Microsoft helps create volume firming agreement for PPAs

Offshore wind advancing in Mass., R.I., Calif., Zinke says | Microsoft helps create volume firming agreement for PPAs | ACORE: Renewables, not fossil fuels, are the path to grid resiliency Created for aquarianm@gmail.com |  Web Version October 19, 2018 News for wind power professionals and advocates SIGN UP ⋅   FORWARD Industry Update Offshore wind advancing in Mass., R.I., Calif., Zinke says Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke shared three advances in US offshore wind during the American Wind Energy Association's Offshore WINDPOWER Conference 2018. The Interior Department will launch an offshore wind leasing round in Massachusetts on Dec. 13, is reviewing a project slated for Rhode Island and is exploring the feasibility of offshore wind in California, Zinke says. North American Windpower online (10/18)       Microsoft helps create volume firming agreement for PPAs Microsoft has worked with insurance and risk teams to develop a new type of contract that could potentially work with renewable energy power purchase agreements to minimize operational and pricing risks. The provision is called a volume firming agreement. GreenBiz (10/16),  Into the Wind blog (10/18)       ACORE: Renewables, not fossil fuels, are the path to grid resiliency Wind and solar in the Carolinas and other US states have a proven track record of maintaining grid stability during hurricanes and other natural disasters, while nuclear and coal-burning power plants have a greater likelihood for shutting down, according to the American Council on Renewable Energy. "Time and time again, renewable energy generators have demonstrated an incredible ability to withstand storms and bounce back quickly after extreme weather events," says ACORE spokesperson Gil Jenkins. ThinkProgress (10/18)       Opinion: Wind, solar effectively combat climate change Wind and solar are two homegrown, increasingly low-cost energy sources that can directly help the US meet its climate goals by reducing carbon emissions, writes John Kostyack, executive director of the Wind Solar Alliance. "Shifting to a renewable energy-friendly policy framework can deliver the low-cost, carbon-free electricity needed to power our economy, while also creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs," he writes. The Hill (10/18)       Project Focus N.J. needs small offshore wind farms too, says EDF exec Offshore wind farms have unique benefits depending on their size, with large projects often offering lower prices while small projects are useful for supply chain development and workforce training, said EDF Renewables North America Regional Development Manager Doug Copeland. The company is seeking approval for a 25-megawatt offshore wind farm in Atlantic City, N.J. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (tiered subscription model) (10/18)       Buyers arranged for 100% of Ill. wind farm's output EDP Renewables has arranged power purchase agreements for 100% of the output from the 200-megawatt Harvest Ridge Wind Farm underway in Douglas County, Ill. Walmart will source 50 MW from the project, with the remainder going to the Wabash Valley Power Association and an undisclosed buyer. The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, Ill.) (10/18)       Ball Corp. to add 3 Goldwind turbines at Ohio site Beverage packaging company Ball Corp. will add three Goldwind machines at its factory in Findlay, Ohio. One Energy will complete the installation process. ReNews (UK) (10/18)       Economy, Energy & Trends Report: RE100 PPAs grew from 1% to 20% from 2015 to 2016 RE100 member companies sourced 20% of their electricity needs from renewable energy power purchase agreements in 2016, up from 1% in 2015 -- a figure that underscores the rapid growth of nonutility PPAs, says consultancy ScottMadden. The report says PPAs are attractive for companies because they offer pricing stability and encourage sustainability through renewables. Commercial Property Executive (10/18)       WSA: Companies must encourage transmission growth Companies must join in the transmission infrastructure planning process if they want to continue to source more electricity from renewables like wind and solar, according to the Wind Solar Alliance. "To meet their sustainability targets for the next decade, and to make low-cost renewable power accessible for themselves and other customers, they need to join efforts to jump-start a new era of transmission planning," Executive Director John Kostyack says. CleanTechnica (10/18)       . Featured Content Sponsored content from Deloitte Blockchain for telecom companiesMany solutions aim to help telecom, media, and entertainment companies mitigate losses, streamline inter-company transactions, and open new strategic revenue opportunities. So is blockchain necessary? The answer lies with the technology's strength in several areas. Learn more.        The value in blockchainMany executives are trying to see for themselves how to apply blockchain capabilities directly—from dynamic 5G networks, digital identity, and IoT, to stemming piracy, enabling micropayments, and returning more royalties to content creators. Read more.        Click here to learn more about Featured Content Policy Watch Mich. lawmaker proposes 100% by 2050 bill for renewables A bill from Michigan state Rep. Yousef Rabhi would set a 100% by 2050 renewables goal for state utilities. "Strengthening Michigan's commitment to renewable energy is vital to the health of our citizens and our economy," he says. North American Windpower online (10/18)       AWEA News New EIA report shows wind pulls its weight A new report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that wind and solar generated over 20 percent of the total electricity in 10 states last year. This offers yet another data point that renewables like wind power have become an important part of America's electricity mix. Into the Wind blog (10/18)       Learn more about AWEA: AWEA Home | Events | Take Action AWEA Facebook | AWEA Twitter | AWEA LinkedIn CAREERS IN WIND powered by Central Region Director AWEA -  View More Listings | Post a Job Clarity is the antidote to anxiety, and therefore clarity is the preoccupation of the effective leader. If you do nothing else as a leader, be clear. Marcus Buckingham, business consultant and author      These stories were selected and summarized by independent editors at SmartBrief Inc., not by AWEA's staff, and do not represent AWEA positions. They reflect the variety of daily coverage of American wind power. 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