Regulation & Policy: Page 112
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Montana approves bill to allow utility power sales to EV charging stations
The bill headed to Gov. Steve Bullock also determines the EV charging companies are not public utilities and directs regulators to set rates for EV charging.
By Robert Walton • April 11, 2019 -
California utilities support centralized renewables procurement proposal, but urge caution
A California Administrative Law Judge issued the proposal in March after concluding that integrated resource plans filed by utilities and community choice aggregators would not reliably meet the state’s climate goals.
By Robert Walton • April 10, 2019 -
Explore the Trendline➔
adamkaz via Getty Images
TrendlineThe Energy Transition to Renewables
Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
Maryland 50% RPS bill doubles offshore wind target, expands solar-carve out
The measure passed Monday by state legislators also allows waste-to-energy facilities to qualify for the renewable portfolio standard.
By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 22, 2019 -
New Jersey governor unveils portal to enhance state’s offshore wind supply chain
As the state works to add 3,500 MW of offshore wind by 2030, Gov. Phil Murphy announced a free online registry to connect investors in offshore wind projects with New Jersey-based partners and suppliers.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 10, 2019 -
Opinion
100% clean electricity in Washington state: Achievable, affordable and reliable
The policy gained strong support in 2018, with strong stakeholder engagement setting up multiple checks and balances that will help decarbonize Washington’s electricity sector while maintaining low electricity prices.
By Adam Maxwell • April 10, 2019 -
DOE calls for large Puerto Rico gas plant as island targets 100% renewables
A gas generator 1.2 GW or larger would “greatly enhance” reliability and resilience, a senior agency official told lawmakers, but “could be at odds” with Puerto Rico’s recently passed 100% renewables goal.
By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2019 -
Montana reviews controversial coal-saving bill, passes community transition actions
The “Save Colstrip” legislation is expected to reach the House floor in the coming weeks, as the governor considers three more coal-related bills.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated April 9, 2019 -
‘No chance’ on making Duke absorb coal ash costs, North Carolina GOP says
A new bill to prohibit cost recovery from ratepayers follows a PUC ruling last week that Duke must fully excavate all its coal ash ponds, estimated by the utility to add $4-5 billion to the already $5.6 billion clean up.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 9, 2019 -
Minnesota advances on performance-based rates, asks what metrics to consider
State regulators opened a public comment period last week on what data points must be measured in order to evaluate utility performance — the first step in linking those outcomes to utility rates.
By Robert Walton • April 9, 2019 -
Opinion
Grid modernization is the best new deal
A Grid Modernization Act could accomplish many of the Green New Deal’s goals by improving public health, creating jobs, spurring innovation, strengthening national security and making our communities more resilient.
By Hon. Dennis McGinn and Roger Sorkin • April 9, 2019 -
Ohio GOP lines up bill to save FirstEnergy nuclear plants
Draft language released last week would create an “Ohio clean air fund” that would direct $300 million in annual customer payments to the Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants.
By Gavin Bade • April 8, 2019 -
Montana Supreme Court upholds ruling that PSC intentionally set PURPA rates to kill solar projects
Solar developers sued state regulators and NorthWestern Energy after a commissioner was caught on tape admitting that cuts to compensation rates were likely deep enough to kill small solar projects.
By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Aug. 25, 2020 -
New Mexico efficiency bill ensures utilities don’t take hit from lower energy use
The bill, signed into law Thursday, also boosts energy efficiency funding 67% and is expected to save customers $500 million over the next decade.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 5, 2019 -
Bankruptcy judge turns back FirstEnergy reorganization plan
The company’s deal with creditors would have shielded it from cleanup costs at 8 GW of retiring coal and nuclear plants, but the judge called it “patently unconfirmable.”
By Gavin Bade • April 5, 2019 -
House Democrats roll out energy storage tax credit while pushing broader clean energy incentives
Amid a broad policy push for climate action and decarbonization, more than 100 House Democrats are pushing near-term action to boost the deployment of renewables and battery storage.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 5, 2019 -
Indiana GOP advances coal rescue bill that would pause utility plant builds
House Republicans in the state are taking a novel approach to keeping coal plants online — preventing investment in their competitors.
By Gavin Bade • April 5, 2019 -
States can grow battery resources with ‘one simple step,’ report finds
Citing Massachusetts as an example, Clean Energy Group recommends states redefine energy efficiency to include peak demand reduction, which could spur energy storage via access to additional incentives.
By Robert Walton • April 5, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Floating solar offers unique bargains — U.S. utilities are missing out
Siting photovoltaics on water is proving reliable worldwide, and the PVs could meet almost 10% of U.S. electricity needs at market-competitive costs, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 4, 2019 -
As Maine re-ups net metering, fight over solar tariffs brews in Connecticut
Connecticut last year quietly passed a law to end net metering and lawmakers are now struggling to find answers for the future of solar.
By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 4, 2019 -
Watchdog raises concerns over Duke’s request to recover $137M for cybersecurity upgrades
After paying a record-breaking $10 million fine in January for cybersecurity violations, the utility asked federal regulators to recover their investments in system upgrades from their rate base.
By HJ Mai • April 3, 2019 -
FERC asks grid operators for more detail on storage participation
Federal regulators on April 1 asked RTOs and ISOs to beef up their compliance filings for Order 841 after the energy storage sector raised concerns with their original proposals.
By Gavin Bade • April 3, 2019 -
Federal judge blocks potential path to viability for 2.3 GW Navajo coal plant
Coal producer Peabody Energy, the Hopi Tribe and labor union United Mine Workers of America tried to add legal pressure onto the Central Arizona Project to ensure the coal-fired plant had a large buyer for its output.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 3, 2019 -
Duke: North Carolina coal ash pond excavation order to cost up to $5B
Eight of 14 sites had been slated for excavation at a cost of $5.6 billion, but the fate of the remaining sites was unknown until Monday, when regulators ordered the final six sites excavate all their ponds.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 2, 2019 -
Duke proposes adding nearly 2.5K EV chargers in North Carolina
Depending how quickly state regulators act, the $76 million program could be operational as soon as Q3, according to Duke Energy’s director of electrification strategy, Lang Reynolds.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 2, 2019 -
Maryland passes energy storage pilot program to determine future regulatory framework
The bill applies only to Maryland’s four investor-owned utilities: Potomac Edison; Baltimore Gas and Electric; Delmarva Power and Light; and Potomac Electric Power.
By HJ Mai • April 2, 2019
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