Commentary
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Commentary
Reality Check for the EV Battery Push
Although the 730-page, $740 billion reconciliation bill signed into law by President Biden recently was touted as the “Inflation Reduction Act” ahead of the mid-term elections, the package might have been more accurately dubbed, at least in part, the “Electric Battery Manufacturing Expansion Act.” Whatever effect the combination of taxes, climate change, and other provisions may have […]
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Commentary
Taking Advantage of the Climate Bill Through Holistic Home Energy
It’s an enthusing time in the energy world. The signing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has brought terms like “heat pumps” and “photovoltaics” into the national spotlight and homeowners’ vocabularies. One thing that’s flying under-the-radar: how both clean energy generation and efficient energy usage can come together for homeowners, landlords, and renters to save […]
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Legal & Regulatory
‘Major Questions’ Impacts Energy Regulation
On the final day of the Supreme Court’s term, the Court ruled in favor of West Virginia and other petitioners challenging the claimed regulatory authority that underlaid the Clean Power Plan (CPP)—the
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Point-Counterpoint
Even California’s Governor Realizes Nuclear Power Is Key to a Clean Energy Future
California in the not-so-distant past was a consistent top 10 state for nuclear power in terms of net generation. It was even known as “a pioneer in harnessing nuclear energy.” Today, though, the state has
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Point-Counterpoint
Keeping Diablo Canyon Running Past 2025 Is Not the Answer to California’s Energy Future
The 2018 agreement to close the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant by 2025 is being undermined by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and the pro-nuclear community. They falsely claim the energy
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Commentary
What RTOs and ISOs Can Learn from the Parable of the Fox and the Hedgehog
An ancient proverb imparts: the fox knows many little things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. This insight is expanded through the moral of Aesop’s fable, “The Fox and the Hedgehog,” which
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Commentary
A Global Look at Residential Solar Adoption Rates
Solar technology is advancing at a rapid rate, making solar easier to adopt. However, there is still a large potential of growth when it comes to the solar market. Looking at global data, solar photovoltaic (PV) generation has steadily increased for the past several years, and showed the second-largest absolute generation growth of all renewable technologies […]
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IIOT Power
Putting AI to Work for Better ESG Data
Environment, social, and governance (ESG) reporting has never been easy—and with pressures rising from investors, corporate leaders, and the government, organizations are struggling to meet the needs of all stakeholders. Facility managers must grapple with reaching and documenting progress toward ESG goals that align with the desires of sustainability-minded investors while boards and corporate leaders […]
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Commentary
The Law of Resource Availability
The variety of battery-powered, and battery-assisted (hybrid) motor vehicles available today is the widest ever. But the total number of such vehicles that can be built in the West is limited by the availability of the lithium required to manufacture and power the storage batteries necessary for their electric (motor) powertrains and the lack of […]
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Commentary
Reaction Swift After Supreme Court Strips EPA’s Authority Over Emissions
Reaction on both sides of the issue was swift after the U.S. Supreme Court in a 6-3 vote said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should not have the authority to broadly regulate emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from the nation’s power plants. The case, West Virginia vs. EPA, could have ramifications for federal government […]
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