Focus
Biden proposes more than $2B for clean energy infrastructure, $14B+ increase in climate spending
 Utility Dive – June 1
President Joe Biden's proposed 2022 budget calls for increased spending on climate mitigation, research, and a variety of infrastructure projects — including energy efficiency and transmission — while emphasizing economic recovery and job growth. The budget calls for a $14 billion increase in climate-related spending compared to 2021 levels, with $2 billion in spending for clean energy projects and $6.5 billion in lending capacity for clean energy generation, storage, and transmission projects in rural communities.
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News
California lawmakers reject controversial net-metering bill
PV-Tech – June 3
The California Assembly rejected a controversial bill, AB 1139, on Wednesday that would significantly cut net-metering rates and remove requirements for the California Public Utilities Commission to ensure sustainable growth in the state’s rooftop solar sector. The rejected bill would have also cut rates for rooftop solar customers.
Nevada accelerates $2B state grid expansion project
Engineering News-Record – June 2
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill June 2 that will accelerate construction of the $2-billion, 525-kV Greenlink transmission network to open access to remote renewable energy resource areas; the recently passed legislation also requires a $100-million investment in electric vehicle charging stations to help the state reach a 100% clean energy goal by 2050. The 585-mile Greenlink Nevada project is set to connect Nevada's eastern, western, and southern regions.
Corporate renewables market flourished in 2020 despite pandemic
S&P Global – May 31
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many corners of the global energy industry, but the corporate renewables market plowed ahead as if nothing had happened. S&P Global Market Intelligence tracked over 20,000 MW of new corporate wind and solar capacity throughout the year, making 2020 the most active year yet in the rapidly growing segment. There is an estimated 41,000 MW of corporate-tied renewable capacity in the U.S., and matching the trend seen in the overall renewables market, solar is significantly entering the utility-scale segment.
BRIC microgrid opportunity grows as Biden doubles funding to $1 billion
Microgrid Knowledge – May 28
In an opportunity for microgrids and energy storage, the Biden administration has doubled to $1 billion the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, a grant program for infrastructure resiliency. The program started last year with $500 million in funding. Cities like Camarillo, California, applied for BRIC funding in last year’s funding round to help pay for planned microgrids. FEMA received 991 requests for project support in last year’s funding round, which closed in late January.
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Projects
Solar-plus-batteries chosen to replace 522-MW Nevada coal plant
Energy Storage News – June 3
NV Energy has proposed building two large-scale solar-plus-storage plants to replace a coal plant as part of the company’s triennial Integrated Resource Plan filing. As the 522-MW North Valmy Generation Station in Winnemucca, Nevada, is scheduled for retirement, NV Energy wants to replace it and has proposed 600 MW of solar with 480 MW of battery storage across the two planned sites to come online by 2025.
Anheuser-Busch hits renewable electricity goal with new 222-MW Texas solar project
KSDK – June 3
Anheuser-Busch said Tuesday that all of its domestic beer and seltzer brands are now brewed with 100% renewable electricity generated by solar and wind power. Completion of the Anheuser-Busch Solar Farm, a solar project in West Texas generating 222 MW of AC power that comes online this month, means the company has reached its goal — four years early — to source 100% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2025.
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