Recently, some states have taken innovative, bold steps to advance use of renewable energy and to strengthen the reliability of energy grids. Such moves have included off-shore wind farm projects and adding transmission lines over vast stretches of the nation.
“As states forge ahead in the pursuit of grid reliability, they are not just embracing change, they are driving it,” says Good Energy Managing Partner Javier Barrios. “Good Energy is proud to be part of this energy transition, assisting communities in their journey towards a sustainable and secure energy future.”
Here are some of the recent advances that states throughout the country have made in developing more stable grids and bolstering use of renewable energy:
In the Northeast, off-shore wind takes step forward. Earlier this month, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut signed a ground-breaking agreement for multi-state offshore wind procurement. The first of its kind in the United States, this agreement creates a way to create multi-state, offshore wind proposals that would expand benefits for the region. By coordinating efforts the three states will bolster regional economic development, create high-paying, in-demand jobs, and promote environmental justice and equity.
Colorado, Minnesota swap coal for new battery tech. Coal power plants may soon transform into sites for renewable energy storage. In Colorado and Minnesota, Xcel Energy is replacing conventional coal power plants with iron-air battery systems. An eco-friendly alternative, iron-air batteries can store renewable energy up to 100 hours.
Southwest strengthens grid with aggregation, transmission lines. This past summer, Texas saw a large increase in energy demand because of sweltering temperatures. To address that need, Texas implemented a pilot project to provide additional power to the electric grid aggregated from consumers’ small energy devices.
Also, recently, the U.S. government announced it is greenlighting a proposed multibillion-dollar transmission line that would send primarily wind-generated electricity from the rural plains of New Mexico to big cities in the West.