CAISO Archives

As solar capacity grows, duck curves are getting deeper in California

The duck curve presents two challenges related to increasing solar energy adoption: grid stress, and economics.

Natural gas kept things cool as California baked

Natural gas made up as much as 60% of the generation mix and never less than 30% during periods in early September, EIA analysis said.

Solar and wind notched records as renewables met California’s energy demand

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) said a new–albeit brief–record was set on April 3 when 97.6% of the energy on the statewide grid came from renewable energy resources. The previous record was set days earlier when 96.4% of the grid’s electricity came from renewable resources. The April 3 level occurred at 3:39 pm. Renewable energy’s share typically in the

FERC’s data request to NYISO on Order 2222 offers clues for MISO’s compliance filing

These FERC letters offer clues for FERC’s attention and focus on the aggregation of distributed energy resources and their role in the energy market construct.

Each year, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance tracks and scores states based on their energy policies and how these policies help or hinder local clean energy action. In the 2020 Community Power Scorecard, two states excelled, seven states and the District of Columbia saw above average scores, 11 were average, 17 were mediocre, and 13 states received failing grades at

Celebrating 100: A spotlight on 6 leaders of 100% renewable cities — Episode 100 of Local Energy Rules podcast

This week marks a milestone for the Local Energy Rules podcast: 100 episodes. Although the times are grim and uncertain, we hope you take refuge in these visions of a cleaner, more equitable future. For our 100th episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, we compiled a highlight reel from the Voices of 100% series. This episode celebrates five cities that are working toward our

Becoming more aggressive: States implement ambitious goals and standards

Clean energy, economic development, and climate mitigation goals and targets can be important drivers of social change and market transformation. …

Spreading like wildfire: An interest in making electric power public

On the morning of November 8th, 2018, a live wire broke free of its grip on a 99-year-old electrical tower, sparking one of the most deadly and destructive wi…

Laying out the pros and cons of hybrid energy storage

As battery prices continue to fall and the penetration of variable wind and solar generation rises, power plant developers are increasingly combining wind and s…

Update on non-Tesla DC fast charging station density in North America

In the fall of 2018 I published a surprisingly controversial article ranking states and provinces by their non-Tesla, DC fast-charging station density relative …

What Greta should advocate: A federation of microgrids

Two kinds of voices were heard at the 2020 World Economic Forum at Davos. From the climate activists like Greta Thunberg and others: Do something. Cut fossil fu…

5 trends reshaping today’s global power market

Few, if any, markets have undergone more change over the last decade than the various regional power markets around the globe. Technological advances, structura…

Financing complete on 210-MW Mustang Two solar project

Solar Frontier Americas (SFA), the US-based renewable energy business of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd, announced it closed on the tax equity commitment and debt fina…

Beating swords into plowshares or wind turbines & solar panels: We could have done it

We Could Have 100% Renewable Electricity If We Had Invested in Wind and Solar Instead of War in the Middle East Yes, the United States could be generating 100% …

Building an equitable energy workforce: A better balance

A lunch held Wednesday at POWERGEN International highlighted the importance of “a better balance” in the energy industry workforce, with a focus on getting …