Transmission & Distribution: Page 2
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FERC urged to set interregional transfer capacity requirements to boost reliability, lower costs
Some panelists at an agency workshop were cautious. “We're not seeing a specific minimum interregional transmission capacity necessarily helping,” CAISO’s Neil Miller said.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 6, 2022 -
Bilanol via Getty Images
10 must-read utility sector stories from 2022
Reliability, security and affordability concerns are rising in a U.S. power sector increasingly focused on decarbonization and electrification. Utility Dive has rounded up some of our top stories so far on these and other trends in 2022.
By Larry Pearl • Dec. 5, 2022 -
Trendline
Grid Resiliency
Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
onurdongel via Getty Images
California requires permits for large natural gas projects to enable environmental and cost scrutiny
A first-ever order holds investor-owned utility pipelines and other projects to the same standard as big electricity proposals.
By Elizabeth McCarthy • Dec. 5, 2022 -
Permission granted by ISO New England
ISO-New England says power system is prepared for mild winter, but plans would change in a cold snap
New England’s power system is prepared for a mild winter, but more fuel delivery or public conservation would be called for in severely cold weather, the grid operator said.
By Stephen Singer • Dec. 5, 2022 -
Rolf Wittke via Getty Images
Federal appeals court orders FERC to rework MISO interconnection funding decision
The federal agency failed to adequately respond to concerns transmission owners might discriminate in favor of their own generating plants, the D.C. circuit appeals court said.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 5, 2022 -
Marie Puddu via Getty Images
Texas lawmakers want to hit brakes on electricity market redesign, bring dispatchable generation online sooner
Market reforms under consideration by the Public Utility Commission of Texas “should not be adopted” without further direction from the Legislature, said a group of 9 senators.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2022 -
demerzel21 via Getty Images
FERC approves PJM’s ‘first-ready, first-served’ interconnection reform plan, steps to clear backlog
FERC Commissioner Allison Clements, who said she reluctantly voted in favor of PJM’s plan, called for additional measures to improve the interconnection process.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 1, 2022 -
Jason Finn via Getty Images
SPP unveils details of proposed Western energy market, phased implementation plan
Plans for the Southwest Power Pool’s Western day-ahead and real-time markets have been in the works for about a year.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 1, 2022 -
Gabriel Cano via Getty Images
Texas grid vulnerable to blackouts in extreme scenarios, ERCOT says as it adds storage to assessment
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas included battery storage for the first time in its winter resource assessment. Population growth and economic expansion are driving Texas electricity demand higher.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2022 -
Elenathewise via Getty Images
Deep DiveHigh electricity rates impede crucial but costly technology investments to manage rising DER levels: utilities
Utilities want distribution system technologies for more DER visibility and control. But advocates want a new national stakeholder dialogue about the timing of spending for DER integration.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 29, 2022 -
Permission granted by XENDEE
Sponsored by XENDEEHow to create utility scale microgrids
Distributed energy resources (DERs) have emerged as a financially viable and resilient alternative to traditional generation assets and distribution.
Nov. 28, 2022 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
Biden requests $3B for residential solar, battery systems in Puerto Rico
Lawmakers and advocates have pressed for $5 billion. “Much more is needed,” said Laura Esquivel, Hispanic Federation vice president for federal policy.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 23, 2022 -
Xiao Zhou via Getty Images
Western day-ahead market could save $1.2B a year, boost renewables output 1,800+ GWh: CAISO report
A Western day-ahead market would bring economic, reliability and environmental benefits, according to the California grid operator. CAISO plans to issue a final market proposal next month.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 23, 2022 -
Gunther Fraulob via Getty Images
DOE opens $13B funding opportunity for transmission expansion, smart grid integration projects
The first round of funding for the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership program includes $3.8 billion for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 21, 2022 -
istockphoto.com/Kriangsak Koopattanakij
Sponsored by Sentient EnergyDistribution grid lessons learned in 2022
With the end of 2022 fast approaching, many of us in the utility industry are considering grid lessons learned over the past year.
Nov. 21, 2022 -
https://stock.adobe.com/Mike Mareen
Sponsored by EnverusIdentify investment opportunities amid ERCOT congestion
With ERCOT’s frequent congestion in West Texas, getting the precise area (or line) when trading, managing or assessing congestion is crucial.
By Rush Milam • Nov. 21, 2022 -
mountinez via Getty Images
North American electric grid faces ‘unprecedented’ widespread risk this winter: NERC
Portions of the Southeast, Midwest, Texas, New England and other areas could see potential energy shortfalls in extreme weather, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 18, 2022 -
simonkr via Getty Images
Inflation Reduction Act upends utility resource planning tenets: NARUC panelists
“These [IRA] incentives …. are transforming how we think about electricity procurement because these resources are going to be so cheap,” Evolved Energy Principal Jamil Farbes said.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 17, 2022 -
YinYang via Getty Images
OpinionCross-border power trade can help leaders at COP27 facilitate emissions reductions
Enhancing cross-border power trade can help achieve global greenhouse gas reduction goals by efficiently integrating low-cost renewable resources while improving electricity affordability and security.
By Jennifer Chen, Edmund Downie and Noah Kittner • Nov. 16, 2022 -
Moussa Alshemeri via Getty Images
FERC, state regulators consider independent monitors as way to boost transmission oversight ‘gap’
A growing number of transmission projects – 63% of California grid investments – lack robust review, regulators said at a FERC-NARUC meeting in New Orleans.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 16, 2022 -
bombermoon via Getty Images
Deep DiveUS can reach 100% clean power by 2035, DOE finds, but tough reliability and land use questions lie ahead
New aggressive planning is needed to identify the long-duration storage technologies and find the land to grow enough resources to reach the Biden administration’s net zero emissions goals, a DOE national lab reports.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 15, 2022 -
onurdongel via Getty Images
Gas utilities look to hydrogen, renewables integration while facing ‘existential threat’ of decarbonization
Alternative fuels like hydrogen and renewable natural gas can help local distribution companies to reduce emissions but come with higher costs, the ratings agency said.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 15, 2022 -
Texas regulators weigh $460M ‘performance credit mechanism’ to ensure electric grid reliability
The performance credits would require “anyone who sells power to a household or business in ERCOT to guarantee that they are buying that power from a reliable source,” Chair Peter Lake said.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 14, 2022 -
Courtesy of Entergy
Moody’s adopts negative outlook for regulated utility sector, warns on gas prices, economy and cost recovery
“Utilities that operate in service territories with poor demographics or weak local economies are at higher risk," the ratings agency said.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 11, 2022 -
Dan Zukowski/Utility Dive
Fossil fuel, renewable trade groups explore potential paths to energy bipartisanship in a divided Congress
Energy permitting reform, increasing access to rare earth minerals and domestic clean energy manufacturing are areas for compromise, said Scott Segal, a partner at the energy-focused law firm Bracewell.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2022
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