Regulation & Policy: Page 106
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Dominion seeks to recover $300M from Virginia ratepayers for coal ash efforts
In an application to state regulators for the rate increase, the utility said its environmental efforts were essential to keep coal plants open.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 18, 2018 -
New York Gov. Cuomo pledges 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040
The announcement comes days after the state Public Service Commission approved the third phase of its clean energy standard as well as a 3 GW energy storage goal.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 18, 2018 -
Trendline
The Energy Transition to Renewables
New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.
By Utility Dive staff -
Moody's sees robust utility capital spending in 2018, dip in 2019, 2020
Tax cuts are eating into utility cash flows, but are not deterring investments in capital spending.
By Peter Maloney • Dec. 18, 2018 -
New Jersey regulators issue rules to rejoin RGGI carbon trading system
Gov. Phil Murphy, D, issued an executive order in January to rejoin the CO2 trading system, but it took months for state regulators to work out the details.
By Gavin Bade • Dec. 18, 2018 -
Siemens: Cities are prioritizing electrification, but grid modernization is required
Siemens released a report that used the company's City Performance Tool to assess the status of electrification in 40 global cities.
By Chris Teale • Dec. 17, 2018 -
As California looks to power shut-offs to prevent fires, Sunrun touts microgrids
As utilities are being directed to cut off power during high wind and dry conditions to prevent the start of deadly wildfires, state regulators opened a proceeding to look at unintended effects.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 17, 2018 -
Record-breaking $405M US offshore wind leasing auction shows 'bullish' interest
Three areas off the coast of Massachusetts each fetched bids of at least $135 million in the same area that failed to attract enough interest three years ago.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 17, 2018 -
Texas muni signs cheap solar contract 'below $25/MWh'
The exact PPA price was not released, but GTM Research noted it rivals other inexpensive solar deals signed recently in Texas.
By Gavin Bade • Dec. 17, 2018 -
House to introduce carbon capture bill amid questions of tech viability
The Senate version of the bill, introduced by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., received broad bipartisan support.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 14, 2018 -
New York sets 3 GW storage target, doubles efficiency goals for utilities
The Public Service Commission has set the most ambitious state energy storage target in the country, while also requiring investor-owned utilities to more than double their energy efficiency reductions by 2025.
By Peter Maloney • Dec. 14, 2018 -
Glick blasts Chatterjee Clean Power Plan comments as not 'appropriate,' 'relevant'
Glick called Chatterjee’s input "faulty" and "not relevant to any discussion on whether the Clean Power Plan should be removed" because it focused criticism on the initial proposed version of the rule, not its finalized form.
By Gavin Bade • Dec. 13, 2018 -
Senate Democrats press McNamee recusal on generation issues at FERC
A letter requesting McNamee recuse himself from issues "pitting one fuel source against another" was signed by every Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, except its incoming Ranking Member.
By Gavin Bade • Dec. 13, 2018 -
Nearly all Georgia coal plants report groundwater pollution near ash ponds
Data reviewed by The Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice on 12 coal plants showed ash ponds near 11 contain unsafe levels of one or more pollutant, with 10 belonging to Georgia Power.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 13, 2018 -
Podcast
Electric Power Show Ep. 3: PUCO Chair Haque's 'conservative approach to progressive utility policy'
Gavin Bade speaks with Asim Haque, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, on the origins of the coal and nuclear bailout debate and how to guide a progressive utility policy in a state without robust clean energy goals.
By Gavin Bade • Dec. 13, 2018 -
Deep Dive
As PacifiCorp and other analyses point to more coal shutdowns, replacement questions rise
A recent PacifiCorp analysis points to a growing trend among utilities, and analysts are watching to see how modeling and reliability issues can best be addressed as retirements continue.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 13, 2018 -
PG&E details power line damage near ignition of Camp Fire
While state officials have not made a final determination on the cause, PG&E's Tuesday letter offers the clearest detail yet on how its power lines may have started the blaze.
By Gavin Bade • Dec. 12, 2018 -
'Voluntary demand' for renewables pushes utilities to new technology, business models: Deloitte
As renewable energy growth accelerates, utilities are taking a more active role in embracing the enabling technology.
By Peter Maloney • Dec. 12, 2018 -
Utilities cheer as EPA moves to roll back Obama-era water rules
The newly proposed rule won praise from utilities, but just which waterways would be covered under a new definition of "Waters of the United States" remains unclear.
By Gavin Bade • Dec. 12, 2018 -
US unprepared for 'catastrophic' power outage, presidential advisory report finds
Securing the nation's power system will require billions in investment, begging the eternal question: Who pays?
By Robert Walton • Dec. 12, 2018 -
Deep Dive
As grid operators file FERC Order 841 plans, storage floodgates open slowly
It will be at least a year before new rules for energy storage take hold for most ISOs and RTOs.
By Peter Maloney • Dec. 11, 2018 -
UN report: Cities are 'key implementers' of climate policies
A new guide from authors of the latest UN IPCC report says that without action from cities, "there will be no limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius."
By Jason Plautz • Dec. 11, 2018 -
Washington clean energy proposal would phase out coal by 2025
Gov. Jay Inslee's proposal would reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2035 and transition the state to 100% clean energy by 2045.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 11, 2018 -
Glick predicts return to resilience debate as McNamee prepares to take FERC seat
With an emergency bailout reportedly on hold at the White House, "a lot of the focus is returning to FERC" on grid resilience issues, Glick told a Washington audience Monday.
By Gavin Bade • Dec. 11, 2018 -
California sees rule potential to de-energize power lines in wildfire conditions
Pacific Gas & Electric cut off electricity service to nearly 60,000 this fall, but regulators want tighter rules on the practice as California wildfires worsen.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 10, 2018 -
In first, Virginia regulators reject Dominion Integrated Resource Plan
Regulators said Dominion's power demand forecasts are unrealistically high, which could raise questions about a number of infrastructure investments, including the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
By Gavin Bade • Updated Dec. 10, 2018