Regulation & Policy: Page 8


  • Seven County Infrastructure v. Eagle County, NEPA, scotus
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    paulbr via Getty Images
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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 Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on February 01, 2023 in Sacramento, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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
  • A picture of wind turbines in front of solar panels in Palm Springs, California. Explore the Trendline
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    Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Sustainability

    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
  • A utility truck on the road.
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    Permission granted by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
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    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
  • High-voltage electric power lines run across a snowy field.
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    The image by Patrick Finnegan is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    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 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
  • President Joe Biden speaks at the White House on Dec. 8, 2024.
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    Pete Marovich via Getty Images
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    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
  • Transmission lines stretch across rolling green fields
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    SEYLUL06 via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 11, 2024
  • An aerial view of solar panels in a field with transmission lines and a crane installing large containers of battery storage in a dirt lot.
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    Courtesy of Intersect Power
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    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 Dec. 11, 2024
  • A view of an industrial chimney releasing fumes, steam and polluting gases
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    Jose Gulias Trigas via Getty Images
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    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
  • Aerial view of wind turbines taken with a drone in Vermont.
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    Gabriel Shakour via Getty Images
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    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
  • Several large pipes criss-cross between industrial buildings, including a large tank-like structure.
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    Courtesy of Divert
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    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
  • Green hydrogen renewable energy production pipeline.
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    audioundwerbung via Getty Images
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    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
  • Power Lines.
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    Debra McVey via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 9, 2024
  • Paul Atkins seen testifying at a hearing.
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    Brendan Hoffman via Getty Images
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    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
  • MISO control room
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    Permission granted by Midcontinent Independent System Operator
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    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 Updated Dec. 6, 2024
  • An aerial view of part of Climeworks' Mammoth direct air capture and storage plant
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    Courtesy of Climeworks — The Mammoth plant
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    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
  • Electric transmission lines run up a hill through a wooded area.
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    Courtesy of Public Service Electric and Gas
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    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 Dec. 6, 2024
  • Solar farm in Ohio.
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    Nicholas Smith via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 4, 2024
  • A rendering of a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV in a residential garage with GM's vehicle-to-home charging equipment mounted on the wall.
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    Courtesy of General Motors
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    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 Dec. 4, 2024
  • Shadeed Acie, Sam Haidle, Celeste Washington and Denny McDonald assembling a tray for an Eos energy block.
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    Permission granted by Eos Energy Enterprises, photo by John Halpern
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    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 Dec. 3, 2024
  • A natural gas fired turbine power plant with it's cooling towers rising into a blue sky.
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    Ron and Patty Thomas via Getty Images
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    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
  • Steam billowing from a coal-fired power plant's smokestack.
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    bauhaus1000 via Getty Images
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    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 Dec. 2, 2024
  • Donald Trump, center, with his hands up, facing the crowd. He's standing next to Melania and son Barron.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    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
  • An electric power plant with cooling towers and smoke stacks.
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    The image by Analogue Kid is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    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 Nov. 27, 2024
  • Wind power generator in green landscape with distributed energy icons.
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    Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn via Getty Images
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    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 Nov. 27, 2024