Regulation & Policy: Page 22


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    FERC calls SPP Western market proposal ‘deficient,’ requests more info

    Southwest Power Pool is developing a response to questions about its Western day-ahead electricity market, including rules around transmission capacity availability and resource aggregations.

    By Aug. 2, 2024
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    ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images
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    Clean energy tax credits are tough. This new tool could help.

    The free online navigator from Lawyers for Good Government can help cities determine if a project qualifies for Inflation Reduction Act direct-pay incentives.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Aug. 1, 2024
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

    Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

    By Utility Dive staff
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    The image by FirstEnergy is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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    FirstEnergy seeks alternatives to PJM capacity market to bolster power supply

    “I'd call yesterday's [PJM auction results] the canary in the coal mine, and the canary didn't make it,” Brian Tierney, FirstEnergy president and CEO, said.

    By Aug. 1, 2024
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    photosbyjim via Getty Images
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    DC Circuit vacates FERC approval of $950M Williams pipeline project

    The agency failed to adequately explain why it dismissed studies showing that the Mid-Atlantic project wasn’t needed or why it didn’t assess the significance of its carbon emissions, the court said.

    By July 31, 2024
  • A helicopter hovers over transmission lines hung on three pylons.
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    The image by brewbooks is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    55 miles of high-voltage transmission lines added in 2023 as US buildout slows: report

    Despite the slowdown, utilities spent more than $25 billion on transmission last year, mainly on lower-voltage projects, up from about $20 billion in 2013, according to Grid Strategies.

    By July 30, 2024
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    Kent Raney via Getty Images
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    DC Circuit rejects Entergy challenge to MISO’s capacity rules

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission adequately explained why it approved MISO’s plan to shift to a seasonal capacity market, the court said Friday.

    By July 29, 2024
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    gorodenkoff via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by ScottMadden

    Creating impactful workforce development programs in the energy industry

    Since 2006, the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) has conducted bi-annual surveys to explore trends in the energy workforce and support companies in the industry with strategic workforce planning initiatives.

    By Matt Shait, Director and Emma Park, Senior Associate, ScottMadden • July 29, 2024
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    Siripak Pason via Getty Images
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    DOE awards $371M to boost permitting, local benefits from transmission projects

    Most of the grants support projects that give communities tangible benefits from transmission development, said Maria Robinson, director of the Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office.

    By July 24, 2024
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    The image by Jakec is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    AEP, Exelon oppose Talen-Amazon interconnection pact to protect rate base growth potential: Constellation

    Exelon’s Commonwealth Edison stands to add up to $5 billion to its rate base by building transmission infrastructure to serve planned data centers in Illinois, according to Constellation Energy.

    By July 24, 2024
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    Bilanol via Getty Images
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    Utility commissioners from 14 states, DC, say FERC transmission rule will lower energy costs

    The support comes after utility commissions from Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia challenged the agency’s rule in court, partly because they say it usurps state authority.

    By July 24, 2024
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    Anna Rose Layden via Getty Images
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    Bipartisan energy permitting bill ups FERC transmission siting authority, requires interregional planning

    The Senate bill released Monday could guide the framework for action on permitting reform, which may not come until next year, according to observers.

    By July 23, 2024
  • A four-panel shot of Lamar Johnson (ESG Dive), Jake Rascoff (Ceres), Lindsey Stewart (Morningstar Sustainalytics) and Erin Martin (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP)
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    Joey Sirmons/Utility Dive
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    Sustainability experts: ‘Start preparing now’ for SEC climate rule, other disclosure regulations

    Despite the SEC rule’s temporary stay, sustainability experts said companies should not wait for the court’s ruling to begin preparing for compliance.

    By Zoya Mirza , Lamar Johnson • July 22, 2024
  • FirstEnergy's 1,100-MW coal-fired Fort Martin power plant in Maidsville, West Virginia, along the Monongahela River.
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    BackyardProduction via Getty Images
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    DC Circuit rejects bids to put hold on EPA power plant carbon rule

    Cooperative utilities and others seeking to put the EPA's rule on hold failed to show they are likely to succeed in their claims, the appeals court for the District of Columbia Circuit said Friday.

    By July 22, 2024
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    narvikk via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Innovative solutions emerge to reduce 2.5-TW US clean energy interconnection backlog

    California’s project scoring criteria, the Texas connect and manage option and SPP’s work to link system planning with the interconnection process across its multistate region could speed the clean energy expansion.

    By July 22, 2024
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    Zview via Getty Images
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    States, clean energy groups, others appeal FERC transmission planning rule

    A lottery will be held to determine which court will handle the appeals to the agency’s Order 1920.

    By July 19, 2024
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    Permission granted by Esme Howland
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    Column

    FERC in Focus: What’s on tap for the rest of 2024 as FERC’s 3 new commissioners gear up?

    Experts expect the commission will tackle rehearing requests on its new transmission planning rule and review interconnection reform compliance plans, among other actions, over the next six months.

    By July 18, 2024
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    The image by Peretzp is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Existing nuclear power plants are best behind-the-meter option for data centers: NEI paper

    Author and former PJM Interconnection executive Michael Kormos disputed claims that colocated data centers would increase power costs and erode reliability.

    By Brian Martucci • July 18, 2024
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    Roberto N via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    With huge capital needs, the power sector’s founding regulatory principle is more critical than ever

    Any possible energy future is a capital-intensive one, with capital needs that will only increase as the U.S. demand wave and load growth continue.

    By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • July 18, 2024
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    narvikk via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Nowhere to sell: As local bans proliferate, renewable energy companies must prioritize politics

    The polluters who want to kill the energy transition have created political headwinds that are grinding the transition to a halt for everyone else, including the companies that really do want to move away from dirty fuels.

    By Ayelet Hines • July 17, 2024
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    zhengzaishuru via Getty Images
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    Duke, Exelon, others urge FERC to toss ‘show cause’ order on utility self-funding interconnection upgrades

    FERC’s order to major grid operators that they show why their rules on who can pay for network upgrades is based on unconstitutional premises, Xcel Energy and other utility companies said.

    By July 17, 2024
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    Ward DeWitt via Getty Images
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    PJM market monitor asks FERC to end grid operator’s energy efficiency capacity payments

    The complaint from Monitoring Analytics adds to energy efficiency issues in the PJM Interconnection’s capacity market, including Affirmed Energy’s possible bankruptcy.

    By July 15, 2024
  • Wind turbines in McLean County, Illinois, with a substation and high voltage transmission wires.
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    Chimperil59 via Getty Images
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    Current FERC reforms won’t be enough to solve interconnection gridlock: MIT economists

    The U.S. must adopt a national transmission strategy if it wants to deploy enough clean energy to decarbonize the grid, MIT researchers say.

    By Emma Penrod • July 15, 2024
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    Joey Ingelhart via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court’s Chevron ruling creates power sector uncertainty: Moody’s

    “The lack of clarity on future EPA mandates increases uncertainty and makes it more difficult for power companies to determine their most appropriate and cost-effective generation mix,” Moody’s said.

    By July 12, 2024
  • Nuclear power plant on a shore of Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, on a winter sunny day.
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    Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
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    Talen-Amazon interconnection agreement needs extended FERC review: PJM market monitor

    However, Constellation Energy and Vistra contend AEP and Exelon’s protests over the proposed agreement aim to stifle innovative power supply arrangements for data centers.

    By July 11, 2024
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    Wirestock
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    EIA prepares for second attempt to survey bitcoin miners about electricity consumption

    Preliminary estimates from the Energy Information Administration suggest cryptocurrency mining could account for up to 2.3% of total U.S. electricity consumption today.

    By July 11, 2024