Cybersecurity Tools to Protect Solar, Wind Power on the Grid June 20, 2022 Solar panels and wind turbines, now projected to produce 44% of America’s electricity by 2050, present cybersecurity challenges. They have sensors, controllers, actuators or inverters that are directly or indirectly connected to the internet. They’re distributed far…
Constellation upgrades ensure 15 million homes get carbon free electricity this summer
Constellation upgrades ensure 15 million homes get carbon free electricity this summer Jun. 10, 2022 The nations leading provider in carbon-free energy make upgrades to its Nuclear Stations in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions in the area, helping the United States move toward its goal of 50% carbon emissions…
Activists hail Biden’s use of security powers to boost clean energy
Activists hail Biden’s use of security powers to boost clean energy June 7, 2022 Environmental groups have welcomed Joe Biden’s invoking of national security powers to rapidly expand the production of clean energy technology as a significant advance in the effort to curb dangerous climate breakdown. Read more
NYSEG and RG&E Announce “Reliable Energy New York” Plans
NYSEG and RG&E Announce “Reliable Energy New York” Plans May 26, 2022 Today, New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E), subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), announced the companies have filed proposed changes to delivery rates with the New York State Public Service Commission…
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack: Lessons for Technologists
Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack: Lessons for Technologists May 23, 2022 While technologists have always understood the damage that ransomware could do to an organization’s infrastructure and data, the May 2021 attack that targeted Colonial Pipeline IT infrastructure changed the game for good. Read more
Creaky U.S. power grid threatens progress on renewables, EVs
Creaky U.S. power grid threatens progress on renewables, EVs May 12, 2022 The nation’s transmission network, plagued by outages and increasingly severe weather, needs a trillion-dollar overhaul to handle the Biden administration’s promised clean-energy revolution. No one is taking charge of that problem. Read more
California Power Officials Warn of Power Shortfalls This Summer Amid Increasing Strain from Climate Change
California Power Officials Warn of Power Shortfalls This Summer Amid Increasing Strain from Climate Change May 6, 2022 California power regulators are warning of power shortages and possible blackouts this summer as the state’s electrical grid faces increasing strain from drought and extreme heat. “We know reliability is going to…
U.S. and European EV sales climb but more chargers will be needed to sustain growth
U.S. and European EV sales climb but more chargers will be needed to sustain growth Energize Weekly, May 11, 2022 Electric vehicle (EV) sales in both the U.S. and Europe are posting strong gains, but to reach the market penetration governments are targeting – the Biden administration goal is 50…
The race against hackers to secure EV cyber-grid
The race against hackers to secure EV cyber-grid April 30, 2022 The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is here. After decades of hype, EVs are finally starting to get their day in the sun. In the last ten years, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have grown from 16,000 to over 2 million…
Power demand to grow in Tennessee Valley as economy electrifies, TVA CEO says
Power demand to grow in Tennessee Valley as economy electrifies, TVA CEO says April 28, 2022 Tennessee will soon become the No. 1 state for electric vehicle production as part of a power shift that could nearly double electricity demand in the Tennessee Valley over the next three decades, the…
Hackers Reportedly Target Wind-Energy Companies
Hackers Reportedly Target Wind-Energy Companies April 25, 2022 European wind-energy companies have reportedly been targeted by hackers—or been affected by cyberattacks on their suppliers—since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. The Wall Street Journal reports that Nordex SE and Deutsche Windtechnik AG have both reported cyber incidents over the last…
TVA teams up with Ontario Power to pursue small modular reactors
TVA teams up with Ontario Power to pursue small modular reactors April 20, 2022 The biggest public power utilities in the United States and Canada are joining to help explore how to develop and build smaller nuclear reactors they say will be needed to meet the growing demand for carbon-free…
PGE offers a look inside its futuristic new ops center
PGE offers a look inside its futuristic new ops center Apr. 15, 2022 When you flip the light switch or turn up your thermostat, you expect the juice to start flowing. It’s as simple as that. But in an age of distributed power generation and storage, intermittent renewables, electric cars,…
Russia’s Sandworm Hackers Attempted a Third Blackout in Ukraine
Russia’s Sandworm Hackers Attempted a Third Blackout in Ukraine APR 12, 2022 MORE THAN HALF a decade has passed since the notorious Russian hackers known as Sandworm targeted an electrical transmission station north of Kyiv a week before Christmas in 2016, using a unique, automated piece of code to interact…
Environmental campaign targets Bitcoin miners in an effort to curb greenhouse gases
Environmental campaign targets Bitcoin miners in an effort to curb greenhouse gases Energize Weekly, April 6, 2022 Environmental groups are taking aim at the power-hungry Bitcoin cryptocurrency seeking to get it to change the way it operates and thereby cut its greenhouse gas emissions. The “Change the Code, Not the…
Federal agencies warn Russian cyber operations pose continued threat to U.S. energy infrastructure
Federal agencies warn Russian cyber operations pose continued threat to U.S. energy infrastructure March 28, 2022 In a joint advisory published this week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) assessed that state-sponsored Russian cyber operations…
US seeks new lithium sources as demand for batteries grows
US seeks new lithium sources as demand for batteries grows March 28, 2022 The race is on to produce more lithium in the United States. The U.S. will need far more lithium to achieve its clean energy goals — and the industry that mines, extracts and processes the chemical element…
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks
Biden warns the private sector that Russia is exploring options for cyberattacks March 21, 2022 President Biden warned on Monday that Russia is exploring the possibility of waging potential cyberattacks against the United States in retaliation for economic penalties imposed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. Read more
As electrification grows, car dealerships become prime candidates for microgrids
As electrification grows, car dealerships become prime candidates for microgrids March 14, 2022 US car dealerships are finding they need to upgrade their electrical infrastructure — and fast — given that more than half of their sales are expected to come from electric vehicles (EVs) before the decade is out. …
BitNile Plans to Expand the Power Capacity of Its Michigan Data Center to 300 Megawatts
BitNile Plans to Expand the Power Capacity of Its Michigan Data Center to 300 Megawatts Mar 7, 2022 BitNile Holdings, a diversified holding company today announced that it plans to expand the power capacity at its Michigan data center to 300 megawatts, which would enable Bitcoin mining operations at the…
6G launch planning should start now to avoid another 5G mess – FCC
6G launch planning should start now to avoid another 5G mess – FCC Mar. 1st 2022 New Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Jessica Rosenworcel has today told delegates at the Mobile World Congress that 6G launch planning should begin now, even though switch-on is not expected until 2030. Her remarks follow the embarrassing clash between…
Putin’s threat of ‘consequences’ heightens worries about Americans’ electricity
Putin’s threat of ‘consequences’ heightens worries about Americans’ electricity 02/25/2022 The war in Ukraine is renewing fears of a Russian cyberattack on the U.S. — and the danger that such a strike could spiral into a wider conflict between the two powers. U.S. officials have worried for years about a…
What the Russia crisis means for U.S. electricity mix
What the Russia crisis means for U.S. electricity mix 03/01/2022 Gasoline prices have spiked in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the effects of the conflict are also spilling into the U.S. electricity sector, with implications for greenhouse gas emissions and energy policy. Although the crisis isn’t expected…
Ameren Missouri to invest $8.4M in grid modernization
Ameren Missouri to invest $8.4M in grid modernization February 20, 2022 Ameren filed its updated Smart Energy Plan with Missouri’s Public Service Commission (PSC) this week, pledging to put $8.4 million toward replacing equipment, some of which is up to 50 years old, and putting new technology into practice to…
Cyber insurance premiums soar for energy companies
Cyber insurance premiums soar for energy companies Feb. 18, 2022 Cyber insurance rates are rising because of geopolitics, ransomware, a growing threat to operational technology, and continued fallout from last year’s Colonial Pipeline attack, say experts. Read more
Blocking Microgrid Cyberattacks To Keep The Power Flowing
Blocking Microgrid Cyberattacks To Keep The Power Flowing February 14, 2022 As microgrids grow more complex, they require sophisticated computer networks to coordinate, control and distribute different sources of power. Like any network, they are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Read more
After a record-breaking 2021, Global EV sales are set for another surge in 2022
After a record-breaking 2021, global EV sales are set for another surge in 2022 Energize Weekly, February 9, 2022 After a record-breaking 2021, global electric passenger vehicle (EV) sales are poised to surge again in 2022, reaching 10.5 million, a nearly 60 percent annual increase, according to new analyses of…
Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack
Germany: 2 oil storage and supply firms hit by cyberattack Feb. 1, 2022 wo companies involved in storing and supplying oil and other materials said Tuesday they have been hit by a cyberattack that has impacted operations in Germany. Read more
Digital platform launched for repowering coal plants
Digital platform launched for repowering coal plants 25 January 2022 Bryden Wood has created a new digital platform for making the replacement of coal-fired boilers at existing power plants with advanced modular nuclear reactors possible at scale and speed. Read more
FERC proposes new rule to strengthen systems against cyberattacks
FERC proposes new rule to strengthen systems against cyberattacks January 24, 2022 The Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (FERC) has released a proposal that would require internal network security monitoring (INSM) for high- and medium-impact bulk electric grid cyber systems. Read more
Adding Intelligence to Outage Management with Integrated Cloud-Based Digital Platforms
Adding Intelligence to Outage Management with Integrated Cloud-Based Digital Platforms January 17, 2022 By Paridhi Gupta, Marketing, Smart Energy Water “The grid is not ready for the 21st century.” “Climate change will lead to frequent outages, and utilities are unprepared.” Headlines such as these have become commonplace. Nothing eye-opening about…
SCC approves Dominion Energy Virginia grid transformation plan
SCC approves Dominion Energy Virginia grid transformation plan Jan. 9, 2022 The State Corporation Commission has approved Dominion Energy Virginia’s plan for electric distribution grid transformation projects that the company seeks to deploy in 2022 and 2023. Read more
Data centers, EVs drive PJM’s long-term load growth forecast, but it expects some utilities to see declines
Data centers, EVs drive PJM’s long-term load growth forecast, but it expects some utilities to see declines Jan. 4, 2022 The PJM Interconnection expects its summer and winter peak load will grow by 0.4% and 0.7% a year, respectively, over the next decade, according to the grid operator’s latest annual load…
The FCC may be facing another nuclear-sized interference problem
The FCC may be facing another nuclear-sized interference problem 12/20/2021 Federal spectrum regulators at the FCC have come under increasing fire over concerns that 5G in C-band spectrum might interfere with aircraft radio altimeters. Indeed, that issue has ballooned into a major national debate, with executives in the airline industry claiming a “catastrophic…
White House releases plan to grow US’s EV charging network to 500,000 stations
White House releases plan to grow US’s EV charging network to 500,000 stations Dec. 13th 2021 The White House released today its plan on spending the $7.5 billion on electric vehicle infrastructure with the goal to grow the US’s national EV charging network to 500,000 charging stations. Read more
Utility biz Delta-Montrose Electric Association loses billing capability and two decades of records after cyber attack
Utility biz Delta-Montrose Electric Association loses billing capability and two decades of records after cyber attack 3 Dec 2021 A US utility company based in Colorado was hit by a ransomware attack in November that wiped out two decades’ worth of records and knocked out billing systems that won’t be…
Macronix Becomes Industry’s First to Bring 120MHz 1.2V Serial NOR Flash Memories to Mass Production
Macronix Becomes Industry’s First to Bring 120MHz 1.2V Serial NOR Flash Memories to Mass Production Nov 30, 2021 Macronix International Co., Ltd. (TSE: 2337), a leading integrated device manufacturer in the non-volatile memory (NVM) market, today announced it has become the industry’s first Serial NOR Flash memory manufacturer to bring…
US power transmission, distribution costs seen outpacing electricity production costs
US power transmission, distribution costs seen outpacing electricity production costs 24 Nov 2021 US utility transmission and distribution costs have been rising faster than electricity production costs over the past decade, with utility spending on power delivery 65% higher in 2020 than in 2010, a trend that could continue as…
Infrastructure bill offers a $30 billion down payment on upgrading the nation’s grid
Infrastructure bill offers a $30 billion down payment on upgrading the nation’s grid Energize Weekly, November 17, 2021 The federal infrastructure bill signed by President Joe Biden this week, includes a nearly $30 billion down payment in grants and loan authorities to upgrade the nation’s aging and challenged electric grid.…
DTE plans $7B, 5-year investment in SE Michigan electric grid, tree trimming
DTE plans $7B, 5-year investment in SE Michigan electric grid, tree trimming Nov. 4, 2021 DTE Energy Co. plans to invest $7 billion over the next five years to modernize southeast Michigan’s electric grid and prepare for increasing demand from electric vehicles. Read more
CISA Begins Program to Identify Critical Infrastructure
CISA Begins Program to Identify Critical Infrastructure November 1, 2021 The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and a congressional committee leader agree that officials must take precautionary steps to identify “systemically important critical infrastructure” to reduce risks of pervasive supply chain cyberattacks. Read more
RCA aims to help cable operators cut power costs
RCA aims to help cable operators cut power costs 10/21/2021 Robert Cruickshank Associates (RCA), innovators at the intersection of broadband and power networks, today announced a breakthrough that creates energy opportunities for cable broadband operators: the first nationwide availability of standards-based Optimum Load Shaping (OLS) signals that enable operators to…
Southern California Edison to add 535MW of battery energy storage
Southern California Edison to add 535MW of battery energy storage October 25, 2021 Southern California Edison (SCE) will add 535 megawatts of battery energy storage at three of its substations to increase grid reliability for next summer. Read more
DOE Invests $61 Million for Smart Buildings that Accelerate Renewable Energy Adoption and Grid Resilience
DOE Invests $61 Million for Smart Buildings that Accelerate Renewable Energy Adoption and Grid Resilience October 14, 2021 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $61 million for 10 pilot projects that will deploy new technology to transform thousands of homes and workplaces into state-of-the-art, energy-efficient buildings. These Connected…
Consultants offer ways to improve US power transmission planning in FERC comments
Consultants offer ways to improve US power transmission planning in FERC comments 11 Oct 2021 Stakeholders and power market participants have begun submitting responses to federal regulators regarding an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on transmission improvements, with one group contending transportation and space heating electrification will increase power demand…
Lynn Good projects $100B in spending on ‘clean energy transition’ at Duke Energy in the next 10 years
Lynn Good projects $100B in spending on ‘clean energy transition’ at Duke Energy in the next 10 years Sep 30, 2021 Touting Duke Energy Corp.’s sustainability goals at a presentation an S&P Global Inc. conference, CEO Lynn Good said the company will spend close to $100 billion on its transition to clean…
Solar trade woes cast a pall over Biden’s climate goals
Solar trade woes cast a pall over Biden’s climate goals 09/28/2021 President Joe Biden’s climate goals are conflicting with his aim to bolster American manufacturing of solar panels — an industry the U.S. largely lost to China when he was vice president and one that can’t be rebuilt quickly. Read…
Anterix scores $30M lease with Evergy for 900 MHz spectrum
Anterix scores $30M lease with Evergy for 900 MHz spectrum Sep 20, 2021 Anterix is building steam with utility companies, notching a third long-term lease for use of its 900 MHz spectrum in a 20-year $30 million agreement with power company Evergy. Evergy gets exclusive access to 6 MHz of…
System Monitors Transmission Lines for Faults and Damage
System Monitors Transmission Lines for Faults and Damage SEP 14, 2021 Prisma Photonics Ltd and Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) have signed a pilot agreement to supply monitoring services for IEC’s electrical power transmission grid. The collaboration has started as a part of Israel’s Innovation Authority’s program to run pilots in governmental companies and national infrastructure.…
Alpha Wireless Unveils Antenna Solutions to Enable Utility Network Modernization
Alpha Wireless Unveils Antenna Solutions to Enable Utility Network Modernization Aug 24th, 2021 Alpha Wireless is launching the Alpha Wireless AW3874 dual-band antenna, engineered to empower utilities to modernize and digitize their communications infrastructure. With support for both 900 MHz and 3.5 GHz / Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum…
