Focus
U.S. power operators warn Congress of a coming reliability shortfall
Power Magazine – April 3
At a March 25 hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, seven major U.S. grid operators, including the California Independent System Operator, testified that the nation’s power system is under mounting strain—and that without urgent structural reforms, the ability to maintain reliable electric service could falter. Their message was unusually direct: demand is accelerating, supply is lagging, and current tools may not be enough to bridge the gap.
News
Wind and solar generation overtook coal in the U.S. last year, according to new report
Utility Dive – April 8
Wind and solar together generated more electricity than coal in the U.S. for the first time last year, and coal’s share of the generation mix fell to an all-time low of under 15%, according to a new report from the think tank Ember. “2024 saw the largest-ever increase in solar generation in the U.S. (+64 TWh),” the report states. Wind production grew by 32 TWh, while coal generation dropped by 22 TWh.
Trump administration opens more public land to drilling and mining
The New York Times – April 8
The Trump administration has opened thousands of acres of land in Nevada and New Mexico to oil and gas drilling, geothermal development, and hard-rock mining, reversing protections enacted under former President Joe Biden. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the decision last Friday as part of a sweeping emergency order to allow logging on more than half of national forests, or nearly 113 million acres.
PacifiCorp wants to add multiple gigawatts of renewables, storage
Renewables Now – April 7
U.S. utility PacifiCorp is seeking permission to add multiple gigawatts of new wind, solar, and energy storage capacity to its network over the next 20 years under its latest integrated resource plan. PacifiCorp serves around two million customers in California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Projects
Energy Vault Holdings announces closing of $28M in project financing for Calistoga Resiliency Center
T&D World – April 7
Energy Vault Holdings has announced the closing of $28 million in project financing for its Calistoga Resiliency Center (CRC). The CRC, a hybrid microgrid energy storage facility, is developed by Energy Vault to serve a tolling contract with Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
California lawmakers urge Trump to spare state’s hydrogen energy project
Los Angeles Times – April 8
Four Republicans joined Democrats in signing a letter calling on Energy Secretary Wright to preserve federal funding for a hydrogen energy project they say can play “a critical role in securing American energy dominance.” The potential cuts come as the Trump administration continues to target environmental programs in California and across the country in what officials say is an effort to ease regulatory costs and lower taxes.
Dow wants to power its Texas manufacturing complex with new nuclear reactors instead of natural gas
Associated Press – March 31
Dow wants to use next-generation nuclear reactors for clean power and steam at a Texas manufacturing complex instead of natural gas. Dow’s subsidiary, Long Mott Energy, applied last Monday to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a construction permit. It said the project with X-energy, an advanced nuclear reactor and fuel company, would nearly eliminate the emissions associated with power and steam generation at its plant in Seadrift, Texas, avoiding roughly 500,000 metric tons of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions annually.
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