Regulation & Policy
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States, feds must do more to mitigate offshore wind risks: Cleanpower 2024 panel
The conversation came as the offshore wind industry works through “a moment of reflection and recalibration,” said panelist Doreen Harris, NYSERDA president and CEO, on May 7 at the Cleanpower Expo.
By Brian Martucci • May 16, 2024 -
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FERC transmission rule likely boon to consumers, but Christie dissent is a blueprint for litigation, analysts say
The rule also gives state utility regulators an “unprecedented role” in transmission planning and cost allocation, said Christina Hayes, executive director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid.
By Ethan Howland • May 16, 2024 -
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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 -
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OpinionFERC Order 1920 is a big step forward on transmission planning, but it is not the end game
The rule provides the raw ingredients to transmission providers and states, FERC Commissioner Allison Clements writes, but the grid of the future will not be built if these entities do not come together and start cooking.
By Allison Clements • May 15, 2024 -
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Geopolitics, decarbonization driving ascendant nuclear power industry: NEI CEO
Anticipated load growth from data centers, AI and new manufacturing hubs is the latest tailwind for conventional and advanced nuclear, NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick said Tuesday.
By Brian Martucci • May 15, 2024 -
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Biden hikes tariffs on China-made EVs, batteries, solar cells
The tariffs align with U.S. efforts to get ahead of China in clean energy and advanced technology manufacturing while also increasing supply chain control.
By Kate Magill • May 14, 2024 -
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FERC issues landmark transmission planning, cost allocation rule, with dissent over state roles
In a 2-1 vote, the agency’s commissioners disagreed on the role states will have under the rule.
By Ethan Howland • May 14, 2024 -
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FERC revises its backstop permitting rules for national interest transmission corridor projects
The agency’s new rule could affect power line projects in 10 transmission corridors the Department of Energy proposed last week.
By Ethan Howland • May 14, 2024 -
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Virtual power plants, DERs and home electrification get boost from trio of new Maryland laws
The laws could help Maryland meet its goals to generate 14.5% of electricity from solar by 2028, achieve a 60% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 and install 3 GW of energy storage by 2033.
By Brian Martucci • May 13, 2024 -
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OpinionWith 78% of requested investments approved, US regulators are backing grid modernization
Contrary to the conventional opinion that regulation is an obstacle to grid modernization, regulators have, in fact, largely demonstrated strong support over the past six years.
By Kathy (Huishan) Hu • May 13, 2024 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
ColumnFERC in Focus: How will 2 Supreme Court cases — on Chevron deference and ALJs — affect the commission?
The court may be poised to limit the leeway courts give to federal agencies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission when interpreting ambiguous laws and to require changes to how it handles market manipulation cases.
By Ethan Howland • May 13, 2024 -
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Sponsored by SenseAn advanced grid requires regulatory innovation
The need for innovation in utility regulation “springs” up on the heels of DOE paper, “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Innovative Grid Deployment.” Regulatory innovation is essential for meeting the grid requirements of the future.
By Brandon Dyer, Senior Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Sense • May 13, 2024 -
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Midwest is a model for renewables development, but ‘well-meaning’ policies can raise concerns: panel
Despite the region’s competitive advantages for renewable energy, developers need to recognize local stakeholders’ concerns to keep the energy transition on pace, panelists said at the Cleanpower conference in Minneapolis.
By Brian Martucci • May 10, 2024 -
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California PUC rejects PG&E plan to spin off 5.6 GW in non-nuclear assets
PG&E failed to show the proposed transaction meets “even the minimal public interest standard,” the PUC said in its decision.
By Ethan Howland • May 10, 2024 -
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New Pennsylvania PUC policy sparks debate over who can own energy storage assets
PECO Energy and Duquesne Light urged the commission to allow utilities to own energy storage assets, while the Solar Energy Industries Association and others sought a path for third-party ownership.
By Patrick Cooley • May 9, 2024 -
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Clean energy, gas generation in PJM may take longer to come online than expected: report
“Absent significant reforms or market innovations, most projects entering PJM’s queue today are unlikely to come online before 2030,” the report’s authors said.
By Ethan Howland • May 9, 2024 -
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OpinionThere are 3 fundamental problems with Scope 2 GHG accounting. Here’s how to fix them.
Society cannot afford actions and expenditures to support claims of progress while not accomplishing real-world emission reductions.
By Neil Fisher, Roger Ballentine and Armond Cohen • May 8, 2024 -
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DOE unveils 10 potential ‘national interest’ transmission corridors where projects could be expedited
The proposed corridors, which total more than 3,500 miles across targeted regions, could unlock federal financing.
By Robert Walton • May 8, 2024 -
Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
OpinionIf you want ‘virtual power plants,’ first define them
Persistent confusion around VPPs may impede successful policymaking, challenging regulatory commissions, stalling deployments and delaying important benefits to our electricity system.
By Ted Ko • May 7, 2024 -
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Congress passes Russian uranium import ban, unlocking $2.7B to expand US nuclear fuel production
The money includes funding for high-assay low-enriched uranium, which is needed for certain advanced nuclear reactor designs.
By Brian Martucci • May 6, 2024 -
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Replacing a Talen Energy coal-fired power plant with battery storage is infeasible: PJM
A Sierra Club proposal that aims to avoid a reliability must-run contract for the 1,280-MW Brandon Shores plant in Maryland is unworkable, the PJM Interconnection found.
By Ethan Howland • Updated May 6, 2024 -
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OpinionIf EPA’s latest power plant rules seem familiar, don’t get fooled again!
The power plant rule that EPA announced on April 25 closely resembles Obama’s Clean Power Plan in key respects — and it will almost certainly suffer the same fate.
By Sam Thernstrom • May 6, 2024 -
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Sponsored by West MonroeTechnologies, regulations and policies shaping the electric utility distribution business in the Eastern U.S.
The Eastern U.S. faces a complex, but achievable, clean energy shift.
By Estelle Mangeney and Paul A. DeCotis • May 6, 2024 -
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$6B in Inflation Reduction Act tax credits for advanced energy projects open this month
The Treasury Department is opening a second round of funding for 48C tax credits aimed at clean manufacturing.
By Joelle Anselmo • May 3, 2024 -
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OpinionLong-term transmission planning will power America’s future
It is in the national interest to approach the power grid the same way we have approached the internet, the interstate highway system and telecommunications.
By John Szoka and Ted Thomas • May 2, 2024 -
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SPP Markets+ Western market plan sparks support, protest and concerns
Arizona Public Service, Public Service Co. of Colorado, Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power and a public power trade group urged FERC to approve the day-ahead market.
By Ethan Howland • April 30, 2024
