WEEK OF MAR. 22, 2024

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 2023 on July 27, 2023, which marks a significant milestone in the modernization of the nation’s transmission grid. FERC regulates interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil.

The order aims to streamline the interconnection process for transmission providers, enhance timing and cost certainty for interconnection clients, and prevent discrimination against new sources of power generation.

National Grid’s $4 billion “Upstate Upgrade” campaign is intended to improve resiliency and deliver renewable power to towns in Central, Eastern and Western New York such as South Oswego, Lighthouse Hill and Black River, the company said.

Climate change has increased the likelihood of extreme weather, and National Grid says upgraded transmission lines are necessary to better protect the grid from powerful storms and intense heat.

The new rules are part of the White House administration’s efforts to lower climate pollution and encourage the transition to zero-emission vehicles, especially EVs.

The agency estimates that EVs will account for 30% to 56% of light-duty vehicle sales from model years 2030 to 2032 due, in part, to the stricter emissions standards, according to an EPA fact sheet.

The 2023 Billion-Ton Report is the fourth such assessment and was released by the DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office.

The series of reports, first developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2005, estimates the availability of potential biomass resources and practices that can capture their value.

Oil markets will continue to tighten in the second and third quarters amid growing supply risks including the rollover of voluntary supply cuts from OPEC+ into Q2 2024, Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russia’s refineries as well as constant disruptions to oil flows through the Red Sea, ING Global Market Research has predicted. 

ING Global has hiked its oil price forecast from US$80/bbl to US$87/bbl for the second quarter and from US$82/bbl to US$88/bbl for the third quarter.

(P&GJ) — In a significant shift, natural gas intrastate pipeline capacity outpaced interstate additions in the United States in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Natural Gas Pipeline Projects Tracker.

Unlike interstate pipelines, which cross state and international borders and fall under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations, intrastate pipelines operate within a single state and are regulated by state agencies.

(Reuters) — Canada's Trans Mountain Corp. has begun filling its pipeline expansion with oil in a staged process, a senior executive said on Wednesday, as construction of the long-delayed project nears an end.

The pipeline expansion faces technical challenges in the next two weeks as it finishes the last segment in British Columbia, Chief Financial Officer Mark Maki told Reuters.

SouthCoast Wind is a 50-50 joint venture between Shell and Ocean Winds, established to develop offshore wind projects off the coast of Massachusetts.

"In-line with our Powering Progress strategy, Shell continues to hone our portfolio of renewable generation projects in key markets where we have an advantaged position," said Glenn Wright, Senior Vice President, Shell Energy Americas.

These models will be designed to accelerate the development of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) and early commercial projects, including advanced nuclear, next-generation geothermal, clean hydrogen, long-duration energy storage (LDES) and others.

As a first step, the companies will issue an RFI in several U.S. regions for potential projects in need of offtake, and encourage technology providers, developers, investors, utilities and others interested in responding to get in touch here.

See more Notable News articles such as these via ENTRUST, Utility Dive, Pipeline & Gas Journal, OilPrice.com and BIC Magazine.