Crazy Quilt

Good morning and happy Friday,

After 14-some years of “small victories and larger setbacks,” the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation announced it is shelving plans for Icebreaker Wind, a six-turbine project that would have been the first offshore wind farm built in the Great Lakes .

Meanwhile, across the pond and then some at COP28 in Dubai, diplomats from more than 190 countries ended the conference with an agreement that calls for “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner” – a major milestone after 30 years of UN climate talks.

As we raise a glass to toast this news, we also want to bid adieu (or good riddance?) to Myron Ebell, the “loud and proud climate change denier” who’s leaving the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Energy and Environment after 25 years of (dis)service to the planet.

Read on for more, and we’ll publish the next Dispatch on January 4. From all of us to all of you, happy holidays!!

Crazy Quilt?

?Our nation’s electrical grid is a patchwork of systems, and so perhaps it isn’t surprising that congressional efforts to address permitting and grid reform are also a patchwork of ideas and approaches. An E&E News article this week shares the views of a dozen members on these topics and their colleagues’ proposals – here’s how things are shaping up:

• Sen. Joe Manchin may have the most name recognition when it comes to permitting reform, but he’s announced he won’t seek reelection in 2024. Although the issue remains “a high priority,” and success would be seen as part of his legacy, he “has also acknowledged how difficult it would be to get something done in an election year .”?
• Other Democrats in the House and Senate are actively working on a variety of proposals that include improving interconnectedness, tax credits for transmission projects, and legislation to facilitate the construction of long-range, interregional lines.
• However, the success of these initiatives heavily depends on bipartisan support, particularly from key figures in the Senate – not least of whom is Sen. John Barrasso, ranking member on the Energy and Natural Resources committee (chaired by Manchin).

?? The Takeaway

Pick your poison. Sen. Manchin says he’s “pretty much down the path 60 to 70 percent” in terms of reaching an agreement with Sen. Barrasso, but many observers worry that securing Republican support will require changes to landmark environmental laws that many Democrats consider “too steep” – prompting some Dems to look at possible executive actions that could advance the IRA’s goals.?

Charged Up

As reported last month, U.S. energy storage is on a tear – so much so that a new report from Reuters finds it will “overtake solar as the leading technology for energy transition investments in the next three years.” Here’s watts up:

• The report’s authors surveyed energy industry professionals, who said the top five energy transition technologies they expect to invest in over the next three years are energy storage, solar PV, “operational improvement,” hydrogen production, and offshore wind.?
• WoodMackenzie has just released the latest edition of its U.S. Energy Storage Monitor, and reports that energy storage capacity jumped 20% between Q2 and Q3, from 5,856 MW to 7,322 MW, echoing the findings of ACP’s Q3 market report .?
• The majority of U.S. installations are concentrated in CAISO and WECC, which saw the majority (95%) of additions in Q2. As of Q3, this includes the largest energy storage facility in the world, Vistra Energy’s Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility , which boasts 750 MW / 3 GWh of capacity.

?? The Takeaway

An electrifying shift. The Reuters report finds that interest in energy storage is being driven by renewables as well as increased deployment of electric vehicles. Interestingly, while batteries are currently spearheading this growth, it’s expected that a broader range of technology types will be deployed commercially in the coming years. The report also asked respondents about which technologies they expect to deliver the best ROI – in this case, energy storage was second to solar PV, but ahead of hydrogen.

• ROI: Nevada ranks best in nation for clean energy investment
• Passive Support: Oil executives were mostly supportive of the COP28 climate summit’s call for “transitioning away from fossil fuels.”
• ‘Quite a Gap to Close’: Women ‘vastly underrepresented’ in green jobs sector
• Coal-tal Eclipse of the Heart: Combined power generated by wind and solar is slated to eclipse coal-fired electricity next year

• Louisiana issues its first-ever state offshore wind energy leases
• Somerset Solar’s AES submits third application in NY
• Pennsylvania’s Brookview Solar project near Gettysburg loses in court?
• Franklin County New York solar project approved

Nuts Over PECAN

As increasing numbers of wind projects are repowered, many disused blades have found their way to landfills or “blade graveyards” where they await being recycled...someday.

What if blades could be made from more easily recyclable materials – perchance, ones that are biobased? Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have answered this wish . They’ve developed a recyclable, plant-based resin called PECAN (PolyEster Covalently Adaptable Network) that has the potential to revolutionize wind turbine blade manufacturing.

Created from biobased chemicals easily extracted from plant waste, this novel material offers a sustainable alternative to traditional resins that typically rely on nonrenewable resources and are hard to recycle.

According to NREL, PECAN demonstrates equal or superior structural performance compared to current materials, particularly in maintaining stiffness over time – a critical factor for the longevity and efficiency of wind turbines.

Equally appealing are PECAN’s environmental benefits – manufacturing it produces 40% less GHG emissions and requires 30% less energy compared to traditional epoxy resins, and it can be depolymerized with minimal energy and without harsh chemicals, allowing for potential on-site recycling at wind farms. Delicious!