Focus
FERC approves new standards to bolster grid reliability amid surge in wind and solar power
T&D World – July 25
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a new set of reliability standards designed to ensure the stability of the U.S. electric grid as more wind and solar resources come online. The standards, developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), specifically target “inverter-based resources,” generation technologies such as solar and wind that rely on power electronics rather than traditional spinning machinery. The new rule will take effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.
News
BOEM cancels plans to develop new offshore wind projects
Associated Press – July 31
The Administration is canceling plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development, the latest step to suppress the industry in the United States. More than 3.5 million acres had been designated wind energy areas, the offshore locations deemed most suitable for wind energy development. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is now rescinding all designated wind energy areas in federal waters, announcing on July 30 an end to setting aside large areas for “speculative wind development.”
New York is looking for 1 GW of energy storage projects right now
Solar Power World – July 28
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has launched New York’s first bulk energy storage request for proposals, intended to procure 1 GW of bulk energy storage as part of New York’s 6 GW energy storage roadmap. Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the solicitation seeks to advance a range of energy storage technologies and progress toward procuring 3 GW of bulk energy storage over the three solicitations.
Projects
Vacaville neighbors push back on proposed battery plant as energy company works to win favor
CBS News – July 24
An open house meeting was held on July 23 in Vacaville for NextEra Energy to tell the community more about its proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Solano County. The project would include batteries with a capacity of up to 300 MW. NextEra Energy took the Corby Project to the California Energy Commission (CEC) to approve its application, saying that it would overrule Solano County’s moratorium on this type of project in light of Assembly Bill 205.
Floaters installed at Port of Los Angeles for wave energy pilot
Offshore Energy – July 29
Wave energy developer Eco Wave Power has completed the installation of floaters for its first wave energy project at the Port of Los Angeles, clearing a key milestone ahead of the scheduled unveiling on September 9, 2025. The Los Angeles pilot project aims to validate the company’s patented wave energy technology in real marine conditions, marking its entry into the U.S. market.
Estuary Power’s 400 MWh solar-plus-storage project powers Las Vegas casinos
Energy Storage News – July 25
Estuary Power has commenced operations of the 185 MW solar, 400 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) Escape project in Lincoln County, Nevada. The first phase of Escape, with 70 MW of solar PV capacity, began supplying power to Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Las Vegas, two popular Las Vegas hotel and casino resorts, under long-term power purchase agreements in June.
A pioneering ‘second-life’ battery startup begins major Texas expansion
Canary Media – July 29
Five years ago, B2U Storage Solutions proved that old EV batteries could hook up to the grid to store clean energy, safely and cheaply. Now the company is taking the concept to Texas. B2U just broke ground on a second-life grid battery project in Bexar County. In the next 12 months, B2U will complete four projects in the region, totaling 100 MWh of storage, CEO Freeman Hall said. B2U stores up to 28 MWh at its first project, in Lancaster, California, and also developed two other smaller facilities in the state.
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