Regulation & Policy
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Georgia bill would require companies to treat coal ash like municipal solid waste
The proposed legislation would impose stricter regulations on coal ash cleanup, requiring landfills holding the waste to have bottom liners and leachate collection systems.
By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 17, 2020 -
California launches rulemaking to manage transition away from natural gas
The California Public Utilities Commission will look into updating current reliability standards, as well as long-term contracting and tariff change rules.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 17, 2020 -
DOE energy efficiency thresholds will endanger appliance standards, critics say
Trump says he wants to make dishes "beautiful" again, but efficiency advocates warn his administration is gutting regulations that could save billions in energy costs by mandating efficiency improvements for dishwashers and other appliances.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 17, 2020 -
New York says new renewables financing option to reduce developers' financial risk, save $4.6B
In addition to approving a new way to fund renewable energy projects in the state, the Public Service Commission yesterday directed $2 billion in utility energy efficiency and building electrification spending.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 17, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Outlook: US renewable resources on steady course for increased deployment
"In 2020, there’s sort of a 'come on in, the water's warm' element of excitement and momentum" around renewable energy procurement, one analyst said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Indiana bill would require Trump administration blessing to retire coal early
The bill would prevent utilities from retiring plants early or otherwise decreasing operations unless explicitly directed by the federal government, not counting the Environmental Protection Agency.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 16, 2020 -
How much — and how fast — will Colorado change its utility business model?
Xcel Energy's Colorado utility cautions that implementing performance-based regulation too quickly could "jeopardize" the state's progress toward clean energy.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Early utility regulator retirement gives Wisconsin opportunity to move on third party solar impasse
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a renewable energy proponent, will have the chance to shift the state's utility regulatory body toward his agenda after Commissioner Mike Huebsch's early retirement.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
New Jersey sets high standard with passage of EV incentive bill, advocates say
In his State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy promised to unveil a comprehensive roadmap in two weeks detailing how the state would reach its goal of a 100% clean energy economy by 2050.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 15, 2020 -
OpinionAsh 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.
By Steven A. Burns is a partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources practice. • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 outlook: Natural gas faces regulatory, environmental scrutiny but still wants role in carbon-free grid
Aggressive natural gas investments in recent years may bring the sector to its tipping point. But some stakeholders say the fuel still has an important role to play in a decarbonized future.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
What would a $10 per ton carbon price mean for the Northeast?
A higher carbon price could affect manufacturing output and employment in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative states, according to a new report — especially in energy-intensive industries like cement and aluminum.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 14, 2020 -
Kansas considering securitization for aging coal plants, but caution urged
Is "securitization fever" catching on in Kansas?
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 14, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Outlook: 10 trends driving the US power sector
From utilities to states to grid operators, the energy transformation is accelerating, but significant challenges remain.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 13, 2020 -
Renewable advocates highlight 'most effective' path to net-zero emissions as House releases clean energy framework
The CLEAN Future Act is set to be introduced by House Democrats later this year.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 10, 2020 -
Trump infrastructure proposal impacts 'virtually every' federal decision on environment: DOI Secretary
Coal, gas and wind groups praised the changes to a key project permitting policy, saying environmental reviews badly need streamlining, but NGOs fear the proposal omits critical considerations and creates ambiguity.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 10, 2020 -
OpinionIllinois 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.
By Todd Maisch • Jan. 09, 2020 -
Xcel Minnesota: Running coal seasonally will save customers millions, reduce emissions
Clean energy advocates say economic and environmental savings could be replicated nationwide if utilities were to take similar steps.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 08, 2020 -
California's 2020 legislative session: The 'wild, Wild West' of bills targeting PG&E
State lawmakers say they will focus on regulating the utility's operations and reducing the impacts of its widespread public safety power shut-offs.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 08, 2020 -
Bipartisan bill aims to end Dominion's monopoly in Virginia
Dominion and other utilities oppose efforts to deregulate retail markets, saying it can increase costs, but similar bills are expected this year in Florida, Colorado and other states.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 08, 2020 -
South Carolina raises rates Dominion must pay to solar providers, reversing earlier decision
Dominion would have paid some of the lowest avoided cost rates in the country, according to clean energy groups, and the new decision is more consistent with directives under the state's Energy Freedom Act.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 07, 2020 -
OpinionFERC'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.
By Ari Peskoe • Jan. 07, 2020 -
OpinionFERC'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.
By Tony Clark • Jan. 06, 2020 -
Deep DiveMaking the case for billion-dollar investments in grid modernization by answering 3 key questions
Boston Consulting Group’s framework prioritizes the business case for grid mod investments to win stakeholder and regulator backing for billion-dollar spending.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 06, 2020 -
OpinionBlackboard 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.
By Kenneth W. Costello • Jan. 03, 2020
