BGR Group advises Ørsted on offshore wind development

Check out our article on Kurt Miller advocating for hydro at the Northwest Public Power Association from our November/December issue. Kurt Miller can boast of more than three decades in the utility sector in the Pacific Northwest, the last 2 years of which he has spent as the CEO and executive director of the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA), which does training and education, advocacy, and communications for nonprofit, community-owned utilities across the American West. In this conversation, Mr. Miller provides us a detailed look at recent hydropower developments from the public power sector’s point of view, with a special focus on the nuances of the recently canceled Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement (RCBA). While explaining his organization’s concerns about the agreement and its relief over the cancellation, Mr. Miller also lays out the areas for collaboration and agreement he sees with regard to contentious issues in the Columbia basin. https://bit.ly/47Fn7rE #HydroLeader #Hydropower #Hydro #Hydroelectricity #NWPPA #RCBA #ColumbiaBasin

Terra-Gen is expanding its clean energy portfolio in Texas with the commissioning of the Monte Cristo I Windpower project. The facility will bring significant long-term economic benefits to the region, including over $100 million in property taxes, landowner payments, and other local contributions throughout the life of the project. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to commemorate the milestone, a great moment to celebrate with the project team, partners, elected officials and local community! https://lnkd.in/gCUDKYXu

In the UK, the price of energy is spiralling. But in British Columbia, the government pays less than half of what Britain does for renewable energy. My new international case study for the Conservative Environment Network shows how British Columbia used deregulation as a tool to unleash private investment in renewable energy. In 2002, British Columbia encouraged green power development by removing environmental assessment requirements for small-scale (>50MW) developments, and opening up the state-run electricity sector to the market. Over the next decade private investment of all scales, from multinational corporations to individual entrepreneurs, constructed nearly 130 hydroelectric power stations across BC. Deregulation allowed for small-scale “Run-of-River” hydroelectric power stations to be built more easily and quickly. Run-of-River is better for the environment than large dams because it: 🌊 Doesn’t disrupt river flows 🐟 Doesn’t affect fish or wildlife Read my case study on independent power in British Columbia here: https://lnkd.in/eR-EkZ3p

As cooperatives across the country celebrate National Cooperative Month this October, Basin Electric Power Cooperative reflects on the vital role electric cooperatives have played, and continue to play, in energizing rural America. Basin Electric was incorporated in 1961, several decades into the rural electrification movement, but at a critical moment. From 67 member cooperatives in 1961 to 139 today, Basin Electric’s purpose remains unchanged: to ensure members have access to the energy needed to power their communities, farms, and businesses. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3Ja2ITf

This is an excellent report, and part of a much-needed look back. See also what Roosevelt Institute has recently put out on implementation lessons, and what the CHIPS team is now working on through IFP – Institute for Progress. Sharing a highly biased and AI-powered summary here to get you interested: 1. Systemic Execution Failures "Historic legislative ambition was undercut by an executive branch machinery that defaulted to caution, process, and reactive strategies rather than speed, outcomes, and clear direction" 2. Process Over Outcomes Programs took 30-40+ months just to process awards Multiple layers of concurrence and "too many principals, too few deciders" Risk aversion post-Solyndra led to choosing "tried and true" approaches that actually increased vulnerability Focus on obligation metrics rather than real deployment created false sense of progress 3. Workforce & Talent Challenges 6+ months to hire critical staff with 30+ HR steps required Inability to remove underperformers Conservative ethics interpretations that excluded needed experts Mismatch between compliance-heavy staff and commercial execution needs 4. Procedural Bloat NEPA, Davis-Bacon, BABA, and PRA requirements causing significant delays 120-150+ page FOAs that were "functionally inaccessible" to smaller organizations Overly prescriptive compliance requirements misaligned with industry practice 5. Decision-Making Dysfunction Eight White House offices claiming jurisdiction over clean energy without clear authority Diffuse authorities requiring extensive concurrence slowed everything Lack of clear escalation paths and accountability 6. Speed as Critical Factor The report emphasizes that the Trump administration's rapid dismantling proved "speed of implementation is imperative" - with 32 projects worth $22B canceled in just 6 months, showing "it is far easier to destroy than to build."

Governor Wes Moore has announced $17 Million for income-qualified Marylanders to tap into Community Solar🌞 Learn more about the Community Solar Grant Program📰: https://ow.ly/GmSP50XjkIn

🌞 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 Governor Wes Moore has announced $17 million in new funding to help income-qualified Marylanders access Community Solar through the Maryland Energy Administration’s Community Solar Grant Program. This investment expands access to renewable energy, lowers household costs, and supports equitable participation in Maryland’s clean energy transition. 🔗 Learn more below ⬇️ #CleanEnergy #CommunitySolar #Maryland #EnergyEquity #Solar #EnergyTransition

Mikie Sherrill's win in the New Jersey governor’s race is also a win for offshore wind. As a gubernatorial candidate, Sherrill was one of only three Democrats who explicitly endorsed offshore wind on campaign websites early in the race. Her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, ran on a promise to ban future offshore wind development. His campaign website sells “stop offshore wind” tote bags, t-shirts, stickers, and beverage koozies. But how much Sherrill can actually boost the industry remains to be seen. New Jersey has already incentivized offshore wind development through tax breaks and has planned grid and clean-energy goals around the sector’s growth — but the state has no projects operational or under construction.

How can Texas leverage its proposed $20 billion investment in water infrastructure to unlock innovation and private capital? At last week’s WestWater Forum in Austin, leaders from across the water industry tackled this question head-on. Panelists Bech Bruun (Texas Capital), Mike Irlbeck (EPCOR Water), and Sarah Kirkle (Texas Water Association) and moderator Sharlene Leurig (WestWater Research) - shared insights on how collaboration between public funding and private investment can accelerate progress toward a secure, resilient water future. Read the forum recap: https://lnkd.in/gjaRCW79 #WestWaterResearch #WeKnowTheValueOfWater #WaterInvestment #TexasWater #Infrastructure #WaterFinance #PublicPrivatePartnerships

Council fears Sunnica is to become a ‘Trojan horse’ for new large infrastructure projects. Developers behind the controversial Sunnica solar farm project on the Suffolk / Cambridgeshire border are seeking permission from the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, to make significant changes to their planning application. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ef8ru2dg