Regulation & Policy: Page 2
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Deep Dive
Tackling 3 key issues can help scale virtual power plants and spur a wave of benefits, analysts say
Advanced operational software, communications standards and customer compensation are needed to scale VPP size and services, cut system and customer costs and enhance reliability, key VPP players agree.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 17, 2024 -
Deep Dive
As states increasingly look to advanced nuclear, Wyoming, Virginia and Michigan lead the way
Their efforts are showing policymakers elsewhere how to attract emerging nuclear technologies and the skilled workers they need to operate, National Association of State Energy Officials President David Terry said.
By Brian Martucci • April 17, 2024 -
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 -
Surging demand growth spurs openings for advanced nuclear, grid technologies: DOE’s Crane
Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure law funding are supporting new technologies, he said, but the "missing link" is permitting reform. “Without permitting reform, what we are hindering is new zero-carbon energy sources.”
By Ethan Howland • April 17, 2024 -
Opinion
The time is ripe for utilities to play a larger role in the energy transition
Utilities should provide upfront support to low- to moderate-income customers for residential electrification and decarbonization measures to prevent them from being stuck on the existing fossil fuel systems.
By Dan Bakal • April 16, 2024 -
VPPs, other advanced technologies could each expand existing US grid capacity 20-100 GW: DOE
Separately, AES and LineVision released a case study showing how using dynamic line ratings increased capacity on power lines in Indiana and Ohio.
By Ethan Howland • April 16, 2024 -
Constellation, generator trade groups back PJM plan to revert to original capacity auction results
However, Delaware and Maryland utility commissions contend the PJM plan should be rejected, telling the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission it would more than double capacity costs for ratepayers in their states.
By Ethan Howland • April 15, 2024 -
Opinion
Power grids are facing more demand than ever. Policy needs to catch up.
There is a gap between operational realities and aspirational policies. That gap is growing, and not shrinking as it must.
By Todd Snitchler • April 15, 2024 -
House Republicans begin congressional challenge to SEC climate disclosure rule
House Financial Services Committee Chair Patrick McHenry said the agency’s voluntary pause is “not enough.”
By Lamar Johnson • April 12, 2024 -
Pathways Initiative proposes independent power market organization for the West
The stakeholder group aims to establish an organization free of CAISO governance to run wholesale power markets, laying the groundwork for a possible regional transmission organization.
By Ethan Howland • April 11, 2024 -
SEC reiterates no scope 3 in final climate rule
Agency officials are starting to educate industry stakeholders and investors on the paused rule’s required disclosures while defending it in court.
By Lamar Johnson • April 10, 2024 -
FERC approves PJM’s $5.1B cost-share plan for transmission to be built by Dominion, others
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected arguments that Virginia should pay a larger share for projects driven by its data center policies.
By Ethan Howland • April 10, 2024 -
Opinion
Can Retail Choice 2.0 succeed where Retail Choice 1.0 (maybe) failed?
Retail Choice 2.0 is capable of unlocking more value than ever, through smart meters, telecommunications infrastructure, AI, electrified homes and even social media, enabling both real-time feedback and customer education.
By Allison Bates Wannop • April 9, 2024 -
South Carolina advances bill that could spur gas power for Duke, Dominion utilities, hamper solar
Renewable developers EnergyRe and Pine Gate Renewables urged lawmakers to require that utilities add about 8 GW of solar from approved integrated resource plans, with offramps.
By Ethan Howland • April 9, 2024 -
These 8 nonprofits got $20B from the Biden administration for local clean energy financing. Now what?
The “green bank” funds must be obligated by September amid efforts by Republican lawmakers to repeal the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
By Ysabelle Kempe • April 8, 2024 -
Building decarbonization goes beyond energy efficiency, US Green Building Council says
Other pathways like electrification, clean power and building grid integration can help owners and operators reduce building emissions, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
By Nish Amarnath • April 8, 2024 -
SEC stays climate-risk disclosure rule as it works through legal challenges
The agency maintains that the regulation is within the agency’s authority and said it “will continue vigorously defending the Final Rules’ validity in court.”
By Lamar Johnson • April 5, 2024 -
Don’t count on FERC as the ‘big sugar daddy’ for new transmission, generation: Commissioner Christie
State utility regulators must have a central role in transmission planning and cost allocation, FERC Commissioner Mark Christie said Thursday. “You cannot cut states out of the process.”
By Ethan Howland • April 5, 2024 -
NRC should assess if its reactor licensing process adequately considers climate risks: GAO
The federal watchdog found that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s natural hazard assessments “do not fully consider potential climate change effects,” such as extreme heat, drought, wildfires and hurricanes.
By Brian Martucci • April 4, 2024 -
Opinion
Grid reliability’s core challenge is governance, not a changing resource mix
An outdated and parochial oversight system is the biggest threat to U.S. grid reliability.
By Alexandra Klass, Josh Macey, Shelley Welton and Hannah Wiseman • April 4, 2024 -
Hawaiian Electric offers new incentives to customers with rooftop solar and battery storage
The company says it is streamlining programs for rooftop solar users to help the state meet its clean energy goals, but some customers could see smaller financial benefits.
By Patrick Cooley • April 3, 2024 -
New NRC licensing road map aims to add clarity for advanced reactor applications
The detailed guidance could “significantly reduce the regulatory uncertainty” for non-light water reactors submitting construction permit and licensing applications, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said.
By Brian Martucci • April 3, 2024 -
Biden administration awards $4B in clean energy manufacturing tax credits
The money from the 48C credit spans 35 states and is part of a slate of tax incentives funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
By Kate Magill • April 3, 2024 -
Massachusetts commission recommends faster approvals of clean energy projects, infrastructure
The commission suggested the state issue a single, consolidated permit for clean energy projects and limit deliberation to a maximum of 15 months.
By Diana DiGangi • April 3, 2024 -
Opinion
Supporting strategic end uses is key to making hydrogen hubs the building blocks to scale
We must deploy clean hydrogen strategically to decarbonize sectors of the economy that are hard to electrify and unlock its true potential to accelerate the phaseout of fossil fuels.
By Cihang Yuan and Daniel Riley • April 3, 2024 -
SEC asks 8th Circuit not to pause climate rule pending challenges
The agency said Liberty Energy and Nomad Proppant Services have “identified no imminent harm” that would justify halting the rule’s implementation.
By Lamar Johnson • April 1, 2024