Regulation & Policy: Page 23


  • High voltage transmission lines in Nevada's desert.
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    Janis Janums via Getty Images
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    DC Circuit vacates FERC Western refund decisions, rejects Duke challenge to network upgrade orders

    In separate decisions, PacifiCorp and other power sellers won their case against FERC refund orders stemming from a 2020 Western heat wave while Duke was found liable for network upgrade costs for a proposed solar project.

    By July 10, 2024
  • Electric power lines cross a scrubby desert with a mesa in the background.
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    Vitaly Edush via Getty Images
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    FERC approves capacity solicitation plan for $2.4B RioSol transmission project

    Southwestern Power Group plans to launch a solicitation for capacity on the 1.6-GW project between New Mexico and Arizona late this year.

    By July 9, 2024
  • High voltage power lines seen from below Explore the Trendline
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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
  • The exterior of the Labor Department building, with a sign that says "United States Department of Labor"
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Labor Department’s ESG rule trial to serve as litmus test for Chevron decision

    A lower court’s dismissal of a challenge to the rule cited the now-overturned Chevron doctrine, though the agency believes the rule will survive.

    By Lamar Johnson • July 8, 2024
  • A river runs in front of forests, fields and steam billowing from two cement cooling towers from a power plant.
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    The image by Jakec is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Talen urges FERC to reject AEP-Exelon protest over interconnection pact for Amazon data center

    American Electric Power and Exelon are trying to “hijack” an interconnection service agreement amendment proceeding and make it an ad hoc referendum on the future of data center load, Talen’s Susquehanna Nuclear said.

    By July 8, 2024
  • FERC headquarters
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    Permission granted by Esme Howland
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    FERC issues transmission planning rule, plus 5 other first half agency highlights

    Wholesale market reforms, private equity mergers and reliability during extremely cold weather were among the other key issues the commission tackled in the first six months of 2024.

    By July 3, 2024
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    Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images
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    Nuclear energy gets funding, policy boost in H1 2024 as rising demand brightens prospects

    Federal and state policymakers have taken significant steps in the first half of 2024 to support nuclear energy as new opportunities emerge with the rising power needs of data centers.

    By Larry Pearl • July 3, 2024
  • High voltage pylons with electric power lines transfering electricity from solar photovoltaic cells at sunrise.
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    Bilanol via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Two bold ideas to change the energy industry forever

    Now may be an ideal time to make dramatic, fundamental changes to how we transport electricity, deliver it to customers and fund new projects, writes Anthony Allard, head of Hitachi Energy, North America.

    By Anthony Allard • July 3, 2024
  • Power lines in the Florida Everglades.
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    TexPhoto via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court’s Chevron, Corner Post decisions could delay energy investments, spur litigation: analysts

    FERC Chairman Willie Phillips defended the commission’s transmission planning rule after the court eliminated the Chevron deference for federal agencies.

    By July 2, 2024
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court overturns Chevron doctrine, limiting federal agency reach

    Federal courts will no longer have to defer to agency regulations for interpretation of ambiguous statutes.

    By Ryan Golden , Ginger Christ • July 1, 2024
  • Man is adjusting a thermostat using a tablet with smart home app in modern living room.
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    Saklakova via Getty Images
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    FERC targets Affirmed Energy for alleged tariff violation in PJM capacity market

    The company contends it followed market rules in selling energy efficiency resources in the PJM Interconnection’s capacity market.

    By July 1, 2024
  • Talen Energy defends interconnection agreement for Amazon data center at nuclear plant

    It doesn’t appear that a protest by AEP and Exelon at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission poses a significant risk to the agreement, according to research firm ClearView Energy Partners.

    By June 28, 2024
  • Opinion

    A YIMBY approach to the transmission buildout

    Just as housing advocates are finding new allies at the state and local level for their YIMBY — Yes in My Backyard — movement, the energy community should seek to cultivate proactive community demand for transmission projects.

    By Robin Allen • June 28, 2024
  • Heavy smoke clouds of carbon emissions spew from three cylindrical columns rising from a factory in the background, partly obscured by trees, with the roof of a house barely visible in the foreground.
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    Mark Wilson via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court blocks enforcement of EPA’s ‘good neighbor’ rule

    Rural electric cooperatives said the rule would lead to the early curtailment or retirement of 62 coal generating units as soon as 2026.

    By June 28, 2024
  • FERC headquarters
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    Permission granted by Esme Howland
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    FERC advances dynamic line rating framework, plus 6 other takeaways from its open meeting

    FERC Commissioner David Rosner took part in his first open meeting as Commissioner Allison Clements said farewell.

    By June 28, 2024
  • Industrial background group silhouette of transmission towers (or power tower, electricity pylon, steel lattice tower) at suburb area in Texas, USA.
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    Trong Nguyen via Getty Images
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    Texas Gov. Abbott appoints consumer advocate Hjaltman to PUC’s 5th seat

    Courtney Hjaltman was sworn in at the Public Utility Commission of Texas on Wednesday. She previously led the Office of Public Utility Counsel.

    By June 27, 2024
  • Steam rises from one of two large cement towers, with buildings and a parking lot in the foreground.
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    The image by Jakec is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    AEP, Exelon challenge PJM interconnection pact for Amazon data center at Talen nuclear plant

    The precedent-setting proposal could shift up to $140 million in transmission costs to PJM customers, the utility companies said in a protest filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

    By June 26, 2024
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    ehabaref via Getty Images
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    Consumer advocates ask FERC to halt PJM energy efficiency ‘addback’ in capacity market

    The ratepayer advocates and four U.S. senators urged FERC to hold a technical conference on how best to ensure the participation of energy efficiency resources in wholesale markets.

    By June 25, 2024
  • A wind farm along Tug Hill in northern New York.
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    Peter Blottman Photography via Getty Images
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    NYSERDA opens latest solicitation for large-scale, land-based renewable energy

    The solicitation is open to wind and solar, but also emerging renewable energy resources such as geothermal and hydrogen — so long as the projects can be online before December 2026.

    By Emma Penrod • June 24, 2024
  • Windmill farm in Bradford County, PA
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    "windmills-08" by dfbphotos is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Clean energy, environmental groups urge FERC to reject PJM grid interconnection plan

    PJM’s proposal to largely retain its existing interconnection process without changes fails to meet key requirements of FERC Order 2023, according to trade groups and others.

    By June 24, 2024
  • Fervo Energy's Project Red enhanced geothermal facility near Winnemucca, Nevada.
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    Permission granted by Fervo Energy
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    NV Energy seeks new tariff to supply Google with 24/7 power from Fervo geothermal plant

    The “Clean Transition Tariff” is intended to spur the deployment of more dispatchable clean energy resources, Google leaders say.

    By Emma Penrod • June 21, 2024
  • Equipment in a room with cables running into blue boxes.
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    Courtesy of Redflow
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    California agency awards $26.7M for long-duration energy storage projects

    The California Energy Commission approved grants for long-duration storage projects to be built by Redflow, RedoxBlox and Noon Energy.

    By June 18, 2024
  • Three sets of transmission lines run into the distance where steam billows from a cylindrical, cement structure.
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    Courtesy of Georgia Power
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    FERC reconsiders Southeast Energy Exchange Market approval

    The agency is seeking comments on whether SEEM, which includes Dominion, Duke and Southern Co., should be deemed a “loose power pool,” open to other participants. 

    By June 18, 2024
  • A group of wind turbines and an electrical substation.
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    NanoStockk via Getty Images
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    Utility self-funding rules for interconnection upgrades may unfairly drive up costs: FERC

    The commission raised several concerns about ISO-NE, MISO, PJM and SPP rules that allow transmission owners to pay for and profit on network upgrades for interconnection customers.

    By June 17, 2024
  • A field of solar panels in the California desert.
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    schwartstock via Getty Images
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    CAISO board approves ‘transformational’ grid interconnection reforms

    The reforms aim to advance projects that are most likely to succeed, in part by prioritizing projects targeting areas in California with available transmission capacity.

    By June 14, 2024
  • Transmission towers are shown near solar panels from the 100-megawatt MGM Resorts Mega Solar Array after it was launched on June 28, 2021, in Dry Lake Valley, Nevada.
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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    Lawmakers, speakers spar over benefits of IRA’s manufacturing boom

    Legislators and experts disagreed on the long-term merits of subsidies, with IRA critics questioning if the clean energy boom would amount to a “sugar high.”

    By June 13, 2024