DGA Releases Miami Carbon Competitiveness Report

Earlier this month, DGA published its Miami Carbon Competitiveness report, which analyzes how the sources of electric power in the Miami area may affect the city’s competitive position for attracting new businesses. The report found that corporations are not only increasingly looking to procure renewable and low- or zero-carbon electricity, but they are also stepping up their efforts to focus investment and new facilities in areas that offer those electricity resources.
 
Analysis of Florida Power and Light’s resource planning and greenhouse gas reduction commitment, as well as the corresponding integrated resource plans for the utilities serving the Miami area’s competitor cities, shows the Miami-area grid generation mix and associated carbon emissions are falling short of its competitor cities in two key areas: fewer greenhouse gas reductions and less carbon free energy. The report recommends the Miami area commit to more ambitious carbon reductions and increase its planned renewable and zero carbon energy capacity to attract new business investment.

SEIA Publishes 2021 Q2 Solar Market Insight

On June 15, the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie released the U.S. Solar Market Insight Q2 2021 report showing the major trends in the U.S. solar industry to date. Key highlights include:

• In Q1 2021, the U.S. solar market installed just over 5 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity, a 46% increase over the first quarter in 2020 and the largest Q1 on record.
• Cumulative solar capacity in the U.S. has officially surpassed 100 GW, doubling the size of the industry over the last 3.5 years.
• Solar accounted for 58% of all new electricity-generating capacity added in the U.S. in Q1 2021.
• Texas led all states with over 1.5 GW of new solar capacity in Q1, three times more than any other state. Indiana, Virginia, Michigan, and Iowa were among the top 10 solar states this past quarter.

Click here to read the Q2 2021 Executive Summary.

South Carolina Regulators Approve Revamped Dominion Energy IRP
 
This month the South Carolina Public Service Commission accepted Dominion Energy’s revised 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) after rejecting the previous version in December. The new preferred plan calls for Dominion to shutter its coal-fired power plants in the state within the decade ­– shutting down two by 2028 and shifting the third to natural gas-fired by 2030. Dominion also plans to ramp up its solar capacity, adding 100 MW by 2028 and an additional 300 MW by 2032. Dominion would further bolster its solar power lineup from 2030 to 2048, potentially adding as much as 2,000 MW by mid-century, compared to the 973 MW of utility-scale solar power that Dominion currently has under contract.
 
State Lawmakers Pass Bill That Aims to Get Oregon to 100% Clean Energy by 2040
 
On June 26, the Oregon state Senate passed HB 2021, known familiarly as the 100% Clean Energy for All bill, which calls for the state to target 100% emissions-free power by 2040. The bill includes interim carbon targets, requiring retail electricity providers – notably Portland General Electric and Pacific Power – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity sold to Oregon consumers to 80% by 2030 and 90% by 2035. HB 2021 heads to Governor Kate Brown’s desk, who is expected to sign it into law.