The power industry is in the midst of a significant transformation driven by technological advancements, environmental concerns, evolving market dynamics and unprecedented demand for new energy. As the sector undergoes a fundamental shift in how energy is produced, consumed and managed, utilities must adapt to multifaceted challenges and forge new pathways for growth – not only for their own operations but for the customers and communities they serve. Understanding the key megatrends shaping the power landscape today can help utilities thrive during these times of transition and flux.
1. Integrated Electrification
Driven by clean energy mandates, new funding opportunities, innovative partnerships, and ambitious sustainability goals, many sectors of the economy are transitioning from fossil fuels to embrace widespread electrification. From clean transportation initiatives and the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to building electrification for heating and cooling, along with rapidly growing demand for new power sources driven by AI and data centers, this trend brings both challenges and opportunities. As more sectors transition to electric solutions, overall demand for electricity is rising significantly, with projections indicating a tripling of demand by 2050.
To meet these energy mandates and rising demand, the utility industry has seen a significant increase in renewable energy integration onto the grid. This influx of renewable energy, especially solar and wind, has led to notable changes in peak demand patterns, including shifts in the “duck curve.” The “duck curve” illustrates the mismatch between midday solar generation and evening peak demand, creating challenges for grid stability. In regions rich in solar resources, there is a growing effort to encourage EV charging during the day, when solar generation is at its peak, instead of at night, in order to better balance supply and demand. These shifts necessitate new approaches to load management as utilities work to accommodate the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources.
To effectively address the rising demand and integration of renewables, the industry must enhance infrastructure, including expanding generation capacity, modernizing transmission and distribution systems, and increasing EV charging networks. Achieving this requires collaboration between utilities and their customers, aligning on projected growth, geographic distribution of electrification, and associated costs. By conducting joint studies and developing strategic plans, stakeholders can assess power requirements and load patterns, enabling utilities to proactively address demand. This collaborative approach will pave the way for a seamless electrification journey, ensuring that infrastructure development aligns with the pace of electrification and renewable integration.
2. Transmission Infrastructure
The average age of the grid infrastructure in the U.S. today has outlived its intended design. This is particularly concerning because many transmission lines and transformers were designed with a lifespan of about 50 years, meaning much of the grid is nearing or exceeding its intended operational life and many lines are at or near their capacity, especially during peak demand periods. While improvements are underway across some utility systems, a significant portion of the network still needs to be upgraded, with costs estimated in the trillions. Widespread modernization efforts and new investments are needed to enhance resiliency and reliability, accommodate new energy sources and handle the demand for electrification. Confronting transmission challenges related to capacity constraints from data centers, offshore wind and other complex projects and processes opens opportunities for utilities to strengthen operations, improve reliability and build resilience.
The rise in digital data storage and processing, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, has significantly increased electricity demand. Data centers are major consumers of energy and often require substantial amounts of power for cooling and operations. Increased investment in data centers and industrial/manufacturing sectors has driven load demand forecasts up, necessitating further upgrades and expansions in transmission infrastructure. In response to these rising energy demands, some electric utilities are reconsidering decisions to decommission fossil fuel power plants and even exploring the re-commissioning of nuclear reactors to support their data center loads.
Likewise, a significant transmission build out is needed to integrate increasing offshore wind construction. New transmission lines, along with reconductoring existing lines to boost capacity, are essential to handle the high-capacity outputs from wind farms located far offshore is costly and complex, requiring both the offshore infrastructure (underwater cables) and onshore connection points. Integrating offshore wind into the existing power grid poses significant challenges. The current infrastructure is not designed to handle the scale and location of offshore wind farms. Upgrading transmission systems, establishing reliable points of interconnection and building new transmission infrastructure are essential and require planning, collaboration with stakeholders, regulatory support and investments.
Building, expanding and modernizing transmission infrastructure often means years of complex permitting, siting and other regulatory processes. To streamline the process and prioritize upgrades in areas most impacted by high prices and long recovery times from outages, the Department of Energy has been authorized to designate National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC). These corridors are critical for addressing congestion and enabling the integration of renewable energy sources, including offshore wind. By easing permitting processes and encouraging investment in key areas, NIETCs are a big opportunity for utilities to adapt to the changing energy landscape.
3. Resiliency and Security
Now more than ever, today’s power grid is vulnerable to disruption. From the impacts of severe weather to man-made threats and attacks, ensuring the security and reliability of utility assets, data and systems is critical to maintaining safe, continuous power and operations for customers and communities. Rapid technological changes, evolving risks and shifting regulatory obligations require utilities to implement robust physical and cyber security programs that safeguard operations, achieve compliance and build resiliency. Providing comprehensive training for all employees is also essential to reduce human error and encourage open communications if a potential threat is uncovered.
In addition to the toll of increasingly frequent extreme weather impacts, physical and cyber threats are a growing challenge to grid resiliency. For example, physical attacks on the power grid rose 77% in 2022 alone, and cyber-attacks have succeeded in causing temporary blackouts. Grid operators need advisory support and partnerships to identify potential vulnerabilities and address them proactively, mitigating threats before any damage occurs either physically or through malicious software, ransomware and dangerous digital traffic.
Various mechanisms exist to evaluate and prioritize security investments for resiliency. A robust NERC regulatory framework across a range of utility functions including Protection and Control (PRC), Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), Transmission Planning (TPL), Modeling, Data and Analysis (MOD), and Facilities Design, Connection and Maintenance (FAC). Compliance with NERC’s CIP-014 standards, for example, requires electric utilities that own and operate transmission facilities rated over 200 kV to focus on the physical protection of critical assets, to identify and mitigate newly emerging threats, to stay abreast of advancing technologies and to maintain strict adherence to the procedures and documentation that demonstrate their organization’s physical security awareness. These mandatory reliability and security standards most recently protected the grid from one of the largest geomagnetic disturbances to take place in the last 20 years. Existing NERC protocols including EOP-010-1 and TPL-007-4 helped the industry deal with the event without major disruption. However, it is important to note that NERC regulations can change rapidly and require careful monitoring to effectively manage compliance risk. To follow these updates, you can subscribe to our monthly NERC Compliance news.
Adopting IEC 61850 communication protocols has further enhanced grid resilience by streamlining protection, automation and control functions, allowing for greater interoperability and faster response times during critical events. Additional regulatory standards such as FERC Orders 2222, 2223 and 1000 also play a critical role in promoting grid modernization by facilitating the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), promoting greater transmission planning efficiency and ensuring competitive market participation.
4. Disaster Response and Reliability
Significant outages, interruptions or asset damage are growing more common as systems and assets age, and as we experience more and more damaging threats. During unplanned events, such as natural disasters, capable and efficient response is essential to restore service and trust to customers and regulators as quickly and effectively as possible. Even the most skilled operators may face events that stretch their resources, but it is critical to be prepared. Disaster response planning and strategic undergrounding are key to adapting successfully to this megatrend.
Strategically undergrounding distribution systems can be a practical and cost-effective solution to prevent outages from extreme weather and other disasters. Determining if this is right for your utility requires careful consideration of the pros and cons for your system and an evaluation of all the alternative paths to asset hardening for reliability. Likewise, restoring power faster and limiting future impacts is essential when it comes to disaster and storm response planning. Event analysis, inspection, resource coordination, field patrol and construction coordination all must be part of pre and post event response. Short- and long-term corrective actions that improve reliability must be accounted for.
5. Customer Affordability
Utilities today face many challenges when it comes to balancing record high investment needs for grid modernization and clean energy with protecting customer affordability, particularly for low-income households and rural or disadvantaged communities who often face higher energy burdens. As electricity costs and rates trend upward, utilities and regulators must consider new pathways to not only save customers money but bolster reliability while doing so.
For example, a strategic approach to grid modernization initiatives can help manage costs by determining financial impacts and prioritizing investments with clear customer benefits and maximum cost-effectiveness. With activities such as strategic undergrounding, consider targeted implementation of projects in high-risk areas can maximize the reliability improvements while minimizing the overall cost, and taking a phased or incremental approach to manage costs more effectively can reduce the financial burden on customers in the short term. Uncovering funding mechanisms and cost recovery through state and federal sources is also helpful. Pursuing public-private partnerships, grant opportunities and other funding mechanisms or cost recovery options can spread out investment risks and reduce costs for both utilities and customers.
Technology is also an important part of reducing financial burdens for customers. Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence can not only more accurately help identify customers who may be struggling with affordability but can also deliver personalized insights and recommendations to help customers manage their energy use and costs and provide tailored information about assistance programs and energy-saving opportunities. Intelligent grid technologies can, among other things, support predictive maintenance efforts to reduce outages and improve reliability, lower repair costs that get passed on to customers and extend the life of existing infrastructure to save on upgrades or new builds.
But it is energy efficiency that perhaps has the most significant positive impact on customer affordability, and it is becoming a critical part of a utility’s operation for many reasons, including its impact on lowering demand and decreasing the need for costly new generation and transmission infrastructure. And although advancements continue to be made, there is more work to be done to achieve the maximum benefits of energy efficiency. We need more investments and partnerships to make efficiency programming and incentives available to all customers. This requires comprehensive research and planning, and tested, proven but cutting-edge approaches to program design, implementation, customer engagement, contractor training, engineering support, evaluation and continuous improvement.
Sharing Our Perspectives
Our practitioners share their insights and perspectives on the trends and challenges shaping the market.
Update to FAC-003-5 Brings Sweeping Changes to Transmission Classifications Starting April 1
March 19, 2024
Update to FAC-003-5 Brings Sweeping Changes to Transmission Classifications Starting April 1
FERC Extreme Weather Initiative Will Change the Transmission Planning Process
July 26, 2023
FERC issued a Final Rule directing NERC to develop a new or modified reliability standard addressing transmission system planning performance requirements for extreme heat or cold weather events.
FERC Issues Order on Cold Weather Reliability Standards
April 27, 2023
FERC has approved two NERC proposed cold weather-related reliability standards.
Modeling Power System Hosting Capacity
March 31, 2023
As renewable energy development booms, and distributed energy resources (DERs) proliferate across the grid, the demand for a more efficient and timely interconnection process is at an all-time high. To meet regulatory deadlines and satisfy the needs of both developers and customers, utilities must tackle an increasingly complex array of system impact studies, analyses and reports, under ever shrinking timelines.
FERC Orders Internal Network Security Monitoring Rule to be Finalized
March 14, 2023
FERC directed NERC to develop Reliability Standards to implement INSM within trusted CIP environments.
TRC Companies Assisting LS Power Grid Maine with New Transmission Project in Maine
March 2, 2023
TRC Companies announces its role as a consultant in supporting the new transmission project by LS Power Grid Maine.
NERC Releases 2022 State of Reliability Report
September 16, 2022
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) recently released its 2022 State of Reliability report, which examines power system performance in calendar year 2021 and evaluates reliability performance trends. The 2022 report identified six key findings regarding power system performance that are summarized as follows:
FERC Issues Notice of Inquiry Regarding Dynamic Line Ratings
April 25, 2022
There are significant technical challenges involved in implementing Dynamic Line Ratings in the planning and operation of utility systems. Utilities should be prepared to modify their NERC compliance programs as necessary to address the potential introduction of DLR in their businesses.
How Does a Distribution Grid Work?
October 2, 2021
Electric distribution systems rely on sophisticated technology to provide power when needed. Electricity is generated on-demand, which means there are often peak periods when providers see a greater need for power and the system must prove responsive.
Electric System Planning for Extreme Weather Events: NERC Recommends Actions to Protect Reliability this Summer
June 23, 2021
Due to recent extreme weather-related power systems failures, stakeholders are examining the planning and operations practices for all electric utilities.
Cold Weather Reliability Preparedness and Hardening
March 22, 2021
The latest weather impacts to power reliability have accelerated the need for mandatory regulatory compliance changes.
TRC Digital Partners with Treverity to Put Utility Engineers at the Center of Their Data
June 26, 2020
As part of TRC’s LineHub solution, Treverity helps transmission engineers get a holistic view of the grid through powerful digital data visualization and a customer-centric user interface.
TRC Earns U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Qualification to be a Provider of Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) Equivalent Energy Assessments
September 24, 2024
TRC can now provide IAC equivalent energy audits to small and medium-sized manufacturing (SMM) firms, who can receive grants of up to $300,000 for implementation of audit recommendations.
Utility Carbon Data Management
May 27, 2024
We’re pleased to announce Episode 7 of TRC’s Energy Talks Podcast, where we join experts from utilities and carbon accounting solution providers to discuss how our industry is understanding, measuring, and working to improve our collective carbon footprint.
Empowering Stakeholders to Co-Create Solutions that Address Inequity
April 23, 2024
Addressing inequality and ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition are accessible to all requires close examination of long-relied-upon processes that may have hidden inequities ingrained within them.
Monetizing the Environmental Attributes of Building Decarbonization Programs
March 27, 2024
Tune in to Episode 6 of TRC’s Energy Talks Podcast, where we join industry experts from the wholesale energy and environmental commodity markets to discuss how utilities and project developers are valuing the environmental attributes of building decarbonization projects.
Hydrogen Hub Funding Provisions
March 26, 2024
TRC’s panel of practitioners discuss the Hydrogen Hub (H2Hub) funding provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL).
TRC Companies, Inc. selected to participate in Department of Energy (DOE) Multi-State Clean Hydrogen Hub
October 13, 2023
TRC received an award for advancing the transition to a clean-hydrogen, low-carbon economy by supporting the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) consortium.
Download Whitepaper: 10 Years of Insights for Clean Community Microgrids
March 1, 2023
Clean, community microgrids represent a promising and timely opportunity for you to advance your customer offering and deliver meaningful societal benefits, all while modernizing your grid and providing you with load flexibility.
Carrots and Sticks for Building Decarbonization: Incentive Programs and Codes & Standards
January 11, 2023
Decarbonization of the U.S. building stock presents an enormous opportunity to enhance the quality of our built environment and combat climate change, given that commercial and residential buildings account for over 30% of GHG emissions in the U.S. This critical transition – long underway – has recently been catalyzed by the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which promise to bolster the entire clean energy supply chain, including support for the development and enforcement of building energy codes, as well as the introduction of new consumer incentive programs for electric and high-efficiency equipment. As energy utilities and governmental agencies accelerate energy efficiency and decarbonization initiatives for the communities they serve, they are successfully leveraging two important tool sets: 1) Building efficiency and electrification incentive programs 2) Building energy codes, reach codes and appliance standards. Respectively, these are the carrots and sticks of market transformation toward building decarbonization. Presently, governmental initiatives and organizational commitments to decarbonization are motivating industry practitioners to apply these toolsets more aggressively, to accelerate this transition; as a result, the legacy market interactions between these carrots and sticks are increasingly complex and at times, contested. However, our teams and partners who expertly apply both toolsets – designing and implementing incentive programs and supporting local jurisdictions in advancing their energy codes – believe that they can work together. Contact Us
Start Your Batteries: Mass Fleet Electrification is Coming (And What We Can do to Prepare)
April 13, 2022
As we plan for and make early investments for fleets, we’ll be paving the way for higher degrees of market penetration of passenger vehicles and other modes of transportation as well.
Ensuring a Just Transition: Optimizing Opportunities for All in the Low-Carbon Future
January 24, 2022
Carbon elimination of the magnitude needed to address climate change requires systems-level change that can only be reached by incremental, ground-up progress, building upon what we have achieved thus far.
Decarbonization: A Systems-Level Challenge and Actions to Address Climate Change
December 7, 2021
Carbon elimination of the magnitude needed to address climate change requires systems-level change that can only be reached by incremental, ground-up progress, building upon what we have achieved thus far.
10 Takeaways from the COP26 Climate Meeting
November 17, 2021
There are compelling reasons to be optimistic about the outcomes of the COP26 meeting. Notably, agreement among all nations that more needs to be done, by both private and governmental bodies, to contain and mitigate climate change.
The Price of Natural Gas: Onward and Upward or Just a Temporary Blip?
November 12, 2021
Most industry experts agree that weather aside, the global energy and gas markets are likely to remain uncertain with supply and market demand becoming tighter and more challenging to forecast.
On the Road to Decarbonization: The Role of All-Source Competitive Solicitations
October 14, 2021
All-Source Competitive Solicitations offer utilities an alternative to centralized planning, construction and dispatch of power supplies, helping to usher in a new era of market-driven technology innovation.
Pacific Gas and Electric Selects TRC as Program Implementer for New Construction Residential All-Electric and Mixed Fuel Programs
September 27, 2021
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) formally announced TRC as the designated lead Program Implementer for the Statewide New Construction (SWNC) Residential All-Electric and Mixed Fuel Programs following a competitive solicitation process.
TRC and Slipstream partner with the Minnesota Department of Commerce to launch energy conservation R&D project
June 24, 2021
TRC, Slipstream, and the University of Minnesota are working with controls system manufacturers and contractors to develop such a standardized and streamlined building control retrofit process leveraging ASHRAE Guideline 36
TRC Companies Inc. Acquires EMI Consulting
January 27, 2021
Today TRC Companies (“TRC”), announces the expansion of its advanced energy capabilities with the acquisition of EMI Consulting (“EMI”), a Seattle based firm that consults on the strategic development of clean energy solutions including energy efficiency, demand management, decarbonization and customer engagement.
City of Camarillo, California approves moving forward with Hybrid Solar Microgrids at five critical community facilities
November 6, 2020
On October 28, the Camarillo City Council unanimously approved moving forward with the design of Hybrid Microgrids at five City facilities: City Hall, the Corporation Yard, Camarillo Public Library, Police Station, and Wastewater Treatment Plant. The microgrid at the Camarillo Public Library will be designed with solar+storage only, while the other four sites will employ a hybrid design of solar+storage+diesel.
TRC Digital partners with Dominion Energy to evolve its distributed energy resource strategy
September 22, 2020
Dominion Energy, one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy, has partnered with TRC Digital to evaluate, implement and integrate technology to further the utility’s distributed energy goals. TRC Digital will facilitate Dominion Energy’s strategy development and technology execution, allowing Dominion Energy and its customers to accelerate the shift to distributed energy resources (DER) and net carbon reduction.
Strategic Electrification
February 4, 2020
As we look to spur strategic electrification across the US, it will be up energy providers and solution implementers to continue sharing ideas, insights and lessons learned
A place called home: Helping California families rebuild after wildfires
November 21, 2019
A place called home: Helping California families rebuild after wildfires
TRC and partners win $1 million grant for engineering innovative New York microgrid
April 20, 2017
TRC is proud to support Huntington, NY bolster power reliability and climate-change resiliency with a sophisticated new “community microgrid’’ combining solar energy, a fuel cell, biogas and traditional natural gas to deliver electricity and heat to local customers and institutions.
The Risks and Rewards of Transporting LNG By Rail
February 4, 2020
The comment period for the proposed rule to allow LNG transport by rail ended on Jan. 13. Now the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) decides how to move forward on the idea, which was introduced by trade advocates representing North America’s seven Class I railroads. TRC’s Wade Narin van Court discusses the regulatory and financial implications for freight carriers planning to compete in a new commercial arena.
NERC Proposes Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Plan for 2019
September 26, 2018
This month, NERC released the first draft of its 2019 Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Plan (CMEP) which identifies power delivery system risks and outlines compliance audit requirements for next year. The risk elements outlined in the plan include significant differences from previous years, as shown in the table below. Each NERC region must consider these risks as they develop their monitoring and audit scopes for utilities. Utilities should be prepared to be audited and implement any necessary compliance initiatives in these areas.
Building a More Resilient New York
June 24, 2013
The aftermath of Super Storm Sandy, which caused devastation including property damage, mass power outages and loss of life, has caused us to rethink, entirely, how well prepared we are for these events which were previously thought to be anomalies but which result in long term remediation efforts.
Best Practices for Scaling and Optimizing EV Charging Infrastructure: Six Steps for Success
September 23, 2024
TRC works with hundreds of organizations who have made investments in fleet electrification and EV charging infrastructure as means to achieving their carbon, climate and clean transportation goals.
TRC Companies Announces $1.5B in Funding for Clients’ Sustainable Transportation Projects, Including Zero Emission Trucking, and Critical Charging Stations and Low Carbon Fueling Infrastructure
May 20, 2024
TRC surpassed $1.5 billion in funding to support its clients’ clean commercial transportation projects. The achievement comes less than two years after reaching the $1 billion milestone.
Championing the Crucial Dialogue to Advance Fleet Electrification
May 7, 2024
In the actively changing landscape of transportation, the electrification of fleets has emerged as a pivotal step towards a sustainable and clean energy future. Electrification can, in the right applications, help fleets drastically cut emissions, reducetotal lifetime operating costs and improve the air quality in and around their communities.
Embracing the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule, or Not?
January 10, 2024
Despite the many states who quickly adopted the ACT rule, 2023 saw the first instances of unexpected retreats from the effort, reflecting an evolution in the zero emissions approaches taken by medium- and heavy-duty fleets.
Download White Paper: State of Sustainable Fleets: 2023 Market Brief
May 16, 2023
2023 Market Brief clean transportation trends
‘Sunset of the Diesel Era’ is Upon Us, Study Finds
May 3, 2023
Source: Fleet Owner ANAHEIM, California—The Diesel Era is ending, but it won’t be easy for fleets. However, public policy and financial and other incentives are pushing transportation into a cleaner future, according to the fourth State of Sustainable Fleets Market Brief, which also notes that transitioning to new power technologies faces financial and supply hurdles. “It’s no surprise that one of the findings is that we’re starting to hear folks talk about the sunset of the Diesel Era,” said Erik Neandross, which produced the annual study. “We believe that 2027 could very well be the last of the major diesel engine development programs that we see out there in the world—which is pretty amazing.” Last year, Navistar said its new S13 Integrated Powertrain includes the final internal combustion engine the producer of International Trucks will develop. Navistar and other major North American OEMs have some zero-emission trucks and goals to develop and expand those ZE offerings. Regulators also are pushing OEMs and engine-makers to find cleaner ways to move goods and people in the coming years. The 2023 report from clean technology consultants TRC (formerly GNA) was released on the opening day of the firm’s Advanced Clean Transportation Expo, which drew another record crowd to Orange County. Organizers said about 13,000 people are attending the show, a 50% increase from 2022. “Of course, the record attendance that we have here is really indicative of the growth and investment that we’ve seen in the clean fuels and fleet industry in the last couple of years,” Neandross said during a main stage presentation on May 1 in front of thousands of fleet and transportation executives. The State of Sustainable Fleets report shows a future where new diesel engine development programs slow as zero-emission vehicles become the centerpiece of regulations in states representing about half of the U.S. economy. Nearly 80% of air pollutants come from “mobile sources. That’s why clean transportation technologies are so important,” Wayne Nastri, South Coast Air Quality Management District executive officer, said on May 1. “They’re so needed in order for us to meet not only federal and state air-quality standards—as well to reduce some of the toxic emissions and the climate pollutants—but the key is that we need to transition to zero-emission as quickly as possible.” Continue reading on Fleet Owner
SoSF 2023: Diesel Engine Development Begins to Sunset as Funding, Fleets, Regulators Focus on ZEVs
May 1, 2023
Source: ACT News In the fourth annual State of Sustainable Fleets Market Brief, a new trend is clear — public policy and funding has shifted sharply to build the ZEV market and sunset diesel engine development on an accelerated timeframe. Report author and leading clean technology consulting firm, TRC (formerly GNA), unveiled the findings at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, a four-day conference which drew more than 10,000 attendees to Anaheim, California. This year’s Market Brief illustrates much more about the future, one where new diesel engine development programs are moving towards a sunset, and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) will be the “law of the land” in states representing approximately half of the U.S. economy. The past 18 months have laid the roadmap for a zero-emission (ZE) future in many states and produced early signals that the era of the diesel engine, the workhorse of heavy-duty vehicles, will end sooner than many predicted. Previously, the State of Sustainable Fleets demonstrated that some clean fuels and vehicles are now superior to gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles for many fleet applications, and adoption of renewable fuels and advanced technology drivetrains is accelerating. “The past year has brought a historic amount of investment from the federal government, as well as from private industry,” said Erik Neandross. “Across clean fuel types, we’re seeing accelerating momentum and an increasing commitment to low carbon fuels and zero emission commercial vehicles.” This year’s report offers another deep analysis into the alternative fuels and clean transportation markets, with the following findings: Continue reading on ACT News
Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo Announces Dates and Locations for 2024 and 2025 Shows
May 1, 2023
Organizers of the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo announced the dates and locations for the next two years of its rapidly growing conference.
Download White Paper: 2021 Feasibility Assessment for Drayage Trucks
February 7, 2023
2021 Feasibility Assessment for Drayage Trucks San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan
NACFE Podcast: Erik Neandross Navigates the Future of Fleet Sustainability
August 31, 2022
Erik Neandross recently joined NACFE’s Mike Roeth to discuss working with OEMs and fleets on transitioning to clean fuels, the importance of TCO, and the main drivers of the accelerated sustainable transportation movement.
Hyliion, Cummins Collaborate on Electric and NG Range-extender
June 29, 2022
The State of Sustainable Fleets report found that fuel-cost savings is the primary advantage for deploying NG units among 79% of the surveyed fleets. Hyliion and Cummins announced a collaboration to optimize Cummins’ ISX12N natural gas engine as the onboard generator for Hyliion’s Hypertruck ERX powertrain.
ISR Compliance Could Save Warehouse Operators Thousands
June 8, 2022
Sean Cocca, director of compliance at TRC, provides insights on South Coast AQMD’s Warehouse Indirect Source Rule, which requires warehouse operators to keep a record of the frequency of truck trips and take actions to help mitigate the environmental impact of those activities at their locations.
State of Sustainable Fleets Report Finds Fleets Are Accelerating Use of Clean Vehicles
May 9, 2022
In the third annual State of Sustainable Fleets Market Brief, transportation fleets continued to report a resounding trend — their use of clean fuels and advanced vehicle technologies is rapidly progressing.
Download White Paper: State of Sustainable Fleets: 2022 Market Brief
May 9, 2022
2022 Market Brief clean transportation trends
Study: ClearFlame Helps Fleets Lower TCO, Meet Sustainability Goals
May 5, 2022
The study, conducted by TRC and commissioned by Geneva, Illinois-based ClearFlame itself, analyzed the total cost of ownership and the expected emission performance of the company’s engine modification technology in the over-the-road heavy truck market vs. other options.
Start Your Batteries: Mass Fleet Electrification is Coming (And What We Can do to Prepare)
April 13, 2022
As we plan for and make early investments for fleets, we’ll be paving the way for higher degrees of market penetration of passenger vehicles and other modes of transportation as well.
Obtaining Funding for Clean Transportation Projects in North America: Q&A with TRC (Formerly GNA) Senior Vice President Joe Annotti
March 30, 2022
Net-Zero Business Daily by S&P Global Commodity Insights speaks with Joe Annotti about strategies for seeking funding, what funders are looking for, and where opportunities are growing.
TRC (formerly GNA) Electrification Project Selected for New York Program
March 2, 2022
The Electrify the Empire State: Empowering Zero Emission Solutions project aims to deploy 38 electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and supporting infrastructure in underserved communities in New York City and upstate New York.
Amplifying the Next Phase of Fleet Electrification: The Pickup
September 30, 2021
TRC’s analysis for one client fleet shows that even a $70,000 EV can compete on cost with a comparable gas-hybrid vehicle priced at $40,000 – at least in California where upfront and ongoing incentives stack up quickly.
Download White Paper: State of Sustainable Fleets 2021: Market and Trends Brief
May 10, 2021
2021 Market and Trends Brief for clean fleet industry
Download Whitepaper: California Heavy-Duty Fleet Electrification
March 9, 2021
Charging systems and cost analysis for electric heavy-duty commercial fleets
Download White Paper: Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Greenhouse Gas Reductions from Bay Area Commercial Aircraft
October 13, 2020
Sustainable aviation fuel impact on greenhouse gas emissions
Download White Paper: An Assessment: California’s In-State RNG Supply for Transportation 2020-2024
July 7, 2020
California RNG production estimates and HVIP funding
Download White Paper: State of Sustainable Fleets 2020
May 12, 2020
2020 Market and Trends Brief for clean fleet industry
Download White Paper: RIPTA Sustainable Fleet Transition Plan
September 19, 2019
RIPTA Sustainable Fleet Transition Plan
Download White Paper: Electric Vehicle Charging Guidebook for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Commercial Fleets
September 17, 2019
Guidebook for adopting electric charging solutions for fleet managers in California
Download White Paper: 2018 Feasibility Assessment for Cargo-Handling Equipment
September 10, 2019
2018 Feasibility Assessment for Zero-emission Cargo-Handling Equipment
Download White Paper: 2018 Feasibility Assessment for Drayage Trucks
April 9, 2019
2018 Feasibility Assessment for Drayage Trucks report
Download White Paper: The Feasibility, Issues, and Benefits Associated with Expanded Use of Natural Gas at Seaports and Other High Horsepower Applications
October 10, 2017
Natural gas use in Californias seaports report
Download White Paper: Renewable Diesel as a Major Transportation Fuel in California: Opportunities, Benefits & Challenges
August 15, 2017
Renewable diesel benefits and future in California
Download White Paper: Game Changer: Next Generation Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engines Fueled by Renewable Natural Gas
May 10, 2016
Zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles United States
Download White Paper: Dumping Dirty Diesels in Latin America
November 12, 2014
Reducing black carbon emissions in Latin America
Download White Paper: LNG Opportunities for Marine and Rail in the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, and Inland Waterways
October 13, 2014
Liquefied natural gas growth opportunities in marine and rail operations
Download White Paper: Equivalent Strategies for the ARB Zero Emission Bus Regulation
June 11, 2014
California Air Resources Board Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies report
Download White Paper: Pathways to Near-Zero-Emission Natural Gas Heavy-Duty Vehicles
May 13, 2014
California air quality and climate protection policies
Download White Paper: Wyoming Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Roadmap
April 16, 2014
LNG production and usage in Wyoming
Download White Paper: Moving California Forward: Zero and Low-Emission Goods Movement Pathways
November 12, 2013
California Cleaner Freight Coalition report on zero-emission strategies
Download White Paper: Ultrafine Particulate Matter and the Benefits of Reducing Particle Numbers in the U.S.
July 15, 2013
EPA regulations on vehicle emissions and health impacts
Download White Paper: Zero-Emission Catenary Hybrid Truck Market Study
March 13, 2012
Zero-emission trucks and electric catenary highway technology in Southern California
Download White Paper: NGV Roadmap for Pennsylvania Jobs, Energy Security and Clean Air
April 13, 2011
Marcellus Shale Coalition natural gas transportation fuel report
How Does a Distribution Grid Work?
October 2, 2021
Electric distribution systems rely on sophisticated technology to provide power when needed. Electricity is generated on-demand, which means there are often peak periods when providers see a greater need for power and the system must prove responsive.
Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company uses AI to assess and repair distribution pole damage
August 4, 2021
As part of its grid enhancement program, OG&E will leverage collaborative AI-powered image recognition technology that enables engineers to complete distribution pole inspections with greater accuracy and helps to reduce manual review of images.
NERC Releases Inverter Based Resources Webinar Series
October 19, 2023
As the power delivery system continues to rapidly evolve due to decarbonization policy initiatives, inverter-based resources (IBRs) are playing an ever-more significant role in generation additions to the bulk power system. NERC and other technical organizations have taken numerous actions to support the reliable integration of these resources.
The Digital Transformation of the Utility Operations Model: Essential Telecom Network Upgrades to Make Now
October 4, 2023
As technology advances and cybersecurity threats loom, companies must prioritize communications retrofits and upgrades to ensure reliability, availability and business continuity.
FERC Issues Order 2023 to Resolve Interconnection Process Issues
September 25, 2023
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved Order 2023 to facilitate and improve the speed and reliability of adding new energy resources to the power system
FERC Extreme Weather Initiative Will Change the Transmission Planning Process
July 26, 2023
FERC issued a Final Rule directing NERC to develop a new or modified reliability standard addressing transmission system planning performance requirements for extreme heat or cold weather events.
Modeling Power System Hosting Capacity
March 31, 2023
As renewable energy development booms, and distributed energy resources (DERs) proliferate across the grid, the demand for a more efficient and timely interconnection process is at an all-time high. To meet regulatory deadlines and satisfy the needs of both developers and customers, utilities must tackle an increasingly complex array of system impact studies, analyses and reports, under ever shrinking timelines.
FERC Orders Internal Network Security Monitoring Rule to be Finalized
March 14, 2023
FERC directed NERC to develop Reliability Standards to implement INSM within trusted CIP environments.
TRC Companies Assisting LS Power Grid Maine with New Transmission Project in Maine
March 2, 2023
TRC Companies announces its role as a consultant in supporting the new transmission project by LS Power Grid Maine.
NERC Files Comments in the FERC Generator Interconnection Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
November 21, 2022
The rulemaking addresses improvements needed to reliably facilitate the power industry’s transition to renewable and distributed generating resources utilizing inverter-based technologies.
Webinar Replay: Substation Automation – Best Practices for IEC 61850 Implementation
March 29, 2022
Modernizing utility equipment, standards and processes pays dividends for improved safety, security and reliability. But transitioning to a new high-tech system model can be challenging.
TRC Talks – Attaching Telecommunications Fiber in the Supply Space
August 10, 2021
Today’s utility and communications infrastructure is being challenged to support a growing demand for automation, broadband and 5G network services. Attaching fiber in the power distribution or supply space can mitigate risks related to overloading and overcrowding.
How to Take a Renewable Project From Planning to Construction
May 15, 2021
A widespread societal shift is underway — now is the time to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and begin renewable energy projects. Among those who should participate are utility companies. They can demonstrate good social consciousness and enjoy notable returns on investment (ROI) by implementing renewable energy projects. In this chapter, you’ll learn about the process of investing in renewables. Use this renewable energy project development guide to help you get started.
Cold Weather Reliability Preparedness and Hardening
March 22, 2021
The latest weather impacts to power reliability have accelerated the need for mandatory regulatory compliance changes.
NERC Reliability Standard PRC-024-3 Approved: Frequency and Voltage Protection Settings for Generating Resources
July 28, 2020
On July 9, 2020 NERC standard PRC-024-3 was approved, paving the way for improved protection systems in support of keeping generating resources connected during defined frequency and voltage excursions.
NERC Pursues Changes to Protection Relay and Control (PRC) Standards
September 24, 2019
Two Standards Authorization Requests currently being debated in the NERC stakeholder engagement process could help clarify PRC standards obligations for generator owners and operators.
NERC to Modify Standard and Develop Compliance Guidance to Accommodate Inverter-Based Generation Technologies
February 20, 2019
Renewable energy systems have dramatically changed the power generation resource mix. These new generation technologies no longer involve directly coupled rotating generators which were once standard in the industry. Now, inverters that change Direct Current (DC) electricity to the Alternating Current (AC) electricity suitable for delivery via AC transmission systems are becoming more prevalent, raising reliability…
NERC Addresses Single Points of Failure in Protection Systems Among Other FERC Concerns
October 25, 2018
On July 9, 2020 NERC standard PRC-024-3 was approved, paving the way for improved protection systems in support of keeping generating resources connected during defined frequency and voltage excursions. The standard has a two-year implementation plan. Immediately prior to its effective date, PRC-024-02 will be retired. PRC-024-3 clarifies the voltage and frequency protection setting requirements to assure that generating resources, including inverter-based resources, continue to support power system stability during system disturbances. The standard identifies the types of protection subject to the requirements and incorporates language used by inverter manufacturers and solar project developers, while ensuring correct protection settings for applicable generating resources. PRC-024-2 standard was revised to address recommendations made by the NERC Inverter-Based Resource Performance Task Force (IRPTF) which were developed in response to NERC and WECC analysis of the Blue Cut Fire and Canyon 2Fire disturbances in southern California. Event analysis for both disturbances revealed that misinterpretation of the requirements of PRC-024-2 led to the intentional and unnecessary tripping of solar PV resources during these events. In addition to identifying the need to provide clarity around the intent and requirements in PRC-024-2, the IRPTF also found errors within the standard. The expectations of generators regarding adherence to the no-trip boundaries for both system frequency and system voltage excursions for each interconnection in North America are the key technical components of the standard.
