Much Ado About Hearings. Let’s start by saying what should be obvious, nominating hearings are not an indication of policy to come. At best they give you a glimpse of what a nominee thinks at the top of mind but it is left without influence and policy staff having vetted the intention. Governor Burgum made for an interesting hearing for the solar industry which he called intermittent, true but false with the side of batteries. But then he went to the problem, America needs more energy (1), in order to win the AI race (2), for national security (3), the grid is stretched and at a breaking point of instability (4) and permitting reform has to happen (5). "We've got to get to work in permitting reform and speeding permitting right now." I personally think he listened to my podcast episode of Good Energy with SEIA’s Stephanie Bosh and Colin Silver where I kind of (exactly) said these things.
Opinion
News
1 Bloomberg:
US Needs More Electricity to Win AI Race, Says Trump Energy Czar
2 Axios:
Trump nominee Chris Wright to lay out top 3 goals as energy secretary
3 Reuters:
Trump's Interior Department nominee says boosting energy key to US security
4 New York Times:
Energy Dept. Backs $22 Billion in Loans to Reshape U.S. Power Grids
5 PV-Magazine:
Wholesale electricity prices lower and more stable in 2024
6 Solar Builder:
Domestic Content Safe Harbor cost percentage updates vs. original percentages
7 PV-Tech:
Leeward, Google sign 724MW solar PV PPA in Oklahoma
8 Energy Storage News:
Partners Group investing €400 million in German BESS platform ‘green flexibility’
9 Canary Media:
Sonnen, Solrite to offer free batteries and solar to Texas homeowners
Opinions:
10 Solar Power World:
New DOE roadmap calls for detailed interconnection queue data in every state
Have a great day!
Yann
Chris Wright Goes To Washington. Liberty CEO met the Senate yesterday as he goes through the nomination process to become the next Secretary of Energy. Mr. Wright went with the all of the above energy talking point and recognized the enormous need for power that our Country has. Wright was introduced by Senator Hickenlooper of Colorado with the caveat that while the nominee is a zealous advocate for oil and gas, he is also a scientist that is open to discussion. My take is that the best thing that could happen is a bit of the inverse of the Biden era. Vocal support for oil and gas while regulations and demand fuel the solar market. If you remember, oil and gas production is at an all-time high as we speak.
Opinion
News
1 New York Times:
Chris Wright, Trump’s Energy Pick, Is Quizzed on Climate and Clean Energy
2 Utility Dive:
US could deploy up to 84 GW of renewables on federal land by 2035
3 Axios:
Trump's "drill, baby, drill" problem
4 Reuters:
Trump's energy department pick calls for more LNG and nuclear power
5 Renewable Energy World:
VPP adoption is growing in the US, but not nearly fast enough
6 Solar Power World:
Gov. Hochul unveils $1 billion proposal to combat climate crisis in New York
7 Energy Storage News:
Masdar, EWEC launch world-biggest 24/7 solar PV and battery project in Abu Dhabi
8 PV-Magazine:
Utility-scale solar developer Origis Energy secures $1 billion investment
Have a great day!
Yann
Opinion
Best, Yann
News
1 Solar Builder:
Four Chinese wafer, ingot makers banned from U.S., added to UFLPA Entity List
2 Reuters:
UAE's Masdar announces $6 bln project to deliver reliable clean power
3 Utility Dive:
PJM’s proposal to unlock unused interconnection capacity gains broad support
4 BLoomberg:
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Seeks US Acquisitions to Hit Green Power Goal
5 PV-Tech:
China reviewing expiry of anti-dumping measures on solar polysilicon from US and South Korea
6 Renewable Energy World:
“Speed and scale” - Biden signs landmark executive order to accelerate AI, clean energy infrastructure
7 Energy Storage News:
Neoen begins permitting for 1.6GWh BESS selected in Canada’s biggest-ever procurement
8 Canary Media:
SSAB quietly pulls out of $500M green steel award negotiations
Opinions:
9 PV-Magazine:
Anti-solar backlash in Michigan stymies solar expansion
Have a great day!
Yann
Opinion
Best, Yann
News
1 Reuters:
Trump's likely first moves on US energy policy
2 NPR:
How batteries are already changing the grid
3 Axios:
Southern California faces rare fire warning
4 PV-Magazine:
Global cleantech investment expected to surpass fossil fuels for the first time in 2025
5 Bloomberg:
European Power Prices Rise as Wind Forecast Is Revised Down
6 PV-Tech:
Waaree Energies acquires Enel Green Power India
7 Renewable Energy World:
PJM all over again? Changes at MISO signal potential for high prices at upcoming capacity auction
8 Utility Dive:
Will the success of Biden’s clean energy policies impede Trump’s agenda?
Opinions:
9 Energy Storage News:
Year in Review - EPC Burns & McDonnell on energy storage innovation, workforce and Trump
Have a great day!
Yann
