North America News

Latest news and developments from North America region

• Canada Infrastructure Bank inks MoU for energy storage project

  January 14, 2021
  The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Oneida Energy Storage LP, a joint venture between NRStor Inc. and Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corp., have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Oneida energy storage project in Ontario.

• TransWest Express LLC seeks FERC approval for capacity solicitation

  January 13, 2021
  TransWest Express LLC (a wholly-owned affiliate of The Anschutz Corporation, a privately-held company based in Denver) is seeking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval for capacity solicitation, on its TransWest Express (TWE) Project.

• Transmission build-out is key to low-cost, decarbonised US grid: MIT Study

  January 12, 2021
  A recently concluded study by the Massachusetts Information of Technology (MIT) has revealed that a massive US-wide transmission build-out could slash the costs of reaching a zero-carbon grid with the already cost-effective wind, solar and battery technologies.

• Indian Energy receives grant for demonstration of new energy storage technologies

  January 11, 2021
  Indian Energy LLC—a utility-scale and microgrid development and systems integration firm—has recently received a grant of over USD5 million from the California Energy Commission (CEC), for demonstration of new energy storage technologies.

• PSEG Long Island energises Western Nassau Transmission Project

  January 8, 2021
  PSEG Long Island—a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG)—has announced that it has completed the construction of a new 7.3-mile (11.74-km) underground transmission line (known as the Western Nassau Transmission Project) from the East Garden City substation in Uniondale to the Valley Stream substation in Lynbrook, and put it into service in December 2020.

• Ameren Illinois energises 345 kV Illinois Rivers transmission project in US Midwest

  January 7, 2021
  Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI)—a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation—recently announced that it has energised the final span of the USD1.4 billion, 345 kV Illinois Rivers transmission line project, running between the states of Missouri and Indiana.

• EoS secures USD20 million contract for California energy storage project

  January 7, 2021
  New Jersey-based EoS Energy Storage LLC—an energy equipment and solution provider—secured a USD20 million contract from EnerSmart, a developer, owner and operator of utility-scale energy storage projects to provide at least 90 MWh, and as much as 180 MWh, of energy storage over the next 24 months.

• Vistra brings largest utility-scale BESS online in California [free access]

  January 6, 2021
  Texas-based energy company, Vistra Energy, recently announced that the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, which is the world’s largest utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS), has been connected to the grid.

• Pattern Energy commences construction of wind projects, associated transmission in New Mexico

  January 5, 2021
  Pattern Energy, a subsidiary of Pattern Development, has recently finalised the financing for and begun construction of its over 1 GW Western Spirit suite of wind projects in New Mexico and the associated 345 kV Western Spirit Transmission Line.

• US Senate passes American Energy Innovation Act [free access]

  December 30, 2020
  Recently, the American Energy Innovation Act. (AEIA) was passed by the US Senate, in an effort to modernise the domestic energy laws, strengthen the country’s energy security, increase its international competitiveness and invest in clean energy technologies.

• US DoE selects EPRI to lead research on innovative energy storage projects

  December 30, 2020
  The US Department of Energy (DoE) recently selected the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to lead three advanced energy storage projects to study innovative, non-battery based, bulk energy storage solutions integrated with fossil assets.

• FERC paves way for SPP to offer grid services to western utilities

  December 29, 2020
  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) new centralised energy imbalance market (buying and selling of electricity in real-time markets and sub-hourly dispatch of participating resources, to balance supply and demand) service, called Western Energy Imbalance Service (WEIS), which is set to commence operations in early-2021.

• FERC proposes incentives for cybersecurity investment by public utilities

  December 28, 2020
  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has recently proposed new incentives for qualifying cybersecurity investments by public utilities.

• Congress urges FERC to review transmission planning requirements

  December 24, 2020
  As part of a huge package of energy innovation measures, the US Congress is urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to take a fresh look at its existing interregional electric transmission planning requirements.

• PG&E proposes expansion of battery energy storage portfolio in California

  December 24, 2020
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has recently requested the approval of California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for six additional battery energy storage projects totalling 387 MW in capacity, to further integrate renewable energy generation and ensure future reliability of the grid.

• Grain Belt Express transmission project to seek regulatory approval in Illinois in 2021

  December 23, 2020
  The high voltage direct current (HVDC) Grain Belt Express transmission line project, owned by Invenergy LLC, is expected to seek regulatory approval in Illinois in 2021.

• Virginia adopts energy storage regulations in line with clean energy legislation

  December 21, 2020
  The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has recently adopted new regulations to ensure that the state's largest utilities meet the energy storage benchmarks outlined in the state’s clean energy legislation.

• PSEG Long Island plans substation upgrade in East Shoreman and Riverside, US

  December 18, 2020
  PSEG Long Island—a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG)—is planning to undertake necessary upgrades to the transmission infrastructure that connects substations on the eastern end of Long Island, to accommodate the growing demand in the area.

• Ormat announces acquisition of energy storage asset in Texas

  December 17, 2020
  US-based Ormat Technologies Inc. recently announced the acquisition of a shovel-ready (about to begin construction soon) energy storage asset in Upton County, Texas, from Con Edison Development—engaged in the development of renewable and energy infrastructure assets throughout the US.

• Ventolines bags consultancy contract for Massachusetts offshore wind project

  December 17, 2020
  The Netherlands-headquartered Ventolines has got on board as the offshore wind expertise partner for the Mayflower Wind Project in Massachusetts, USA.