Below are the key takeaways from the week in grid edge, solar, energy storage and other energy news.
Grid Edge News
300 Megawatts
The capacity of a First Solar PV farm that California grid operator CAISO plugged in to last August to provide services to the state's grid that are often provided by natural gas peakers. The solar farm met or exceeded peaker performance. (story)
11 Utilities
The number of U.S. utilities that filed rate cases in Q4 2016. This week, EQ Research provides their quarterly review of rate cases for Squared members. (story)
$4 Billion
The value of the energy consumed annually by the U.S. Department of Defense. A new report from The Pew Charitable Trusts estimates that the department could save millions each year by switching its bases from diesel backup generators to microgrids. (story)
$100 Off the Nest Learning Thermostat
The discount that Georgia Power is offering its customers through the Georgia Power Marketplace, an e-commerce website offering a suite of energy-saving products from smart thermostats to LED lighting. (story)
Solar News
$2.92 Million
The annual bill savings that Nevada electric customers will lose due to the re-establishment of net metering in the state, according to local utility NV Energy, which is requesting that the state's utility commission eliminate net metering (again). (story)
10 Trends for 2017
A new GTM Research briefing outlines the trends to watch for in 2017 across the global solar market. (story)
100,000 Jobs
The estimated number of jobs that the U.S. solar and grid modernization industries created in 2016, according to the Department of Energy. (story)
Energy Storage News
11 Cents per Kilowatt-hour
The PPA price for a solar-plus-storage "peaker" on the Hawaii island of Kauai. AES will own and operate the plant and plans to begin selling power to Kauai Island Utility Cooperative in 2018. (story)
6 Months
The time the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has to establish an energy storage capacity target. Julian Spector talked to interested parties to understand what the target might look like. (story)
3 Energy Storage Startups
Eric Wesoff profiles Orison, Moixa and Kisensum -- three startups that were featured in his speed-pitch session at last month's U.S. Energy Storage Summit. (story)
1 Megawatt-Hour Tesla Powerpack
The capacity of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's batteries at its facility in Chico, California. Julian Spector explores how storage is helping the company avoid hefty demand charges. (story)
Other Energy News
No Hands
The Energy Gang returns this week with a conversation on driverless vehicles with Joshua Goldman from the Union of Concerned Scientists. (story)
Speaking of driverless technology, a new Amazon patent for the coordination of autonomous vehicles on a roadway with reversible lanes reached the light of day this week. (story)
The 3rd Department
In 2011, then-Texas Governor Rick Perry vowed to eliminate three federal agencies if elected president of the U.S. Flash forward six years -- Perry is now poised to become the secretary of the third department he wanted to eliminate, the U.S. DOE. Julia Pyper presents highlights from Perry's Senate confirmation hearing this week. (story)
2021
The year that New York state plans to shutter the Indian Point nuclear power plant 30-odd miles north of New York City. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the plan last week. (story)
$287.5 Billion
The investment in clean energy by China in 2016, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. This compares to just $58.6 billion by the U.S. last year. Julia Pyper looks at how Trump can help the U.S. win the cleantech innovation race. (story)
0 Carbon Grid
The fully decarbonized grid that leading scientific authorities in Australia believe the country can achieve by 2050. (story)
