Press Coverage

January 2020

• Microgrids Deliver Resiliency, Security and Savings
  loT World Today - January 17, 2020
  The term microgrid suggests thinking small, but the big picture for these IoT-based energy technologies is how they could revolutionize the distribution of electrical energy around the world. Microgrids—often also referred to as smart grids—are essentially subsets of the larger electrical utility grids, designed to give organizations greater control over their energy resources and to make better use of utility-provided energy in conjunction with locally produced power.
• New Mexico State Senators Seek to Tax EVs and Renewable Energy
  cleantechnica.com - January 15, 2020
  SB 18, filed by Sen. Michael Padilla, a Democrat representing the South Valley just below Albuquerque, seeks to add a 2.5% tax for the wholesale value of each megawatt-hour. While this initially seems like a way to discourage the adoption of renewable energy, the bill does exempt a variety of entities and home renewables....Another bill, SB 20, would add extra registration fees for electric and hybrid vehicles. The bill was introduced by Sen. Bill Tallman, a Democrat representing part of Northeast Albuquerque.
• Tri-State rolls out its plan to expand renewable energy across Colorado (PDF - 292 KB)
  Colorado Politics - January 15, 2020
  Westminster-based Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association formally announced Wednesday the news that broke last week at the state Capitol. The outfit that supplies rural electric co-ops is going green after weathering for years the perception by some members and environmental critics that it was resistant to renewable energy in favor of coal. Now it’s aiming to give up coal as a source of energy.
• Coming To Your Town: New Homes Built To Be EV-Ready
  cleantechnica.com - January 14, 2020
  The US will need 9.6 million new electric vehicle charging ports by 2030. Where will all those chargers be located? According to recent research, almost 80% of those will be in single and multi-family residential buildings. That’s a big change. Homes in the US are typically built with wiring for only a few 240W outlets in the garage, just enough to handle a washer and dryer. But the International Code Council (ICC) has foreseen the need for this radical increase in EV chargers, and it approved changes to building standards in a 2020 provision that will allow all new homes built in the US to be EV-ready.
• New U.S. Building Codes Require Plugs for Electric Cars
  Quartz - January 10, 2020
  In January, the International Code Council (ICC) approved changes to building standards that preview a world in which every home has at least one electric car. The building standards organization, which sets voluntary guidelines for new homes, voted to approve a new provision that, functionally, will make all new homes built in the US “EV-ready.” SWEEP designed and advocated for the new code.
• These New Building Codes Could Finally Ensure New Houses are Ready for Charging Electric Vehicles
  EE Online - January 8, 2020
  Electric cars are the future of personal vehicles – they’re more efficient than conventional gasoline options, cost far less to operate, and enable significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicle (EV) sales are growing quickly; some experts predict they will account for more than 11% of new sales in the United States by 2025, and a majority of sales by 2040. To support this market shift, we need to rethink our transportation infrastructure, and especially how we fuel – or charge – our vehicles.
• Nevada Energy's solar energy plan touted by environmental groups, criticized by others
  The Center Square - January 3, 2020
  Environmental groups are backing a plan by Nevada Energy to add new solar renewable energy projects and energy storage capacity to the state. The plan, approved early last month by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, will add 1,190 megawatts of new solar renewable energy projects to Nevada -- capable of powering about 230 homes -- as well as another 590 megawatts of energy storage capacity, and cost about $55 million.