The experiment could become the largest renewable energy grid of its kind.
A pilot program in Puerto Rico could create the largest renewable energy ‘virtual’ grid in North America. “The yearlong pilot, launched late last year by Puerto Rico’s utility Luma Energy, will pull power from up to 6,500 households during energy shortages. It is part of a transformational effort to modernize a deteriorating grid and transition to clean energy,” explains Gabriela Aoun Angueira in a Grist article republished in Next City.
The system utilizes “virtual power plants,” or VPPs, which can include home batteries, heat pumps, or water heaters that can contribute to the grid in an emergency. “Virtual power plants, or VPPs, are networks of distributed energy resources — like home batteries, electric water heaters, or heat pumps — that can help the grid.” The program connects batteries from household rooftop solar panels to the grid, providing an alternate power source when other energy sources go offline.
“The Department of Energy is promoting them as a way of addressing the anticipated growth in energy demand in the coming years.” Households that contribute can decide how much energy to keep in their reserve and get paid to let the rest supplement the grid when needed.
Read the full story: Puerto Rico Is Using Residents’ Home Batteries To Back Up Its Grid
Federal Rule Update to Speed Clean Energy Approvals
A regulatory change at the federal level will shorten the time it takes clean energy projects to gain approval and start providing energy to the grid.
New Power Transmission Line Approved in the Southwest
The proposed transmission line will transfer wind-produced power from New Mexico to cities in Arizona and California.
California Could Drastically Cut Solar Incentives
Rooftop solar customers in California could face higher costs and reduced incentives if a proposed overhaul of the state's solar program is approved by the Public Utilities Commission.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
City officials are dumping billions of gallons of sewage into the Chicago River
This year, the Racine Avenue sewage pumping station has poured over 10 billion gallons of sewage into the Chicago River.
Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment
The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.
Satanic place names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority