Focus

U.S. energy storage broke records in 2018, but the best is yet to come

■Greentech Media - March 5

The U.S. energy storage industry delivered record deployments in 2018, driven by a strong fourth quarter for utility-scale projects. But the new achievement for the young industry pales compared to what’s to come: an expected doubling in 2019, followed by a tripling in 2020. Such growth will propel energy storage out of pilot-scale projects and into grid planning conversations around the country. Battery installations for 2018 totaled 311 megawatts and 777 megawatt-hours, according to the new Energy Storage Monitor released by energy research firm Wood Mackenzie and the Energy Storage Association, with data from Q4 and 2018 as a whole.

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News

California lawmakers want $100 billion toward clean energy

■U.S. News & World Report - March 4

A group of California lawmakers called Monday for the state to invest $100 billion to drastically reduce its carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels by 2030. The resolution, proposed by Senator Henry Stern, would set the non-binding goal and also declare a climate emergency, citing recent devastating wildfires and the impacts of air pollution on child asthma. The $100 billion would be spent over 12 years and come from existing pots of money, including the state's carbon emissions auction program and a gas tax increase to fund transportation projects. Assembly member Todd Gloria has also introduced legislation to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The state's current goal is eliminating fossil fuel use for electricity by 2045 and to achieve carbon neutrality by that year.

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NV Energy offers renewable energy rate for commercial customers

■Solar Power World - March 5

Last week, NV Energy filed additional information with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada about the Nevada GreenEnergy Rider that makes available more than a million megawatt hours of renewable energy resources for large commercial customers such as casinos and government entities. This offering will reduce the cost most eligible commercial customers pay for electric service.

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KKR invests in U.S. solar and wind projects with NextEra

■North American Windpower - March 5

Global investment firm KKR is expanding its renewable energy portfolio through a new wind and solar investment with NextEra Energy Partners LP (NEP). KKR will acquire an equity interest in a newly formed partnership with NEP that owns a geographically diverse portfolio of 10 utility-scale wind and solar projects across the U.S., collectively consisting of approximately 1,192 megawatts.

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Quinbrook raises $1.6 billion for low carbon power fund

■ReNews - March 6

Investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has raised over $1 billion for its low carbon power fund, which closed this week. Quinbrook has already made seven portfolio investments, including Scout Energy, which is building the 300-megawatt Ranchero wind farm in Texas. The fund has also invested in the 690-megawatt Gemini solar plant in Nevada.

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100% zero-carbon energy policies advance in three states

■PV Magazine - March 6

Perhaps buoyed by the national conversation around the Green New Deal, the move to mandate the decarbonization of electricity is gaining speed. Bills to move to 100 percent carbon-neutral electricity by 2030 and 2045 have advanced in Washington state and New Mexico, while Minnesota’s governor announced a plan to move his state to 100 percent zero-carbon by 2050. Bills in an additional four states, Massachusetts, Illinois, Virginia, and New York, have not advanced; however in Illinois, an even more aggressive policy has been proposed, with a bill to move the state to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050 (no nuclear included) introduced.

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Projects

Solar installation opens in Sun Valley

■San Fernando Valley Business Journal - March 6

A 2.6-megawatt rooftop solar array has been installed on top of a warehouse in Sun Valley. It is the area’s largest solar interconnection and will produce enough energy to make about 1,000 homes carbon-free, according to a press release. The installation supports the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Feed-in-Tariff program, which encourages property owners to generate zero-carbon energy through rooftop solar panels and sell that energy at a fixed rate to LADWP for redistribution.

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