Wildfire

A Wood Mackenzie Business

GTM members benefits:

Unlimited access to our free news articles
Unlimited access to our free webinars, white papers, and videos
Special offers and discounts on Events and Squared
Updates on breaking news and current events

02.02.21 9

PG&E's remote-grid initiative envisions an off-grid solar, battery and generator option to remove power lines that risk sparking wildfires.

PG&E Plans Utility-Owned ‘Remote Grids’ for Isolated Communities

Replacing power lines with solar, batteries and generators could cut fire risk and save money — in some limited cases.

by Jeff St. John

01.15.21 Grid Edge 5

California regulators are directing $200 million in utility funding to build microgrids that can power communities during fire-prevention blackouts.

California Sets $200M Budget for ‘Complex, Multi-Property Microgrid’ Projects

Utility funding for community resilience against fire-prevention outages doesn’t go far enough, microgrid groups argue.

by Jeff St. John

12.30.20 Grid Edge 1

The grid edge in 2020 was driven by decarbonization and climate change pressures, and by policy and technology advances.

Greentech Media’s Must-Read Grid Edge Stories of 2020

Decarbonization, resiliency, distributed energy market policy and M&A in the year of COVID-19.

by Jeff St. John

12.10.20 Grid Edge 3

California faces tough cost, reliability and technology choices when it comes to microgrid options for fire-prevention blackouts.

California Faces Big Challenges to Microgrid Plans for Wildfires and Outages

Proposed regulations have an uphill battle to speed PG&E’s switch from mobile diesel to cleaner, more cost-effective alternatives by 2021.

by Jeff St. John

GTM Squared's annual membership is designed for energy leaders and enterprises. Professionals stay smart with Squared's intel platform that gives access to insights they want, when they want them. The membership includes:

Weekly Insights From Our Experts
Event Live Streams & Video On-Demand
GTM Event Registration Discounts
Special Reports & Surveys

Learn More

10.23.20 Grid Edge 23

Waitlisted battery projects will get some relief without tapping funds aimed at those most vulnerable to fire-prevention blackouts.

California Shifts $100M in Behind-the-Meter Battery Incentives to Low-Income Communities

The new funds are designed to boost resilience for a broader group of customers threatened by wildfires and rolling blackouts.

by Jeff St. John

09.23.20 News 110

Transportation is the largest source of California's carbon emissions.

California to Ban All Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles by 2035

A surprise announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom puts California further at odds with the Trump administration on vehicle emissions.

by Jeff St. John

07.30.20 Grid Edge 2

PG&E claims it's on track to meet its 2020 wildfire mitigation goals.

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Claims Progress on Wildfire Safety, Blackout Mitigation

Fire-prevention blackouts will be “smarter, shorter and smaller” this year, CEO Bill Smith says, as the California utility reports its first post-bankruptcy earnings.

by Jeff St. John

07.17.20 Grid Edge 3

Whether PG&E can succeed with its $59 billion restructuring plan will depend on its ability to prevent future wildfires, analysts say.

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Faces Lawsuit for Its Role in Causing the 2019 Kincade Wildfire

Weeks after exiting bankruptcy caused by massive fire liabilities, California’s biggest utility faces another wildfire lawsuit.

by Jeff St. John

06.11.20 Grid Edge 23

A debate is raging over California's budget for behind-the-meter battery incentives.

California Faces Battle Over Budgets for Backup Battery Incentives

California allocated more than $600 million to help its most vulnerable citizens install batteries. Is the policy doing more harm than good?

by Jeff St. John

06.02.20 Grid Edge 41

California will rely heavily on mobile diesel generators to keep the lights on during this year's wildfire season.

Natural Gas Microgrids Do What Solar and Batteries Alone Can’t for California Resiliency, Report Says

California utilities face resistance to deploying natural-gas generators. But the alternative may be dirtier diesel.

by Jeff St. John

05.21.20 Grid Edge 5

Smoky air over San Francisco Bay. PG&E will look for a longer-term solution to its blackout problem in 2021.

PG&E’s Plan to Mitigate Blackouts This Wildfire Season: Lots More Diesel Generators

Stymied in its attempts to build gas-backed microgrids and running out of time, the California utility will again turn to a low-tech solution.

by Jeff St. John

05.06.20 Grid Edge 6

The coronavirus pandemic has complicated PG&E's wildfire mitigation efforts.

Why California Residents Could See Even More Blackouts This Wildfire Season

Utility PG&E may need to rely more heavily on “last-resort” power outages during this year’s upcoming wildfire season.

by Jeff St. John

05.01.20 Grid Edge 7

California's wildfire season is approaching. (Credit: Wikicommons/Peter Buschmann, USDA)

California’s Plan to Equip Vulnerable Citizens With Batteries Stumbles Out of the Gate

Another wildfire season is approaching, and little progress has been made installing batteries for those most at risk from blackouts.

by Jeff St. John

04.21.20 Grid Edge 2

PG&E will face the threat of state takeover under a bankruptcy plan proposed by California regulators this week.

California Regulator Sets Terms for PG&E to Exit Bankruptcy

The ground is being laid for Pacific Gas & Electric to re-emerge from bankruptcy in June, with the threat of state takeover hanging over its head.

by Jeff St. John

03.23.20 Energy 3

Deal paves the way for PG&E to come out of bankruptcy with new oversight measures in place.

PG&E Reaches Deal With California Governor to Emerge From Bankruptcy

California utility finds compromise with Governor Gavin Newsom as the state grapples with a new crisis in COVID-19.

by Jeff St. John

03.17.20 Grid Edge 2

California has not let go of its demands for increased oversight on PG&E.

PG&E Wins Court Approval for $23B Bankruptcy Plan as Coronavirus Roils Markets

Plunging financinal markets push California Gov. Newsom to yield on his objections to PG&E’s proposed financing arrangements.

by Jeff St. John

02.18.20 Grid Edge 0

PG&E says it can meet a June deadline to emerge from bankruptcy, despite massive losses from wildfire settlements.

PG&E Reports $7.7B Loss in 2019, Pledges to Meet June Bankruptcy Deadline

The California utility absorbs $25 billion in wildfire charges and promotes plans to improve safety and fend off a state takeover.

by Jeff St. John

02.10.20 Grid Edge 2

Led by PG&E, California's utilities plan to spend billions on grid-hardening efforts. (Credit: Jeff Turner/Flickr)

California Utilities Look to Spend $10B Reducing Threat of Grid-Sparked Fires

California’s big utilities have different investment plans with the same goal: preventing fires and limiting blackouts.

by Jeff St. John

California Struggles to Find Path for Solar and Batteries to Take Place of Traditional Grid Investments

GTM Squared

California Struggles to Find Path for Solar and Batteries to Take Place of Traditional Grid Investments

Clean energy advocates want to jump-start California’s slow-moving non-wires alternative program with tariffs for distributed energy and a focus on wildfire resilience.

by Jeff St. John | February 6, 2020

02.05.20 Grid Edge 0

Bankruptcy Plan Gains Ground, But PG&E Still Facing Possibility of State Takeover

A bill proposed this week in California’s Senate could pave the way for a public takeover of PG&E.

by Jeff St. John

01.24.20 Energy 2

Newsom is demanding financial and safety guarantees from PG&E. (Gage Skidmore, Flickr/Creative Commons)

California Governor Still Opposes PG&E’s Bankruptcy Exit, Despite Bondholder Accord

PG&E is moving closer to reemerging from bankruptcy, but California’s governor is not yet sold on the details.

by Jeff St. John

01.21.20 Energy Storage 1

California has targeted $613 million in battery incentives for customers and communities most vulnerable to wildfires and blackouts.

California Finalizes Plan Shifting Key Energy Storage Incentive Toward Blackout Resilience

State to spend half a billion dollars by 2024 helping vulnerable customers install on-site batteries, a big change for the market.

by Jeff St. John

01.16.20 Grid Edge 15

Australia's electricity demand typically surges in late January, the height of bush fire season.

Australia’s Fire-Hit Grid Braces for an Even Bigger Threat

Bush fires aren’t the biggest worry for grid operators during Australia’s searing summer.

by Jason Deign

How Far Should California Shift Its Storage Incentives to Protect From Blackouts?

GTM Squared

How Far Should California Shift Its Storage Incentives to Protect From Blackouts?

Battery vendors including Sunrun and Tesla say California’s main storage incentive needs more flexibility than what regulators are currently proposing.

by Jeff St. John | January 16, 2020

3 New Year’s Resolutions for Energy Storage Providers

GTM Squared

3 New Year’s Resolutions for Energy Storage Providers

Energy storage is no panacea for the grid’s woes, but it can play a vastly larger role than it has so far. This is the year to prove it.

by Julian Spector | December 24, 2019

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

Extreme Weather Keeps Maxing Out the Grid

A Wartime Plan for Electrifying America

An Island’s Path to 100% Renewables

Greentech Media Chronicled Clean Energy Before It Was Cool

Are Batteries at a Turning Point?

Vestas Ventures Makes First Investment With Stake in Wooden Tower Start-Up

Vestas Launches World’s Largest Turbines as 'Big 3' Competition Ramps Up

BP, RWE and EnBW Win Big in UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

Wildfire

PG&E Plans Utility-Owned ‘Remote Grids’ for Isolated Communities

California Sets $200M Budget for ‘Complex, Multi-Property Microgrid’ Projects

Greentech Media’s Must-Read Grid Edge Stories of 2020

California Faces Big Challenges to Microgrid Plans for Wildfires and Outages

Looking for Fixes to What Broke the Texas Power Grid

Hawaii’s Bold Step Into Utility Performance-Based Ratemaking

Solar Will Be Cheapest Form of Electricity Across US by 2030, Plus Other PV Trends

California Shifts $100M in Behind-the-Meter Battery Incentives to Low-Income Communities

California to Ban All Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles by 2035

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Claims Progress on Wildfire Safety, Blackout Mitigation

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Faces Lawsuit for Its Role in Causing the 2019 Kincade Wildfire

California Faces Battle Over Budgets for Backup Battery Incentives

Natural Gas Microgrids Do What Solar and Batteries Alone Can’t for California Resiliency, Report Says

PG&E’s Plan to Mitigate Blackouts This Wildfire Season: Lots More Diesel Generators

Why California Residents Could See Even More Blackouts This Wildfire Season

California’s Plan to Equip Vulnerable Citizens With Batteries Stumbles Out of the Gate

California Regulator Sets Terms for PG&E to Exit Bankruptcy

PG&E Reaches Deal With California Governor to Emerge From Bankruptcy

PG&E Wins Court Approval for $23B Bankruptcy Plan as Coronavirus Roils Markets

PG&E Reports $7.7B Loss in 2019, Pledges to Meet June Bankruptcy Deadline

California Utilities Look to Spend $10B Reducing Threat of Grid-Sparked Fires

California Struggles to Find Path for Solar and Batteries to Take Place of Traditional Grid Investments

Bankruptcy Plan Gains Ground, But PG&E Still Facing Possibility of State Takeover

California Governor Still Opposes PG&E’s Bankruptcy Exit, Despite Bondholder Accord

California Finalizes Plan Shifting Key Energy Storage Incentive Toward Blackout Resilience

Australia’s Fire-Hit Grid Braces for an Even Bigger Threat

How Far Should California Shift Its Storage Incentives to Protect From Blackouts?

3 New Year’s Resolutions for Energy Storage Providers