FERC issues final ruling to tackle clogged interconnection queues

Exterior view of the federal energy regulatory commission building, featuring its sign prominently displayed on the facade.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a final ruling in its quest to streamline generator interconnection and alleviate clogged queues across the U.S. At the end of 2022, more than 2,000 GW of generation and storage were waiting in interconnection queues, according to FERC. The ruling on July 27 came out of a Notice….

Grid operator decreases electricity concerns

After years of cautionary warnings about the risk of winter-time electricity shortages and possible brownouts, the operator of the New England power grid is putting that message on hold for several years. An analysis by ISO New England indicates supply and demand for electricity should roughly balance out in the region through 2027. The analysis credits….

Amazon delays pledge to decrease carbon emissions by 2030

Amazon recently delayed its pledge to make 50% of its shipments net-zero carbon by 2030. The company disclosed plans to defer its carbon emission goals across all its operations by 2040, a decade later than the 50% goal, which was called “Shipment Zero” at the time. Reportedly, the company had immensely underestimated its carbon footprint…..

Charles River being used as new energy source for Boston

Aerial view of a city with a frozen river running through it, featuring several bridges and densely packed buildings.

Vicinity Energy, the private equity-backed owner of Boston’s and Cambridge’s steam system, has signed an agreement with MAN Energy Solutions to build a low-temperature source heat pump system at Vicinity’s plant near Cambridge’s Kendall Square to make steam. The source of those low temperatures? Water from the Charles River. Vicinity is already retrofitting its Kendall….

President Biden adds more EV charging across the United States with pledges from Uber, Walmart, PG&E, and others

A person charging a car at a brightly lit green electric vehicle charging station during the night.

President Joe Biden’s latest EV charging rollout will add more than 100,000 public EV chargers to the already 135,000 available nationwide. Biden aims to have half a million chargers across the nation by 2030. The Biden administration said Monday that it has signed on a new round of public and private commitments to add EV….

How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline

Aerial view of a large, intense ocean vortex surrounded by churning white waves, with various control icons and a date timestamp overlay.

Last June, the Navy divers, operating under the cover of a widely publicized mid-summer NATO exercise known as BALTOPS 22 planted the remotely triggered explosives that, three months later, destroyed three of the four Nord Stream pipelines, according to a source with direct knowledge of the operational planning. Two of the pipelines, which were known….

Inflation Reduction Act Makes Going Solar Easier

Solar panels under a blue sky with fluffy white clouds, highlighting renewable energy sources.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) has changed the game for nonprofits by creating a direct pay version of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Now, nonprofits have just as much to gain by going solar as for-profit businesses. The federal solar tax credit allows for-profit businesses to receive a tax credit worth 30%….

DPU releases $400 million in EV funds in Massachusetts

A row of ionity electric vehicle charging stations in a sunny parking lot.

Last week, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities released $400 million in EV funds in the state. This surplus of money was put aside for EV chargers to shift homeowners and businesses from gas-powered to electric-powered vehicles. The $400 million dollars can be acquired through different incentives through the state based on location and utility…..

Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050

Cover of a december 2022 report titled "clean energy and climate plan for 2050" featuring a scenic aerial view of a park in autumn.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 continues the Commonwealth’s efforts in identifying comprehensive and detailed strategies to achieve Net Zero in 2050. This Plan builds upon years of clean energy and climate planning and diligent efforts to advance climate mitigation and resiliency strategies while also considering feedback provided by numerous organizations and….