This week in Energy Democracy news:
Clean energy advocates are optimistic following the midterm elections. Despite failed ballot initiatives in Arizona and Washington, advocates are hopeful for renewable energy gains at the state level thanks to Democrats gaining seats in many state legislatures. Plus, the American Wind Energy Association finds that seven states are on track to double their wind energy generation capacity in quarter three of 2018.
Featured:
How Your Local Electeds Can Support Clean Energy by John Farrell, Renewable Energy World
Local Clean Energy On The Ballot This November by John Farrell, CleanTechnica
Solar “maker and braker” utilities across the South by William Driscoll, PV Magazine
Clean energy ballot initiatives fare better at local than state level by Robert Walton, Utility Dive
Voters this week rejected two energy ballot initiatives in Arizona and Washington, but a closer look at local elections has renewables advocates optimistic.
Ballot initiative flops mask strong election for clean energy by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
Victories for renewable power supporters in key governors races could mean a more favorable environment for clean energy across a number of states, even as closely watched ballot initiatives floundered Tuesday.
Lazard: Renewables can challenge existing coal plants on price by Gavin Bade, Utility Dive
Average costs for wind and solar energy can undercut existing coal generation even without subsidies, according to analysis from the research firm Lazard.
Why Nevada upped its renewable energy standards (and Arizona didn’t) by Elise Hansen and Katarina Zimmer, Grist
Energy Democracy News Across the States:
California
California community choice aggregators sign PPAs for 150 MW of solar, 180 MWh of storage by Jeffrey Ryser, S&P Global
Florida
Utility solar expands in Florida as regulators approve 260 MW by Iulia Gheorghiu, Utility Dive
Solar To Play Increasingly Bigger Role In Florida’s Energy Future by Betsy Lillian, Solar Industry Magazine
Hawaii
Do Hawaii residents have the highest utility bills? By Paul Drewes, KITV
Idaho
As rooftop solar become popular, Idaho Power considers changing how it charges users by Heather Kennison, Magic Valley
Illinois
Illinois Democratic sweep may augur even better solar support by Daniel Schwen, PV Magazine
Nevada
Renewable energy measure ahead in Nevada by Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Review-Journal
North Carolina
Duke Energy plans to offer nonresidential solar leases in North Carolina by Robert Walton, Utility Dive
Oregon
Voters endorse Portland clean energy tax initiative by Kale Williams, The Oregonian
Pennsylvania
Large new solar farm would be built to supply electricity for Philly-owned buildings
by Frank Kummer, The Inquirer
Rhode Island
Rhode Island church uses solar to promote environmental stewardship by Meg Dalton, Energy News Network
Texas
Sunnova Launches Solar-Plus-Storage in Home State of Texas by Julian Spector, GreenTechMedia
Texas generators, utilities square off at PUC over storage ownership by Iulia Gheorghiu, Utility Dive
Vermont
Brattleboro parking garage could host ‘innovative’ solar array by Chris Mays, Brattleboro Reformer
Virginia
Virginia advances stricter carbon emissions cap rule by Robert Walton, Utility Dive
Nationwide Energy Democracy News:
US wind ‘hits 90GW’, renews.biz
Three ways utilities can better engage low-income customers by Patty Durand, Utility Dive
Seven states to soon double their wind power as Q3 development picks up, finds AWEA by Michelle Froese, Windpower
Seven states, from Nebraska to Massachusetts, will soon build enough wind turbines to more than double their capacity to generate clean and reliable wind energy, according to the American Wind Energy Association
Electric Vehicles Are Coming, And New England And California Better Watch Out by F. Todd Davidson, Forbes
To determine how electric vehicles might affect our power grid, researchers with the Energy Institute at UT Austin developed an analysis of future electricity requirements as a result of increasing vehicle electrification. This analysis was completed on a county-by-county basis across the country, and found that California and New England might face the largest challenges to enable future electric vehicles
State Renewable Energy Could Be Post-Election Winner by Bobby Magill, Bloomberg
Democratic gains in state capitals in the midterm elections may signal a shift toward more ambitious renewable energy policies in Maine, New Mexico, and other states that have been slow to adopt them.
Can an entire town run on solar? By Hari Sreenivasan, PBS News Hour
There could be a successful carbon pricing next year despite midterms disappointment by E.A. Crunden, Think Progress
This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell or Marie Donahue on Twitter or get the Energy Democracy weekly update. Also check out over 50 episodes of the Local Energy Rules podcast!
