Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive
FERC takes steps to modernize PURPA, but will it do more harm than good?
Proposed changes to the funding mechanics for Qualified Facilities under the law could negate or reverse the cost reductions the renewable energy sector has benefited from in the past few years.
Tanya M. Larrabee • Feb. 25, 2020 -
Cap coal ash in place? Duke and others have learned better
Forward-thinking utilities recognize that their communities and increasingly-stringent standards require more than leaving coal ash in polluting pits and have moved their coal ash to dry lined storage, the author writes.
Frank Holleman • Feb. 24, 2020 -
Duke's $10B coal ash cleanup breaks precedents and could cost North Carolinians much more
What is happening with Duke Energy in North Carolina is a major shift in the way the utility industry has been regulated and overseen for the last several decades.
Stan Wise • Feb. 24, 2020 -
Utilities vs. grid edge upstarts: Turf battles in an increasingly DER-centric world
Utilities believe they are best positioned to manage the grid if they own and control the data directly, without intermediaries, but Tesla, SunRun and others want to collect and manage the data for their own platform benefits.
Dan Goldman • Feb. 21, 2020 -
Breaking rooftop solar's distortions: SMUD readies community program for California building mandate
"Contrary to assertions by the rooftop solar industry that we do not support solar, all Neighborhood SolarShares does is offer a choice to home builders," writes Sacramento Municipal Utility District CEO Arlen Orchard.
Arlen Orchard • Feb. 19, 2020 -
Green Charge Networks
Beating China at the lithium game — can the US secure supplies to meet its renewables targets?
To meet its renewables targets, the U.S. needs to secure lithium supplies or find a different way to compete with Beijing’s mining and manufacturing prowess, the author writes.
Teague Egan • Feb. 18, 2020 -
Why DTE Energy gets failing grades on its 15-year energy plan
Advocacy groups gave the utility an "F" for ensuring equitable access to clean energy benefits, according to Vote Solar's Midwest director.
John Delurey • Feb. 13, 2020 -
Erring on the side of trampling on states' rights
Lately, when given the choice between co-existing with state authorities and simply steamrolling those authorities, FERC has consistently pursued the latter, the author writes.
Jessica Bell • Feb. 10, 2020 -
U.S. Senate, Virginia Senate, Wikipedia
To tackle climate change, it's all hands on deck in Virginia
In the absence of leadership from the White House, communities, businesses, advocacy organizations and elected officials at every level need to commit to ambitious action right now, three Democrat politicians in Virginia write.
Donald McEachin, Jennifer McClellan and Levar Stoney • Feb. 06, 2020 -
Who's afraid of 100%?
A lower-cost outcome is more likely if we commit to a 100% rather than just 80% carbon-free electricity sector as that will provide additional certainty for innovations and cost reductions, the Brattle Group's Jurgen Weiss writes.
Jurgen Weiss • Feb. 06, 2020 -
Retaining outmoded monopolies and coal plants keeps Indiana in the Dark Ages
Policies like HB 1414 could force the state's residents to pay for outmoded power plants and stick the cost of the energy transition on captive customers, rather than letting markets work, the author writes.
Devin Hartman • Feb. 03, 2020 -
At a crossroads: The connected future of EVs, solar, energy storage and software
The need for partnership across industries is increasing as the EV market continues to expand and challenge a static electric grid, driving industry forward to a clean, connected future, the authors write.
Wes Doane and Lior Handelsman • Jan. 31, 2020 -
Getty
Forward Clean Energy Markets: A new solution to state-RTO conflicts
The Brattle Group has developed a new concept to competitively procure clean energy commitments in a technology-neutral fashion and complement other wholesale power market products, including capacity.
Sam Newell, Kathleen Spees and Johannes Pfeifenberger • Jan. 27, 2020 -
Getty
The Iranian cybersecurity threat is a good reminder for the energy sector to embrace a prevention mindset
Because threats can now come from anywhere, any piece of connected technology must be treated as potentially malicious — this is the essence of a "Zero Trust" prevention-first mentality, the author writes.
Benny Czarny • Jan. 27, 2020 -
When states pick expensive policies under the guise of 'states' rights,' consumers pay
The inconsistency between state choices and wholesale power markets has reached a boiling point, and it's time someone closed the lid, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.
Todd A. Snitchler • Jan. 23, 2020 -
A path forward for New England to a low-carbon future: Why a capacity market still matters
Significant work remains to integrate state decarbonization policies into the ISO New England and its wholesale markets, the author writes.
Dan Dolan • Jan. 22, 2020 -
Fotolia
FERC gets around: PJM super MOPR — an around-market solution for the around-market solutions
FERC's PJM decision is not an attack on clean energy. It is an indictment of a regulatory construct that is crumbling, write the authors.
Raymond L. Gifford and Matthew S. Larson • Jan. 21, 2020 -
Ash ponds: Keep calm and close in place
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to closing coal ash ponds, the author writes, cautioning against jumping to preordained conclusions on how to address the coal generation byproduct.
Steven A. Burns is a partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources practice. • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Will deep decarbonization include nuclear? Possibly, with many caveats
Nuclear has a potential role in a low carbon future only if it is guaranteed to deliver electricity at a levelized cost under $0.076/kWh, the author writes.
Levin Nock • Jan. 14, 2020 -
Illinois Chamber: Clean Energy Jobs Act will inflict billions in increased costs on ratepayers
The business trade group is concerned with the bill's proposal to prioritize the use of Exelon's nuclear plants to meet Illinois' capacity needs, saying it will secure Exelon's financial future at the expense of ratepayers' electricity bills.
Todd Maisch • Jan. 09, 2020 -
Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive
FERC's clean energy boycott distorts PJM prices and discards history
The new rules approved for PJM's capacity auction will force the grid operator to buy more capacity than it needs to keep the lights on, according to Harvard energy lawyer Ari Peskoe.
Ari Peskoe • Jan. 07, 2020 -
FERC's ROE conundrum: Finding the right number is harder than it looks
FERC's shift in return on equity methodology for transmission projects is counterintuitive — greater need, but lower authorized returns. This seems like a significant policy misalignment, writes former Commissioner Tony Clark.
Tony Clark • Jan. 06, 2020 -
Blackboard economics and a carbon tax
Adaptation is more effective, less costly and a more practical solution than trying to achieve a targeted temperature change for which we will almost surely fall short, the author writes.
Kenneth W. Costello • Jan. 03, 2020 -
2020 Vision: A trio of trends that will drive the utility business in the year ahead — and beyond
Decarbonization, battery storage and appealing to a younger workforce will all be major themes in 2020, SAP predicts.
James Eardley • Dec. 23, 2019 -
New York vs. ExxonMobil ruling shows natural gas development, not litigation, key for climate solutions
With demand for power expected to boom by over 50%, more natural gas is a common sense approach to fighting global temperature rise, writes former Ambassador Richard D. Kauzlarich.
Richard D. Kauzlarich • Dec. 20, 2019
