Erik Anderson

The Massachusetts clean energy roadmap for 2025/30 envisions #OffshoreWind as the primary source of #electricity to support the state goal of achieving #NetZero by 2050.

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Explore the captivating story by Eva Kappas from Brown University, featured in Climate & Capital Media's Emerging Voices series. She delves into why the time has come to prioritize investment in grid repair and expansion. Which will enable us to advance confidently in the energy transition while enhancing safety and resilience. https://lnkd.in/gNrx9m-6 Climate & Capital Media National Renewable Energy Laboratory FSB Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) American Society of Civil Engineers American Sustainable Business Network Climate Power Princeton University Climate Power Education Fund United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) United Nations UN Climate Change American Journalism Project ConnectDER Solar Builder Magazine 2035 Springer Nature Group Pacific Gas and Electric Company #climatechange #climatecrisis #climatefuture #climatechangereporting #climatereporting #climateinvesting #cliamteeconomy #climatefinance #esg #esgdata #esgreporting #esgeconomy #esginvesting #esgfinance #infrastructure #climateinfrastructure #esginfrastructure

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@RenewableEnergyWorld reporting that community solar is advancing again in PA. Maybe it will finally pass this time? "On March 26, 2024, the Community Solar Act, HB 1842, was passed by vote of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and sent for consideration by the Senate. The Act establishes a third-party-owned community solar program in the Commonwealth. Under the legislation, community solar facilities must have a maximum nameplate capacity of 20 MW (AC) for facilities located on a brownfield or rooftop and 5 MW (AC) if located elsewhere. Community solar facilities cannot have any single offtaker with a subscription for more than 50% of the facility’s capacity or energy output, except for master-metered multifamily residential or commercial buildings. At least 50% of the facility’s subscribed capacity must be for subscriptions of 25 kW or less. Some or all of the facility’s generated electricity must be credited to subscribers’ electric bills to offset all charges except volumetric or demand-based distribution charges. Community solar facilities may be remotely located and are not required to provide energy serving on-site load." Read more at https://conta.cc/49SgukV #solar #energy #solarenergy #renewables #renewableenergy #electricity #energystorage #ESS #distributedenergy #sola

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Regional solar policy news to know: #RhodeIsland incentivized energy storage; funding is available for #agrivoltaic demo projects in #NewYork; and the #Massachusetts senate has passed a bill that sets solar permitting deadlines for utilities and makes it easier to purchase electric vehicles. #SolarPolicy #RhodeIslandSolar #NewYorkSolar #MassachusettsSolar #KinectSolar

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The last few weeks of electricity supply and demand in #NewEngland have been interesting. With some days of very high temperatures and humidity, rooftop #solar has been contributing by pushing peak demand lower and later in the day. Yet still, the primary source of power on the ISO New England Inc. grid has been natural (fossil) gas. I've mentioned before the need for New England to build more #offshorewind, and while I think that is the most urgent/strategic task, we could still use a lot more solar (perhaps 2x what we have deployed just to replace gas for daytime demand) and we increasingly need batteries to allow mid-day solar generation to meet evening demand peaks (which will make a market for more solar + #energystorage). In general, #NewEngland needs to build more of every form of clean energy. Graphic courtesy of Grid Status. #deploydeploydeploy #energytransition

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The Maryland Energy Administration has launched the Maryland Solar Access program, aimed at providing significant incentives for income-eligible Maryland households to install solar panels. Eligible households can receive up to $7,500 based on a $750-per-kilowatt incentive for direct current solar capacity. The program aligns closely with the recommendations from the 2023 Maryland Task Force to Study Solar Incentives and aims to help Marylanders reduce energy bills and carbon footprints. Grants will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and solar systems owned by third parties will qualify. Additionally, the program replaces the Residential Clean Energy Rebate Program, and Maryland also promotes standardized solar permitting through the Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus (SolarAPP+). For more details, visit the Maryland Energy Administration’s Solar Access program webpage. Responses to maximize program impact are due by 3:00 P.M. ET, June 30, 2024. 🌞💡 Learn more: https://ow.ly/WbKM50RNtMo #PrismSolarPower #RenewableEnergy #RooftopSolar #CleanEnergy #SolarEnergy #SmartInvestment #Sustainability #CleanEnergyFuture #MarylandSolar

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🌐 Exciting news from the Northeast US!  University at Albany and University of Connecticut are joining forces to fortify Northeast US grid resilience against extreme weather. 🌩️ Funded by the Department of Energy, these projects aim to enhance grid resilience through cutting-edge modelling and risk assessment tools. UAlbany will analyze climate trends, while UConn focuses on outage prediction models to recommend resilient solutions. "This partnership will drive advancements in energy industry reliability amidst climate challenges," highlighted Chris Thorncroft, Director at UAlbany’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center. Emphasizing the impact on clean energy, Professor Anagnostou Emmanouil from UConn stated, "As we face escalating climate risks, enhancing grid resilience is vital for accelerating clean energy adoption." Supported by Maria Robinson from the DOE, these initiatives are part of a broader effort to secure grid resilience funding and promote sustainable energy solutions. Managed by ENERGYWERX, this partnership aims to expedite the deployment of clean energy technologies. Together, let's build a resilient energy future! 💡🌍 #GridResilience #CleanEnergyFuture #ClimateAction #ResearchPartnerships https://lnkd.in/g-MeQMX2

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Catch up on this week’s biggest clean energy news: 🚗 EV sales are revving up again 🌲 Clarifying carbon offsets 🍳 A ‘cynical PR stunt’ to build net-zero homes And more: 

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The Governor’s Energy Office today announced that Maine has joined a total of 10 Northeast states in signing a memorandum of understanding for improved regional planning of electricity transmission to create a stronger, more reliable, and more efficient grid and accelerate the clean energy transition. Other states joining the MOU include Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Improving interregional electricity transmission planning and coordination can stabilize energy costs by increasing access to affordable clean energy while bolstering grid reliability at times of high energy demand and improving resilience against extreme weather. https://lnkd.in/e8nWPhD4

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🌞 Vermont adjusts net-metering rates! Starting August 1, 2024, new net-metering systems will see a small decrease in compensation while existing systems benefit from an increase. The update aims to balance renewable energy growth with cost-efficiency. ♻️ #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #VermontEnergy #NetMetering #Sustainability

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Must See Webinar: How the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is Creating New Pathways for Grid Decarbonization 🔌🌿 Join us for a crucial discussion on Pathways to IRA: Pioneering New Routes for Grid Decarbonization. This in-depth session will unravel the transformative role of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Tax Credit Transfer in fueling diverse opportunities for greener energy solutions. 🔍 Dive deep into: - The mechanics behind IRA’s groundbreaking tax credits for standalone storage. - Strategies for unlocking utility-scale storage solutions. - The significant impact on bolstering the surge of renewable energy. 🚀 Whether you’re an industry professional, an environmental advocate, or simply curious about the future of energy, this webinar promises to provide invaluable insights into the innovative financial structures driving our grid's decarbonization. Watch now: http://spr.ly/6045bLBLJ #Decarbonization #SustainabilityStrategy #GreeningTheGrid #SustainableBusiness #Webinar #EnterpriseCaseStudies

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Spurred by a LI post from Matt Golden, EPDI hosted its first Policy Chat last month. With a lively discussion, participants made some real progress on the conversation around the definition of virtual power plants. https://lnkd.in/gWyyzYZU #vpp #cleanenergy #energytransition

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ICYMI: CT DEEP has been awarded more than $62 million under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund's Solar for All program! "Project SunBridge will reach low-income and disadvantaged community households across the state of Connecticut, with a priority focus on affordable housing units, to allow for greater access to residential solar, increased resilience and grid benefits, and investments in quality jobs and businesses. The program has the potential to reach thousands of additional households through Connecticut’s existing solar and storage programs, avoiding CO2 emissions and saving Connecticut residents on energy costs. Connecticut residents will benefit from financial assistance with increased incentives, more accessible loans, and low-cost capital for solar and storage, as well as technical assistance for clean energy workforce development and community engagement. This blend of financial and technical assistance will create a sustainable funding stream for low-income and disadvantaged communities households to participate in the green economy, which will last beyond the SFA funding years, attract private investment, and drive market transformation." https://lnkd.in/gFbk7Wkc

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⛰ Exciting news from Vermont! The Green Mountain State is taking the lead in clean energy by enacting RES Reform through bill H. 289. ⛰ The passage of H. 289 by the Vermont House and Senate is a testament to the careful planning and stakeholder input that went into reforming the Renewable Energy Standard (RES). This bill sets ambitious goals for 100% renewable energy by 2035, making Vermont a national leader in renewable energy transition. What does this mean for Vermont? It means new investments in renewable energy, including an increase in the purchasing requirement for new renewables under 5 MW and a mandate for larger in-region renewables, such as offshore wind. These initiatives will drive economic development and job creation, enhance energy resilience, and reduce emissions, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future. We encourage our members, partners, and friends in VT to reach out to Vermont Governor Phil Scott and ask him to sign H. 289 into law, kickstarting Vermont's journey toward a robust, clean energy future. This is an opportunity to meet ambitious decarbonization goals and address the challenges of electrifying buildings and transportation. Let's embrace this momentum and pave the way for a greener tomorrow! #CleanEnergy #RESReform #VermontLeadership #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #ClimateAction

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✳ RES Reform Bill H.289 is Now on VT Governor's Desk for Signature! ✳ The approval of H. 289 by both the Vermont House and Senate reflects the meticulous planning and inclusive stakeholder engagement that guided the reform of the Renewable Energy Standard (RES). This legislation sets ambitious targets for achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035, positioning Vermont as a trailblazer in the national transition to renewable energy. This bill will not only stimulate economic growth and job creation but also bolster energy resilience and substantially reduce emissions, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future. We urge all our members, partners, and friends in Vermont to join us in urging Governor Phil Scott to sign H. 289 into law. By doing so, we can kickstart Vermont's journey towards a robust, clean energy future, achieving ambitious decarbonization goals and addressing the challenges of electrifying buildings and transportation. Let's harness this momentum and pave the way for a greener tomorrow!

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Another great week of #agrivoltaics in the upper Midwest! This week our team moved five separate groups of sheep to #distributedgeneration solar sites across Minnesota and Wisconsin. This photo is from a US Solar site in the St. Croix River Valley, and is a nice example of ‘mob’ grazing, a pattern of sheep behavior that occurs when you introduce a large number of animal units into a relatively small area. This type of grazing practice reduces the sheep’s ability to be selective, and helps us increase biodiversity in native ecosystems over time. #agrivoltaics #solargrazing #renewableenergy #sheep #vegetationmanagement #agroecology

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Massachusetts State Senate advanced much needed energy reforms last week! Highlights: - Address siting and permitting process for clean energy projects - Increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure - Address emissions cost of gas infrastructure - Allow gas suppliers to fund network geothermal infrastructure - Electrified trains (woo!) "Massachusetts has committed itself to ratcheting down greenhouse gas emissions to the net zero level by 2050, with checkpoints along the way. The primary strategy is to pivot energy generation towards cleaner sources like solar and offshore wind, and simultaneously maximize the electrification of buildings and transportation." But the more pressing point, and something that we talk about routinely as Sustainability staff across the state, is the sticker-shock cost of what it will take to make necessary upgrades to our electrical infrastructure. The Senate discussion centered current and future cost implications, and the limited appetite ratepayers have to fund upgrades. Our state has a history of pushing against progressive measures when they hit our pockets too hard and too fast. Being creative and thoughtful on the expense of upgrades, where to cut to make space for continued improvements, will help us stay the course, avoid public backlash, and actually meet our future goals. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eyzf5yi2

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