Regulation & Policy: Page 98
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Opinion
Who’s afraid of 100%?
A lower-cost outcome is more likely if we commit to a 100% rather than just 80% carbon-free electricity sector as that will provide additional certainty for innovations and cost reductions, the Brattle Group’s Jurgen Weiss writes.
By Jurgen Weiss • Feb. 6, 2020 -
Indiana House passes controversial bill making coal plants harder to retire
HB 1414 was amended in the House to add a sunset clause of May 2021, which critics say makes the bill’s purpose even more murky.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 5, 2020 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
TrendlineTop 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 -
GE Hitachi enters federal licensing process for new small modular nuclear reactor design
GE Hitachi claims its BWRX-300 will be cheaper on a capital cost basis than both conventional nuclear power reactors and other SMRs.
By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 5, 2020 -
New York aims to kick off solicitation for up to 2.5 GW of offshore wind in 2020
The proceeding would be the state’s second large scale solicitation of the resource, and could lead to state procurements of up to 4.3 GW of offshore wind.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 5, 2020 -
fotojog/iStock via Getty Images
State regulators need cyclical reviews to get the most out of utility performance incentive mechanisms: Report
Upending utility business models is more easily done with complementary state policies and continuous improvement of incentives, according to Energy Innovation and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 4, 2020 -
How ConEd and National Grid are experimenting with energy storage in New York
Consolidated Edison is in the middle of several major projects to advance the state’s distributed grid, while working to add 300 MW of energy storage by 2023.
By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 3, 2020 -
Opinion
Retaining outmoded monopolies and coal plants keeps Indiana in the Dark Ages
Policies like HB 1414 could force the state’s residents to pay for outmoded power plants and stick the cost of the energy transition on captive customers, rather than letting markets work, the author writes.
By Devin Hartman • Feb. 3, 2020 -
CPUC proposes guidelines for safety shut-offs, finds ‘serious deficiencies’ with PG&E reporting
The proposal would require utilities to restore service 24 hours after “the conclusion of conditions that necessitate a de-energization event.”
By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 3, 2020 -
New Mexico approves PNM exit from San Juan coal plant, but CCS could still save facility
The utility will be able to abandon the plant through securitization, providing grants to workers laid off by the closure, but a local carbon capture company could keep the plant going.
By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 2, 2020 -
House Dems put climate at center of $760B infrastructure plan
The Moving Forward Framework would invest heavily in roads, transit and water systems, with efforts to cut emissions woven throughout.
By Chris Teale • Jan. 31, 2020 -
Can the US power sector significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2040? Not according to EIA
Energy sector analysts say EIA’s annual projections have consistently been more conservative, overstating sector emissions, and utility groups are optimistic for greater carbon reductions from power generation and transportation.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 30, 2020 -
Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive/Utility Dive
FERC’s backlog of rehearing requests and the legal ‘purgatory’ of opposition to the PJM MOPR order
Language in the Federal Power Act prevents stakeholders from litigating a FERC order until regulators rule on rehearing requests, a decision that can face lengthy delays.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2020 -
Oncor, other Texas utilities aim to avoid enforcement power for proposed cybersecurity monitor
Oncor said regulators should delete from the proposed rule all provisions that would give the monitor authority to “require utilities to submit to assessments or respond to information requests.”
By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 2020 -
Report: 108M Americans face unhealthy air quality
Air quality breached health limits for more than 100 days in 89 cities in 2018, according to a new analysis of EPA pollution records.
By Jason Plautz • Jan. 29, 2020 -
New Jersey outlines sweeping plans to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said the state was not on track to meet its pollution reduction goals, prompting the release of his “Energy Master Plan” to slash greenhouse gas emissions.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 28, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Geothermal’s surprise: Cheap renewables could keep states from achieving climate goals
Planners must think beyond the levelized cost for renewables to the value that each resource brings to the grid.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 27, 2020 -
Opinion
Forward Clean Energy Markets: A new solution to state-RTO conflicts
The Brattle Group has developed a new concept to competitively procure clean energy commitments in a technology-neutral fashion and complement other wholesale power market products, including capacity.
By Sam Newell, Kathleen Spees and Johannes Pfeifenberger • Jan. 27, 2020 -
NextEra aims to capitalize on PTC extension, repower wind in 2020
The company missed its Q4 earnings estimate but its developer arm excelled, beating fourth quarter earnings from 2018, and increasing its pipeline of projects to the largest it’s ever been.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 27, 2020 -
Wisconsin utility plans to retire 345 MW of coal early as controversial natural gas plans remain in flux
Dairyland Power Cooperative is shutting down a coal plant in anticipation of a new natural gas project coming online, but the facility continues to face regulatory hurdles across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 27, 2020 -
FERC’s McNamee not seeking 2nd term as commissioner
Commissioner Bernard McNamee will step down from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Sept. 4, he announced Wednesday.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 6, 2020 -
Opinion
When states pick expensive policies under the guise of ‘states’ rights,′ consumers pay
The inconsistency between state choices and wholesale power markets has reached a boiling point, and it’s time someone closed the lid, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.
By Todd A. Snitchler • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by tommaso79 via Getty Images
Deep Dive2020 Outlook: New state action on customer empowering rate designs and business models
Regulators, utilities and stakeholders will pilot simple price signals and work toward agreement on a performance-based framework, but California may be in for a surprise.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Massachusetts governor, lawmakers aim for net-zero emissions by 2050
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement precedes anticipated comprehensive legislation that will drive the goal.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by LL28 via Getty Images
Deep Dive2020 Utility Dive Outlooks: What’s in store for coal, gas, renewables, DER and beyond
2020 promises to be another busy year across the U.S. power sector as the energy transition gathers more steam.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Opinion
A path forward for New England to a low-carbon future: Why a capacity market still matters
Significant work remains to integrate state decarbonization policies into the ISO New England and its wholesale markets, the author writes.
By Dan Dolan • Jan. 22, 2020
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