Energy Efficiency, Energy Procurement, Regulation, Wind  -  May 4, 2019

Weekend reads: $3B transmission project posts win; LA's own green new deal

It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these can't-miss articles from around the web:

$3 Billion Transmission Project Wins Key Permit in Quest to Bring Wind Power to the West Coast (GTM)  The best wind resources in the U.S. are in the country's more sparsely populated center, but electricity demand is concentrated on the East and West Coasts. That means that the continued growth of the U.S. wind market will require major new transmission lines — a big challenge because such projects can take more than a decade to bring from concept to reality. The complex multi-party permitting process can see even well-designed projects derailed along the way. 

The implementation of blockchain in the energy sector (Innovation Enterprise) Worldwide, the deployment of blockchain technology in energy-related applications has become a trending subject of sorts among industry giants as well as the startup investor community, with applications ranging from grid transactions, financing and transparency in supply chain. Advancements in the technology have resulted from widespread efforts to replace outdated and less secure trading and documentation platforms through digital transformation. 

L.A. Mayor Garcetti’s ‘Green New Deal’ would phase out gas-fueled cars (Los Angeles Times)  Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled a sweeping plan for a more sustainable Los Angeles on Monday, calling for dramatic changes to the car culture, buildings and air quality of America’s second-largest city. The mayor’s sustainability plan imagines a city where, by the mid-2030s, 80% of the cars run on electricity or zero-emission fuel, 80% of the electricity comes from renewable sources and Angelenos drive 2,000 fewer miles each year than they do now. It’s a far cry from today’s L.A., where gridlock, tailpipe pollution and smoggy air have come to define a way of life.

Wind, Clean Energy Groups Denounce ‘Clean Air’ Bill In Ohio (North American Windpower) A newly introduced bill in Ohio is designed to provide incentives for clean energy projects. However, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) argues that the legislation would be detrimental to the wind industry, and other clean energy groups say the bill is a bailout for the state’s nuclear industry. State Reps. Jamie Callender, R-Concord Township, and Shane Wilkin, R-Hillsboro, have introduced legislation (H.B.6) that would create the Ohio Clean Air Program (OCAP), which would offer incentives to build and maintain zero- and reduced-emission generation facilities in the state while lowering customers’ electric utility bills, the lawmakers claim. 

Marijuana prices have collapsed, forcing growers to focus on energy efficiency (Utility Dive) As marijuana becomes more mainstream, an increasing number of utilities are seeing growers set up shop in their service territories — at times creating distribution system issues, and in general bringing significant new demand. With federal legalization now a topic du jour, there is a growing focus on energy efficiency in the cannabis space and how utilities and industry groups can help growers control their demand. 

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