The Latest
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Deep DiveDe-energize and DERs: The tough options wildfires pose for California utilities
California IOUs’ wildfire mitigation plans will cost billions and take years, but distributed generation can give customers power during protective shutoffs.
Transmission & Distribution -
SponsoredStorage + efficiency for C&I demand management
Thermal Energy Storage (TES) adds 26% efficiency and sheds 300-500 kW for 13 hours/day in commercial & industrial facilities.
Solar & Renewables -
Supreme Court Clean Water Act case could have big impact on coal ash disposal
A case, which the High Court accepted Monday, regards whether pollution that travels through groundwater is subject to the federal law — a key issue for utilities operating coal ash facilities.
Generation -
PodcastEPS Ep. 7: Demystifying the Green New Deal with Greg Carlock
The Data for Progress research director says non-renewable resources and market-based policies can have a role in a Green New Deal — as long as they serve the aims of deep decarbonization and economic justice.
The Electric Power Show -
Maine governor ends wind moratorium as lawmakers tee up net metering return
Gov. Janet Mills, D, signed an executive order Feb. 14 terminating the moratorium issued by former GOP Gov. Paul LePage last year.
Solar & Renewables -
Iowa regulators OK significant cuts in MidAmerican efficiency spending
The Iowa Utilities Board approved a $256 million, five-year plan — less than half the amount approved for MidAmerican in 2013 — following passage of a law last year that capped utility efficiency spending.
Efficiency & Demand Response -
Developer eyes world's largest solar+storage facility for Texas
Listed in the ERCOT interconnection report, the project would combine 495 MW of solar with 495 MW of energy storage in 2021, if completed.
Generation -
FERC reasserts authority over PG&E contracts in bankruptcy court filing
PG&E may want to exit older renewable energy contracts as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, but FERC argued it must separately win approval from the agency to alter their terms.
Generation -
Ameren files $6.3B grid transformation plan with Missouri regulators
The largest line item in the proposal is a $1.9 billion investment in "smart, reliable grid operations," which covers a wide range of initiatives, including distributed solar and energy storage.
Transmission & Distribution -
TVA votes to retire Paradise, Bull Run coal units despite Trump tweet
Even if power demand increases and prices for natural gas more than double, TVA found the plants would not be competitive.
Generation -
DOE proposal to change how it sets efficiency standards creates new hurdles, advocates say
Updates to the Process Rule would give manufacturers a "carte blanche to write the rules for how efficiency is measured," according to Appliance Standards Awareness Project's Andrew deLaski.
Efficiency & Demand Response -
Senate bill targets significant savings from gas demand response amid supply challenges
The legislation, introduced by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Angus King, I-Maine, includes $10 million for pilot programs aimed at reducing market price volatility.
Generation -
PJM to ask FERC to invalidate its energy market rules after stakeholder impasse
The grid operator's controversial five-point proposal includes changes that will boost the real-time and day-ahead markets by allowing larger, less flexible units to set prices.
Generation -
Vineyard Wind submits 1,200 MW proposal to New York's 800 MW offshore wind RFP
The New York State Energy Research and Development authority received 18 bids from four companies for its inaugural offshore wind solicitation.
Transmission & Distribution -
Pennsylvania prods utility investment in charging as part of EV growth plan
If three in 10 vehicles on the roads were electric, the state could gain almost $2.8 billion in benefits, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.
Transmission & Distribution -
New England efficiency advocates raise alarm over potential capacity market changes
According to a filing by Advanced Energy Economy, the grid operator for New England is considering making changes to how energy efficiency providers measure their capacity.
Efficiency & Demand Response -
OpinionHow renewable energy providers can prepare for PG&E's bankruptcy
Providers need to be prepared to renegotiate power purchase agreements at lower rates in the near term, and to try and leverage greater rate increases in the years ahead, writes CohnReznick Capital's Jeffrey Manning.
Solar & Renewables -
Deep DiveTesla, others question storage hourly requirements, charges in FERC Order 841 compliance plans
As the comment period on FERC Order 841 compliance fillings closed, various utilities and regulators also asked to play larger roles on storage interconnection requirements.
Energy Storage -
PGE, NextEra team up for largest wind-solar-storage project in US
The 300 MW wind, 50 MW solar and 30 MW storage project "will be a model for integrating renewable generation and storage" to economically reduce emissions and maintain reliability, PGE CEO Maria Pope said.
Solar & Renewables -
Murkowski 'frustrated' by FERC impasse, pushes White House for nominees
The chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said some issues are "perhaps deadlocked right now" due to a vacancy on the commission, but said the White House has not communicated about potential nominees.
Generation -
AEP to buy Sempra Renewables for $1B, including 724 MW wind and battery assets
The acquisition follows parent-company Sempra's announcement last summer that it plans to spin off its nonutility operating renewable assets.
Generation -
New Hampshire grid mod proposal recommends 'tempered' approach to AMI
Staff of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission say they are still working on cybersecurity issues and expect to file an addendum to their recommendations, once the work is complete.
Distributed Energy -
As New York utilities file storage plans, interconnection hurdles loom
Utilities laid out "reasonable" timelines for procuring the rights to schedule and dispatch storage by 2022, but NYISO needs to address the long interconnection process, according to industry-focused coalition NY-BEST.
Transmission & Distribution -
Glick calls for 'new approach' to capacity markets in wide-ranging NARUC talk
The FERC regulator’s hour-long address contrasted with that of his colleague Commissioner Bernard McNamee, who spoke for 11 minutes and addressed no specific policy issues.
Generation -
OpinionEnergy transition: Carbon capture is clean energy, too
Slow deployment of carbon capture and storage is not a technology problem, but the result of a lack of policy mechanisms to place a value on carbon, writes Global CCS Institute head Brad Page.
Technology