Focus
Biden administration proposes to boost geothermal energy projects by cutting early-stage environmental reviews
The Hill – October 18
The Biden administration is proposing to speed up the process of approving geothermal energy projects by exempting them from early-stage environmental reviews. If the Bureau of Land Management finalizes its proposal, geothermal energy projects on public lands will no longer have to undergo an environmental impact analysis for early stage confirmation that an area is suitable for geothermal activity.
News
Renewable PPA prices continue to rise — and may do so through 2030, say LevelTen, Ascend analysts
Utility Dive – October 22
Prices for North American solar power purchase agreements rose 5.4% during the third quarter of 2024 and 10.4% year-over-year, according to figures from LevelTen Energy, which collects data from its PPA marketplace. Wind PPA prices remained flat in the third quarter, but have increased 14.1% year-over-year, according to LevelTen.
New York hits 6 GW of distributed solar, one year ahead of schedule
PV-Tech – October 18
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the state has reached its target of installing 6 GW of distributed solar capacity, one year ahead of schedule. New York is among the leaders in the U.S. distributed solar sector, adding 885 MW of new capacity in 2023 alone, and boasting the largest operating capacity of community solar in the country.
Projects
NAS Lemoore plans lease of 425 MW solar farm and construction of data center
Hanford Sentinel – October 22
The U.S. Navy is working on a lease of 920 acres of land around the Naval Air Station Lemoore base to a Massachusetts company that would construct a large 425 MW solar farm and build a data center the size of three Costcos on the base’s campus. This is the third run to lease surrounding land at the base by the government to produce energy that could help protect the facility power supply and offer resiliency. Similar projects were proposed in 2015 and 2023.
U.S. greenlights Fervo Cape Geothermal power project
Power Engineering International – October 22
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has approved the Fervo Cape Geothermal power project in Beaver County, Utah. The project will generate up to 2 GW of baseload power that, if fully developed, is enough to supply over 2 million homes. The project uses an enhanced geothermal system that produces energy by injecting water into hot subsurface rock formations and then extracts the heated water to generate electricity.
Big offshore wind project proposed for New York as other sites are evaluated in 3 states
ABC News – October 22
A large offshore wind farm is being proposed in the waters off New York as federal agencies are pressing ahead with reviews of seven other ocean sites. Community Offshore Wind, a partnership between Essen, Germany-based RWE and New York-based National Grid, on October 18 proposed a wind farm that would generate 2.8 GW of electricity, or enough to power 1 million homes.
One of the largest solar projects in the U.S. opens in Texas, backed by Google
Associated Press – October 18
One of the largest solar projects in the U.S. opened in Texas last Friday, backed by what Google said is the largest solar electricity purchase it has ever made. SB Energy built three solar farms side by side, the “Orion Solar Belt,” in Buckholts, Texas. Combined, they will be able to provide 875 MW of clean energy.
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