Energy Exchange

Ramped connection can help states sustainably scale the grid to meet charging needs

By EDF Blogs / Published: March 7, 2024

The way charging customers connect to the grid is changing rapidly, especially in states working to meet transportation electrification and decarbonization targets. But regardless of policy goals, most states are experiencing increased demand for renewables accompanied by more customers seeking connection to the grid for projects like electric vehicle chargers, solar and storage. Balancing sustainable grid buildout with customer demand for load can pose challenges for utilities, and often results in interconnection delays.

Posted in Electric Vehicles / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

New EDF report details how Texas’ clean air program can more effectively speed the transition to ZEV trucks

By Phillip Martin / Published: March 7, 2024

A new report released today by EDF details how Texas’ $342 million clean air program can be improved to help companies that want to secure state funding for zero-emission trucks. Recommendations include how to improve program design of the grants offered, including how to modernize the calculation of nitrogen oxides reductions to ensure the full benefit of switching from diesel to zero-emission vehicles is captured, and how to improve the administrative management of the program so it is easier for companies to secure funds to deploy zero-emission vehicles in Texas.

Posted in Electric Vehicles / Authors: pmartin / Comments are closed

Biden wants facts first: pauses LNG permits to analyze climate impact.

By Mark Brownstein / Published: March 1, 2024

The Biden administration paused approval of new facilities that would export liquified natural gas in order to study the impact of these projects on the climate. The Natural Gas Act charges the U.S Department of Energy with determining whether gas exports to certain countries are in the public interest. With the damage caused by climate change getting worse, the President is right to ask for the facts before moving forward. After all, natural gas produces carbon dioxide when burned and methane pollution when leaked — both powerful climate pollutants.

Posted in Natural Gas / Authors: mbrownstein / Comments are closed

MethaneSAT brings key tool to oil & gas operators, gives stakeholders unprecedented transparency

By EDF Blogs / Published: February 29, 2024

By Andrew Baxter

Methane is now a central part of the oil & gas industry’s climate challenge. New regulations in the U.S and Europe, growing concern in Asia and mounting interest from investors and global gas markets mean increasing pressure to improve emissions performance. It was also a focal point in the COP28 climate talks, where 52 producers representing more than a third of global production joined the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter, pledging to reduce emissions to near zero and to eliminate routine flaring by 2030.

Posted in Methane / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

Why Texas’ attempt to delay commonsense methane protections will only shoot itself – and the US oil and gas industry – in the foot.

By EDF Blogs / Published: February 27, 2024

By Elizabeth Lieberknecht

Texas’ primary oil and gas regulator, the Texas Railroad Commission, took the unfortunate — though not surprising — step last month of requesting legal action against EPA’s recently finalized commonsense methane rules. This is unfortunate because, once implemented, these rules will protect public health, limit climate change and energy waste. It is not surprising because the RRC (Texas’ oddly named oil and gas regulatory agency) has shown little interest in trying to rein in Texas’ massive problem with oil and gas methane pollution. Texas emits more oil and gas methane pollution than any other state. Despite repeated calls for more oversight from the state agency, the RRC continues to regularly approve permits to flare natural gas, a leading cause of methane pollution.

Posted in Air Quality, Methane regulatons, Texas / Authors: admin / Comments are closed

EDF’s new report looks at Non-Pipeline Alternatives to meet energy needs

By EDF Blogs / Published: February 22, 2024

By Magdalen Sullivan, Co-Authored by Erin Murphy

Many states are adopting declining emission limits as a way to address the severe and growing dangers of the climate crisis, and that means state utility regulators are grappling with how to decarbonize energy systems, manage costs and meet demand.

Posted in General / Authors: admin / Comments are closed