October 2021's Power Generation & Supply Market Recap is a snapshot of the data and information we curate. We share industry drivers, notable projects, recent mergers and acquisitions, interesting reads, and updates on upcoming meetings and conferences.
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Industry Drivers
Our data team tracks new and updated industry drivers. Here are some recent drivers we have been following this month:
Oregon Issues Strict Methane Emissions Standards for Landfills
Status: Effective
Organization:
Summary: On October 1, 2021, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued new standards governing methane emissions from landfills that it said are the most stringent in the country. The standards will increase the number of landfills that are regulated and require already regulated landfills to meet additional monitoring and measurement standards. They also will affect all types of landfills and have varying requirements that apply differently based on such factors as the amount of waste landfills contain and the amount of methane they already produce. Some landfill operators have voiced concerns about their cost.
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Boston Mayor Signs Ordinance Allowing City to Set Emission Targets for Existing Large Buildings
Status: Effective
Organization: City of Boston, Massachusetts
Summary: On October 5, 2021, Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey signed the Ordinance Amending City of Boston Code, Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure (BERDO 2.0) into law. Passed by the Boston City Council on September 22, this amended ordinance makes Boston, along with New York and Washington, D.C., one of the first cities to require emissions performance standards on existing buildings, with the goal of decarbonizing the city's large building stock by 2050. The original BERDO was passed in 2013 in response to the Boston Climate Action Plan, which called for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Boston by 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
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DOE Announces Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator Program to Modernize the Grid
Status: Effective
Organization: The Department of Energy
Summary: On October 6, 2021, the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Lab announced the launch of the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator, a technology partnership of federal experts, energy companies, and innovators to speed the development of new cybersecurity solutions for the grid. The accelerator will support attempts to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities and create a grid that will withstand the transition to a clean energy economy in the effort to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
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DEEP Issues Final 2020 Integrated Resources Plan, Connecticut’s First Assessment of Pathways to Achieve 100% Carbon-Free Electric Grid
Status: Effective
Organization: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
Summary: On October 7, 2021, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection released the state’s final 2020 Integrated Resources Plan (IRP), a statutorily required recurring assessment of Connecticut’s future electric supply needs and potential means to meet those needs. This latest IRP marks Connecticut’s first assessment of pathways to achieve a 100% carbon-free electric supply by 2040, as directed by Governor Ned Lamont, and focuses in the near term on areas of reform essential to facilitating the transition to a zero carbon electric sector.
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Secretary Haaland Outlines Ambitious Offshore Wind Leasing Strategy
Status: Effective
Organization: United States Department of the Interior
Summary: On October 13, 2021, during a speech at the American Clean Power’s Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition in Boston, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland outlined plans for future offshore wind leasing to meet the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. Haaland said the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) could hold up to 7 new offshore lease sales by 2025 in the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, Central Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico, as well as off the coasts of the Carolinas, California, and Oregon. BOEM is refining its process for identifying areas that may be suitable for offshore lease sales. It also is considering innovative lease stipulations consistent with the goals and objectives of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, such as lessee reporting requirements on efforts to minimize conflicts with other ocean users; mechanisms for project labor agreements; and investments in the U.S. domestic supply chain.
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Mayor de Blasio, NYCEDC Announce 15-year, $191 Million Plan to Make New York City an Offshore Wind Center
Status: Effective
Organization: New York City
Summary: On September 21, 2021, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced a plan to spend $191 million over 15 years to make New York City a leading destination for the offshore wind industry. The plan also is meant to ensure the city meets its climate goals of 100% clean electricity by 2040 and carbon neutrality by 2050. The mayor and the NYDEC said the plan will create more than 13,000 jobs and generate $1.3 billion in average annual investment. Under the plan, the city will make investments in three core areas: sites and infrastructure; business and workforce; and research and innovation. It will work to develop the infrastructure needed to support the construction and operation of offshore wind farms; develop public-private partnerships to create good-paying, green jobs in disadvantaged neighborhoods affected by climate injustice; and promote research and innovation in offshore wind by having the NYCEDC work with the offshore wind industry to launch an accelerator meant to enable New York-based startups to develop the next generation of offshore wind technologies.
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Notable Projects
We track notable projects from the proposal stage to becoming effective. Here are some of the recent notable projects we have been tracking.
$2 Billion Gateway South Transmission Project
Type: Transmission
Status: Proposed
Organization: Rocky Mountain Power
Region: Utah
Summary: On October 7, 2021, PacifiCorp’s Rocky Mountain Power subsidiary submitted an application to the Public Service Commission of Utah (PSC) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Gateway South Transmission Project, a 416-mile, 500 kV transmission line that would connect southeastern Wyoming to northern Utah. Approximately one-third of the line, or 183 miles, would be in Utah, with the balance located in Colorado and Wyoming. Gateway South is Segment F of PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway Transmission Expansion Project. The PSC has granted CPCNs or approved resources decisions for 4 transmission lines that are Energy Gateway components. Gateway South would be the 5th. Rocky Mountain Power said it plans to construct and energize Gateway South and the Gateway West Segment D.1 230 kV transmission line, both of which would allow the interconnection of over 1,600 MW of new wind power in eastern Wyoming, by January 2025. As that requires construction to begin on the projects by June 2, 2022, the company is asking the PSC to grant the CPCN no later than June 1, 2022. Rocky Mountain Power estimates that Gateway South will cost $2.074 billion to construct and that it and Gateway West will cost $2.4 billion to construct.
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$1.5 Billion Line 200 and Line 300 Project
Type: Pipeline - Gas
Status: Proposed
Organization: Driftwood Pipeline, LLC
Region: Louisiana
Summary: On June 17, 2021, Driftwood Pipeline, LLC, applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct, own, operate and maintain the Line 200 and Line 300 Project. The project involves the construction of dual 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipelines, an approximately 211,200 horsepower electric compressor station and appurtenant facilities in Beauregard and Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana. Driftwood estimates that the project will cost $1.5 billion to construct. The company is asking FERC to approve the project by no later than the early fourth quarter of 2022. It anticipates construction of the project will begin in the fourth quarter of 2022 or first half of 2023. Driftwood said its planned in-service date for the project is December 2024.
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$455 Million Declaration Energy Center
Type: Generation - Solar
Status: Proposed
Organization: North Park Energy, LLC
Region: New York
Summary: On May 20, 2020, Declaration Energy Center, LLC, filed a revised Public Involvement Plan with the New York State Board on Generation Siting and the Environment. In the plan, the NextEra Energy Resources, LLC subsidiary said it planned to file an application with the board to construct a solar generation facility with a capacity of up to 450 MW, and possibly an energy storage system on land leased from private property owners in the Towns of Romulus and Varick, Seneca County, New York. Declaration Energy Center, LLC said it plans for the project to commence commercial operation in 2023 or 2024. FirmoGraphs estimates the project’s value to be $455 million, but on the web page for what it’s now calling the Declaration Solar Project, NextEra says the project’s capacity will only be up to 200 MW, which will reduce its value.
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$391 Million Advanced Metering Infrastructure in Kentucky
Type: Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Status: Approved
Organizations: Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company
Region: Kentucky
Summary: On September 30, 2021, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company submitted their first quarterly report on their plan to deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, which had approved the plan in a June 30, 2021 order. In the report, the companies said they had spent $992,000 on the deployment through August 31, 2021. They estimate the deployment’s total cost will be $391 million. In their original application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for their AMI deployment, the companies said they expected to complete the deployment by March 2026.
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$169 Million CE-1 Solar Projects
Type: Generation - Solar
Status: Proposed
Organizations: Virginia Electric and Power Company
Region: Virginia
Summary: The Virginia State Corporation Commission on April 30, 2021 issued an order in which it granted Virginia Electric and Power Company Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for the CE-1 Solar Projects and gave the Dominion Energy subsidiary approval to construct and operate the three projects. Virginia Electric and Power expects the 20 MW Grassfield Solar Project in Chesapeake, Virginia, to be in service by December 2021. The company expects the 20 MW Norge Solar Project in James County, Virginia, and the 42 MW Sycamore Solar Project in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to be in service by 2023. It estimates the costs of the CE-1 Solar Projects to be $168.2 million.
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$150 Million Shawboro East Ridge Solar Project
Type: Generation - Solar
Status: Proposed
Organization: Shawboro East Ridge Solar, LLC
Region: North Carolina
Summary: On June 22, 2021, Shawboro East Ridge Solar, LLC submitted an application to the North Carolina Utilities Commission for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for a Merchant Plant. The application seeks to authorize the construction of a 150 MWsolar generation facility in Currituck County, North Carolina. The SunEnergy1 subsidiary plans to start construction on the site by July 2022 and expects it to begin commercial operations by October 2022. The facility's projected service life is roughly 40 years. FirmoGraphs estimates the project’s total cost to be $150 million.
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$120 Million Greens Corners Solar Facility Project
Type: Generation - Solar
Status: Proposed
Organization: Greens Corners Solar, LLC
Region: New York
Summary: On June 11, 2021, Greens Corners Solar, LLC filed an application with the New York Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) for a Siting Permit authorizing the construction and operation of a 120 MW solar generation facility in the Towns of Hounsfield and Watertown, Jefferson County, New York. The proposed location of the project is on 26 land parcels totaling 3,031 acres in a rural agricultural and industrial area. The facility will include rows of photovoltaic panels, associated electrical collection lines, inverters, transformers, fencing, access roads, temporary construction laydown yards, visual mitigation buffers, and a substation. The panels will be affixed to a single-axis tracking racking system, which will allow them to track the sun’s path through the day. Greens Corners said construction of the facility is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2022 with commercial operation beginning a year later. FirmoGraphs estimates that the project will involve a capital investment of $120 million.
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Notable M&A
The following M&A transactions in the Power Generation and Supply Industry stand out in the month of October:
- On October 05, 2021, SunPower Corp acquired Blue Raven Solar for $165 million.
- On October 06, 2021, Ares Management announced that it will acquire a majority stake in Apex Clean Energy.
- On October 14, 2021, SolRiver Capital acquired 14 projects across the state of Oregon, totaling 38 MW, from Sulus Solar.
- On October 22, 2021, NextEra Energy Partners agreed to acquire 2,520 MW renewables portfolio for $866 million.
What We Are Reading
Here are some recent articles our team has been reading:
- Minnesota PUC authorizes Xcel Energy to update Grand Meadow Wind Farm
- Avista outlines goal to serve 80% of Washington customers renewable energy starting in 2022
- Springfield to shutter Dallman Unit 33, leaving city with single coal-fired power plant
- DTE Energy announces it will cease the use of coal at Belle River Power Plant by December 2028 – two years earlier than originally planned
- New York Power Authority and New York Transco Submit Proposals
- to Deliver Clean Energy to Long Island, New York City, and
- Westchester County
- California approves rules to support EV infrastructure
- LG&E and Kentucky Utilities to build 125 MW solar facility in western Kentucky
- Biden plans to expand offshore wind turbines to US coasts
- Evergy Seeks to Add More Wind Energy
- Portland General Electric updates plans for meeting emissions goals
- Baltimore Gas & Electric sets goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
Meeting Planner
Organizations have shifted their event strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are tracking these changing meeting plans.
Meetings in November and December 2021
- USAEE/IAEE North American Conference - Navigating Energy Transitions: Economic, Social, Technical and Policy Challenges - Nov. 1 - Nov. 2, 2021
- MnSEIA Oregon Solar + Storage Conference - Nov. 2 - Nov. 4, 2021
- ACEEE BECC 2021 Behavior, Energy, and Climate Change - Nov. 8 - Nov. 10, 2021
- API Cybersecurity Conference For The Oil & Natural Gas Industry - Nov. 9 - Nov. 10, 2021
- NAESCO Renovate Retrofit Reduce Conference and Show - Nov. 9 - Nov. 12, 2021
- AWEA Cleanpower Conference and Exhibition: Accelerating the Energy Transition - Dec. 7 - Dec. 8, 2021
Early Birds Registration
- Event: RFA National Ethanol Conference
Dates: Feb. 21 - Feb. 23, 2022
Deadline for Early Registration: Nov. 30, 2021 - Event: APPA Joint Action Conference
Dates: Jan. 9 - Jan. 11, 2022
Deadline for Early Registration: Dec. 10, 2021 - Event: ESNA Energy Storage North America and Intersolar North America Conference and Expo
Dates: Jan. 13 - Jan. 15, 2022
Deadline for Early Registration: Dec. 14, 2021
Call for Papers Date
- Event: ACAA World of Coal Ash
Dates: May 16 - May 19, 2022
Deadline for Call for Papers: Nov. 19, 2021 - Event: IEEE - PES Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo
Dates: Jun. 15 - Jun. 17, 2022
Deadline for Call for Papers: Dec. 1, 2021 - Event: AEE West Energy Conference & Expo
Dates: Jun. 15 - Jun. 16, 2022
Deadline for Call for Papers: Dec. 17, 2021