Reimagining Our New Energy Future

Connecting you to the big ideas that will modernize our grid, infrastructure and cities

Author

InnovationForce
July 02, 2025

IN THIS EDITION

July is heating up with energy industry reactions to the AI data center race and the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBA). ICYMI, learn more about Eversource’s ambitious $16.2B Grid Modernization plan, be the first to review the unanimously approved $1.9B wildfire mitigation plan in Colorado. Plus, as an added bonus, we spotlight 2 RFPs from NYSERDA that will make grids and buildings in New York smarter.

THE HEADLINES

Newsweek: “Could the Big Beautiful Bill cancel clean energy?”

JULY 1: According to peer reviewed research from Energy Innovations LLC and Wellesley College that was reported in Newsweek, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) would cut GDP $1.1 trillion, add $170 billion to household energy bills and cut hundreds of jobs. If you’d like to get access to this research, click below to learn more.

AXIOS: “Trump's clean-energy grenade rattles high-tech industries”

JULY 1: What could happen to the need to bring datacenters online in the global race to develop AI? AXIOS shares insights from energy industry pundits who think the OBBA could poses a risk to the U.S.’s ability to compete globally. Are they right? You can make the call!

Reuters: July is heating up with an AI data center race

We are watching a number of articles from Reuters on the AI data center race. While pundits debate the impact of OBBA, Meta seeks $29B in funding and President Trump wants to call July 21, “AI Action Day” - get caught up on why we think the AI data centers debate is about to heat up even more so in July. This month we’ll dive in deeper to uncover why it matters to the energy industry.

GRID MODERNIZATION PLAN

$16.2B Grid Modernization Plan: Eversource Electric Sector Modernization Plan

The 10-year plan helps achieve the Commonwealth’s decarbonization milestones through 2040 by achieving a 180% increase in electrification hosting capacity, which will provide additional capacity to enable 2.5 million electric vehicles statewide, 1 million residential heat pumps, and an incremental 2.2 GW of additional solar hosting capacity, which brings the total distributed energy resource (DER) hosting capacity systemwide to 5.8 GW.

EVERSOURCE Challenge Spotlight: Addressing Thermal Overload in Distribution Equipment

The challenge is a response to an increase in observed thermal overloads that exceed the ratings of existing distribution equipment, primarily due to the influx of ground mounted DERs. This situation necessitates either upgrading the current equipment or adding new substation equipment and feeders. The upgrades are essential to accommodate the projected growth in DER and to meet electrification goals set for 2050. 

Solution Match: Edge Zero 

The Distribution Transformer Monitoring solution by Edge Zero provides real-time monitoring at the transformer level, which is crucial for understanding and managing the thermal overload issues caused by DER integration. By delivering granular, real-time data on voltage, current, and power quality, it allows utilities to effectively manage load distribution and prevent overloads, supporting VVO schemes for voltage regulation. This ensures enhanced reliability and safety of the distribution network, accommodating both current and future DER growth. 

WEATHER AND CLIMATE NEWS

JUNE 6: $2B XCEL WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED IN COLORADO

The updated WMP addresses Xcel Energy’s full suite of mitigation activities and investments, such as targeted equipment inspections, repairs, and replacements; expanded vegetation management; system protection enhancements; weather and wind modeling; and community and stakeholder outreach. The updated plan covers proposed spending for the 2025-2027 period totaling approximately $1.9 billion. 

Solution Spotlight: Gridwrap Wildfire Armor for Utility Poles

As global temperatures rise and drought conditions worsen, wildfires have become more intense, frequent, and destructive. Utility infrastructure — particularly overhead distribution and transmission lines — has been a known source of ignition in many large-scale wildfires. Aging wooden poles are especially vulnerable, and existing wildfire mitigation strategies, such as vegetation management or undergrounding, are either too costly, difficult to scale, or ineffective during extreme weather. Utilities urgently need practical, cost-efficient tools to harden infrastructure and reduce ignition risk, especially in high-risk zones. 

BullWrap® is a fire-resistant composite wrap designed to serve as both an ignition barrier and structural reinforcement system for utility poles.

The product has been validated through accelerated aging and fire testing, including third-party assessments by Western Fire Center and NIAR. BullWrap® is commercially available TODAY and meets the ENA pole fire resistance standards. 

RFPS

$12 million in funds from NYSERDA for Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) - Deadline July 15

This Program Opportunity Notice (PON) seeks technologies to improve the performance and validate value propositions for the electric power delivery system as it evolves with increasing renewable penetration. The projects also help establish a pathway for products and services to gain market entry by addressing existing technical and economic barriers. This PON will focus on research studies, product development, and demonstration projects that improve the resiliency, reliability and overall performance of the power grid in support of achieving New York State’s goals from the Climate Act. The technology topic areas that are targeted in this PON were chosen in collaboration with the Advanced Technology Working Group (ATWG). More can be found on the ATWG through the Department of Public Service (DPS) Case 20-E-0197, Order on Transmission Planning Pursuant to the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act.

Buildings of Excellence: NYSERDA RFP 3928 - D

The Buildings of Excellence Early Design Support Request for Proposal (the “EDS RFP”) seeks Proposals for qualified design firms that will provide early-stage design support for new construction, adaptive reuse, and gut rehabilitation multifamily projects that will be clean and resilient, beautiful, and functional, and will provide healthy, safe, comfortable, and resilient living spaces for their occupants. Funding through the EDS RFP may be made available to projects that will achieve carbon neutral performance and will also be profitable for their developers and owners and demonstrate realistic cost reductions in the design and construction phases.

SMART BUILDINGS, CITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE

Solution Spotlight: BuildingLens

According to BuildingLens, 95% of buildings in the US are under 100,000 sq ft and lack advanced building automation tools, resulting in $33B wasted annually in utility costs, 360 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, and 1.6 million deaths per year from indoor air pollution. 

Founder and CEO David Burchfield dropped in on an episode of “Piloting the Future” to share more about how the BuildingLens platform provides advanced air quality management and data-driven energy optimization tailored specifically for small and mid-sized buildings through real-time analytics, predictive algorithms, and seamless system integration. BuildingLens sees every building as a VPP opportunity.

THE LAST WORD

Piloting the Future: Episode “Innovate or Die” with Portland General Electric 

The last word goes to Larry Bekkedahl, SVP of Advanced Energy Delivery at Portland General Electric who joined InnovationForce and Lee Krevat on Energy Central’s new “Piloting the Future” podcast. If you are an innovator, an innovation manager or just trying to figure out how to innovate in today’s new energy reality, give it a listen!

❝

“If you’re not innovating, you’re dying”

– Larry Bekkedahl, SVP Advanced Energy Delivery, Portland General Electric