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California's transition from natural gas to electricity is entering murky waters as regulators grapple with technical, political and energy-affordability issues.
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The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power on Jan. 11 said it expects the 350-MW Red Cloud Wind Project in New Mexico to boost its renewable-energy portfolio by 6 percent, pushing the municipal utility's projected mix of renewable resources beyond 40 percent for 2022. Red Cloud, which b… Read More
Editor's note: This week's column is meant to be a snapshot of where the Northwest is in its move toward participating in a wholesale energy market. Most, but not all, of the sources were given anonymity to speak freely and give readers an idea of what people are thinking about either joinin… Read More
Moderate temperatures across the West served to ease natural gas demand; however, energy prices did not move in lockstep. Read More
California's transition from natural gas to electricity is entering murky waters as regulators grapple with technical, political and energy-affordability issues. Read More
California policymakers continue emphasizing the need for electric-vehicle adoption, but there is a correlative need for sufficient charging infrastructure in public locations throughout the state. Read More
Utility regulators this week approved renewables procurement plan drafts for more than 40 retail electricity sellers across the state, but said additional curtailment studies might be required as more clean energy flows onto the grid. Read More
The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Jan. 11 released its draft environmental assessment for the Humboldt Wind Energy Area off the Northern California coast. Read More
Karen Heim (Public Power Council), Dan Catchpole (NewsData; Clearing Up), Ian Bledsoe (Clatskanie PUD) and Paul Dockery (Clatskanie PUD) start the new year catching up on electric utility news across the region. Read more
We want to hear from you on energy issues and to share your thoughts with our readership. Read more
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his new state budget proposal for 2022-2023, known as the "California Blueprint," which includes $22.5 billion for climate-related efforts such as clean energy, building decarbonization, drought relief, new technologies and zero-emission vehicles. Read More
More rain and snow throughout the western United States brought more improvements to drought levels, particularly in California. Read More
Portland, Oregon-based PacifiCorp is going on another hunt for renewable energy and storage in 2022, including possible resources in California, as it continues to remake its portfolio to meet upcoming clean-energy goals. Read More
New Mexico's landmark renewable-energy bill, the 2019 Energy Transition Act, this week emerged unscathed from a constitutional challenge brought in 2020 by ratepayer advocacy groups, which argued that the legislation undermines the ratemaking authority of state regulators and denies ratepaye… Read More
Arizona regulators gave Arizona Public Service 10 more months to implement changes to time-of-use rates ordered in a recent rate-case decision after the utility informed them that technical changes would necessitate the delay. Read More
Senators and hydropower trade group representatives on Jan. 11 said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should have a stronger role in licensing hydroelectric development, including the authority to set and enforce process deadlines. Read More