Timothy Unruh’s Post

Our latest blog by Director Sarah Steinberg highlights Colorado’s first-ever gas infrastructure plan and outlines 4 key takeaways for other states and stakeholders to consider when creating their own gas planning process.     1. Non-pipeline alternatives offer significant benefits and cost savings  2. Gas infrastructure plans must provide meaningful insight into a utility’s expenditures   3. Consider opportunities to explore gas utility financial incentive reforms   4. The time is now for states to take the first steps toward coordinated gas and electric planning Read more: https://lnkd.in/g9giWb7s

Certainly can learn from the experience to expedite getting to #carbonnetzero worldwide #ukpolicy #policymakers #ukri

California’s climate and energy policies are aimed at encouraging high levels of building electrification to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve indoor and outdoor air quality. A new E3 study evaluates the costs and benefits of targeting building electrification at the neighborhood level to avoid gas infrastructure investments. E3’s new report evaluates the costs and benefits of targeted electrification and gas decommissioning for eleven candidate sites in the cities of Oakland, San Leandro, and Hayward, representing 1,500 total utility customers. We find that all eleven projects would generate lifecycle net benefits, even after accounting for the costs of electrification. Thus, if projects like these could be successfully implemented – which remains a big *if* given upfront capital cost barriers, customer preferences, and regulatory challenges – these projects would help to support a managed transition for the gas system.   Many thanks to the California Energy Commission for funding this research, as well as project partners Gridworks and Ava Community Energy . We also appreciate the support of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), who provided key gas system data and engineering expertise, as well as the members of our advisory committees who provided feedback on these materials. E3 authors Aryeh Gold-Parker, Jared Landsman, Fangxing Liu, Dan Aas, and Amber Mahone contributed to the report and its analysis. You can read the report on E3’s website here: https://lnkd.in/gfT-ArF7

The reason that I'm (particularly) excited about this new E3 report is because it grapples with one of the thorniest issues in the #cleanenergytransition - which is what to do with our existing fossil fuel infrastructure - specifically, our gas distribution infrastructure, as buildings are electrified. In California alone, we have over 11 million gas meters served by over 100,000 miles of transmission, distribution and service pipelines. Neighborhood scale electrification, or targeted electrification and strategic gas decommissioning, could help reduce the cost of safely maintaining portions of that infrastructure. And if done right, it could reduce pressure on gas and electric rates, while also supporting communities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing air pollution. There are still a lot of challenges to realizing that outcome - and it's only one of many strategies that we're going to need on this #decarbonization journey - but this study is a start by showing where the opportunities and challenges lie in terms of costs and benefits. Many thanks to the California Energy Commission for funding and enabling this research. And thanks to the E3, Gridworks and Ava Community Energy teams for their great work and support throughout this project, especially Aryeh Gold-Parker, Jared Landsman, Fangxing Liu, Claire Halbrook, Matthew Tisdale, Sarina Soor, MBA, with special thanks to our project partners Rachel Kuykendall and David Sawaya.

MN needed this reform! Cutting some of the red tape to get clean energy projects developed faster is great news for anyone involved in clean energy development in MN. Eliminating the Certificate of Need is a big improvement since that can be a lengthy and unnecessary process. http://dlvr.it/T7CFgL

🌱 Significant step for Massachusetts’ clean energy landscape! A new proposal by a commission appointed by Office of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey aims to significantly speed up the approval process for clean energy projects, including offshore wind. The plan suggests consolidating permits into a single approval by the state’s Energy Facilities Siting Board within 15 months for large projects, streamlining what currently can take up to four years. 🏘️ For smaller projects, local municipalities will take the lead, with decisions due in 12 months, keeping community involvement strong. 📢 Governor Healey highlighted the urgency: “We need to build much more clean energy infrastructure, and much quicker.” 🚀 At Coast Line Transfers LLC, we’re excited about what faster approvals could mean for our operations and the broader renewable energy sector in Massachusetts. This streamlined process will enable quicker deployments, allowing us to support these initiatives effectively and sustainably. 💡 Let’s gear up for a greener future with more efficient clean energy development! #CleanEnergy #OffshoreWind #Sustainability #Massachusetts #RenewableEnergy #Innovation #CLT

The White House has announced a final rule to speed up transmission review timelines while maintaining environmental integrity. The demand for grid capacity is rising due to increased manufacturing and deployment of renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure, as well as rising energy consumption. Learn more in one of our latest articles below! #greentechrenewables #EnergyInfrastructure #renewableenergy #manufacturing #distributor

The Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program, part of President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, is a key initiative driving the nation's clean energy transition. EIR offers utilities attractive debt financing for capital investments, reducing costs for customers. Projects funded by EIR include replacing retired power plants with renewables, upgrading wind farms, and enhancing transmission capacity for zero-emission energy. Learn more about this program here: [Link to article] #CleanEnergy #InfrastructureInvestment #RenewableEnergy

The demand for clean energy has never been higher, and the private sector is rapidly deploying to meet this demand. Yet the expansion of clean energy supply cannot be sustained unless outdated government regulations and processes are improved. I contributed to a report detailing how the siting, leasing, and permitting stages of clean energy infrastructure development increasingly present obstacles to private firms developing electric generation and transmission, even as demand accelerates. The report, authored by Kenneth Sercy and Johan Cavert, includes detailed policy recommendations to streamline the process. Check out the report at: https://lnkd.in/g27YghFw

Many in the energy sector are looking for more dynamic and innovative approaches to capacity planning, which could include more centralised network planning. Elements of this will happen under Connections Reform, but this could also be devolved at a local level to local Distribution System Operators (DSOs) who know their networks best. Currently, new infrastructure like substations or generation assets can be sub-optimally placed, either where offtakers can’t necessarily use power from them or where they won’t get planning permission to be built. A combination of localised centralised network planning and spatial planning can ensure that infrastructure developments align with demand. This approach can prevent situations where infrastructure is built far from where it is needed, leading to inefficiencies and higher costs. At the other end of the scale, local energy solutions like microgrids and behind-the-meter options are highly appealing ways of ensuring a renewable energy supply without putting additional pressure on the national grid.  https://lnkd.in/dP2xfPgE