopoly positions to becoming open platforms for competition, according to a study by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). The question, the study by the energy consulting group said,…

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