Green Earth News

28/02/2023

The clean energy transition has largely focused on more affluent Americans, leaving many low-income communities behind. However, federal policy with environmental justice provisions may incentivize renewable developers to expand into these communities.

About 44% of US households are defined as low-income, and they could potentially benefit the most from clean energy savings.

Business models such as community solar are expected to grow fast in low-income communities, as they can potentially offer customers more predictable, affordable rates and strengthen economic security while also improving air quality and providing local jobs.

Rising electricity prices, a doubling of utility arrearages since 2019, and an increasing focus on environmental justice have added urgency to the issue.
Many types of programs serve low-income communities, including a California program that provides low-income households with solar PV systems and energy efficiency upgrades at little to no cost, community solar for low-income customers, and utilities and solar developers developing business models that leverage state and federal incentives.

The issue of energy equity is critical, and it's encouraging to see that federal policy with environmental justice provisions may incentivize renewable developers to expand into low-income communities. The fact that 44% of US households are defined as low-income underscores the urgency of this issue, as these communities could potentially benefit the most from clean energy savings.

Business models such as community solar can offer customers more predictable, affordable rates and strengthen economic security while also improving air quality and providing local jobs. Rising electricity prices, a doubling of utility arrearages since 2019, and an increasing focus on environmental justice have added urgency to the issue, making it more important than ever for renewable energy providers to prioritize outreach to low-income communities.

Programs that provide low-income households with solar PV systems and energy efficiency upgrades at little to no cost and utilities and solar developers developing business models that leverage state and federal incentives are all positive steps in the right direction.

28/02/2023

Renewable Energy Snapshot Feb 27th 2023

1. US renewable energy growth slackened in 2022 due to rising costs and project delays driven by supply chain disruption, trade policy uncertainty, inflation, increasing interest rates, and interconnection delays.

2. In the first eight months of 2022, the United States added 5.7 GW of utility-scale solar generation capacity and 7.5 GW of wind capacity, down 26% and 8%, respectively, from the same period in 2021.

3. Renewable energy's share of US electricity generation rose to 23% from 21% during the same period.

4. Moving into 2023, drivers for renewable growth include cost competitiveness, federal and state clean energy policies, utility decarbonization, corporate renewable procurement, residential solar demand, and private investment in renewables.

5. Growing demand in 2023 could exacerbate supply chain constraints and interconnection bottlenecks, further boosting prices and extending project timelines.

Despite the challenges faced by the US renewable energy sector in 2022, renewable energy still showed growth, with renewable energy's share of US electricity generation rising from 21% to 23%. The renewable energy sector is expected to accelerate in 2023, thanks to supportive policies and burgeoning demand. For instance, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will extend wind and solar tax credits for projects that begin construction before 2025 and technology-neutral credits through at least 2032.

Projections suggest that this law will spur 525 to 550 GW of new US utility-scale clean power by 2030. Private investment in renewables also hit a record high of $10 billion in the past year.

However, growing demand in 2023 could exacerbate supply chain constraints and interconnection bottlenecks, further boosting prices and extending project timelines. To navigate these headwinds, the renewable energy industry must focus on developing innovative solutions and expanding capacity, paving the way for faster growth in 2024 and beyond.

28/02/2023

This pilot program shows that BMW is continuing to explore the potential of hydrogen as a viable alternative to traditional combustion engines and battery-powered electric vehicles.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles offer the advantages of quick refueling times and long-range capabilities, making them suitable for certain use cases where battery electric vehicles may not be practical.

However, hydrogen production and distribution infrastructure remain significant challenges to widespread adoption. The small scale of this pilot program suggests that BMW is still in the early stages of exploring the potential of hydrogen technology.

Nonetheless, BMW's focus on hydrogen-powered vehicles is a positive sign for the future of alternative fuel technologies, highlighting the importance of continued innovation in the automotive industry.

Source:

BMW is one of several automotive firms looking into the potential of hydrogen.