Energy Sector Shifts: Hydro Challenges, Solar & Geothermal Gains, Oil & Gas Upgrades
The energy landscape is shifting significantly, with hydroelectric stations facing relicensing challenges and new projects emerging in solar, geothermal, and wave energy sectors. Meanwhile, upgrades and expansions are planned for oil and gas infrastructure, and coal leasing sees a boost.
Hundreds of hydroelectric stations face relicensing over the next decade due to a shrinking hydropower manufacturing sector, increasing upgrade costs, and bureaucratic hurdles. This could lead many to shut down, reshaping the hydropower news landscape. In a positive development, California regulators are streamlining grid connections for distributed solar and storage projects that use approved power control systems.
XGS Energy has successfully tested advanced geothermal technology without losing water. This breakthrough paves the way for a 150 MW facility in New Mexico to power Meta data centers. However, no publicly available information identifies companies planning renewable energy news projects exceeding 100 MW in New Mexico in 2022.
Pacific Gas & Electric plans a significant investment of $73 billion by 2030 for transmission upgrades to meet growing data center-driven electricity demand. Meanwhile, Wyoming's Republican Gov. Mark Gordon praises the Trump administration for opening 13.1 million acres of federal land to new coal leasing and infusing the industry with $625 million to revitalize Powder River Basin mines and fund carbon capture on aging facilities.
Sable Offshore proposes seeking federal permission to ship oil from a rig off California's coast to circumvent state pipeline restrictions. Vistra plans to triple the generating capacity of its natural gas plant in the Permian Basin to meet surging demand from new data centers and a growing population and oil and gas industry. In New Mexico, California developer Linea Energy proposes a 349 MW solar-plus-storage installation on ranchland north of Santa Fe. Additionally, the Bonneville Power Administration agrees to purchase all power generated at the PacWave wave-energy testing facility in Oregon.
The energy news sector is witnessing a mix of challenges and opportunities. While hydroelectric stations grapple with relicensing issues, innovative projects in solar, geothermal, and wave energy are emerging. Meanwhile, upgrades and expansions in oil and gas infrastructure, along with coal leasing boosts, indicate a complex and evolving energy landscape.
