| This week's sponsor is Equifax. |  | Webinar: The Equifax Big Picture Outlook on the US Economy
Monday, April 15th, 2pm ET / 11am PT
Attend this webinar, and you'll gain a clearer understanding of current and future economic indicators along with a high-level analysis of the big issues facing markets today. Register today! |
Today's Top Stories
1. Pacific Gas and Electric leads utility energy-efficiency programs
2. Southern Company still at the top of the industry
3. NJ drives 1/3 of US solar, adds 33% to state grid
4. Manufacturing energy use down
5. EPA approves Arkansas GHG proposal Editor's Corner: Outage blame volleyed between Entergy, relay manufacturer Also Noted: ABB
Spotlight On... OLED technology advancing energy savings
Prepare for above-average spring temperatures; Japan boosting solar capacity and much more... Utilities forming partnerships to enter the conncected home
Parks Associates hosted Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer in San Antonio, February 25-27, 2013. The fourth-annual event highlighted innovative energy solutions entering the connected home from a variety of channels, including utilities, telecoms, security, retail, and HVAC. Consumers have many choices in acquiring smart devices, which will lead utilities to partner with companies in new ways. Feature Utility CEOs stare down industry transformation
The utility industry is not a new enterprise. The business of providing customers with reliable, affordable energy has been around for a long time. But the traditional methods of reaching this goal are quickly becoming outdated. This is forcing utility leadership -- especially CEOs -- to adapt to this transformation in order to stay competitive and relevant in the 21st Century energy market. Feature California ISO CEO discusses greatest challenges
In this interview with FierceEnergy, California Independent System Operator President and CEO Steve Berberich discusses some of the biggest topics facing his organization and the state of California in 2013. On the Hot Seat News From Across the Energy Industry:
1. Lessons from the Smart Cities Challenge
2. Smart grid sentiment high, but are utilities ready for a data deluge?
3. Research highlights cyberspace's lack of borders
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Outage blame volleyed between Entergy, relay manufacturer
Back in the beginning of February, I (and the rest of the industry) was speculating about the night the lights went out in New Orleans during Super Bowl XLVII. Now it's March Madness (go Miami!) and Entergy New Orleans is talking more than speculation regarding what caused the partial power outage.
The relay device that failed, located in a vault outside of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, was a component in the switchgear which was placed into service December 2012 after inspection, testing and commissioning by the manufacturer. Despite the rigorous quality checks, the outage is being blamed on the "misoperation" of the relay device, in a report commissioned by Entergy, due to the unstable operating condition and inappropriate factory default setting of the relay. The report concluded that the device performed in a "manner contrary to the published functionality," constituting a design defect. In fact, all the relays tested for purposes of the report were deemed unstable. Read the entire Editor's Corner online at FierceEnergy. Read more about: Entergy
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Today's Top News 1. Pacific Gas and Electric leads utility energy-efficiency programs
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has announced its selection of the leading utility energy-efficiency programs across the country as part of its third National Review of Exemplary Energy-Efficiency Programs. The utility programs were selected based on their ability to be models for other utilities to emulate. Selected programs demonstrate success in increasing residential, commercial and industrial energy efficiency, reducing energy costs, improving the environment, and driving economic development. A number of utilities stand out for their energy-efficiency programs, earning "Exemplary" status -- the highest awarded. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) had the most programs that received the coveted status, including its Upstream Lighting Program, Industrial Recommissioning, Retail Strategy Initiative, LED Accelerator, Distributor Channel Engagement, and Non-residential On-Bill Financing. The utility's Fresno Energy Watch earned an Honorable Mention. National Grid received recognition for its Small Business Program, residential EnergyWise program, Mass Save Home Energy Services, and Low Income Retrofit and Low-Income Multi Family Energy Retrofits/LEAN Multifamily programs. Xcel Energy was recognized for its One-Stop Efficiency Shop, Self-Direct Custom Efficiency program, and Home Energy Squad, as well as earning two Honorable Mentions. For more:
- see the release Related Articles:
Energy-efficient services market a good place to be
Energy efficiency to move ahead without federal mandates
States with EERS lead in utility energy efficiency Read more about: Energy Efficiency
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2. Southern Company still at the top of the industry
Southern Company has earned the title "Energy Company of the Year" by EnergyBiz magazine for its "demonstrated business leadership in technology innovation, insight and sustained achievement in 2012." The award comes approximately three weeks after the utility was named to the top of Fortune magazine's 2013 list of the "World's Most Admired Companies" for the fourth consecutive year in the electric and gas utility sector for financial soundness. Since the 1960s, Southern Company has been involved in research and development efforts, with investments of more than $1.8 million from 1970 through 2012, and has developed technologies that could change the way America produces electricity. For example, Southern Company has developed Transport Integrated Gasification (TRIG), a 21st Century coal technology that uses abundant, low-cost low-rank coal to generate electricity with efficient operations and reduced emissions. TRIG will be used in Southern Company subsidiary Mississippi Power, a Southern Company subsidiary will use TRIG in its 582 MW Kemper County energy facility. At last week's EnergyBiz Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning accepted the "Energyu Company of the Year" award. As a speaker at the leadership forum, Fanning talked about the utility's approach to addressing the nation's energy challenges, focusing on the role of energy in achieving a sustained economic recovery and emphasizing the need for a cohesive national energy policy. "Energy drives economic development, job creation and personal income growth," Fanning said. "In order to restore America's financial integrity, we need a sound, sensible national energy policy that puts the full portfolio of energy resources to work for American families and businesses." The diverse generation portfolio Fanning calls upon includes new nuclear, 21st Century coal, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and a strong commitment to energy innovation. For more:
- see this release Related Articles:
EEI names utility leading nuclear renaissance
Southern Company "pushes the boundaries" of solar tracking tech
Southern Company honored for carbon capture technology
Southern Company boasts country's largest biomass plant
Southern Company: Breeding success Read more about: Southern Company, TRIG
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3. NJ drives 1/3 of US solar, adds 33% to state grid
New research reports that solar is the fastest growing energy source in the U.S. at a record setting 3,313 MW of solar PV installed in 2012, according to a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and GTM Research -- growing the market 34 percent from $8.6 billion in 2011 to $11.5 billion in 2012. New Jersey added more than 33 percent to its power grid in 2012 and was solely responsible for almost one-third of the country's non-residential installations, including business, government and non-profit, surpassing 1 GW of installed capacity for the state. New Jersey ranks third in the nation for solar installations -- one of just three states that have hit the 1 GW mark. California and Arizona rank first and second, respectively. New Jersey's solar industry flourishes, in part, from system installation prices that have fallen 27 percent over the past year and progressive policies such net metering and the country's first market-based Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) incentive program. "New Jersey policymakers and regulators have consistently been at the forefront, driving the state's solar market," said Carrie Hitt, senior vice president of state affairs for SEIA. "Although the New Jersey solar market has seen volatility, we are confident that New Jersey will continue to be a leader, both in innovating policy mechanisms to grow the industry and in installing solar to power homes and businesses." Across the U.S., falling solar prices drove installations 76 percent in 2012. PV system prices fell 27 percent in 2012, reaching $5.04/W in the residential market, $4.27/W in the non-residential market, and $2.27/W in the utility market, according to the research. In 2013, the market will continue to grow with more than 4,200 MW of PV and 940 MW of concentrating solar power coming online in 2013, the research projects. For more:
- see this report Related Article:
Solar PV prices falling Read more about: Solar Pv, New Jersey
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4. Manufacturing energy use down
Energy use and intensity in the manufacturing sector is down since 2002, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). From 2002 to 2010, total energy consumption in the sector decreased by 17 percent, according to the most recent data, which was released last week. Gross output decreased by only 3 percent over the same time frame. Collectively, this data indicates a significant decline in the amount of energy used per unit of gross manufacturing output, reflecting both improvements in energy efficiency and changes in the manufacturing output mix, according to the research. The U.S. manufacturing base is broad and includes such energy-intensive industries as petroleum refining, chemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, paper, wood products, and food, as well as less energy-intensive industries such as textiles, leather, apparel, furniture, machinery, and electrical equipment. U.S. manufacturing used more than 14 quadrillion Btu of energy as a fuel in 2010 -- down 13 percent from 2002. Fuel consumption in the most energy-intensive subsectors accounted for 81 percent of fuel use in manufacturing. For more:
- see the report Read more about: Energy Efficiency, Energy Consumption
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5. EPA approves Arkansas GHG proposal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday approved a State of Arkansas proposal to regulate the permitting process of new and modified greenhouse gas-emitting (GHG) facilities. This will mark the first time the EPA has authorized a state plan that would substitute a previous federal program, the agency said. The ruling adopts an Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) proposal and gets rid of a federal program in place since 2011. The goal for Arkansas is to streamline the permitting process by eliminating the need to go through both state and federal regulators. The program will become effective in April 2013. "This is an important step forward for our agency and the state. This gets us back to a one-stop permitting shop, allowing businesses requesting air permits to take their entire application to one agency and for us to review the complete package," said Teresa Marks, ADEQ director, in a statement following the ruling. Arkansas is part of EPA Region 6, which covers the south-central United States. EPA reviewed two ADEQ proposals, filed in 2010 and 2012. The EPA first announced its intention to approve the proposals in December 2012. For more:
- see the background on the proceedings Related Articles:
Companies, utilities work toward emissions reductions
KU fined millions for clean air violations
Read more about: EPA
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Also Noted | This week's sponsor is ABB. |  | Webinar: The IT/OT Integration Imperative
April 23, 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT
Traditionally, IT and OT systems worked as separate entities; however, the smart grid requires a convergence of both. Join FierceEnergy and a panel of experts as they examine the effects on utilities that do not take steps to converge/integration their IT/OT systems. Register Today. |
SPOTLIGHT ON... OLED technology advancing energy savings Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lighting the potential to emit four times as much light per watt as incandescent bulbs and, ultimately, significantly reducing commercial and residential energy use. PPG Industries has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the "significant achievements" the company has made in advancing this technology. Article Quick news from around the web:
>NWS predicts that the continental U.S. will see above-average temperatures this spring. Article
>Details on FEMA's FY2014 budget proposal. Article
>The Department of Homeland Security is well-prepared to execute the national cybersecurity order. Article
>Energy industry hopes new EV applications and higher quality vehicles will spur a consumer revolution. Article
>Southern California Edison (SCE) hopes to begin operating its SONGS Unit 2 at 70 percent power for five months. Article
>Japan is projected to install more than 5 GW of new solar capacity in 2013. Article > The Equifax Big Picture Outlook on the US Economy- April 15th, 2pm ET / 11am PT Attend this webinar, and you'll gain a clearer understanding of current and future economic indicators along with a high-level analysis of the big issues facing markets today. Register today! > The IT/OT Integration Imperative - April 23, 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT Traditionally, IT and OT systems worked as separate entities; however, the smart grid requires a convergence of both. Join FierceEnergy and a panel of experts as they examine the effects on utilities that do not take steps to converge/integration their IT/OT systems. Register Today.
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