Regulation & Policy: Page 39
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DC Circuit dismisses utility-backed challenge to EPA cross-state ozone rule
The Midwest Ozone Group, with Ameren, Duke Energy and FirstEnergy among its members, failed to show the EPA’s rule was arbitrary or capricious, the federal appeals court said Friday.
By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2023 -
“Diablo Canyon Family Open House” by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
NRC grants exemption for PG&E to operate Diablo Canyon nuclear plant during license renewal review
An environmental advocate said the NRC decision was “politically motivated and reckless” and ignored public safety concerns.
By Stephen Singer • March 3, 2023 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
TrendlineSustainability
Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.
By Utility Dive staff -
imacoconut via Getty Images
As more Americans struggle to pay power bills, states must be ‘deliberate’ in equity efforts: report
“We know that disparities and disproportionate barriers exist in clean energy access and adoption across racial groups and across income groups,” said Tony Reames, the Energy Department’s deputy director for energy justice.
By Robert Walton • March 3, 2023 -
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FERC orders PJM to revise plan for DER aggregations; Enel ‘encouraged’ that single-node limit may be lifted
States may not be able to make needed regulatory changes in time to meet the plan’s early-2026 start date, according to Commissioner Mark Christie.
By Ethan Howland • March 3, 2023 -
Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
DOE expands reactors eligible for $1.2B second round of Civil Nuclear Credit Program
DOE issued guidance saying power plants that halted operations after Nov. 15, 2021, can apply for support.
By Stephen Singer • March 2, 2023 -
ArtistGNDphotography via Getty Images
FERC partly approves ISO-NE plan for aggregated DER but balks at behind-the-meter requirements
“ISO-NE needs to roll up its sleeves and pursue steps that genuinely open its markets to behind-the-meter” resources, FERC Commissioner Allison Clements said.
By Ethan Howland • March 2, 2023 -
“Diablo Canyon Family Open House” by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
California regulators find Diablo Canyon nuclear plant needed through 2030 to support grid reliability
The California Energy Commission on Tuesday approved a staff analysis recommending the state pursue extending the operation of the plant, citing potential energy shortfalls during extreme weather.
By Stephen Singer • March 1, 2023 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
EPA launches first funding phase of $5B carbon reduction program for states, cities, tribes
New Jersey expects to use funding to look for ways to speed up its greenhouse gas reduction plans, Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, said Tuesday.
By Ethan Howland • March 1, 2023 -
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House Republicans advance infrastructure permitting reform as part of 16-bill energy package
The first legislative step could lead to negotiations with the Senate this summer on permitting reform for transmission and pipelines, according to Akin Gump attorneys.
By Ethan Howland • March 1, 2023 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Virginia legislature OKs bill giving regulators more autonomy in setting profit margins for Dominion Energy
The Legislature unanimously approved a measure to give Virginia’s State Corporation Commission more autonomy in setting profit margins for state utilities.
By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 28, 2023 -
Adeline Kon/Utility Dive
DOE picks 10 winners of grid-scale storage innovation prize
Emerging technologies that disrupt or advance state-of-the-art storage research are the focus of the 10 winners of the American-Made Energy Storage Innovations Prize, which totals $300,000.
By Stephen Singer • Feb. 28, 2023 -
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Deep DiveDuke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs
Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 28, 2023 -
Permission granted by PJM Interconnection
PJM launches fast-track capacity market reform process in face of shrinking reserve margins
The effort comes as the PJM Interconnection finds new resources aren’t keeping pace with power plant retirements and load growth.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 27, 2023 -
timnewman via Getty Images
State bills spur debate over who should build transmission: incumbent utilities or independent companies
Companies such as LS Power, NextEra, Evergy and ITC Great Plains are pressing lawmakers on bills that may determine who can build transmission projects costing in the billions of dollars across the central United States.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 23, 2023 -
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Environmental justice is a growing operational factor. How are federal and state agencies defining it?
The definition of an environmental justice or disadvantaged area varies among states and between states and the U.S. EPA, with each term having a different range of implications.
By Myisha Majumder • Feb. 23, 2023 -
Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
FERC approves PJM’s mid-auction capacity rule change over protests from NRG, Vistra, other generators
The decision violates the filed-rate doctrine and is akin to playing blackjack at the “Federal Energy Regulatory Casino,” which can change the rules in the middle of a game, according to FERC Commissioner James Danly.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 22, 2023 -
Backyard Production via Getty Images
EPA reverses Trump-era decision on power plant mercury standards, paving way for stricter limits
The decision on Friday was needed for any future tightening of mercury and other emissions limits for power plants.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 21, 2023 -
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CPUC poised to reject Sunnova’s plan to build microgrids in new residential communities
Sunnova’s proposal involves owning and operating microgrids as part of new, master-planned residential communities that would include up to 2,000 homes and some non-residential facilities.
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 21, 2023 -
Permission granted by TerraPower
Bipartisan legislation would increase US uranium production to promote nuclear energy
To the extent possible, DOE will not disrupt or replace market mechanisms by competing with U.S. nuclear energy companies, according to the legislation.
By Stephen Singer • Feb. 21, 2023 -
Techa Tungateja via Getty Images
Deep DiveNew power system cybersecurity architectures can be ‘vaults’ against insider attacks, analysts say
Utility operations facing hackers now, and a future of minimally-protected distributed energy resources, will need smarter, more complex defenses, from control rooms to customer-owned devices, analysts said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2023 -
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FERC OKs cold weather reliability standards for US generators but orders NERC to address shortcomings
Proposals from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. were considered “not up to the task.” FERC directed the grid watchdog organization to bolster them, partly by setting certain deadlines.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2023 -
Retrieved from Texas Senate.
Texas Sen. Menéndez: Performance credit could take years to implement, but efficiency and DR are immediate
An overhaul of the Texas energy market could take years to implement while energy-saving measures could be launched “today, tomorrow, the next day,” said state Sen. José Menéndez, D.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2023 -
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FERC rejects American Clean Power, RENEW Northeast complaint alleging ISO-NE bias towards gas plants
Amid a wintertime reliability threat, the agency should propose a solution for New England instead of waiting for the grid operator to offer one, Commissioner Allison Clements said.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2023 -
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DC Circuit upholds FERC decision on Broadview solar-battery PURPA project in blow to NorthWestern, EEI
However, the Inflation Reduction Act has blunted the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act’s importance in renewable energy development, experts said.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 16, 2023 -
Baxternator via Getty Images
AEP, Xcel, OG&E ask FERC to overturn Southwest Power Pool decision to hike reserve margin
The increased reserve requirement gives utilities six months to procure 1.6 GW and exposes them to $173 million in penalties, according to the complaint filed at FERC.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 15, 2023
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