Stephen Ernst

Reporting from the intersection of the environment and the economy in the Pacific Northwest.

[Travis Kavulla @TKavulla]

Conversations about a permitting/grid omnibus are heating up, and I have a modest contribution: The United States has hundreds of thousands of battery storage systems and backup generators on the electric distribution system. They could add GWs of capacity immediately, but they are reserved for private use and basically invisible to grid planners. Already installed and operational, they should be configured in the market.

FERC Order 2222 was supposed to fix this problem. The first PJM auction where these resources will be allowed to participate is for the 2028/29 capacity season – 8 years after 2222. (DYK? That’s how FERC orders work: you add up the digits and that’s their implementation timeline! Kidding!!)

The underwhelming implementation of Ord 2222 was a result of RTO rules that create a vague landscape of metering/telemetry rules, “double counting” prohibitions where the burden is on customers to explain how a utility isn’t otherwise compensating them, and other arcane hang-ups that, while well intentioned, has basically created a dead letter for an otherwise promising reform.

At the same time, demand for home batteries and backup power is soaring. Many localities have not kept pace. It isn’t unlike the permitting regime that greeted the telecom revolution, where every community had its own bespoke view of what 4G permitting should look like. That didn’t work, and that’s why Congress passed laws like the ’96 Telecomm Act, which has become an emblem of cooperative federalism.

As Congress is considering a permitting reform, it should consider the twin issues of market access and local barriers on storage and backup power generation permitting. It’s great to see that these items are possibly in the hopper for consideration!

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

FERC Accepts SPP Tariff for High-Impact Load Service https://t.co/BZ6DZSyPKA

[California Energy Markets @CEMnewsdata]

FERC Accepts SPP Tariff for High-Impact Load Service https://t.co/4rDK1iOCTD

[Tommy Beer @TommyBeer]

The spirit, energy and vitality of NYC has developed into a main character during the Knicks' storybook run.

Fans have brought it to every road game. Atlanta, then Philadelphia and Cleveland, and finally to San Antonio.

Yet, the area in/around MSG has been the visceral epicenter of that enthusiasm, the primary power source, the beating heart of this magical playoff run.

Which is why it's so frustrating that, on the night die-hard Knicks fans have waited decades for, that space will be locked down and stripped of the very energy that made it special in the first place… all to accommodate one man.

[Tim Latimer @TimMLatimer]

Fantastic news to see the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act pass the House with broad bipartisan support.

This is the kind of smart policy that will rapidly accelerate deployment in the geothermal sector.
https://t.co/txQ6Wrh5Zw

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

NERC: Solid Summer Reliability Outlook for California and Southwest, but Elevated Risk in Northwest https://t.co/plTWra64aL

[Stephen Ernst @stephenernst1]

@gbellseattle @USCG Congrats! That's awesome!!!

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

Denver Joins Growing List of Municipalities Putting Moratoriums on Data Centers https://t.co/U3JZXrwMMS

[206 Athletics @206Hoops]

Anyone who thinks Howard Schultz has changed in the last 20 years, since he sold out the Sonics to OKC at age 52, and now he truly has the best interest of the city in mind over his own self interests, is a damn fool.

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

NorthWestern Energy, Black Hills Corp. Merger Hearing Kicks Off   https://t.co/LCIE3sKUc4

[206 Athletics @206Hoops]

@WSJopinion @HowardSchultz Fuck Howard Schultz.

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

Oregon Regulators Approve PGE Data Center Rate Framework https://t.co/yHqbmXHvsb

[Lex Vaughn @AlexaVaughn]

YIKES: The Seattle Times rejected a union request to not replace workers with AI saying "Journalism doesn't mean journalists." https://t.co/5vNVHzRCjY

[Mark Z. Jacobson @mzjacobson]

Two more records set on the @CaliforniaISO grid on Mon, May 3, 2026:

Minimum net load -7.871 GW at 1:20 PM
Maximum wind output 7.707 GW at 12:45 AM (Tues morn) due to wind from SunZia project, which is part of the CAISO grid

WWS met a peak of 156.5% of demand and met >100% of demand for 9.75 hours.

WWS also met 78.8% of 24-hour demand.

Gas down 61.1%, solar up 61%, batteries up 325% in 2026 vs 2023.

33rd straight and 99 of 123 days in 2026 with WWS meeting > 100% of demand for part of the day.

[Maine @TheMaineWonk]

Here is 2 minutes of Donald Trump on the 2024 campaign trail pledging to lower your energy and electric bills by 50% within 12 months of taking office.

Can we get an update on this from MAGA?

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

DOE Narrows Candidates for Next BPA Administrator https://t.co/d0aU3z9ZDx

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

Furrer Named Acting Administrator of BPA https://t.co/dj0VOVgy7D

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

Credit Rating Agency Revises BPA Outlook to Negative but Affirms AA- Rating on Recently Issued Debt https://t.co/utUrhvCncb

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

Court Blocks Administration Order That Required Burgum Review of Wind, Solar Projects https://t.co/b8TeTXY289

[Clearing Up @CUnewsdata]

Idaho Appeals CRSO Injunction; PPC Supports Stay Pending Appeal https://t.co/grVLbVSB8v