July 22, 2020: Equity considerations and cost saving measures for vulnerable customers are coming to the forefront for utilities as moratoriums on power shutoffs in the wake of COVID-19 come to an end. The European Union approved a $572 billion green stimulus that includes investment in agriculture, electric vehicles, energy efficiency and renewable energy. New York will invest $750 million to expand electric vehicle infrastructure and another $400 million in port upgrades to support the growth of the offshore-wind industry. A new report shows that a U.S. federal stimulus that prioritizes clean energy could create 860,000 full-time jobs and inject $66 billion into the economy every year for five years.

"COVID has a disproportionate impact on African Americans, that's an area that I think could be a focus for not only National Grid but other utilities and stakeholders," said Raquel Webster, National Grid’s senior counsel.

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In the wake of COVID-19, utilities should actively prioritize energy efficiency and clean energy programs to benefit more vulnerable communities, participants at a utility conference said. The discussion was part of the annual National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Summer Policy Summit. Equity considerations are coming to the forefront as moratoriums on power shutoffs are slated to end soon and utilities look for ways to save customers money while still recovering costs. Public Utility Commissioners from across the country offered ideas, including using more advanced metering infrastructure data and expanding various program tariffs in economically depressed areas. (Utility Dive)

The European Union approved a $572 billion green stimulus, the most ambitious climate change plan in history. The investment, which comprises about a third of the region’s overall economic rescue plan, will go toward low-carbon activities in a range of sectors including agriculture, transportation, and electricity production. The announcement signals Europe’s continued leadership on climate change, as the region aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. By contrast, in the U.S., none of the $3.6 trillion in stimulus approved so far targets low-carbon investments. (Bloomberg $)

New York announced it would invest $750 million to expand electric vehicle infrastructure, including more than 50,000 new charging stations. The bulk of the cost will come from investor-owned utilities, with around $50 million coming from the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal settlement to fund electric school and transit buses. Also this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state is seeking bids for up to 4 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power 1.5 million homes, and said New York would invest more than $400 million in port upgrades to support the emerging offshore-wind industry. (Reuters, Bloomberg $)

A federal stimulus that prioritizes clean energy could create 860,000 full-time jobs for at least five years and inject $66 billion into the economy every year for five years, according to a new report. The report, from E2 and E4TheFuture, looked at the economic benefits of $99.6 billion in stimulus invested in renewable energy, energy efficiency and grid modernization. These areas were chosen because programs already exist for them at federal agencies, they are jobs that can be completed outdoors and in vacant buildings, and are areas that have a track record of quick job creation during past economic recovery efforts. Texas, California and Florida would gain the most jobs, followed by Illinois, New York and Ohio. (Solar Power World)

Despite the global recession, electric vehicle sales in Europe are holding up better than the overall market, as the European Union prepares for tougher emission limits that come into effect next year. Regulatory pressure combined with government subsidies, which are making electric vehicles more affordable, are driving the shift. In the first half of this year the market share for battery and hybrid vehicles jumped up in several major markets. Germany saw an increase from 3.4 to 8.4 percent, even as overall car sales fell by 35 percent. Plug-in shares in Sweden rose from 10 to 25 percent. (AP)

Federal regulators set new limits on which energy projects qualify under a landmark law that has been instrumental to the growth of renewable energy. The changes were made to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA,) a law enacted in 1978 that has benefited over 30 percent of the solar projects currently online. While the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission argued most renewable energy projects today are completed outside of PURPA, advocates say the law remains critical in supporting solar and wind and that the changes will stifle competition. Also this week, FERC unanimously dismissed a controversial petition that would have upended solar net-metering. However, Commissioner Bernard McNamee signaled his belief that the regulators could later revisit the underlying issues raised in the petition. (Bloomberg $, Greentech Media)

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed the first U.S. emissions standards for commercial aircraft, but some environmental advocates say they aren’t strong enough. The EPA standards follow those established by the U.N. International Civil Aviation Organization in 2016 and, if adopted, would not apply to airplanes currently in use. Aircraft account for 12 percent of all U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions. Clare Lakewood, climate legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity said the proposal was “toothless” and “does nothing to meaningfully address the serious problem of airplanes’ planet-warming pollution.” (Reuters)