Regulation & Policy
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Renewable energy developers urge PJM to drop fast-track interconnection plan
The PJM Interconnection’s proposed Reliability Resource Initiative, if approved, will be challenged at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and in court, the developers said.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Deep Dive
When TOU rates aren’t enough: BG&E, other utilities expand active managed charging for rising EV load
With over 3 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads, managed charging pilots need to be scaled before infrastructure upgrade costs start rising, analysts and utility executives agree.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Trendline
The Energy Transition to Renewables
New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.
By Utility Dive staff -
Eos Energy lands $304M DOE loan for battery plant expansion
The long-duration battery company says it has a $589 million, 2.3-GWh order backlog and $14.2 billion, 59-GWh commercial pipeline.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 3, 2024 -
Opinion
A costly lesson in supply and demand: How to address PJM’s capacity shortages
The first law of holes says that you should stop digging when you’re in one. It’s time to stop retiring dispatchable resources if we don’t want the hole we’re in to get any deeper.
By Michelle Bloodworth • Dec. 3, 2024 -
Duke pauses consideration of DOE loan program with Trump election, new Congress
Given the uncertainties around future Department of Energy lending, it makes sense to delay a review of potential benefits from the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program, Duke Energy told North Carolina regulators.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 2, 2024 -
Inflation Reduction Act changes ‘not a day 1 priority’ for Trump, Congress: Crux
Though a full repeal of the 2022 climate law is unlikely, a Republican-controlled legislature could repeal or phase out some of its individual provisions beginning next year, policy experts said.
By Brian Martucci • Dec. 2, 2024 -
ECP plan to buy 5.3 GW could drive up PJM capacity prices, Public Citizen, others tell FERC
Energy Capital Partners should disclose whether it intends to divert the plants’ output to supply data centers, according to Public Citizen, Private Equity Stakeholder Project and the Sierra Club.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 27, 2024 -
Deep Dive
EPRI, Kraken advance DER interoperability standards to boost virtual power plant deployment
“Without interoperability standards, VPPs cannot reach scalability, affordability, and reliability as soon or as efficiently as they will be needed,” said Arshad Mansoor, CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 27, 2024 -
Rivian lands conditional $6.6B loan from the Department of Energy
The funds would revive construction of the company’s electric vehicle factory in Georgia.
By Larry Avila • Nov. 27, 2024 -
2024 Elections
2024 election: US electric power sector impacts
The U.S. energy transition continues, but the shape and pace of change will be significantly impacted by the results of the federal election — for some issues more than others.
By Larry Pearl , Diana DiGangi , Robert Walton , Ethan Howland • Nov. 27, 2024 -
Largest US pension fund CalPERS over halfway to $100B climate investment goal
CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost called the energy transition “one of the biggest investment opportunities in history” and said the fund aims to “provide the capital necessary” to help build a low-carbon economy.
By Lamar Johnson • Nov. 26, 2024 -
Constellation asks FERC for PJM rules on data centers and other co-located load
In a complaint, the independent power producer contends Exelon utilities are blocking co-located projects at Constellation’s nuclear power plants in Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 26, 2024 -
Affordability, data center growth and more: 9 state utility regulators reveal their top challenges
Utility commissioners from across the U.S. say their most pressing issue is balancing affordability with the utility spending required to meet demand growth and maintain reliability.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 26, 2024 -
Opinion
FERC’s rubber-stamp approach to LNG is bad news for our economy, consumers and environment
By prioritizing LNG exports, FERC is constraining domestic gas supply, risking deepening economic inequities, exacerbating price volatility, and straining a power sector already tasked with increasing demand and struggling to keep up.
By Megan Gibson • Nov. 26, 2024 -
EPA proposes tightening NOx limits for new gas-fired power plants
The outlook for the standards — last updated in 2006 — is unclear under the incoming Trump administration.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 25, 2024 -
Opinion
Shaping the future of data centers in light of FERC’s AWS, Talen Energy ruling
The ruling shows the need for more comprehensive data center energy sourcing standards that create long-term efficiencies and investment clarity for project pipelines while protecting captive utility customers.
By Mike Granowski • Nov. 25, 2024 -
Indiana Michigan Power, Amazon, Google, others agree on large load interconnection rules
The agreement comes as the American Electric Power utility expects its peak demand to roughly double to 8 GW by 2030, driven by hyperscaler data center growth.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 25, 2024 -
FERC expands states’ role in regional transmission planning, cost allocation
“It is a … ‘Kumbaya’ moment, where there's actually remarkable agreement between what the states wanted and what a bipartisan FERC provided,” Grid Strategies’ Rob Gramlich said.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 22, 2024 -
Opinion
As the 45V hydrogen tax credit rolls out, we have a major problem to address
Despite hydrogen’s promise, one critical challenge persists: ensuring that emissions from its production are accurately measured and held to a clear, consistent standard.
By Zane McDonald • Nov. 21, 2024 -
DOE awards up to $2.2B to Gulf Coast, Midwest hydrogen hubs
Five of seven planned hubs have received final DOE approval, but industry leaders say the unfinished 45V tax credit guidance could have a significant impact on whether the hubs reach their goals.
By Emma Penrod • Nov. 21, 2024 -
IRS finalizes direct pay rules, increasing access to IRA’s clean energy tax credits
Direct-pay-eligible entities like local governments, public school districts, churches and hospitals will more easily be able to jointly invest in clean energy projects under rules released Nov. 19.
By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 20, 2024 -
Local transmission spending soars nationwide amid ‘serious absence of cost containment’
In New England, Eversource and National Grid are advancing two local projects totaling $724 million as state utility regulators push for more oversight.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 20, 2024 -
Ratepayer advocates press FERC for PJM capacity market changes, citing ‘crushing’ prices
A complaint filed on Monday comes as the PJM Interconnection is preparing to propose capacity market reforms, such as reflecting reliability must-run units in its next two auctions.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 19, 2024 -
Not just a ‘boondoggle’: State regulators, industrial companies push for cost effective transmission
Proactive planning, incentives and competitive solicitations can help control transmission costs, the Brattle Group’s Johannes Pfeifenberger said.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 19, 2024 -
2024 Elections
Trump picks oil services CEO Chris Wright to lead Energy Department, alarming climate groups
Wright, the CEO of Liberty Energy and a donor to Trump’s campaign, said in 2023 that there is no climate crisis or ongoing energy transition.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 18, 2024