Regulation & Policy: Page 2
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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 -
PG&E rate case compromise cuts $1.1B proposal to $575M for wildfire mitigation
The utility was able to reach a deal with ratepayer and safety advocates, ending with a proposal that shaves almost half a billion dollars off its original application.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 02, 2020 -
EPA makes Georgia 2nd state to operate coal ash program, proposes 'efficient' rule for other 48
Both moves are part of EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler's broader goal to give states more "flexibility" in their management of coal ash disposal.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 23, 2019 -
Opinion2020 Vision: A trio of trends that will drive the utility business in the year ahead — and beyond
Decarbonization, battery storage and appealing to a younger workforce will all be major themes in 2020, SAP predicts.
By James Eardley • Dec. 23, 2019 -
DOE finalizes rejection of Obama lightbulb efficiency standards, but excludes LEDs from analysis
Environmental groups say the Trump administration is imposing billions of dollars in costs on consumers in the form of higher electricity bills.
By Matthew Bandyk • Dec. 23, 2019 -
FERC move to raise PJM capacity market bids shows 'clear bias' against new, clean generation: Glick
The order will raise the floor price for new generation bidding into PJM Interconnection that receives any form of state subsidy.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 20, 2019 -
Virginia, Maryland unveil 100% clean energy plans, but NGOs not satisfied
The separate legislative efforts announced this week face criticisms from clean energy groups of being insufficient to facilitate a clean energy transition.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 20, 2019 -
PG&E CEO promises 'shorter, fewer' shut-offs continuing for the next 5 years
The utility's bankruptcy will not jeopardize California's clean energy goals or increase costs for customers, PG&E President and CEO Bill Johnson told lawmakers.
By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 20, 2019 -
Deep DiveTax credit, net metering declines strike distributed solar, but falling costs, storage offer new hope
With tax credits and net metering threatened, previous withdrawals of financial support mechanisms show what the distributed solar industry may soon face.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 19, 2019 -
Goldman Sachs bolsters climate policy with $750B goal, fossil-fuel restrictions
The company pledged to stop financing new coal-fired power plants in developing nations, unless they have carbon capture and storage or another form of technology to reduce emissions.
By Dan Ennis • Dec. 18, 2019 -
Transportation Climate Initiative releases controversial draft plan to cut emissions
Eleven Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia, which comprise the initiative, outlined a proposed framework to cut transport pollution, responsible for 40% of the region's greenhouse gas emissions.
By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 18, 2019 -
Colorado sets initial timelines for performance-based regulation review as it looks to other states
The state's Public Utilities Commission launched the proceeding earlier this month, with comments on what lessons can be learned from similar reviews in other states, along with other input, due Jan. 10.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 18, 2019 -
OpinionFor a smart transition to 100% clean energy: Renewables, storage and, in some cases, new gas
Just because we can't achieve a perfectly zero-carbon grid with renewables and short-duration storage doesn't mean we shouldn't aim to achieve a nearly zero-carbon grid.
By Arne Olson and Dan Mullen • Dec. 18, 2019 -
Judge approves PG&E wildfire settlements, bringing utility closer to exiting bankruptcy
The settlements resolve two crucial components of PG&E's bankruptcy — its liabilities to committees representing wildfire victims and insurance companies.
By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 18, 2019
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