Regulation & Policy
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Up to 58 GW faces retirement in PJM by 2030 without replacement capacity in sight: market monitor
Nearly 60% of the generation that could shutter is deemed “uneconomic,” but capacity prices and other factors could change, potentially easing the risk, the grid operator’s market monitor said.
By Ethan Howland • March 18, 2024 -
Bills aim to spur grid-enhancing technologies with shared-savings incentives from FERC
“The Advancing GETs Act will motivate grid operators and developers to bring new projects online that expand transmission capacity,” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said Wednesday.
By Ethan Howland • March 14, 2024 -
Trendline
The Energy Transition to Renewables
New laws, corporate commitments and favorable economics are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but there are multiple challenges around grid interconnections, transmission, supply chains and labor needs.
By Utility Dive staff -
3rd Circuit backs NRG, Constellation Energy, others in rejecting FERC move on PJM capacity auction
FERC allowed PJM to adopt a new rule to address anomalous high capacity prices in its latest capacity auction, but the federal appeals court said the change was illegal retroactive ratemaking.
By Ethan Howland • March 14, 2024 -
Opinion
Permitting reform budget request should push Congress to negotiate a bipartisan deal
Our domestic energy supply cannot be secured until the United States’ burdensome approval process is overhauled so that we can begin to get major energy infrastructure projects underway.
By Liam deClive-Lowe and Paolo Mastrangelo • March 14, 2024 -
Opinion
Nuclear energy finance bans prevent the world from buying American
Securing financing for commercially-oriented nuclear energy projects is critical for American suppliers to compete against adversarial state-owned entities.
By Kenneth Petersen • March 12, 2024 -
DOE’s ARPA-E faces budget cut, FERC to explore AI and other highlights from Biden’s budget
DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, the Energy Information Administration and renewables research would see budget hikes, while nuclear energy research and development spending would be cut.
By Ethan Howland • March 12, 2024 -
10 Republican-led states file lawsuit to block SEC’s climate disclosure rule
The states say the Securities and Exchange Commission exceeded its rulemaking authority in requiring public companies to disclose climate-related risks as part of their registrations and annual filings.
By Lamar Johnson • March 11, 2024 -
Opinion
Setting the record straight on Western market options: It’s not just about footprint
Instead of coercing the entire West into a single market, we should turn our attention to facilitating trade among multiple markets as a better use of our time and energy.
By Libby Calnon, Clay Fitchis, Mark Hayden, Bear Prairie, Chris Robinson and Jim Webb • March 11, 2024 -
California PUC urges FERC to reject SCE’s early cost recovery request for $1.6B in projects
Southern California Edison contends that being allowed to recover its costs while two transmission projects are being built, instead of waiting until they’re in service, will ease financial strains and customer rate shock.
By Ethan Howland • March 11, 2024 -
Conflicting views on SEC’s authority set the tone for climate disclosure rule vote
The newly passed regulation faces criticism from supporters for not going far enough and from detractors for going too far.
By Zoya Mirza , Lamar Johnson • March 8, 2024 -
Opinion
The fate of the hydrogen tax credit is now in Treasury’s hands
Where the final rules land regarding how producers qualify for the credit will dictate whether it serves as a catalyst to jump-start a nascent clean energy industry, or if it falls short of the promise of the Inflation Reduction Act.
By Zane McDonald • March 8, 2024 -
Federal lawmakers urge FERC to adopt ‘shared savings’ incentive for grid-enhancing technologies
The push at the federal level comes as grid-enhancing technology bills and projects to relieve grid congestion advance in Minnesota.
By Ethan Howland • March 8, 2024 -
Texas slows development of annual $1B performance credit mechanism designed to boost grid
Implementation will need to occur alongside efforts to operate the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market more efficiently, potentially in 2027, regulators said.
By Robert Walton • March 8, 2024 -
Opinion
Why EPA can cut carbon pollution from power plants without sacrificing grid reliability
Entities that focus on reliability have a toolkit to manage the energy transition, and EPA has incorporated key flexibilities into its GHG pollution-reduction rules to support their efforts.
By Dena Adler and Jennifer Danis • March 7, 2024 -
NRC commissioners order changes to proposed licensing rules for advanced reactors
The revisions include removing several new and potentially burdensome regulatory requirements, according to Nuclear Innovation Alliance Research Director Patrick White.
By Brian Martucci • March 6, 2024 -
SEC drops scope 3 from final climate rule, takes phased approach to scope 1 and 2 reporting
The agency said scope 3 was removed due to a large number of comments concerning compliance costs as well as the consistency and reliability of scope 3 data.
By Lamar Johnson • March 6, 2024 -
Opinion
Let’s be realistic about green hydrogen
Like any new technology, green hydrogen must meet three related challenges: production, distribution and adoption. But it faces far higher-than-advertised hurdles at every stage.
By Robin Gaster • March 6, 2024 -
Colorado PUC proposes rules for Xcel, Tri-State, Black Hills to join RTO, day-ahead markets
The proposal requires any organized wholesale market to allow Colorado utilities to maintain priority rights to their grid interconnections for resources needed to meet their loads.
By Ethan Howland • March 5, 2024 -
Opinion
Gas utility planning processes should be more like their electric utility counterparts
It is not in the best interest of captive utility customers to let long-lived gas delivery infrastructure spending go unvetted, especially if that infrastructure may no longer be fully utilized in the near future.
By Sarah Steinberg & Brad Cebulko • March 4, 2024 -
EPA pulls existing gas plants from proposed power plant carbon reduction rules
The agency plans to soon start a stakeholder process to develop greenhouse gas reduction standards for existing gas-fired power plants.
By Ethan Howland • March 4, 2024 -
FERC rejects West Virginia PSC, market monitor complaints seeking access to PJM committee
FERC Commissioner Mark Christie dissented from the decision on one complaint, saying state regulators need more power in regional transmission organizations.
By Ethan Howland • March 4, 2024 -
SEC to vote on climate disclosure rule next week
The agency will “consider whether to adopt rules to require registrants to provide certain climate-related information” at a March 6 open commission meeting.
By Zoya Mirza • March 1, 2024 -
Biden taps 3 for FERC seats amid concerns over potential lack of quorum
"A fully-seated, bipartisan FERC provides more opportunity for advancing long-lasting, sensible energy infrastructure policy,” Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., said.
By Ethan Howland • March 1, 2024 -
Nevada regulators set to approve NV Energy’s $2B IRP amendment, including new gas resources
Critics say the utility has used the integrated resource plan amendment process to advance projects with insufficient scrutiny.
By Robert Walton • March 1, 2024 -
Biden nominates 3 FERC commissioners
"A fully-seated, bipartisan FERC provides more opportunity for advancing long-lasting, sensible energy infrastructure policy,” Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., said.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 29, 2024