Energy

In a recent exclusive webinar led by Tyson Eckerle, Senior Advisor for Clean Infrastructure and Mobility at the California Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development, participants gained valuable insights into the future of California's hydrogen landscape. Hosted by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California, Eckerle delved into the innovative California Hydrogen Hub initiative, which aims to utilize clean, renewable hydrogen to transform transportation, energy, and industrial sectors. Discover the strategic partnerships propelling this initiative forward and explore the roadmap for establishing a sustainable, statewide hydrogen market ecosystem. Don't miss this opportunity to uncover the potential of hydrogen in decarbonizing our economy and shaping a greener future for generations to come.

Over the years, the state of California has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of clean energy initiatives, recognizing the potential of hydrogen as a key player in the sustainable energy landscape. Now, as the ARCHES project has emerged as a cornerstone of California's hydrogen strategy, underwritten by up to $1.2 billion in federal funding, California aims to accelerate the development of its hydrogen hubs, creating a robust ecosystem that aligns with its vision for a sustainable energy market. In a presentation during a Japan-California hydrogen webinar, GO-Biz’ Tyson Eckerle outlines how the state aims to establish a statewide hydrogen market by 2030. Eckerle highlights reduced emissions, substantial health cost savings, and the creation of over 220,000 jobs.

In early February, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California hosted a Japan-California Hydrogen online Webinar. This event’s aim was to connect California organizations with the Japanese government and Japanese companies working in the hydrogen space. Presentations focused on the California Hydrogen Hub project and included remarks by key stakeholders in California and presentations by the Japanese government and Japanese companies in the field. VX News here shares a transcript of the remarks of Dr. Jimmy Chen, Managing Director, SECA - Stanford Energy Corporate Affiliates, Precourt Institute for Energy initiatives.

VX News shares, with permission, this opinion piece written by Liam Denning for Bloomberg which highlights the the dilemma faced by gas utilities, as their profits traditionally relied on expanding demand, which is now plateauing, especially outside the power sector. Denning suggests that the industry needs to undergo a fundamental shift in its business model, moving from being pipeline builders to becoming energy system insurance providers.

In Mid November at CoMotion LA, Michael Galvin of the Port of LA and Elise Zoli of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati shared valuable insights into the promise and significance of the seven newly funded hydrogen hubs. What follows is a transcript of the dialogue between Moderator John Rossant and the two panelists. The panel not only highlights the National Hydrogen Hubs awards goals', but also touches upon: the quest for zero-emission alternatives to battery electric, port decarbonization, the challenge of scaling demand, and the need for a consistent regulatory framework.

VX News, to inform our readers, spoke with Ted Bardacke, CEO of Clean Power Alliance, on the role that CCAs (Community Choice Aggregates) are playing in successfully bringing renewables to everyday power users and the regulatory decisions framing how consumers are being offered both greater choice re how their needs are met and more affordable electric rates. Bardacke also elaborates on CPA’s recent deal with SunZia, a massive wind farm project in New Mexico that will bring 3000 megawatts of wind energy to California; and, why the state should not abandon efforts to unify the power grids of the Western States.

This year’s LABC Sustainability Summit took place at USC on September 22nd, bringing together both local and national industry and political leaders to discuss what's being done and what should be done to bring us closer to a sustainable future. One panel, moderated by Mary Nichols, Director of the Climate Group, featured a discussion with Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, Gene Seroka, addressing what's happening with sustainability at the Port of LA. VX News presents here a transcribed excerpt from this panel.

Following the announcement that California had been awarded 1.2 billion dollars in grant funding for hydrogen, Mayor Bass, members of the Los Angeles City Council, and POLA, hosted a conference at the Port of Los Angeles to celebrate and voice their intentions towards utilizing the grant to create a hydrogen hub, a major step forward for the region in terms of reaching zero emissions goals. The grant will help LADWP create one single platform where distributed energy resources like Electric Vehicles (EVs) and EV chargers, energy storage, solar photovoltaic systems (PV), and demand response infrastructure can be controlled, in response to grid needs. Doing so will enable LADWP to quickly rebalance the electrical system after an extreme climate event like wildfires, heatwaves or tropical storms. VX News brings you the complete transcript from the announcement, featuring comments from the Mayor, Gene Seroka, Councilmember Tim McOsker, Nancy Sutley, and Aram Benyamin.

VerdeXchange News recently interviewed Jon Rawding, the CEO of Euro Mechanical - an Emirati company that for more than four decades has supported the growth of Abu Dhabi’s energy sector - to better understand the continuing evolution of UAE’s energy goals and investments. Rawding confirms not only continued investment by UAE in oil and gas growth, but also their conscious evolution to investment in renewables. Rawding explains the aforementioned is all taking place in the UAE through ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, as the result of the sovereign’s leadership commitment to generational pragmatism in a time of worldwide climate existentialism.

In April of the year, the EU adopted reforms and new targets for its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to expand the scope of the market-based program that is central to the EU’s decarbonization strategy and update targets aimed at achieving 62% reductions in carbon emissions by 2030. VX presents this timely point/counterpoint on emissions trading as a ‘tool in the toolbox’ for incentivizing carbon emissions reduction.