SolarQuarter Global’s Post

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission recently adopted a regulation (SB21-264) that requires large utilities to update its forecasted gas needs to include local electrification policies and deploy lower carbon alternatives (such as electrification and energy efficiency) to new gas infrastructure. #lowcarbon #electrification #energyefficiency #climatechange #methane #sustainability https://lnkd.in/g_iMyMHX

As the UK seeks to publish a ‘spatial plan’ to map clean energy infrastructure - after research identified 15 year waits for £200bn of renewable energy projects. What might we learn from HS2 to keep this National infrastructure program on time and budget? #systemsthinking #designthinking #infrastructure

Bipartisan efforts in Congress are moving forward to streamline energy permitting for both renewable and traditional projects. New bills aim to cut down approval times, reduce red tape, and address growing energy demands. These reforms could accelerate critical infrastructure development across America. https://lnkd.in/ejcvWFSv

Regardless of how you feel about renewable vs. fossil fuel-powered energy, I think we can all agree: U.S. grid and transmission infrastructure is in dire need of an upgrade. Well, the Biden Administration agrees, so they've decided to designate 10 new potential corridors for transmission lines that can handle the increase in renewable power and minimize rolling blackouts. https://lnkd.in/eVVrQ827

Australia’s coal-fired power generators are closing, but to ensure that homes and businesses still have access to a reliable power supply, major investment in #renewableenergy infrastructure is needed. https://lnkd.in/ghcSz4j7

The Clean Power Action Plan will prioritise national grid projects, speed up planning processes for energy infrastructure and expand the renewable auction process. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3ZC4z7E #cleanpower

💡 Failing to modernize out-of-date grid infrastructure is the No. 1 threat to #EnergyTranisitiion 🌍 Upgrading transmission infrastructure crucial to meeting Paris agreement goals 🔌 Current transmission system hinders renewable energy distribution 🌩️ Extreme weather events highlight need for resilient grid infrastructure 💰 Upgrading infrastructure could save consumers money 🏗️ Regulations hinder necessary infrastructure buildout 🛠️ Revitalizing clean energy transmission system is achievable and important https://lnkd.in/eHKfpGpr

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has selected the Power Up New England proposal, submitted by #Connecticut and its neighboring New England states, to receive an award of up to $389 million through the second round of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Grid Innovation Program (GIP). These investments will provide the New England region with access to thousands of megawatts of offshore wind, greater resource diversity, and increased reliability while lowering consumer costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. https://buff.ly/3WXXKgh #emissions #greenhousegas #windpower #electric #powergrid

Hey network! 🌟 I rarely post on LinkedIn, but I’m making an effort to share a bit more, especially when there’s a transformative idea worth discussing. Check out this insightful article below that explains why we should prioritize building electric transmission infrastructure (i.e. powerlines) before solar installations in highway corridors. Why, you ask? Who even thinks about this stuff!? It turns out, this is an idea whose time has come as the US seeks to expand transmission capacity to electrify, decarbonize, and clean up our energy use! In other words, if we’re going to expand, let’s do it right—keeping powerlines out of private lands, ecosystems, and away from disturbing farm and farmers. Instead, let’s build where we already have open space: interstate highway ROWs! As the US continues to plan for a cleaner grid with more capacity, we need to look at the most efficient way to place the infrastructure. I am a huge fan of solar energy (and, let's face it, sunshine in general!) so, it is excellent to include solar in this broader conversation. The team I work with at Great Plains Institute is actively working with coalition partners in multiple states to effect policy and remove prohibitions to using our shared highways corridors.

We can have our cake and eat it too, but it just requires a little foresight. This quick read discusses the tradeoffs and benefits of how to best utilize our highway systems to deploy the size and scale of clean energy projects needed to meet our growing electricity demands. Hint: high voltage transmission is key.