This Week in Energy
New Publications in the OurEnergyLibrary
Deloitte Research Center for Energy & Industrials
January 3, 2020
The Brookings
Institute
January 6, 2020
American Wind Energy Association & University of Delaware
January 23, 2020
Find these new publications and others in the OurEnergyLibrary.
Energy Headlines
Detroit Free Press
CNBC Markets
Associated Press
Ongoing Discussion
Last week, Erik Peckar from Vineyard Power Cooperative (which is permitting Massachusetts' first offshore wind farm) and Laura Morton from the American Wind Energy Association commented on community involvement in offshore wind permitting and other renewable energy projects. Read their comments below and the connecting comment threads:
" Vineyard Power Cooperative, based on the island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts and the local community partner of Vineyard Wind, has developed a new state policy, Community Empowerment , that would empower cities and towns in the Commonwealth to enter into long-term PPAs [power purchase agreements] with specific renewable energy projects of the community’s choice. Given one of the main barriers to renewable project development includes the need for long-term contracts with creditworthy buyers ...Community Empowerment, an enabling piece of legislation, pairs developers of renewable energy projects with local communities wanting to stabilize energy prices and purchase more renewable energy.... Mechanisms that allow for these long-term contracts to occur with individual towns currently do not exist without the town or developers taking on a certain amount of risk." - Erik Peckar , General Manager, Vineyard Power Cooperative
"Having been involved in the offshore wind project off Block Island, which is the first working offshore wind project in the United States, I think the two things that made the project work was the political joining of the two parties and the unions in Rhode Island and the prompt regulatory approvals , and the tax credit .... Land-based approvals should include local communities but they can be overruled by state findings in which localities can participate. Reasonable time limits for approvals should be set . If there is a basis for it, fees can cover the cost of regulatory approvals so the proposed developers can justify the governmental staff time spent on their projects." - Elliot Taubman , Commissioner of the Block Island Utility District
Reply to Elliot :
"There is indeed an opportunity for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory approvals for offshore wind projects . You mention the involvement of local communities , which is critical for the success of any project. In fact, just yesterday, AWEA and the University of Delaware’s Special Initiative on Offshore Wind partnered to produce the new   Offshore Wind Public Participation Guide  to help the public engage in the existing federal feedback process for U.S. offshore wind development... ." - Laura Morton , American Wind Energy Association
" It is critical that states considering major introduction of offshore wind projects , such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California, are looking at whether their utilities’ IRP [integrated resource plan] processes are maximally-competitive for all clean energy options including offshore wind and are considering key federal government policy scenarios necessary to reduce national net greenhouse gas emissions towards zero by mid-century...."
 - Henry Goldberg , Consultant, Independent
Reply to Henry :
"The processes to procure offshore wind in the Northeast varies by state. In some cases, the state itself is issuing the solicitations and making the procurement decisions. In other states, the utilities are doing so . But, in all cases, the procurements are happening as a result of state policies that requirement procurement of offshore wind and other zero/low-carbon resources.... "  - Laura Morton , American Wind Energy Association
* Also see new replies from Laura Morton about the carbon footprint of wind energy, wind farms and hurricanes , and research to lower the weather risk to wind turbines .
Our offshore wind discussion is continuing for one more week! Afterward, we'll be sharing highlights from the discussion with our partners, journalists, and congressional offices. We welcome replies to comments in the discussion and new comments on the following:
  • Would an offshore wind tax credit be the most helpful policy to support the development of the offshore wind industry? How much of a difference would it make to the growth of the industry?
  • How can the United States streamline the reviewing and approvals of offshore wind projects?
Upcoming February Discussion: Starting next week, we'll be discussing federal carbon tax policy, including the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763).
Podcast Spotlight


Interested in leasing a wind turbine? In this WindTalk podcast, Russell Tencer , the Founder and CEO of  United Wind , provides insight on the distributed wind industry and explains how leasing a wind turbine actually works. He also mentions farmers who installed wind on their dairy farm.

The WindTalk podcast series is part of Windpower Engineering & Development .
Source: Kathryne Cleary, Introduction to FERC's Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) Order in PJM's Capacity Market (slide 7), Future of Power Event Series: Making Sense of FERC's MOPR Order , Resources for the Future, January 22, 2020.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order requires that PJM establish technology-specific minimum offer price rules (MOPRs) for all new and existing state-subsidized resources. The MOPR would raise clearing prices, which some groups claim would discriminate against clean energy resources in favor of incumbent fossil fuel generation. benefiting the largely fossil fuel resources remaining in the market. Read more from Kathryne Cleary , Research Associate at Resources for the Future.
Featured Events
Washington, D.C.
  • When: Tues, Jan 28, 10 a.m.
  • Where: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

  • When: Tues, Jan 28, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • Where: 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

  • When: Wed, Jan 29, 9-11 a.m.
  • Where: 1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20005

San Diego, CA
  • When: Tues-Thurs, Feb 4-6
  • Where: San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
To see more upcoming energy events across the country, visit the OEP Events Calendar .
Was this email forwarded to you?   Sign up here .