Regulation & Policy: Page 96
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PG&E failed to properly inspect tower that caused Camp Fire: CPUC safety investigators
Gaps in the utility's infrastructure maintenance were "indicative of an overall pattern of inadequate inspection and maintenance of PG&E's transmission facilities," according to a new report.
By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 4, 2019 -
Renewables, legal groups challenge FERC's authority to upend PURPA
Federal regulators are proposing changes to the law for the first time since 2006. Some groups argue the move falls outside the commission's authority and will harm renewables in markets monopolized by utilities.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 4, 2019 -
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 -
California proposal rejects wildfire premium in PG&E, other utilities' ROE
Regulators said recent state legislation removed the need for a premium by eliminating wildfire risk exposure for investor-owned utilities.
By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 4, 2019 -
Regulators should 'ask tough questions about carbon capture' before closing coal: Wyoming PSC Chair
Wyoming is in a uniquely precarious position as the country's top coal producer. Its head utility regulator says ratemaking should encourage utilities to profit from carbon capture and utilization outside their rate base.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 3, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Can new transmission tech boost capacity and save billions? Two proposals aim to find out
Advocates are pushing a "shared savings" approach to incentivize deployment, but system operators have doubts.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 3, 2019 -
FirstEnergy Solutions claims victory on nuke bailout referendum, but proponents push forward
The Ohio Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit challenging a potential referendum on the state's nuclear subsidies, while a separate proceeding brought by referendum proponents is ongoing.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 3, 2019 -
Nevada PUC floats proposal for 1,000 MW storage target by 2030
The proposal comes more than two years after the state legislature passed a bill requiring the commission to look into adopting storage targets.
By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 3, 2019 -
Opinion
Too much wind and solar raises power system costs. Deep decarbonization requires nuclear
Once wind and solar provide around 40% of a region's electric power, costs begin to rise substantially, an author of a new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology writes.
By John Reilly • Dec. 2, 2019 -
CAISO says resource adequacy order would cause market uncertainty, asks CPUC to reconsider
The system operator and other stakeholders urged regulators to "re-open the record" on an October decision clarifying the rules.
By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 27, 2019 -
2019 holiday wish list: Power sector edition
With the holiday season upon us, what do industry groups and environmental organizations want to see on the state and federal energy policy front?
By Larry Pearl • Nov. 27, 2019 -
Inside the fight to overhaul PURPA: What three commissioners think of FERC's proposed changes
The 1978 law — largely credited with driving the small renewables market — is facing a potential major shift, and though most regulators agree the rule should be changed, they disagree with some of FERC's mechanisms.
By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 26, 2019 -
Despite changes, commissioners see traditional utility system dominating over next decade: NARUC
U.S. utility commissioners agree that traditional fossil fuel generation will be an important aspect of grid reliability over the next decade, according to a NARUC survey.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 26, 2019 -
New NARUC president prioritizes cybersecurity training, ties between state and federal regulators
Commissioner Brandon Presley from Mississippi envisions every state commissioner feeling comfortable to collaborate with their counterparts at FERC or the FCC.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 26, 2019 -
National Grid lifts gas moratorium following deal with New York
The utility is looking into a range of long-term solutions to address supply needs in New York — and a controversial $1 billion pipeline project panned by environmental advocates is still on the table
By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 25, 2019 -
Opinion
FERC is on the right track with resilience. Republicans can help by upholding conservative principles
Republicans in Congress and the administration should affirm local control, while ensuring a high threshold to justify the government favoring any one energy resource or generation technology over another, the author writes.
By Charles Hernick • Nov. 25, 2019 -
ISO New England chief presses for carbon price in response to Sanders, Warren and others
A carbon price would be a "simple and easily-implemented mechanism" to speed renewables onto the grid, Gordon van Welie wrote, while noting that the region's states oppose its use within wholesale electricity markets.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2019 -
Ohio denies AEP cost recovery for 400 MW proposed solar, but projects expected to proceed
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio concluded the utility had not shown a need for the additional generation, but its decision creates uncertainty for the future of solar development in the state, environmental advocates said.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2019 -
PNM: Carbon capture would raise San Juan transition cost to $6B, as PRC, legislator battle rages
A proposal to lengthen the coal plant's life through what would be the largest carbon capture project to date is deemed too expensive by its majority owner and raises environmental concerns.
By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 25, 2019 -
PG&E says power shutoffs averted hundreds of fire risks, but cities blast lack of coordination
The utility did not tell San Jose officials which geographical areas would lose power and did not allow Sonoma County representatives into its emergency operations center, among other concerns for local officials.
By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 25, 2019 -
PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE pay $1.4B annually for excess capacity: Report
Resource adequacy in the Northeast region is determined by grid operators, not states, and it's leading to higher reserve margins, according to Grid Strategies.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 22, 2019 -
Democrats move to take 100% clean energy push national with new bill
The legislation would require all sectors of the economy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but gas and hydro groups stress the need for a diverse energy portfolio in any climate solution.
By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 22, 2019 -
EPA estimates proposal to relax power plant wastewater standards will save utilities $312M a year
Groups like Earthjustice fear the agency's proposed standards will put at risk hundreds of millions of dollars in annual public health benefits stemming from a 2015 update to the limits that never went into effect.
By Larry Pearl • Nov. 22, 2019 -
Can carbon capture save the San Juan coal plant?
A proceeding before New Mexico regulators begs the question of when and how the 940 MW plant will retire, and the decision may leave mandates under the state's landmark clean energy law behind.
By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 21, 2019 -
California groups challenge Sempra rate decisions allowing recovery of 'charitable contributions'
The decisions, involving San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas, break with decades of precedent, according to The Utility Reform Network and other advocates.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2019 -
Glick asks for return to 'nonpartisan' FERC as Senate advances Trump's pick
"I hope we can return back to the days when ... FERC used to be able to work as a nonpartisan entity," the sole Democrat FERC commissioner told a crowd of state regulators.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 20, 2019
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