Cutting methane emissions from the energy sector is the fastest, cheapest and most effective way to curb global warming even as we decarbonize our energy systems. And the first step is making sure we know how much methane is being emitted, where it’s being released and by whom. As the well-worn adage goes, you can’t fix what you don’t measure.
Energy Exchange
Time for Australian policymakers to catch up on methane reporting
Wasted Gas, Wasted Royalties – How Common-Sense Climate Policy Can Put Money Back in People’s Pockets
By Aaron Wolfe, and Scott Seymour
EDF economic analysis found that in 2022 oil and gas operators across Alberta wasted $671 million in natural gas, costing the provincial government over $120 million in lost royalties and uncollected corporate taxes. Newly proposed regulations can help prevent wasted gas while also reducing climate pollution.
Read More
New Mexico can protect its citizens by closing an orphan well loophole
By Adam Peltz and Meg Coleman
New Mexico’s legislators have a remarkable opportunity in the coming days to protect New Mexico families, businesses and the environment by revising the antiquated Oil and Gas Act with House Bill 133.
Keep clean hydrogen clean
By Fred Krupp, Manish Bapna and Armond Cohen
Originally published in themessenger.com, December 2023 (no longer in circulation).
It’s a make-or-break moment for hydrogen’s role in our clean energy future. Hailed for its potential to flexibly deliver energy without polluting the climate, hydrogen could be a valuable climate solution if we get it right. That’s why the Biden administration is deploying vast new incentives to jumpstart a new clean hydrogen economy. But hydrogen isn’t without risk, which is why the details of these programs matter.
Flexible interconnection can optimize the grid and speed deployment of charging infrastructure
By Casey Horan
As the first blog in this series details, shorter interconnection timelines can be key to accelerating electric vehicle deployments and achieving decarbonization goals. Luckily, there are currently available policy and technical solutions states can use to achieve timely interconnection, including: (1) hybrid interconnection; (2) flexible interconnection; and (3) ramped connection.
The process of upgrading the grid can be lengthy, expensive and complex. For utilities, flexible interconnection can help bring down costs by optimizing existing grid infrastructure and deferring costly grid upgrades. Closing the gap between what the grid can accommodate and the scale of the energy resources that can be connected will benefit both utilities and customers. Here, we explore ways states can use flexible interconnection agreements to deploy EV chargers more quickly without putting excess stress on the grid.
Solutions for timely interconnection to speed the transition to electric trucks
By Casey Horan
Transportation electrification is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, with nine states adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which requires manufacturers to produce increasing amounts of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. There are more pathways than ever for MHDV fleets to electrify, as state and federal programs like those within the Inflation Reduction Act are incentivizing the transition by way of grants, rebates and financing.
To accommodate the vast amount of MHDEVs gearing up to electrify and help fleets get on the road faster, states can take advantage of a range of available solutions to address existing barriers. For example, one of the biggest challenges utilities face is timely interconnection, i.e., connection to the distribution grid, with fleets that require more capacity facing multi-year delays in some states.