Regulation & Policy: Page 28


  • 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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    Up to 58 GW faces retirement in PJM by 2030 without replacement capacity in sight: market monitor

    Nearly 60% of the generation that could shutter is deemed “uneconomic,” but capacity prices and other factors could change, potentially easing the risk, the grid operator’s market monitor said.

    By March 18, 2024
  • The Eastern facade of the United States Capitol Building, with the House of the Representative's stair.
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    3000ad via Getty Images
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    Bills aim to spur grid-enhancing technologies with shared-savings incentives from FERC

    “The Advancing GETs Act will motivate grid operators and developers to bring new projects online that expand transmission capacity,” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said Wednesday.

    By March 14, 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
  • Energy thermal power station roof plant with white smoke cloud.
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    photovs via Getty Images
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    3rd Circuit backs NRG, Constellation Energy, others in rejecting FERC move on PJM capacity auction

    FERC allowed PJM to adopt a new rule to address anomalous high capacity prices in its latest capacity auction, but the federal appeals court said the change was illegal retroactive ratemaking.

    By March 14, 2024
  • An aerial view of a line of cars with their headlights on driving through a darkened valley
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Permitting reform budget request should push Congress to negotiate a bipartisan deal

    Our domestic energy supply cannot be secured until the United States’ burdensome approval process is overhauled so that we can begin to get major energy infrastructure projects underway.  

    By Liam deClive-Lowe and Paolo Mastrangelo • March 14, 2024
  • Nuclear power plant after sunset. Dusk landscape with big chimneys.
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    vlastas via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Nuclear energy finance bans prevent the world from buying American

    Securing financing for commercially-oriented nuclear energy projects is critical for American suppliers to compete against adversarial state-owned entities.

    By Kenneth Petersen • March 12, 2024
  • President Joe Biden speaks during an event about lowering costs for American families at the Granite State YMCA Allard Center of Goffstown on March 11, 2024, in Goffstown, New Hampshire.
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    Sophie Park via Getty Images
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    DOE’s ARPA-E faces budget cut, FERC to explore AI and other highlights from Biden’s budget

    DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, the Energy Information Administration and renewables research would see budget hikes, while nuclear energy research and development spending would be cut.

    By March 12, 2024
  • West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey
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    Patrick Smith via Getty Images
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    10 Republican-led states file lawsuit to block SEC’s climate disclosure rule

    The states say the Securities and Exchange Commission exceeded its rulemaking authority in requiring public companies to disclose climate-related risks as part of their registrations and annual filings.

    By Lamar Johnson • March 11, 2024
  • Electric transmission lines against a blue and yellow sky.
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    Fleem via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Setting the record straight on Western market options: It’s not just about footprint

    Instead of coercing the entire West into a single market, we should turn our attention to facilitating trade among multiple markets as a better use of our time and energy.

    By Libby Calnon, Clay Fitchis, Mark Hayden, Bear Prairie, Chris Robinson and Jim Webb • March 11, 2024
  • Transmission lines in the mountains of Southern California.
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    Laser1987 via Getty Images
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    California PUC urges FERC to reject SCE’s early cost recovery request for $1.6B in projects

    Southern California Edison contends that being allowed to recover its costs while two transmission projects are being built, instead of waiting until they’re in service, will ease financial strains and customer rate shock.

    By March 11, 2024
  • The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seal hangs on the facade of its building.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Conflicting views on SEC’s authority set the tone for climate disclosure rule vote

    The newly passed regulation faces criticism from supporters for not going far enough and from detractors for going too far.

    By Zoya Mirza , Lamar Johnson • March 8, 2024
  • A hydrogen pipeline.
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    Petmal via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    The fate of the hydrogen tax credit is now in Treasury’s hands

    Where the final rules land regarding how producers qualify for the credit will dictate whether it serves as a catalyst to jump-start a nascent clean energy industry, or if it falls short of the promise of the Inflation Reduction Act.

    By Zane McDonald • March 8, 2024
  • A sunset behind a wind farm at Buffalo Ridge, near Lake Benton, Minnesota.
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    The image by Nic McPhee is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Federal lawmakers urge FERC to adopt ‘shared savings’ incentive for grid-enhancing technologies

    The push at the federal level comes as grid-enhancing technology bills and projects to relieve grid congestion advance in Minnesota.

    By March 8, 2024
  • Texas slows development of annual $1B performance credit mechanism designed to boost grid

    Implementation will need to occur alongside efforts to operate the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market more efficiently, potentially in 2027, regulators said.

    By March 8, 2024
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sign on a tan building and glass double-doors on the right side.
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    Sara Samora/Utility Dive
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    Opinion

    Why EPA can cut carbon pollution from power plants without sacrificing grid reliability

    Entities that focus on reliability have a toolkit to manage the energy transition, and EPA has incorporated key flexibilities into its GHG pollution-reduction rules to support their efforts.

    By Dena Adler and Jennifer Danis • March 7, 2024
  • A rendering of the GE Hitachi BWRX300 small modular reactor.
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    Retrieved from GE Hitachi.
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    NRC commissioners order changes to proposed licensing rules for advanced reactors

    The revisions include removing several new and potentially burdensome regulatory requirements, according to Nuclear Innovation Alliance Research Director Patrick White.

    By Brian Martucci • March 6, 2024
  • Gary Gensler smiles as he prepares to sit and testify
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    SEC drops scope 3 from final climate rule, takes phased approach to scope 1 and 2 reporting

    The agency said scope 3 was removed due to a large number of comments concerning compliance costs as well as the consistency and reliability of scope 3 data.

    By Lamar Johnson • March 6, 2024
  • Green hydrogen renewable energy production pipeline.
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    audioundwerbung via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Let’s be realistic about green hydrogen

    Like any new technology, green hydrogen must meet three related challenges: production, distribution and adoption. But it faces far higher-than-advertised hurdles at every stage.

    By Robin Gaster • March 6, 2024
  • Electric transmission lines crossing Colorado's Eagles Nest Wilderness.
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    MRaust via Getty Images
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    Colorado PUC proposes rules for Xcel, Tri-State, Black Hills to join RTO, day-ahead markets

    The proposal requires any organized wholesale market to allow Colorado utilities to maintain priority rights to their grid interconnections for resources needed to meet their loads.

    By March 5, 2024
  • Close-up of lit gas stove.
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    FotoCuisinette via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Gas utility planning processes should be more like their electric utility counterparts

    It is not in the best interest of captive utility customers to let long-lived gas delivery infrastructure spending go unvetted, especially if that infrastructure may no longer be fully utilized in the near future.

    By Sarah Steinberg & Brad Cebulko • March 4, 2024
  • Gas turbine electric power plant in blue hour.
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    Thossaphol via Getty Images
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    EPA pulls existing gas plants from proposed power plant carbon reduction rules

    The agency plans to soon start a stakeholder process to develop greenhouse gas reduction standards for existing gas-fired power plants.

    By March 4, 2024
  • array of electricity meters
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    ehabaref via Getty Images
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    FERC rejects West Virginia PSC, market monitor complaints seeking access to PJM committee

    FERC Commissioner Mark Christie dissented from the decision on one complaint, saying state regulators need more power in regional transmission organizations.

    By March 4, 2024
  • Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler speaks during a hearing.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    SEC to vote on climate disclosure rule next week

    The agency will “consider whether to adopt rules to require registrants to provide certain climate-related information” at a March 6 open commission meeting.  

    By Zoya Mirza • March 1, 2024
  • The facade of a building with large windows and a sign that says "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission."
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    Permission granted by Esme Howland
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    Biden taps 3 for FERC seats amid concerns over potential lack of quorum

    "A fully-seated, bipartisan FERC provides more opportunity for advancing long-lasting, sensible energy infrastructure policy,” Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., said.

    By March 1, 2024
  • NV Energy's One Nevada transmission line.
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    "One Nevada transmission line" by Reliathon is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Nevada regulators set to approve NV Energy’s $2B IRP amendment, including new gas resources

    Critics say the utility has used the integrated resource plan amendment process to advance projects with insufficient scrutiny.

    By March 1, 2024
  • FERC headquarters
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    Permission granted by Esme Howland
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    Biden nominates 3 FERC commissioners

     "A fully-seated, bipartisan FERC provides more opportunity for advancing long-lasting, sensible energy infrastructure policy,” Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., said.

    By Feb. 29, 2024