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New federal Clean Fuel Regulations represent a step forward for climate action

Clean Energy Canada - Thu, 06/30/2022 - 11:11

OTTAWA — Joanna Kyriazis, clean transportation program manager at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the federal government’s publication of the final Clean Fuel Regulations:

“Clean Energy Canada welcomes the publication of the Clean Fuel Regulations, a cornerstone federal climate policy that’s been six years in the making.

“Together, the transportation and oil and gas sectors account for over half of Canada’s carbon emissions. The new regulations help cut pollution from these sectors while supporting industries—like clean hydrogen and biofuels—that will be increasingly in demand as the world transitions to net zero.

“The regulations will also support the build-out of EV charging infrastructure, which, combined with other policies and incentives, will help make EVs more accessible and convenient for Canadians hoping to avoid sky-high prices at the gas pump.

“While the final regulation makes some concessions, the policy still represents a win for Canada’s efforts to cut pollution. We’ll watch its real-world impacts closely, and Canada can course correct as needed.

“In the meantime, we hope the federal government rides this momentum to advance other key climate policies like the zero-emission vehicle mandate and clean electricity standard, ensuring these get out the door much quicker than six years. After all, there’s no time to waste.”

KEY FACTS
  • The transportation and oil and gas sectors each accounted for 159 and 179 megatonnes of emissions respectively in 2020—more than half of Canada’s total.
  • The federal government’s Emissions Reduction Plan requires that transportation emissions are reduced to 143 megatonnes and oil and gas emissions are reduced to 110 megatonnes by 2030.
  • According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Clean Fuels Regulations would help cut up to 26.6 megatonnes of greenhouse gas pollution in 2030.
  • The Clean Fuel Regulations set increasingly stringent requirements on fuel producers and importers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel. 
  • The new regulation is designed to come into effect in 2023 at 25% stringency, gradually increasing to 100% by 2030. But even in eight years, when the regulation is in full force, the measure will add only between 6 to 13 cents per litre of gasoline.
  • The federal government’s forthcoming zero-emission vehicle supply mandate will ensure that at least 20% of new vehicle sales are electric by 2026, at least 60% are electric by 2030, and 100% are by 2035.
  • The federal government has also introduced a complementary program, the $1.5-billion Clean Fuels Fund, to support clean fuel production in Canada, including advanced biofuels and hydrogen projects.
  • B.C., California, and Oregon also have similar regulations in place.
  • A recent Clean Energy Canada analysis compared the total ownership costs of a number of popular electric car models with gas-powered equivalents. With just one exception, the electric version of every car analyzed was cheaper, usually significantly so. The analysis found that the electric Hyundai Kona, Canada’s second best-selling EV in 2021 is $17,800 cheaper to own than the gas-powered Kona when gas prices are $2 per litre. 

The post New federal Clean Fuel Regulations represent a step forward for climate action appeared first on Clean Energy Canada.

Groundbreaking California Rule Transforms How Renewables Connect to the Grid

Solar Foundation - Thu, 06/23/2022 - 12:43

A new decision today from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) marks a significant milestone by dramatically simplifying the interconnection process for distributed energy resources (DERs), like solar and batteries, and providing valuable transparency for project developers. 

This is one of the most significant changes to the interconnection process in decades and offers a model for other states, at a time when interconnection has increasingly become a bottleneck to renewable energy development around the country. 

For the first time ever, the review of DER projects seeking interconnection in California will be based on a model of the conditions on the grid, commonly known as a hosting capacity analysis (HCA), and referred to in California as the Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA). This will replace parts of the frequently imprecise “rules of thumb” used for the expedited screening process that can result in costly, time-consuming, and often unnecessary project reviews. California has also eliminated limits on the size of projects that are eligible for “fast track” review, increasing access to the expedited review process which will speed up interconnection for eligible projects. 

These developments have emerged as a result of years of engagement in California’s rulemaking process by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). In 2014, IREC first started working on the development of California’s ICA, which is a regularly updated model of the conditions at different points on the grid. A ruling in September 2020 established the intention to utilize ICA in the state’s interconnection process. However, it has taken an additional two years to finalize specifically how that will work. Now, within 45 days from today’s ruling, this new process will finally become available to all DER projects seeking to connect to the grid. 

“Today’s decision reflects the culmination of years of dogged engagement by IREC to enable the use of cutting-edge approaches that simplify the interconnection process so renewable energy can be deployed faster and more affordably,” said Larry Sherwood, IREC President and CEO. “IREC applauds California in becoming the first state to begin using hosting capacity data to streamline and simplify the interconnection process.”

The new process will replace the “15% of peak load” screen, which has historically been used to evaluate if a project requires more detailed review to determine whether any grid upgrades are needed before it is approved to interconnect. Under the newly adopted rules, projects that do not exceed 90% of available capacity as shown in the ICA (a conservative buffer requested by utilities) will be able to pass the new screen. Projects that do not pass this improved screen will be subject to supplemental reviews; however, the rule changes also include significant improvements to the supplemental review process that are expected to allow a greater amount of DERs to be integrated through the screening process.

Further innovations in California’s interconnection process are still pending, including a “limited generation profile” approach that would allow a DER (such as a solar-plus-storage system) to design a system using a generation profile to avoid system constraints that arise during different months of the year. This concept was approved in a 2020 decision by the CPUC but a subsequent ruling on how it will be implemented is still pending.

“Today’s decision by the CPUC takes the first step toward a vastly improved interconnection process that better reflects the realities of the grid and makes it faster and easier to install the levels of clean energy that will be needed to reach California’s decarbonization goals,” said Sky Stanfield, Partner at law firm Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger and attorney for IREC in this proceeding. “We look forward to the Commission completing this process with a future decision on the implementation of limited generation profiles.” 

The use of hosting capacity data also gives clean energy developers greater agency to avoid time-consuming and costly interconnection processes. Developers can explore the ICA map from the utility in their area (such as this one from Southern California Edison) to identify preferable locations for DER projects where there is sufficient additional capacity for the project without the need for a grid upgrade. The data shown on the map will be the same data used to evaluate the project, minimizing the amount of guesswork involved in the interconnection process. 

The post Groundbreaking California Rule Transforms How Renewables Connect to the Grid appeared first on Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

We’re Hiring: SEAC Writer/Communications Contractor

Solar Foundation - Thu, 06/16/2022 - 08:33

SEAC Writer / Communications Contractor 
Schedule: Part-time contractor, 30-40 hours per month; flexible schedule
Position reports to: Communications Director
Location: Flexible (remote) 
Salary Range: $100-125/hour

About the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC):
IREC is a national nonprofit working toward a 100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. IREC provides independent leadership and trusted clean energy expertise. Our mission is to build the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet. 

In support of our mission, IREC:

  • Advances state regulatory reform to enable the streamlined, efficient, and cost-effective installation of distributed energy resources, such as solar and battery storage, and the decarbonization of the transportation and building sectors. 
  • Provides strategy and direction to foster a growing and equitable clean energy workforce, while developing high-quality clean energy workforce training and accrediting clean energy trainers and training institutions.
  • Supports local governments, communities, and individuals in taking actions that increase the deployment of clean energy and implementation of energy efficiency. 

IREC operates virtually with offices in Albany, New York and Washington, D.C. Our staff are distributed across 14 states. 

IREC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and embracing a workplace with diverse voices and perspectives. We strongly encourage and seek applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical conditions, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

About the Position:
The Sustainable Energy Action Committee (SEAC) provides an open forum to collaboratively identify and find solutions to issues that affect the installation and use of sustainable energy systems (solar PV, energy storage, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, etc.). In particular, much of SEAC’s work focuses on improving codes and standards, including the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Fire Code, National Electrical Code, and UL standards. 

SEAC’s members include authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) from local building and fire departments, firefighters and emergency responders, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, utilities, testing labs, and other clean energy stakeholders. IREC oversees SEAC’s activities under a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. 

IREC is seeking a communications contractor to help support efforts to increase awareness of of SEAC’s work and to author new resources (reports, information bulletins, etc.) that communicate SEAC’s recommendations on specific issues. 

Responsibilities:

  • In collaboration with SEAC Working Groups, lead the drafting and development of documents (such as information bulletins, guidelines, checklists, and reports) that reflect the recommendations of the Working Groups on specific issues. 
  • Manage SEAC’s social media accounts. 
    • Publish at least 3 Tweets, one Facebook post, and one LinkedIn post per week.
    • Create simple graphics/visuals to accompany the majority of social posts. 
    • Strategically follow new organizations to increase the number of relevant accounts that follow us. 
  • Manage email announcements to the SEAC membership list, with a goal of sending at least 3 emails to the list per month (two meeting reminder emails and one monthly newsletter).
  • Coordinate with the IREC team to update the SEAC mailing list with new subscribers from the SEAC website. 
  • Coordinate with grant partners to ensure they are helping to share SEAC news.
    • Send them monthly reminders of content to share by email, social media, or other channels.
    • Identify partners’ upcoming conferences and events and opportunities for sharing SEAC’s work at those events.
  • Identify external organizations with complementary goals and audiences, and conduct outreach to identify opportunities to reach new audiences with information about SEAC and encourage new members to join. 
  • Periodically write blog posts (target of two posts per quarter) that give stakeholders insight into the issues SEAC is working on and opportunities to get involved or to utilize related SEAC resources. 
  • Update the SEAC website with new publications and SEAC news/announcements. 
  • As time permits, coordinate with the IREC team to schedule and promote webinars that highlight SEAC resources. This would include scoping the topic, identifying speakers, supporting the development of slide decks, and coordinating the IREC team who will schedule the event and manage technical logistics. 
  • Attend SEAC Working Group meetings as needed to get up to speed on any documents they need support developing 

Desired Qualifications:

  • Outstanding written and verbal communications skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build professional relationships with a wide variety of individuals
  • Familiarity with the landscape of codes and standards that govern distributed energy resources in the U.S. 
  • Basic knowledge of email marketing and social media best practices (IREC can provide some training) 
  • Basic graphic design skills, including the ability to make simple graphics for social media (such as with Canva) or format published documents within a pre-designed template
  • Strong computer abilities with the transferable skills to quickly get up to speed on unfamiliar applications (e.g. email clients, CRM, etc.)
  • Passion and enthusiasm for renewable energy

Optional but Beneficial:

  • Familiarity with WordPress and other website platforms
  • Already active in SEAC and familiar with its activities and participants


To Apply: Send the following application materials by July 1, 2022 to jobs@irecusa.org with the subject line “SEAC Communications Contractor”

  • Resume
  • Cover letter

Top candidates will receive a phone screen and a related “take-home” task that will assess related skills. 

The post We’re Hiring: SEAC Writer/Communications Contractor appeared first on Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

The fossil-fuel party is raging again, but Canada still needs a plan for the hangover to come

Clean Energy Canada - Tue, 06/14/2022 - 09:00

Canada’s oil and gas patch is partying like it’s 2008, though most Canadian drivers are not enjoying the festive mood. Commercial rents in downtown Calgary are on the rise, and long-thought dead fossil-fuel export projects have zombified.

It’s no secret that the oil and gas industry is cyclical: as prices drop, the music stops, the lights come on. But historically, prices go back up, and the cycle repeats.

This time will be different, however. There is not likely to be another rebound in the oil and gas sector after this one. Governments at all levels need to acknowledge this fact and plan for how Canada will be competitive in a fundamentally changed economy.

Previous high oil and gas price cycles have driven consumers to purchase more efficient cars and better insulate their homes, while the business community found ways to use less fossil fuel. But what past instances lacked was a truealternative to fossil fuels.

Indeed, the great irony now is that soaring fossil-fuel prices will also contribute to the industry’s accelerated undoing. There will be no greater incentive for families and companies to shift away from something than brutally high bills amid broader inflation and a potential recession.

March poll found that a majority of Canadians felt that high gas prices were here to stay – and could even go higher. We already know they were right about that last part.

The difference in 2022 is that this time, the incumbent has a fierce competitor.

Sales of gas-powered cars already peaked in 2017, and global automakers are racing to meet electric-vehicle (EV) demand. Meanwhile, new solar and wind power projects are now typically cheaper than the cheapest fossil fuel option. In 2021, new renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of about 230 Site C dams were built worldwide, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

For reasons that are both environmental and economic, global governments are placing their bets accordingly.

Germany’s new goal is to generate 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035, while China is planning for 33 per cent renewables by 2025. India leads the world’s major economies in renewable-electricity growth, with new capacity additions on track to double by 2026. And the U.S. is now using its Defense Production Act to spur the manufacturing of heat pumps and other clean technologies to further reduce fossil-fuel consumption.

If other countries with climate plans follow them, then global oil demand could peak as early as 2025, according to the International Energy Agency. Today’s high prices, combined with the war in Ukraine, are only accelerating the drive toward cheaper energy sources.

Given that crude oil is Canada’s largest export, the end of the fossil-fuel era could leave us financially frayed if we don’t proactively build up new industries. Indeed, a recent study showed that Canadian investors are among the world’s most financially exposed should fossil fuel assets become stranded.

Avoiding the worst of the hangover will involve a two-step process.

The shift away from fossil fuels is accelerating, and it will be permanent, so it’s time for politicians, especially Western premiers, to name the opportunity and talk publicly about what this generational shift in our economy will look like over the next two decades.

Second, governments must come together now and invest in future-proofed industries where Canada holds a competitive edge. Unlocking innovation and growth would also help Canada meet its climate targets while creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs across the country and across industries.

Plenty of good work is already under way. The federal government and several provinces have clean hydrogen strategies to replace natural gas for domestic use and export, and Canada is starting to attract multi-billion-dollar battery and EV manufacturing investments. Canada is also a top-10 source of the hugely in-demand metals and minerals required to manufacture clean technologies.

Our competitors are reinventing the ways in which they fund projects, incentivize industries, streamline processes and co-operate to attract new investments. To give just two examples, the European Union has set out a one-year deadline for renewable energy permitting, while Britain has released an energy security strategy to achieve clean-energy independence.

If Canada is to be at its most competitive, all levels of government must be on the same page.

The party always ends, but this time the club has been sold. We’re going to need to build a new one.

This post was co-authored by Merran Smith and originally appeared in the Globe and Mail.

The post The fossil-fuel party is raging again, but Canada still needs a plan for the hangover to come appeared first on Clean Energy Canada.

How Career Maps Can Support Energy Efficiency Job Training Outcomes

Solar Foundation - Mon, 06/13/2022 - 08:09
Insights from the Residential Construction Workforce Partnership in Rhode Island

Like many industries these days, the green buildings industry—which includes building operations & facility management, construction & retrofitting, and much more—has a significant need for qualified workers. Meanwhile, there are many people for whom an entry level job in this sector could provide a pathway to a meaningful career with family-sustaining wages. 

An innovative job training program developed and implemented through a partnership between the Rhode Island Builders Association (RIBA) and CLEAResult—the Residential Construction Workforce Partnership—is bridging the gap between workers and green building jobs. 

It’s also using IREC’s Green Buildings Career Map to connect the dots and help participants understand the links between entry-level energy efficiency roles and the many long-term career opportunities they can lead to.

We spoke with David MacLellan, Program Manager, Rhode Island Income Eligible Services, and Karen Verrengia, Account Manager, at CLEAResult to understand the impacts of the program, what makes it unique, and what other job training programs can learn from it. We also explored how they utilized the Green Buildings Career Map and how other training programs can leverage it for big impacts. 

Residential Construction Workforce Partnership (RCWP): An Innovative Green Building Training Opportunity

Seeing the need to expand the pool of trained workers in the building energy efficiency sector—and the value that such jobs could bring to underserved communities—CLEAResult and RIBA joined forces to implement a free training program that would prepare workers for these jobs. The 26-week program, which consists of evening trainings three nights a week, is valued at between $6,000 and $7,000 but accepted applicants pay nothing. Funding was provided by RIBA as well as the Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training (DLT). 

Another key element of the program is that successful graduates obtain important industry certifications through the program that make it easier for them to get hired immediately. These include: 

The program also prepares participants for Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certification, which CLEAResult also offers (separate from this program). 

MacLellan says utmost attention was paid to ensuring that graduates of the program would be able to find good jobs after completing their training. To maximize the employment prospects of participants, they spoke with potential employers about their needs. This included local Community Action Partnership (CAP) agencies who administer the national Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the country’s single largest residential whole-house energy efficiency program which weatherizes about 35,000 homes every year

One insight from these conversations was the fact that CAP agencies normally have to ensure that all new hires have certain certifications like OSHA and lead safety certifications, as well as background checks. These tasks often have to happen after a candidate is hired, leading to costs for the agency and delays in when new hires can start working in the field. By taking care of these certifications and other logistics, the RCWP program makes it an easy decision for CAP agencies and other employers in the building energy efficiency field to hire program graduates. 

“With all of that in mind, we began this program with the Rhode Island Builders Association,” says MacLellan. 

Connecting the Dots Between Entry-Level Jobs and Long-Term Careers 

Beyond these steps to ensure that the program leads directly to quality jobs for graduates, the team also wanted to ensure that participants understood the versatility of the skills they were developing and the many different job roles the training could eventually lead them into. That’s where IREC’s Green Buildings Career Map came in. 

MacLellan explained that he had initially attempted to make a flowchart that roughly explained the different career options in the field, when his colleague Karen Verrengia alerted him to IREC’s Green Buildings Career Map. They utilized the Map in some of the first sessions of the program to give participants context on the value of what they would learn. 

“By having this tool, we can look at all the many [job] possibilities with our trainees; we can point to it and say ‘This is where you can go next. This is how you get there’ and we can help people on that path.”

He emphasized that by having a resource that trainees can review on their own time and come back to again and again as they gain experience in the industry and a better sense of what they want to do in the future is very valuable. He also noted that it empowers trainees to take charge of their own career progression and understand what kinds of questions to ask. 

“This is what opens the doors for people; all of a sudden they start to see the possibilities. There’s so much that they can do and so many directions they can go in based on their own motivation, their temperament, what they like to do, what they do not like to do, whether they want to be their own boss, etc. By being able to see those kinds of things, those decisions that they get to make, they’re empowered—it’s their world.”

MacLellan notes that CLEAResult and RIBA want the program to lead to long-term relationships with the participants. As they identify roles they want to work towards, they can come back for advice, additional training in new areas, or to be introduced to employers or other workers in the space who can share perspectives. He also hopes that many of them will come back to share their experiences with future program participants. “[We hope] we’ll be able to bring people in to talk to the other folks and say, ‘Look, they went through this program and now look where they are.’”

Indications of Success 

In terms of where the participants are headed next, early hiring outcomes are already pointing to the success of the program. Forty percent of the participants already had job offers before the end of the program while an additional 35% are in the interview process with prospective employers. 

The program also prioritized connecting students from underserved communities with job opportunities and had a very diverse cohort of participants. Sixty-five percent of program participants were people of color. 

Recruitment is already starting for the next cohort, which will begin in Fall 2022. 27 people are already on the waiting list and as many as 500 applicants are expected for the next cohort. Click here to apply for the program.

Lessons for Other Energy Efficiency Training Programs

Residential Construction Workforce Partnership offers a number of lessons for other training providers in the energy efficiency sector. These include:

  • Use career maps to help trainees understand their long-term options. The Green Buildings Career Map can be a great starting point and a resource they can come back to over time. 
  • Build relationships with employers and tailor the training to address their needs and challenges. 
  • Focus on long-term relationships with trainees; as they progress along their career paths, they may seek out additional training or insights from your program and they may be able to provide valuable real-world perspectives for your future training participants.

These strategies can help connect people with good jobs in energy efficiency that they might never have heard of before or considered, while at the same time filling a critical need for employers and communities. 

The post How Career Maps Can Support Energy Efficiency Job Training Outcomes appeared first on Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

China currently owns the battery supply chain and it’s time for Canada to redraw the map

Clean Energy Canada - Wed, 06/08/2022 - 09:00

Electric vehicles are big business. A decade ago, there were 120,000 EVs sold worldwide. Today, that many are sold in a single week. By 2030, the number is expected to be closer to a million a week.

Around the world, automakers are pouring millions of dollars into electrifying their vehicles. But with supply snarls pulling the handbrake on sales of all kinds of cars—gas and electric alike—one thing is clear: supply chains matter.

And because EVs use six times the amount of critical minerals of a gas car, the supply chains that have served the traditional auto sector for decades are being reforged. It’s a huge opportunity for Canada—if we play our cards right.

Currently, just a few countries are responsible for much of the production of EV battery minerals, and often these countries are ruled by authoritarian regimes. China and the Congo were responsible for 70 per cent and 60 per cent of the global production of cobalt and rare earth elements, respectively, in 2019, according to the International Energy Agency. And the geographical concentration is even higher for battery mineral processing, where China dominates.

Handily, Canada ranks fifth in the world for its battery supply chain potential, in large part thanks to its supply of metals and minerals. It is the only country in the Western Hemisphere with known reserves of all the minerals necessary to manufacture EV batteries, ranking sixth globally in lithium reserves, seventh in nickel, and eighth in cobalt.

The U.S. and the European Union have flagged their dependence on China for battery minerals and materials as a major risk to their auto industries. Both regions are working to restructure supply chains—and both have identified Canada as a secure and stable source of raw materials.

What’s more, Canada’s clean electricity grid gives it a competitive edge with automakers looking to source low-carbon materials and reduce the carbon footprint of the vehicles they produce. BMW has committed to cutting emissions across its operations, for instance, while Tesla has indicated a preference for lower-carbon input materials like nickel, recently signing a deal with Vale SA to supply nickel from its Canadian operations.

And with the exceptional rise in demand for batteries outstripping the existing supply of certain critical minerals, there is a mineral resource vacuum just waiting to be filled by Canada. Known reserves of the metals and minerals that go into EVs and batteries are more than sufficient to support a global transition to zero-emission vehicles, but new mines are not being built fast enough. The world wants what Canada has—it just needs to step up to the plate.

There are some signs of action. The federal government put critical minerals front and centre in its most recent budget, allocating $3.8-billion toward manufacturing, processing, and recycling projects while introducing a new tax credit for the exploration for battery minerals. Meanwhile, Ontario has produced a critical mineral strategy to “establish and support a battery chain ecosystem” for its auto industry using northern Ontario’s mineral wealth.

But despite some strong investments at either end of the supply chain, very few of Canada’s metals and minerals are actually making their way into batteries. And none of them are doing so within a Canadian supply chain. Unless this changes, Canada runs the risk of repeating history by remaining a “staples” economy, where its raw materials are exported and later reimported with the value added (and the associated jobs created) somewhere else.

If Canadian governments want to seize the battery mineral opportunity, they need to up their game. That means picking winners and going all in, whether it’s building our supply of lithium and graphite or maximizing Canada’s early-stage nickel mines.

That should be coupled with accelerated mining project permit timelines that still ensure Canada meets the highest environmental, social, and governance standards, including Indigenous consultation and partnership. New and existing mines must also be electrified so that Canadian mining products are among the cleanest in the world. Finally, we must build up our domestic processing and refining capabilities.

This is Canada’s race to lose, but winning will require taking the right steps today. It’s time we picked up the pace.

This post originally appeared in The Hill Times.

The post China currently owns the battery supply chain and it’s time for Canada to redraw the map appeared first on Clean Energy Canada.

New Paper Identifies Emerging Best Practices for Electric Vehicle Charger Interconnection

Solar Foundation - Wed, 06/08/2022 - 08:06

A new paper from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) offers recommended best practices to streamline the process of interconnecting electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to the grid. Paving the Way: Emerging Best Practices for Electric Vehicle Charger Interconnection identifies new policies and practices at the state, local, and utility levels that can help resolve challenges that charging station developers currently face. 

The paper’s recommendations are informed by a survey IREC conducted of third-party EV charging station (EVCS) developers on their experiences and challenges with the grid interconnection process. The developers surveyed work across multiple states and cover a broad share of the EV charger market. These recommendations come at a pivotal time as the Biden Administration plans to allocate $7.5 billion in funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, enacted in November 2021, to states and communities for the deployment of public EV charging stations.

Improving the speed and efficiency with which EV charging stations can be connected to the grid is an important step toward electrifying transportation and thereby decarbonizing the U.S. economy. The transportation sector comprises nearly 30 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and has been the nation’s largest source of carbon emissions since 2017. While more states have begun to encourage the use of EVs, rapid EV adoption is dependent upon the availability of a broad network of charging infrastructure, which includes both private and public chargers. To support EV growth through 2030, it has been estimated that the number of non-home chargers will need to grow from approximately 216,000 chargers in 2020 to 2.4 million by 2030. 

To accommodate the required growth, utilities will need to have efficient processes in place to interconnect new chargers to the grid, especially in preparation for a surge of new service requests that could result from federal spending. Delays resulting from inefficient charger interconnection and other processes, such as permitting and obtaining easements, can add weeks or months to a project’s timeline. The resulting “soft costs” are hard to quantify but can significantly impact charger deployment. 

This paper offers practical insights for utilities, state legislatures and regulatory agencies, and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) to better enable the safe and efficient buildout of EV charging infrastructure. It is the third paper in IREC’s Paving the Way paper series, which explores pathways and considerations for transitioning to electrified transportation in a manner that is equitable, efficient, and beneficial to the grid. Download it for free at: https://irecusa.org/resources/paving-the-way-emerging-best-practices-for-electric-vehicle-charger-interconnection/

Download Free Copy

The post New Paper Identifies Emerging Best Practices for Electric Vehicle Charger Interconnection appeared first on Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

Cinco municipios de Puerto Rico son reconocidos por logros en energía solar

Solar Foundation - Tue, 06/07/2022 - 12:41

Read in English

Cinco municipios rurales de la Cordillera Central de Puerto Rico han logrado el reconocimiento federal por alentar la adopción local de energía solar. Barranquitas, Ciales, Morovis, Orocovis y Villalba recibieron la designación de Bronce a través de SolSmart, un programa nacional que ayuda a los gobiernos locales a reducir las barreras al crecimiento de la energía solar.

SolSmart está dirigido por IREC y la Asociación Internacional de Administración de Ciudades/Condados (ICMA), y financiado por la Oficina de Tecnologías de Energía Solar del Departamento de Energía de Estados Unidos. El programa ofrece asistencia técnica gratuita para ayudar a las comunidades a satisfacer sus necesidades energéticas utilizando energía solar y tecnologías relacionadas, como el almacenamiento de baterías.

Los cinco municipios son los primeros en Puerto Rico en lograr la designación de SolSmart, uniéndose a más de 450 comunidades en 43 estados, el Distrito de Columbia y las Islas Vírgenes de Estados Unidos. Las comunidades celebraron este logro en un evento realizado hoy en Orocovis.

“Estoy orgulloso de que Orocovis y tantos municipios vecinos en la Cordillera Central de Puerto Rico estén apoyando activamente la expansión de la energía solar en nuestras comunidades. Este es un paso más para ayudar a nuestra Isla a lograr el uso de energía 100% limpia para el año 2050”, dijo el alcalde de Orocovis, Jesús Edgardo Colón Berlingeri, quien fue el anfitrión de la ceremonia de homenaje a los municipios.

“Estamos muy emocionados de reconocer a las primeras comunidades en Puerto Rico por sus logros en energía solar”, dijo Theresa Perry, directora de programas de IREC. “Estos gobiernos locales están sentando las bases para un futuro energético sostenible que ayudará a reducir las facturas de energía para los residentes y las empresas, al mismo tiempo que mejora la resiliencia de la comunidad”, manifestó.

El Instituto de Tecnología y Seguridad de la Construcción (IBTS), brindó un amplio apoyo de asistencia técnica para ayudar a estas comunidades a cumplir con los criterios para la designación de SolSmart. IBTS brindó orientación personalizada a los municipios; dirigió una sesión de capacitación sobre planificación, permisos e inspección para sistemas solares a gran escala; organizó un taller informativo para la comunidad empresarial y el público en general; y ayudó a las comunidades a promover el programa en las redes sociales.

“Como organización sin fines de lucro dedicada a fortalecer a nuestras comunidades, nos llena de aliento cuando los vemos dar pasos tan grandes hacia el desarrollo de su resiliencia”, dijo Agnes Crespo, directora de la Región de Puerto Rico de IBTS. “Estamos orgullosos de lo que han logrado estos municipios y esperamos que sirvan de inspiración a todas las comunidades de la isla para garantizar que la energía solar sea accesible para todos los residentes”, agregó.

Estos cinco pueblos son miembros del Consorcio Energético de la Montaña, que está en proceso de desarrollar un sistema de microrredes para crear una mayor resiliencia energética. Cada municipio también lanzó una página de Facebook para informar al público sobre las oportunidades locales de energía solar.

El programa SolSmart está abierto a todos los municipios de Puerto Rico. Las comunidades interesadas en unirse al programa y recibir asistencia técnica sin costo pueden comunicarse con SolSmart@IRECUSA.org.

The post Cinco municipios de Puerto Rico son reconocidos por logros en energía solar appeared first on Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

IREC Recognizes 5 Puerto Rico Communities for Solar Energy Achievements

Solar Foundation - Tue, 06/07/2022 - 12:38

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Five rural municipalities in Puerto Rico have been designated by the IREC-led SolSmart program for their efforts to encourage solar energy growth at the local level. These communities are the first in Puerto Rico to achieve SolSmart designation, joining over 450 municipalities, counties, and regional organizations across 43 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Led by IREC and the International City/County Management Association, SolSmart provides free technical assistance to help local governments reduce barriers to solar energy use. The five Puerto Rico communities—Barranquitas, Ciales, Morovis, Orocovis, and Villalba—celebrated their achievement at a May 10 event in Orocovis.

“I am proud that Orocovis and so many neighboring municipalities in Puerto Rico’s Central Mountain Range are actively supporting the expansion of solar energy in our communities. This is one step closer to helping our Island achieve 100% clean energy use by the year 2050,” said Orocovis Mayor Jesús Edgardo Colón Berlingeri.

“We are so thrilled to recognize the first communities in Puerto Rico for their solar energy accomplishments,” added Theresa Perry, Program Director at IREC. “These local governments are laying the groundwork for a sustainable energy future that will help reduce energy bills for residents and businesses, while also enhancing community resilience.”

The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) also provided extensive technical assistance support to help these communities meet the criteria for SolSmart designation. IBTS provided one-on-one guidance to municipalities; led a training session on planning, permitting, and inspection for large-scale solar systems; hosted an informational workshop for the business community and the general public; and assisted the communities with promoting the program on social media.

“As a non-profit organization devoted to strengthening our communities, it fills us with encouragement when we see them make such great strides towards building their resilience,” said Lic. Agnes Crespo Quintana, director of the IBTS Puerto Rico Region. “We are proud of the accomplishments these municipalities have made,” she added, “and hope they serve as inspiration to all communities on the Island to make sure solar energy is accessible to all residents.”

All five communities are members of the Municipal Energy Consortium of the Mountain Region, which is in the process of developing a microgrid system to create greater energy resilience. Each municipality also launched a Facebook page to inform the public about local solar energy opportunities.

SolSmart is one part of IREC’s expansive work in Puerto Rico to help make communities more resilient through solar power and storage. IREC’s Puerto Rican Solar Business Accelerator program is involved in several innovative projects to spur the development of a robust Puerto Rico solar industry and workforce.

The SolSmart program is open to all municipalities in Puerto Rico and across the United States. Communities interested in joining the program and receiving no-cost technical assistance can contact SolSmart@IRECUSA.org.

The post IREC Recognizes 5 Puerto Rico Communities for Solar Energy Achievements appeared first on Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

Rule Updates in Illinois Make It Easier to Connect More Renewables to the Grid

Solar Foundation - Tue, 06/07/2022 - 12:20

On Wednesday, May 25, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) made several changes to the state’s rules governing how distributed energy resources (DERs), such as rooftop solar panels and energy storage systems, connect to the state’s electric distribution grid. The revisions to Illinois’ interconnection rules include a number of positive developments that will streamline the interconnection process and reduce the time and cost to connect clean energy to the grid. They will also make it easier to utilize energy storage and provide increased transparency about interconnection review results. 

The changes reflect current best practices established through a collaborative research and policy project by utilities and clean energy advocates that resulted in a toolkit of solutions for improving the interconnection of energy storage projects (“the BATRIES Toolkit”). As one of the first states to incorporate these energy storage interconnection best practices, Illinois continues its role as a leader in climate change solutions. These changes build upon the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Illinois passed last year, one of the nation’s most comprehensive state climate and energy laws.

“These interconnection governance changes are necessary for the future of our energy grid and set the stage for groundbreaking programs promised by CEJA,” said Will Kenworthy, Regulatory Director at Vote Solar. “The ICC’s changes enable the renewable energy projects from CEJA to easily integrate into the grid and provide clean, reliable energy for all.”

These improvements resulted from the engagement of several public interest groups including the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC), Vote Solar, and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “These cutting-edge updates to the interconnection process in Illinois will make it possible to add more renewable energy to the state’s grid and offer a model for other states that want to lead the way to a clean energy future,” said IREC Regulatory Vice President Radina Valova. 

“Illinois is taking another step towards its clean energy future by improving how solar and storage on homes and businesses connect to the grid,” said Toba Pearlman, Senior Attorney & Renewable Energy Advocate at NRDC. “These revisions save time and money for customers connecting to the grid while balancing grid safety.”

One of the key changes establishes protocols for utilizing some of the unique characteristics of energy storage that will make it possible for the state’s grid to accommodate higher levels of renewable energy. That’s because, when paired with energy storage, DER projects can limit the amount of energy they send onto the grid (“non-export” and “limited-export” projects). The amount of electricity a project will send to the grid is a key factor in whether it can interconnect without the need for lengthy study or costly equipment upgrades to ensure grid safety and reliability. Projects that export less or no electricity to the grid are less likely to cause issues. 

Because energy storage is a newer technology, most interconnection rules do not yet recognize the possibility of limiting export or have guidelines for handling such projects. The revised Illinois interconnection rules now recognize limited- and non-export projects and establish different review approaches that reflect a project’s limited export amount, where appropriate, when assessing potential grid impacts. 

There are several other noteworthy developments in the revised interconnection rules, including: 

  • Improvements to the way projects are “screened” for potential grid impacts, which will result in fewer projects being required to go through time-consuming and costly study processes before being approved to interconnect. 
  • Requirements for utilities to provide greater information transparency to interconnection applicants, including details on grid constraints that prevent their projects from proceeding as designed, and more detailed cost and timeline estimates. 
  • A new pathway for developers to modify their pending DER projects in response to information on grid constraints, allowing them to improve their likelihood of approval without having to withdraw and reapply, as has historically been the case.

All of these changes are expected to allow more projects to successfully interconnect and to increase the pace at which renewable energy can be added to Illinois’ distribution grid. 

“This will put more renewable power on the grid faster and cheaper, while still maintaining safety and reliability,” said Environmental Law & Policy Center Staff Attorney Erica S. McConnell. “The people of Illinois want clean power. We want it for our climate, for our public health, and as a way to take control of our energy bills. These rules will make that happen more quickly, efficiently and safely.”

While an excellent starting point, one area where the changes fell short of public interest groups’ recommendations is in regard to data reporting requirements for the state’s utilities. The Commission declined to require more detailed reporting requirements that would help the Commission and interested stakeholders ensure the interconnection process is functioning well and that utilities are delivering on their required obligations. Lack of data on utility performance metrics in the interconnection process is a common problem that prevents accountability and improvements. 

IREC, Vote Solar, ELPC, and NRDC applaud the Commission’s ruling and the resulting improvements in interconnection policy in Illinois that will enable faster growth of clean energy resources in the state. Several other additional changes were included that are not discussed in detail here; the partners are available for comment. 

About IREC: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) builds the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet. Its vision is a 100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. IREC has been trusted for independent clean energy expertise for nearly 40 years, since its founding in 1982. For more information, visit www.irecusa.org or follow IREC on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook

About ELPC: ELPC is the Midwest’s premier environmental legal advocacy organization. We use the power of the law and strategic advocacy campaigns to create climate change solutions, advance clean energy, protect public health, and preserve the Midwest’s wild and natural places. For more information, visit www.elpc.org

About NRDC: NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.

About Vote Solar: Vote Solar works state by state to repower our communities with sunshine and build a thriving clean economy with affordable solar energy for all. We use a winning combination of deep policy expertise, coalition building, and public engagement to help build a strong, just, and inclusive 100% clean-powered future. Learn more at https://votesolar.org/ and follow us on Twitter @VoteSolar.

The post Rule Updates in Illinois Make It Easier to Connect More Renewables to the Grid appeared first on Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

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