December 2, 2021
CEC Approves $1.4 Billion Plan for Zero-Emission Transportation Infrastructure and Manufacturing
Plan aims to close infrastructure gap and direct 50 percent of funds
to priority communities.
SACRAMENTO – The California Energy Commission (CEC) today approved a three-year $1.4 billion plan to help California achieve its 2025 electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling goals.
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California OKs $1.4 bln plan for car chargers,
hydrogen refueling
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved a three-year $1.4 billion plan to help California achieve its electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling goals.
Solar and green groups buy into Duke’s net-metering plan in North Carolina
The state’s dominant utility has proposed time-varying solar rates and smart-thermostat incentives, and solar advocates are on board.
Duke Energy customers in North Carolina are poised to get a revamped net-metering regime for new home solar systems — one that would closely tie the value of rooftop solar power to how much households can shift their energy generation and consumption to times that are most opportune for the grid.
Amazon announces 8 new U.S. solar projects
Amazon has announced 18 new utility-scale wind and solar energy projects across the U.S., Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K., totaling 5.6 GW of procured capacity to date in 2021. Amazon now has 274 renewable energy projects globally and is on a path to power 100% of its business operations with renewable energy by 2025 — five years earlier than its original 2030 commitment.
More Exelon utilities to integrate Palmetto’s
solar calculator
By integrating Palmetto’s Mapdwell Solar API, Exelon will provide its 10 million utility customers — spread over Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington D.C. — with online access to property-level solar photovoltaic potential data and analysis. By securely leveraging customers’ energy consumption profiles to provide personalized recommendations and accelerate solar adoption, the Mapdwell-powered solar calculator enables Exelon customers to learn about the feasibility, and potential cost-savings associated with pursuing solar at their address. The solar calculator provides personalized information for each of Exelon’s residential customers, estimating the number of solar panels required due to unique characteristics of the customer’s property, estimated return on investment given the customer’s historical energy usage, and potential green-house gas reductions.
Buyer interest in EVs grows as automakers introduce more appealing models
Electric vehicles are in the spotlight following Biden's visit to a Detroit factory and the debut of new models at the LA Auto Show. But cost and charging concerns remain.
From Michigan to California, electric vehicles (EVs) took center stage. Along with growing momentum for electric vehicles, as some experts say EV sales may be nearing a tipping point due to rising consumer interest and an influx of new models from mainstream and startup auto manufacturers.
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All-electric Ford F-150 Lightning sparks interest as electric vehicles make waves
Pickup truck aficionados and first-timers alike are anticipating new electric releases from Ford, Tesla, Rivian and Chevrolet.
'A long way to go': How ConEd, Xcel and 4 other utilities are helping cities meet big EV goals
From New York City to Los Angeles, cities and utilities face cost, land and grid challenges in their efforts to electrify transportation systems.
Electric vehicles (EVs) could finish 2021 as 5% of new car sales in the U.S., according to market observers, and are expected to make up a growing share in the years to come. Driven by city and state electrification goals, and now supported by federal infrastructure dollars, the years ahead will be a critical time for utilities working to drive beneficial electrification.
Researchers use AI to optimize several
flow battery properties simultaneously
Scientists seek stable, high-energy batteries designed for the electric grid.
Bringing new sources of renewable energy like wind and solar power onto the electric grid will require specially designed large batteries that can charge when the sun is shining and give energy at night. One type of battery is especially promising for this purpose: the flow battery. Flow batteries contain two tanks of electrically active chemicals that exchange charge and can have large volumes that hold a lot of energy.
Big Batteries on Wheels Can Deliver Zero-Emissions Rail While Securing the Grid
Berkeley Lab study shows how battery-electric trains can deliver environmental justice, cost-savings, and resilience to the U.S.
Trains have been on the sidelines of electrification efforts for a long time in the U.S. because they account for only 2% of transportation sector emissions, but diesel freight trains emit 35 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually and produce air pollution that leads to $6.5 billion in health costs, resulting in an estimated 1,000 premature deaths each year. What’s more, these deaths and adverse health impacts disproportionately affect disadvantaged and low-income communities, which are more likely to be located near freight rail yards and railways.