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North American power grid faced extreme weather and cyberattack risks in 2021

North American power grid faced extreme weather and cyberattack risks in 2021 Energize Weekly, July 27, 2022 The North American electric grid faced unprecedented challenges from severe weather, cyberattacks and problems with natural gas supplies in 2021, but with except one exception – in Texas – utilities and grid operators were able maintain reliability, according…

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Fossil-fuel electric generation challenged in Texas heat wave, raising reliability questions

Fossil-fuel electric generation challenged in Texas heat wave, raising reliability questions Energize Weekly, July 6, 2022 An early season heat wave in May tested the Texas grid, raising questions about the relation of baseload, fossil-fuel generation to wind and solar, according to analysis by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). “Fossil-fuel proponents…

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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 percent of all passenger vehicle…

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New clean generation technology is needed for the West to achieve 100 percent clean electricity

New clean generation technology is needed for the West to achieve 100 percent clean electricity Energize Weekly, February 16, 2022 The West could run on 90 percent clean electricity by 2040 with existing renewable generation and storage, but to get to 100 percent, new, clean generation filling the same baseload and ramping capabilities done by…

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New York State OKs transmission projects to bring clean energy to New York City

New York State OKs transmission projects to bring clean energy to New York City Energize Weekly, December 8, 2021 Setting the stage for its biggest transmission initiative in 50 years, New York State has struck agreements for two high-tension lines to bring more than 2 gigawatts of wind, solar and hydroelectricity to New York City…

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U.S. grid ready for winter, NERC says, New England and California may face fuel pinch

U.S. grid ready for winter, NERC says, New England and California may face fuel pinch Energize Weekly, December 1, 2021 Winter electricity-generating resources across the North American grid are forecast to be adequate, although weather and fuel access issues may create challenges for New England, California and parts of Canada. Those regions were highlighted by…

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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. There are about $17 billion…

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Western U.S. could reap $2 billion in benefits from a regional electricity market

Western U.S. could reap $2 billion in benefits from a regional electricity market Energize Weekly, October 27, 2021 The American West – one of only two regions in the country without a regional electricity market – could see benefits of as much as $2 billion a year by creating a western market, while linking eastern…

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Solar could power 45 percent of U.S. electricity by 2050 with multi-billion dollar investment, DOE says

Solar could power 45 percent of U.S. electricity by 2050 with multi-billion dollar investment, DOE says Energize Weekly, September 15, 2021 The U.S. could get 40 percent of its electricity from solar installations by 2035 and 45 percent by 2050 – through $225 to $560 billion in the power grid investments, according to a new…

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PJM puts transmission upgrades for onshore renewables and offshore wind at up to $3.2 billion

PJM puts transmission upgrades for onshore renewables and offshore wind at up to $3.2 billion Energize Weekly, August 18, 2021 The PJM Interconnection – the nation’s largest grid operator – estimates that it will take between $2.2 billion and $3.2 billion in new transmission investments by 2035 to accommodate the system’s growing onshore and offshore…

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Electric grid threatened by climate change, federal agencies need to do more, GAO says

Energize Weekly, March 17, 2021 Climate change – the heat waves, flooding, droughts, and hurricanes it may bring – poses a multibillion-dollar threat to the country’s aging electric grid, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Without significant efforts to upgrade the grid and make it more resilient, the annual cost…

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Collapse of the natural gas system from wellhead to turbine fueled Texas’ blackout

Energize Weekly, February 24, 2021 The near collapse of Texas’ electric grid was caused in the main by a failure of the natural gas system from the wellhead to pipeline to gas turbine, according to an analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA). “Texas has a power shortage because it has a gas shortage,” the…

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