– NCCETC released Q1 2024 edition of 50 States of Power Decarbonization
– States took 507 actions related to electric power decarbonization and resource planning
– Trends in Q1 2024 include utility load growth concerns, new hurdles for coal plant retirement, and uncertain futures for carbon pricing programs.
The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) recently released the Q1 2024 edition of the 50 States of Power Decarbonization, a quarterly series that provides updates on state and utility actions related to clean energy targets, emission reduction goals, and carbon policies. The report found that 48 states, as well as DC and Puerto Rico, took a total of 507 actions related to electric power decarbonization and resource planning during the quarter.
Among the key findings of the Q1 2024 report were planned capacity additions of 84,212 MW for solar, 64,846 MW for wind, 52,689 MW for storage, and 31,330 MW for natural gas, with planned coal retirements totaling 29,807 MW. The report also highlighted three trends in power decarbonization actions, including forecasts of significant load growth in utility integrated resource plans, new hurdles for coal plant retirement imposed by state lawmakers, and uncertain futures for carbon pricing programs.
The top five policy developments of Q1 2024, as noted in the report, included Arizona regulators voting to repeal the state’s renewable energy standard, Kentucky and Utah lawmakers restricting fossil fuel plant retirement, Washington legislators supporting a linkage of the state’s carbon market to the California-Quebec market, the Colorado Energy Office releasing a new greenhouse gas pollution reduction roadmap, and Duke Energy filing a revised carbon plan integrated resource plan in the Carolinas in response to significant changes in load forecasts.