FERC confirms Goldman Sachs ties to renewables company, opening door for push on corporate transparency

The intervenor on the Goldman Sachs application plans to use this ruling to press federal regulators into more regularly defining affiliate relationships, such as in his JPMorgan/El Paso Electric appeal.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 30, 2020

FERC's Chatterjee highlights COVID-19 demand disruptions, resource threats

The FERC chair also rejected the notion that the commission's PJM MOPR order will hurt renewables, and urged states to wait before pulling out of the RTO's capacity market.

By Larry Pearl • April 29, 2020

Maryland taking a 'serious look' at exiting PJM capacity market through FRR, says PSC Chair

The state filed a petition for review with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals this week, echoing concerns raised by Illinois, New Jersey and others that federal regulators are unfairly infringing on state clean energy policy.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 29, 2020

Duke to double renewable capacity in 5 years, but critics say utility lags on storage deployment

The utility plans to add 8,000 MW of wind, solar and biomass by 2025, but critics say the utility isn't taking sufficient advantage of energy storage and efficiency.

By Robert Walton • April 29, 2020

As extreme weather spurs billions in utility resilience spending, regulators struggle to value investments

A new study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows the value of resilience depends on too many factors to easily quantify and moves regulators back to human judgment.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2020

Bipartisan senators ask Mnuchin to extend safe harbor deadlines for renewables projects

Extending these deadlines is essential to ensure projects already in the pipeline are able to cross the finish line, say sector leaders.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 24, 2020

Duke, IPL face Indiana scrutiny as NGOs detail coal plant practices costing ratepayers millions

Duke is estimated to have lost $6.9 million in operational costs over three months last year through self-scheduling, while Indianapolis Power and Light is estimated to have lost $1.55 million from November to December.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 24, 2020

Electric grid challenges will grow if COVID-19 impacts extend into summer demand season: NERC

Deferred maintenance and refueling issues could lead to unplanned outages while increased penetration from distributed resources complicate system operations, according to a new assessment.

By Robert Walton • April 24, 2020

84 GW US renewables+storage pipeline has developers anxious for market integration rules

Utilities and developers are adding renewables plus storage hybrids so fast and cost-effectively that regulators had to schedule a conference on paired technologies. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 23, 2020

Broad array of groups sue FERC over PJM MOPR decision as Chatterjee rejects cost, renewable concerns

New Jersey, Maryland and Illinois, along with other stakeholders, have filed against federal regulators, following outrage at the commission's April 16 decision to uphold its December order.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 27, 2020

Citi pledges to stop thermal coal-mining financing by 2030 to aid shift from fossil fuels

The nation's third-largest bank has long been a green stalwart, reaching a goal to finance $100 billion of activities to address climate change four years ahead of schedule.

By Dan Ennis • April 22, 2020

California cities top air pollution list — again

The American Lung Association’s annual "State of the Air" found warmer temperatures are contributing to widespread smog and soot levels in U.S. cities.

By David Oliver • April 22, 2020

Secretive group's petition to FERC could 'end net metering as we know it,' lawyers say

The filing makes the case that any behind-the-meter, or customer-sited, energy generation is a wholesale sale, subject to FERC jurisdiction.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 21, 2020

New England grid operator, market participants divided over how to improve region's energy security

A growing reliance on gas and renewable generation has left the New England power grid vulnerable to supply losses during cold snaps.

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2020

Report: Natural gas is a loser for long-term utility shareholder value

A new report makes the case that investors need to see new natural gas infrastructure as stranded assets.

By Matthew Bandyk • April 20, 2020

The effects of coronavirus measures on electricity markets

Economic outcomes and investment decisions in the next 18 to 24 months could reshape electricity markets for decades, the authors write.

By Alex Gilbert and Morgan Bazilian • April 20, 2020

EPA rejects legal basis for MATS, drawing widespread objections, concerns over future air rule impacts

The electric power industry has already spent over $18 billion to comply with the agency's rules, and would prefer to have regulatory certainty, says a utility trade group.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 17, 2020

'Just plain garbage,' FERC's Glick says as commission largely upholds its PJM MOPR decision

FERC denied requests for rehearing on its December order, while clarifying two exceptions. It also rejected requests to review its 2019 order approving PJM’s capacity demand curve, which critics say is too high.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 16, 2020

NextEra, Vistra join array of stakeholders in asking FERC to look at carbon pricing

Industry leaders say carbon pricing could provide a more consistent federal policy across territories than the varying carbon reduction goals set by states.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 16, 2020

Legal experts, NGOs blast EPA move on air quality standards after higher pollution linked to COVID-19 deaths

The agency finalized rules Monday keeping particulate matter standards the same. "To whom does Wheeler answer when he makes life or death determinations?" one legal expert asked when the rule was proposed.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Dec. 8, 2020

Increasing renewables and DER demand new reliability approach, but California is falling short, groups say

Resource adequacy's planning reserve margin worked when supply and load were stable, but new system realities demand a more dynamic approach to protect reliability, emerging power providers and DER advocacy groups say.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 15, 2020

EPA rule change to save 4 coal plants across Pennsylvania, West Virginia

"This seems like a relatively low stakes act, in terms of the actual effect it will have on the environment," one professor noted, adding the move was likely made "to score some political points in Pennsylvania."

By Catherine Morehouse • April 14, 2020

US power sector GHGs projected to fall 7.5% in 2020 amid record drop in global emissions

Overall U.S. emissions rose slightly in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's latest numbers, released Monday, but the broader trend is still downward, according to Administrator Andrew Wheeler.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 14, 2020

Colorado cooperative reaches $136.5M agreement to exit Tri-State service

Delta-Montrose Electric Association will terminate its membership in Tri-State Generation and Transmission on June 30, as other utilities continue their efforts to follow suit.

By Robert Walton • Updated July 1, 2020

'No existing playbook': COVID-19 forcing NV Energy, NYPA and other utilities to get creative

Utilities are adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic, from deferring infrastructure projects to transitioning different positions to 'work from home,' several executives said on a panel last week.

By Matthew Bandyk • April 13, 2020