Regulation & Policy: Page 8
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Justices could scale back environmental law in NEPA case
The National Environmental Policy Act has become an important tool for obstruction by certain groups, one veteran appellate advocate told Legal Dive.
By David Weisenfeld • Dec. 16, 2024 -
California to ease enforcement action on climate rules for first year of reporting
The California Air Resources Board said it would “not take enforcement action” on entities subject to Senate Bill 253 for incomplete reporting during the first reporting cycle due in 2026.
By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 16, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Kevork Djansezian via Getty ImagesTrendlineSustainability
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 -
Sponsored by J. J. Keller® VideoProtects® Fleet Camera System
The value of using dash cams in utility company vehicles
Dual-facing dash cam video footage helps identify company drivers who use poor judgment behind the wheel and correct those behaviors quickly.
Dec. 16, 2024 -
MISO board approves $22B regional transmission plan with 765-kV backbone
“Our Tranche 2.1 portfolio … is a major leap forward for the [Midcontinent Independent System Operator] footprint, and in particular our Midwest region,” MISO’s Jeremiah Doner said.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 13, 2024 -
Opinion
Accelerating grid modernization with open technology and standards
As the power and utility industry digitizes, it can look to the tech industry for inspiration on how to innovate.
By Alex Thornton • Dec. 12, 2024 -
Biden orders up to 50% tariffs on some solar energy components from China
The duties will target critical solar energy inputs, including wafers, polysilicon and tungsten products, beginning Jan. 1.
By Philip Neuffer • Dec. 12, 2024 -
Treasury finalizes ITC rules, providing clarity to solar, storage, other clean energy sectors
“The updates and expansion of ITC create important clarity and strong market signals to invest in a variety of energy projects in the U.S.,” said Lisa Jacobson, president of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 11, 2024 -
Google, Intersect Power to develop co-located energy parks with $20B of renewables, storage
Energy parks can provide grid services, but they face regulatory challenges, including uncertainty around the rules for co-located load, according to Energy Innovation.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 11, 2024 -
Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance calls for mandated scope 3 emissions disclosures
The UN-convened alliance made the call to increase the comparability and quality of scope 3 data and allow asset owners to more accurately assess and decarbonize their portfolios.
By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 10, 2024 -
Opinion
Stepping up to achieve local climate progress despite federal headwinds
State and local action will be one of the most effective means of continuing the momentum for clean energy deployment and cost reductions.
By Darren Springer • Dec. 10, 2024 -
Biogas investment tax credit finalized with favorable language for RNG
The final rule includes properties that convert biogas into renewable natural gas in a lucrative credit program designed to boost investment in clean energy. Developers are expected to rush to qualify before the end of the year.
By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 9, 2024 -
Opinion
Electrons vs. molecules: The critical role of hydrogen in hard-to-abate sectors
To meet the urgency of the climate crisis, we must embrace a dual approach: electrify where possible and deploy hydrogen where electricity falls short.
By Rinaldo Brutoco • Dec. 9, 2024 -
FERC rejects plan to shift PJM’s transmission planning protocol in win for state regulators
“These provisions violate the Commission’s independence requirement by providing … PJM [transmission owners] with undue influence over transmission planning and expansion,” FERC said.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 9, 2024 -
2024 Elections
Trump’s SEC pick sparks concern from ESG, climate experts
The president-elect picked Paul Atkins for Securities and Exchange Commission chair. Experts expect him to prioritize maximizing corporate returns over ESG considerations.
By Zoya Mirza • Dec. 6, 2024 -
FERC orders Ketchup Caddy to pay $27M for MISO demand response fraud
FERC staff estimated that Ketchup Caddy’s bogus capacity offers caused $17.6 million in losses over three years through reduced capacity prices.
By Ethan Howland • Updated Dec. 6, 2024 -
Opinion
Regulatory red tape holds back the carbon capture opportunity in Texas
President-elect Trump’s nomination of Lee Zeldin to lead the U.S. EPA could restore sanity to an agency that is holding back billions of dollars in new investment — including in the fast-growing carbon capture industry.
By Matt Welch • Dec. 6, 2024 -
PSE&G to pay $6.6M for inaccurately reporting need for local PJM transmission project
The Public Service Enterprise Group utility didn’t give PJM accurate information about the need for a $546 million power line it built in New Jersey, per a FERC settlement.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 6, 2024 -
Renewable energy developers urge PJM to drop fast-track interconnection plan
The PJM Interconnection’s proposed Reliability Resource Initiative, if approved, will be challenged at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and in court, the developers said.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Deep Dive
When TOU rates aren’t enough: BGE, other utilities expand active managed charging for rising EV load
With over 3 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads, managed charging pilots need to be scaled before infrastructure upgrade costs start rising, analysts and utility executives agree.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Eos Energy lands $304M DOE loan for battery plant expansion
The long-duration battery company says it has a $589 million, 2.3-GWh order backlog and $14.2 billion, 59-GWh commercial pipeline.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 3, 2024 -
Opinion
A costly lesson in supply and demand: How to address PJM’s capacity shortages
The first law of holes says that you should stop digging when you’re in one. It’s time to stop retiring dispatchable resources if we don’t want the hole we’re in to get any deeper.
By Michelle Bloodworth • Dec. 3, 2024 -
Duke pauses consideration of DOE loan program with Trump election, new Congress
Given the uncertainties around future Department of Energy lending, it makes sense to delay a review of potential benefits from the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program, Duke Energy told North Carolina regulators.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 2, 2024 -
Inflation Reduction Act changes ‘not a day 1 priority’ for Trump, Congress: Crux
Though a full repeal of the 2022 climate law is unlikely, a Republican-controlled legislature could repeal or phase out some of its individual provisions beginning next year, policy experts said.
By Brian Martucci • Dec. 2, 2024 -
ECP plan to buy 5.3 GW could drive up PJM capacity prices, Public Citizen, others tell FERC
Energy Capital Partners should disclose whether it intends to divert the plants’ output to supply data centers, according to Public Citizen, Private Equity Stakeholder Project and the Sierra Club.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 27, 2024 -
Deep Dive
EPRI, Kraken advance DER interoperability standards to boost virtual power plant deployment
“Without interoperability standards, VPPs cannot reach scalability, affordability, and reliability as soon or as efficiently as they will be needed,” said Arshad Mansoor, CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 27, 2024