Michael Mullock

From Richard Ellenbogen who has installed solar, heat pumps, and a CHP unit talking about the New York's plan to drastically reduce carbon emissions: " ➡ New York is letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, prohibiting or frustrating viable solutions that could reduce emissions.  ➡ Instead, New York is relying on older, less efficient power plants, in hopes that wind and solar—built in more rural areas or offshore—can someday replace them.  ➡ Even if New York were to build the wind, solar and battery backup necessary to keep the lights on without fossil fuels, the storage requirements, either onsite or grid-based, would be cost-prohibitive. " Read about how in his experience, we aren't ready to rely on a fully renewable grid. https://lnkd.in/eyNrRdNE

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#massachusetts legislature punts on #streamlining the #permittingprocess. The goal of increasing the supply of #cleanenergy through new #renewableenergy projects, more #storagecapacity and #streamlinedpermitting will have to wait until next session for another chance.

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PV Squared Solar and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts have officially combined the power of their missions: addressing food insecurity and expanding renewable energy in our region. "This installation reflects what is possible when federal support and local expertise come together. A lot of people contributed to this installation of 1,269 modules totaling 615.465kW DC” added Maya Fulford, Worker-Owner & System Designer “It’s inspiring to see solar energy powering an organization that does so much to uplift our region.” Kate Carter (she/they), Worker-Owner & member of the Management Team shared, “As a company rooted in Western Massachusetts, we’re committed to delivering renewable-energy solutions that not only benefit the environment but also strengthen vital community organizations. By installing solar, the Food Bank is reducing their energy costs allowing them to focus even more resources on their mission of feeding those in need. Solar projects like this are good for the planet, and the bottom line.” Brittany Hathaway, Worker-Owner & Marketing Specialist stated, "Bringing solar energy to the Food Bank is more than just a technical achievement—it’s a way to contribute to their mission of community support and sustainability... making this one of the most rewarding initiatives we’ve undertaken." The project was made possible through a congressionally directed Community Funding Project grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, with the support of U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey. PV Squared Press Release: https://lnkd.in/eT3FZJfx FBWM Press Release: https://lnkd.in/gfBT7GeT

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DOE proposes ten “national interest” transmission corridors (my latest for PV Magazine USA) Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; one would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s #PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains.

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The U.S. government says the initiative to remove all lead pipes will cost about $45 billion. The utilities industry says it will cost at least double and are trying to stop it from happening. Lost in the chatter about higher home prices, mortgage rates and insurance, are America's vast hidden infrastructure costs. Rate payers will be footing the bill for this project. And look, as painful as that is, it has to happen. We don't even know the true impact of "forever chemicals." As a dad, this stuff scares me. It speaks to a larger issue. You might not know this but in a past lifetime I covered municipal government. Politicians always found money for new turf football fields, statues and town halls. Replacing old pipes, bridges, roads and other critical infrastructure? That's a project for the next guy. We are starting to experience more direct consequences for our collective inaction, and it's more expensive than fixing the problem in the first place. https://lnkd.in/ecDXd2Bd

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If you have suspected that climate activism is just a way for Democrats to squeeze more money out of the economy in taxes, Governor Kathy Hochul provides you with incontrovertible evidence of your suspicions. The lead editorial in today's WSJ is about legislation Hochul just signed that will tax domestic fossil fuel companies $75 billion dollars to "help the state of New York adapt to climate change." As the WSJ editors point out, this is just a gambit by the Governor and the Democrat controlled legislature in Albany to shift the costs of maintaining New York's crumbling infrastructure from the taxpayers of New York to the rest of the country. That is, by going after fossil fuel companies supposedly for contributing to climate change, the revenues extorted from them will just have to be offset by higher energy prices for the rest of us. Since foreign companies are immune from a tax scheme like this, it will only be able to be levied on domestic producers. The editors dismiss this legislation for exactly what it is. A tax grab beyond New York's borders to make up for failure to make capital spending repairs due to Albany having diverted its tax money to welfare payments and fat public-worker pay and benefits. As Hochul herself admitted, New Yorkers are taxed out, and so she is looking for others to tax. We have seen intimations of this taxing theory from other blue states with similar tax and spend problems that have put them in a death spiral. California, Maryland, and Massachusetts have all proposed similar bills in the name of making those responsible for climate change redress harms caused by greenhouse gas emissions. No word on whether these states plan to send a bill to China or India. But, clearly if you live in an overtaxed blue state, Hochul is showing the way to how to take some of the burden off you before you flee to the sun-belt. I am not a lawyer, but I would take a wild guess that New York's legislation will not be found to be constitutional. As the WSJ points out, if blue states can start taxing out of town residents for climate change, there is no end to how this authority would be used. The lesson here is that when states and cities fail to live within their means because they squander the taxpayers money, there is a point at which the tax base is so saturated that government resorts to confiscatory policies like this. The Biden administration used the Covid excuse to ship hundreds of billions to blue states, but now that this money has evaporated the search for more revenue is pushing the logic envelope into the red zone. And climate change is being fully revealed for what it has always been a redistribution of wealth tax scheme.

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Great.  Instead of buying uranium from Russia, the US will be buying it from China.   70% of the US renewable energy supply chain is sourced from China.   Critical components of the US transmission grid are sourced from China.   Meanwhile, US electricity demand will grow 16% over the next five years, batteries are still not competitive with fossil fuel generation, and all of the MSOs are scrambling to figure out how to meet demand.   Is anyone at the National Security Council, The White House or the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) paying attention to the strategic security of the US energy grid? #nationalsecurity #energypolicy #ww3  #nuclear Robert Hargraves Ryan Pickering American Nuclear Society Nuclear Energy Institute #nuclearenergy #energy #energypolicy#Electricity Doug Houseman Doug Sheridan Matt Alvarez Matt Quist Michael Caravaggio Meredith #RenewablesDavid Blackmon Oscar L. Martin Renewable Energy, Cleantech, Sustainability, Greentech, ESG, Energy, EVs, Hydrogen, CCUS Clean, Green, Renewable, Sustainable Energy Club  #wind #solar #solarenergy #grid #windenergy #renewableenergy #windfarms #netzero #inflationreductionact  https://lnkd.in/gHk4Ew_g

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Landowners in Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania are discovering the potential of solar leases to generate income from their land. Factors like location, access to power infrastructure, and land characteristics can all play a role in determining its value. A solar lease offers long-term, stable returns with minimal ongoing effort—turning unused land into a dependable source of income. Curious about what your property could be worth in the renewable energy market? Explore the possibilities here: https://lnkd.in/epKuaH2K Let us help you maximize your land's potential. Reach out to start the conversation!

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"The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts announced the activation of its new solar-panel system at its food warehouse, resource, education, and advocacy center in Chicopee. Designed with sustainability and efficiency in mind, the Food Bank’s new center features state-of-the-art solar panels installed by PV Squared Solar, a local leader in renewable-energy solutions. The installation includes panels on the rooftop and a solar canopy covering part of the parking lot. This innovative green-energy system will significantly reduce the Food Bank’s carbon footprint while meeting its substantial energy needs." https://lnkd.in/gfBT7GeT

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🙌 Good news for the voluntary renewable energy market! 🙌 After examining the potential impacts of allowing voluntary renewable energy certificates (RECs) to be counted towards Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Standard (RES) compliance obligation (the percentage of renewable energy that must be delivered to ratepayers by electricity providers in the state), the Rhode Island PUC has released a report to the state’s Governor and General Assembly stating that counting voluntary renewable purchases towards the RES would “erode market confidence in RECs and should not be done.” CRS strongly advocated for voluntary RECs to not be counted towards any compliance percentage to prevent double counting and protect voluntary renewable energy demand. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gjsqxdbs

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Siting and permitting reform is deeply needed to lower the total-installed-cost of solar PV. Massachusetts is leading the way here. Hopefully other states follow suit as well. Interestingly enough: "the bill also covers the possibility of building PV canopies in the state. “The department of energy resources shall convene a stakeholder working group to develop recommendations for regulatory and legislative changes that may be necessary to encourage the construction and operation of solar power generating canopies,” as written in the bill." As big proponents of PV canopies, this is very exciting to see a distributed and resilient grid for the people of Massachusetts. Azimuth Advisory Services www.azimuth-ventures.com

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