Wind Energy development in Illinois, Michigan and Indiana as coal plants are closing.
In one day I came across 4 articles which all carried a similar message: coal is being phased out in favor of renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.). This is not a political statement; but economical. More coal plants have closed during President Trump’s first year in office as compared to the President Obama’s last year. What’s being planned to replace the coal fired generated electricity? Wind, solar and natural gas energy.
Illinois:
- Passed the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition last year. Goal is 100% renewable energy (accompanied jobs) by 2050
- Has generated more renewable energy jobs than all coal jobs combined
Michigan:
- Michigan electric utility companies must get 30% of their power from wind, solar or other renewables by 2030
- Consumers Energy vow to end coal generation by 2040
Indiana:
- Vectren plans to close 3 coal plants by 2023
- Natural gas 800 MW and 50 MW of solar generation would replace the coal
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
https://www.greentechmedia.com/amp/article/trump-cant-save-coal?__twitter_impression=true
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/02/19/coalition-launches-clean-energy-initiative/
https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2018/02/19/consumers-energy-emissions-coal-renewable/350559002/
https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2018/02/20/vectren-natural-gas-plant-solar-farm-join-energy/356818002/
Grass Fed Beef and Solar Energy: Perfect Match.
A cattle ranch might not be what most environmentalists want to cheer about but, how about when they generate 280 MW of power (enough to serve 60,000 homes)?
The Hearst cattle ranch will supply Apple’s Cupertino campus with the power.
The solar energy generated will AVOID the release of 109,000 tons of C02 every year. That’s the equivalent of 22,00 cars off the road. In addition, the ranch will continue to produce about 3,000 head of cattle a year of grass fed beef. The ranch, Apple, and environmentalists agree: win-win-win.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/21/apples-solar-project-at-hearst-ranch.html
Solar poised for growth in Michigan
Michigan regulators have adjusted what the utilities will pay for power generators that meet the qualification established under PURPA.
In most cases, it was lowered to reflect the actual costs utilities pay today.
However, in lowering the avoid cost existing PURPA qualifying power plants will get paid less.
Avoided costs rate had not been changed in Michigan since the 1980s. An update was overdue.
Solar and wind advocates believe the new rates will encourage large scale renewable energy in the state.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
ALEXA, lower my energy costs
So, home automation or SMART homes are providing access to interconnected information which connects to your home appliances, HVAC, refrigerator, TV, etc.
Connecting the internet where information can be constantly updated to devices that can be turned on/off or up/down all through voice control seems space age. HOWEVER, it’s very real.
Energy costs are the most volatile commodity in the world. Therefore, numerous strategies and appliances will emerge to take advantage of technology that can link them together. Such controls are emerging in the commercial and residential areas.
Realgy is investing in the future where; saying “Lower My Energy Costs”….will mean you will hear a choice of options and be able to select the lowest for your needs.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/alexa-please-balance-the-distribution-grid/511678/
Wholesale Electric Costs Skyrocket in Jan 2018 with Polar Vortex
The Polar Vortex of Jan 2018 may be history, hopefully not to revisit.
However, its impact is still being felt.
Below is a table of the wholesale electric costs in the ComEd utility area of January 15, 2018
The Wholesale Energy Costs nearly doubled. As the wholesale market provides power to ALL utility and Realgy customers, every customer will feel this cost increase.
Realgy passes costs incurred each month. Typically our costs are below ComEd. In January 2018 the polar vortex caused a supply peak and corresponding price increase.
As this is a temporary increase and one that changes during the month, we collect it through the settlement recovery charge on your bill. It will only appear on your January bill. Then, like the Polar Vortex, it will go away.
ComEd, as a monopoly utility, will collect this increase as part of their next rate increase which will be as early as February.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Utility To Lower Default Service Rates Due To Federal Tax Cuts
So, the tax cut you heard about is lowering electric rates.
Baltimore Gas and Electric filed to lower its electric rate by 15%. This is due to their corporate tax rate decreasing from 35% to 21%. No word on if salaries are increasing for their employees. This will undoubtedly be a trend for utilities.
Remember, a utility is a monopoly and they can only earn their guaranteed rate of return; any surplus has to be refunded to customers.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
http://www.energychoicematters.com/stories/20180116b.html
Electricity from Coal generation continues to decline in the US
The Federal Energy Agency (FERC) looks ahead annually and forecasts the energy supply for all the generation sources in the US. In the most recent forecast, the energy source being reduced the most remains coal. Natural gas, wind and solar will contribute the most new generation in the coming years. This is the trend that has been in place for 10+ years. Last year was the first time that coal contributed less than ½ of all US electricity.
Coal generation continues to decline as does coal jobs while solar and wind jobs more than made up for the net loss of jobs. However, the wind and solar jobs are generally not located in areas where the coal jobs are lost (with the exception of Illinois, and Indiana).
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-20-gw-of-coal-capacity-headed-for-retirement-by-2020/514277/
NIPSCO receives multi-million dollar bailout for aging coal plants
What is the point of regulatory oversight if it fails to protect rate payers from unsustainable and higher cost decisions? NIPSCO the monopoly utility owns and operates aging coal facilities which are the costliest power plants to run in the entire area. NIPSCO admits that shutting them down WOULD SAVE money and cause less pollution.
HOWEVER, the Indiana regulators have approved their continued operation. If NIPSCO was a competitive business, these plants would be shut down. Indiana’s electric pricing is some of the highest in the area and this regulatory process explains why. The businesses and residents of Indiana deserve better oversight by their regulators.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information:
One year later, Illinois energy jobs law bearing fruit
What creates electricity and jobs? Solar Energy!
A new community solar plant will be generating enough energy to power 400 homes in Tazewell County. Building and maintaining the solar plant required about 30 jobs. The solar plant and the jobs were the result of Illinois’ Future Energy Jobs Act. Any community in the state can do the same due to the legislation which Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria helped pass.
Realgy owns and operates 6 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Additional Information:
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20171206/one-year-later-illinois-energy-jobs-law-bearing-fruit
Updated Environmental Disclosures
If you’re interested in checking out details on Realgy’s certifications as an Alternative Retail Electricity Supplier (ARES), check out the Environmental Disclosures on our website. We will continue to update this page to provide you with related information.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.