Montana utility wants gas units; Sierra Club suspects biased modeling
In developing its resource plan, NorthWestern Energy apparently used modeling assumptions that favor gas-fired generation, says the Sierra Club. The group has filed a legal motion requesting access to the modeling inputs, and to the model itself.
Wells Fargo signs a huge renewable deal, Newlight Partners invests $150 million in solar developer: pvMB 10/23/19
Hello one and all and guess what? You’re reading a Hump Day MB. Today we’ll be looking at a solar advocacy group doing its job, PacifiCorp’s final IRP, the UC Irvine Engineers for a sustainable future event and more!
Wyoming solar capacity to increase 1,300% under PacifiCorp plan
The utility’s 2019 draft IRP outlines nearly 11 GW of wind and solar set to go on-line by 2038, complemented by 2.8 GW of battery storage and the early retirement of five coal plants.
SOMAH reaches capacity on launch day
90% of the available capacity and funding under year one of California’s Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing program has been applied for, with waitlists growing by the hour.
A big day for Massachusetts community solar, Generac acquires PIKA Energy: pvMB 4/29/19
Hello and thank you for starting your week with the pvMB. Today we’ll be checking out a PacifiCorp report that retiring 4 coal plants could save customers hundreds of millions, Renewable Envoy’s solar art installation, Yaskawa Solectria Solar achieving rapid shutdown and more, so buckle up!
Solar could replace 2.73 GW of PacifiCorp coal units, at lower cost
A simple comparison of per-MWh costs for solar versus PacifiCorp’s existing coal-fired generation found that new solar would cost less than the going-forward costs of 11 coal units with a combined 2.73 GW of capacity.
Warren Buffett utility says no new gas
Pacificorp, a Berkshire Hathaway electricity utility serving six Western states, said it has no plans to build new gas or coal in the coming decades, but instead plans to add 2.7 GW of wind and 1.8 GW of solar.
Oregon adopts value of solar after two-year investigation
The state’s Public Utilities Commission approved the skeleton methodology to determine the resource value of solar based on a 25-year value for small-scale solar resources.
Oregon sets timetable for 10 MW energy storage review
The Oregon Public Utilities Commission has finally set a timetable for the review of energy storage projects that will be proposed by Portland General Electric and Pacificorp.
