Michigan’s stride to clean energy?
Michigan has over 10 utilities and each must submit to the MPSC their plan to reduce emissions.
Governor Whitmer will be issuing an executive order on Climate Solutions within the next months.
Consumers Energy is proposing to phase out all its coal plants by 2025, which is good. However, it further proposes to acquire and build new gas plants; less good.
DTE Energy will be filing their plan later in 2022.
Crafting energy policy is very delicate as it requires ramping up investment in alternatives while continuing to meet present energy 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 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: What’s next for Michigan’s stride to clean energy? – Energy News Network
With energy bill in limbo, Ill. braces for nuclear closure
The shutdown of some of the USA’s largest coal plants in Illinois, Byron and Prairie State has been the subject of scrutiny. The discussion on the future of power plants surrounds a recently passed energy and climate bill.
Many supporting the legislation want the state to buckle down on ending fossil fuel usage by 2045. However, the bill didn’t include specifics on lessening emissions for electric generation until then. Amendments are underway regarding requirements of plants to reduce emissions by 2035 to transition toward the 2045 goal. Illinois’ Clean Jobs Coalition and Governor Pritzker support these revisions but, challenges lie in the finances and logistics.
Clean Jobs Illinois questions how to ensure jobs aren’t lost from closures and redirection into renewable energy positions. While the state has pledged to preserve jobs and decrease emissions, studies show phasing out locations would cause other plants to make up for lost production bringing about additional emissions. They also claim Illinois will not see renewable energy developments for years unless there is legislative action.
Advocates state we don’t have time to allow these plants to run for even 5 more years let alone the suggested 25 years. However, incentive funding from the Future Energy Jobs Act has already been depleted and new projects are down 90% compared to the last year. This bill needs to see both sides come to a compromise to reach our energy goals.
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 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.eenews.net/articles/with-energy-bill-in-limbo-ill-braces-for-nuclear-closure/
Tech giants are becoming green energy barons
Tech company advancements have increased dramatically, especially over the past year. With this progress, we have seen a rise in carbon emissions due to the thousands of devices these businesses use each day. Some centers are using enough to power 80,000 US homes. “The Financial Times (FT) stated that the combined power usage of Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple is more than 45 terawatt-hours a year, about as much as New Zealand”. To offset these numbers, tech giants have focused on developments such as wind and solar installations while also agreeing to clean energy deals. This has caused the corporate market for purchasing clean energy to grow exponentially and indicates we will see further growth continuously in the market.
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 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://techhq.com/2021/02/tech-giants-are-becoming-green-energy-barons/
‘Clean Cars’ coalition wants Virginia lawmakers to address tailpipe emissions
Currently, 13 states along with Washington D.C. have adopted clean car standards to follow California’s suit in cutting auto emissions. Virginia is set to discuss a new house bill as urged by public health advocates. It would require automakers to provide larger output of electric vehicles with zero emissions and cars that steadily decrease emissions.
Although auto dealers can see the pros to this legislation, they are requesting more time to plan and research while also taking into consideration other factors such as incentives and rebates for purchasers.
By encouraging purchases of cleaner, fuel efficient vehicles, the state forecasts greenhouse emissions will be reduced “by almost 3 million metric tons in 2040 and about 3.4 million metric tons in 2050”. Passing this bill will ensure carbon pollution is reduced while also improving human health affected by exhaust pollutants.
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 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://energynews.us/2021/01/14/southeast/clean-cars-coalition-wants-virginia-lawmakers-to-address-tailpipe-emissions/
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,574 Bcf as of Friday, December 18, 2020, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net decrease of 152 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 278 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 218 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,356 Bcf. At 3,574 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
Peoples Gas is spending billions to replace miles of aging pipe below Chicago by 2040. But will natural gas be obsolete before it’s complete?
In 2011, Peoples Gas began to replace 2,000 miles of pipelines below Chicago. Originally estimated to take 20 years and cost $2.6 billion, it is now projected to continue until 2040 and cost $7.7 billion. Interruptions have occurred due to “budget overruns, delays and charges of mismanagement”.
Many believe the project should be reviewed. By the time of completion, both gas and electric are anticipated to be very different from the systems we have now. Replacements are necessary to lower leaks and halt possible explosions as some pipes date back to the 1800s. However, costs have been passed along to customers. While Peoples has tried to keep those amounts down and minimize disruption in each neighborhood, consumers worry about paying their bills.
The Citizens Utility Board believes the focus should be on more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient alternatives such as electric-powered heat pumps. They want Peoples and the ICC to target and repair problem areas while pursuing their renewable energy goals.
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 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-peoples-gas-pipeline-replacement-renewable-energy-20201222-i6er5w2abjeazg34ywajhfvg7q-story.html
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,848 Bcf as of Friday, December 4, 2020, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net decrease of 91 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 309 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 260 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,588 Bcf. At 3,848 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
An $11 trillion global hydrogen energy boom is coming.
Long ago, oil and coal were discovered as useful when burned. This started us down the path of building a carbon and fossil-fueled economic world. Carbon is released when fossil fuels combust. Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are known greenhouse gases.
Hydrogen is not naturally occurring like coal and oil. No dinosaurs died and decomposed into hydrogen. Remember that water is oxygen with two hydrogen atoms (H20). So, hydrogen exists in large quantities and can be readily separated from water and natural gas.
Like any fuel, storage issues must be addressed along with economic considerations. Just as technology investments caused wind and solar to become the power generation choice over coal and gas-fired generation. Technology has advanced to the point that a hydrogen energy cycle (extraction, storage, combustion, and conversion to electricity) is economic. The hydrogen option is becoming especially advantageous to countries that don’t have fossil fuels to extract. Fortunately, they have water and access to natural gas as alternatives to create hydrogen.
As electricity usage grows (powering cars, trucks, etc.) and climate change is addressed, alternatives to the carbon power cycle are needed. Technology has already made wind and solar the power generating choice for many. Hydrogen seems poised to add to the solution.
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 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/01/how-salt-caverns-may-trigger-11-trillion-hydrogen-energy-boom-.html
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,919 Bcf as of Friday, October 30, 2020, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net decrease of 36 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 200 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 201 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,718 Bcf. At 3,919 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
One company’s grand plan to help suppliers club together to buy green energy
What do long-term global or local businesses do when they see a problem? They solve it.
Climate change impacts lives today and is forecasted to accelerate its negative impact through increased storms, draught, fire, and hurricanes. Using the tools and abilities within their disposal, governments and businesses have responded to face this challenge.
Governments around the world agreed collectively to reduce emissions; see the Paris Agreement. The goal is for each country to reduce its emissions over 50 years.
Businesses are moving to reduce their carbon emissions by committing to renewable energy. A large company example is Walmart. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and Walmart committed to sustainable energy. Fast forward to 2020, that commitment has translated to reduced waste and 29% of its electricity coming from renewables. Walmart’s aim is to use its initiative to create an alliance of companies that commit to renewable energy regardless of size called the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance.
Seeing a problem and addressing it provides for opportunities. Walmart is reducing costs to operate its business while reducing waste and greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. 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 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/23/walmart-wants-suppliers-to-buy-renewable-energy-collectively.html