North America News

Latest news and developments from North America region

• US to add 10 GW battery storage over two years

  December 27, 2021
  The Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its latest release of electric monthly updates stated that the US is expected to add 78 GW of generating capacity over the next two years, 49 GW of which is expected to be utility-scale solar and energy storage during 2022 and 2023.

• US DOE announces technical assistance for 21 state regulators for grid modernisation

  December 23, 2021
  The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced technical assistance of up to two years from the national laboratories for 21 state regulators for grid modernisation and energy transition matters.

• NERC releases Long-Term Reliability Assessment of US bulk electric system

  December 22, 2021
  North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) released a 2021 Long-Term Reliability Assessment of the US bulk electric system.

• Clean energy advocates urge FERC to reject MISO’s request to allow profits from HVDC line upgrades

  December 22, 2021
  American Clean Power Association (ACPA) and the developer of the SOO Green high voltage direct current (HVDC) project have urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject a pending proposal of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which would allow incumbent transmission owners in the operator's region to pay for and profit on any network upgrades needed for merchant HVDC power lines.

• GE Digital to acquire Opus One to advance energy transition [free access]

  December 22, 2021
  GE Digital has entered into an agreement to acquire Opus One Solutions Energy Corporation (Opus One), a software company that helps electric utilities optimise energy planning, operations, and market management.

• EIB grants CZK3.6 billion loan to Czech Republic’s CEPS for transmission network strengthening

  December 21, 2021
  The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a CZK3.6 billion loan agreement with CEPS AS, the Czech Republic's transmission system operator (TSO), to bolster the electricity transmission infrastructure in the country during 2021-25.

• PJM releases report on initial results of renewable energy transition study

  December 21, 2021
  PJM Interconnection released ‘Energy Transition in PJM: Frameworks for Analysis’', a report which is the initial result of a multiphase, multiyear effort to analyse the potential impacts of an evolving resource mix, including the accelerated integration of renewable energy.

• Prysmian wins US offshore wind cable contracts worth USD900 million

  December 21, 2021
  Vineyard Wind, a joint venture (JV) between Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), has awarded two offshore wind farm cable contracts worth a total of almost USD900 million to Prysmian, an Italian subsea power cable manufacturer.

• CPUC approves SCE’s USD1.2 billion energy storage contract to Ameresco

  December 21, 2021
  The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved a USD1.2 billion energy storage contract awarded by Southern California Edison (SCE)—the largest subsidiary of Edison International, to Ameresco, a Massachusetts-based renewable energy and energy efficiency company.

• FERC directs SPP to restudy Tenaska Clear Creek Energy Center’s wind interconnection costs

  December 20, 2021
  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has directed the Southwest Power Pool Inc. (SPP) to restudy interconnection costs for the 242 MW Tenaska Clear Creek Energy Center wind generation project, after the grid operator significantly increased associated system upgrade costs.

• PJM approves updates to Regional Transmission Expansion Plan

  December 20, 2021
  PJM Interconnection's board of managers approved updates to PJM’s Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP).

• Massachusetts selects Vineyard Wind, Mayflower Wind for additional offshore wind

  December 20, 2021
  Massachusetts governor’s office has selected two offshore wind projects totalling 1,600 MW of new capacity, taking the state's offshore wind procurement to 3,200 MW against its goal of 5,600 MW by 2027.

• Maine judge rejects NECEC’s bid to resume transmission line construction

  December 20, 2021
  A Maine Business Court judge denied a preliminary injunction that would have allowed construction to continue on the USD1 billion New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line.

• MasTec inks agreement to acquire US-based Henkels & McCoy Group Inc

  December 20, 2021
  MasTec, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Henkels & McCoy Group Inc., one of the leading private electrical power transmission and distribution utility construction firms in the US.

• FERC approves rule to improve transmission line ratings in US

  December 17, 2021
  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a final rule that will help utilise the country’s transmission grid more efficiently and help lower costs for consumers by improving both the accuracy and transparency of transmission line ratings.

• SolarPro announces USD10 million for Texas grid upgrades [free access]

  December 15, 2021
  Austin-based Solar Proponent LLC (SolarPro), a utility-scale solar-plus-storage (Solar+Storage) developer focused on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market, announced that it has made significant advances in its 6 GW Solar+Storage development portfolio, with the aim of enabling several large plants to be fully operational by late 2023 to early 2024.

• FPL completes solar PV-based BESS in Florida

  December 15, 2021
  Florida Power & Light (FPL)—a subsidiary of electric utility holding company NextEra Energy—held a ceremony to mark the completion of the world’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS) to be paired with solar PV to date.

• PNM closes deal on Western Spirit transmission line

  December 14, 2021
  The wholly-owned subsidiary of PNM Resources, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), announced that it has closed on its purchase of the Western Spirit transmission line, and service under the transmission service agreements has begun.

• CPUC urges FERC to reject SCE’s proposal to profit on O&M costs

  December 13, 2021
  The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject Southern California Edison's (SCE) proposal to capitalise and earn a rate of return (RoR) on an expenditure that the utility previously classified as transmission line operations and maintenance (O&M) costs.

• EIPC releases status report on Eastern Interconnection grid

  December 13, 2021
  The Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) has released a report titled EPIC State of the Grid 2021.