Affordable and Clean Energy

Deep declines in wind, solar and battery technology costs will result in a grid nearly half-powered by the two fast-growing renewable energy sources by 2050, according to the latest projections from BloombergNEF (BNEF). In its New Energy Outlook 2019 (NEO), BNEF sees these technologies ensuring that – at least until 2030 – the power sector contributes its share toward keeping global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius.

Blockchain could help usher in this era of easy energy exchange, which will move the energy system one step closer to being distributed. The more distributed our energy system, the less reliant we will be on fossil-fuel energy generation.

ALLETE Clean Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE (NYSE: ALE), announced today a power sales agreement with Smithfield Foods, Inc. for the remaining output of the Diamond Spring wind site ALLETE Clean Energy will build, own and operate in Oklahoma.

Duke Energy Progress (DEP) continues to be one of the leading solar utilities in the nation. In the Top 10 utility solar lists compiled by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), Duke Energy Progress was ranked fourth among all utility companies for bringing on new solar capacity during 2018. It is the seventh straight year Duke Energy Progress has been ranked in the Top 10 nationwide.

VERGE 19, October 22-24 in Oakland, is the platform for companies, cities and communities accelerating the clean economy. The event convenes more than 3,000 leaders to explore scalable, cross-cutting solutions and to collaborate more effectively to advance them.

Water and energy systems long have been intrinsically intertwined, given electricity's entrenchment as one of a water or wastewater utility's biggest expenditures. But as water suppliers and wastewater service providers grapple with ways to reduce power costs, advance toward "green" energy and participate in the electric industry evolution, there's talk of "ner energy."

National Grid unveiled a new battery storage system in Pulaski, New York, that will reinforce electricity reliability for regional customers during periods of peak demand, and alleviate the need for traditional infrastructure upgrades and investments. State and local officials joined company representatives and project partner Aggreko for a ribbon-cutting event at National Grid’s East Pulaski substation. The installation is the first-of-its kind battery storage system in the company’s U.S. service area.

A new solar project in southern Utah is bringing together one of the West’s top utilities and a global leader in renewable energy projects to implement a combination of grid-scale battery storage and renewable power to address a transmission and distribution system reliability need.

Patti Poppe likes to joke about the bumper sticker she once stuck on her Chevy Volt electric hybrid car: “I ♥ coal.”
These days, the sticker sits in Poppe’s office at Consumers Energy’s headquarters in her hometown of Jackson. It’s a symbol of her personal evolution on climate change — and the transformation she’s leading at Michigan’s largest natural gas and power provider.