Regulation & Policy: Page 108
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SDG&E urges quick action by California Supreme Court on wildfire cost recovery
Saying a state appellate judge that previously ruled against the company should have recused herself due to a conflict of interest, the utility filed a petition this week to recover $379 million from 2007 wildfire costs.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2018 -
California must slash vehicle emissions to reach climate goal, CARB finds
The state will have to significantly cut transportation emissions to meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, the California Air Resources Board found.
By Jason Plautz • Nov. 29, 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 -
FERC moves to narrow jurisdiction over utility mergers after FPA changes
Newly signed amendments to the Federal Power Act would set a $10 million minimum for the value of mergers and acquisitions that must receive pre-approval from FERC.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 29, 2018 -
DC City Council unanimously advances 100% renewable energy bill
The Clean Energy Omnibus would also mandate that all public transport and fleet vehicles in the District be zero-emissions by 2045, including those operated for Uber and Lyft.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 28, 2018 -
Podcast
Electric Power Show Ep. 2: PJM CEO Andy Ott says 'the game has changed'
The CEO of the nation's largest wholesale power market talks fuel security, plant bailouts, capacity markets and how state policy preferences are putting stress on the market's founding principles.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 28, 2018 -
Deep Dive
New Hampshire settlement moves 'cutting-edge' utility BTM storage pilot forward
The Liberty-led pilot will be the second regulator-approved program for utility-owned behind-the-meter storage, and phase 2 will be the first to include the private sector.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 27, 2018 -
Senate committee advances FERC nominee McNamee despite 'unfortunate' comments
The Energy and Natural Resources Committee set up a full Senate vote on McNamee a week after the release of a video in which the nominee criticizes renewable energy and portrays environmental groups as tyrannical.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 27, 2018 -
Nuclear industry pouring money into Georgia PSC runoff
The primary issue is the treatment of Southern Company's Vogtle nuclear project, with Democratic candidate Lindy Miller opposed to ratepayers continuing to pay for cost overruns.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 27, 2018 -
Deep Dive
How cities are affected by the federal climate report — and how they're fighting back
Extreme weather threatens to destroy urban areas while transportation systems may buckle, but there is optimism that city leaders will keep moving things forward.
By Chris Teale • Nov. 27, 2018 -
Senate committee to push ahead with McNamee vote despite Democrat objections
Democrats want the FERC nominee to answer for comments criticizing renewable energy and environmental groups, but Republicans on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee declined to delay a Tuesday confirmation vote.
By Gavin Bade • Updated Nov. 27, 2018 -
Federal climate report: US energy, transportation sectors not prepared for warming
Experts say humans have about a decade to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change and the U.S. is behind the necessary pace of emissions reductions.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 26, 2018 -
Opinion
Brown mandates a 'greener' Golden State
As California inches closer to a renewable-only grid, S&P Global Ratings Director of Sustainable Finance Michael Ferguson assesses which assets from a credit perspective could stand to either benefit or face heightened risks.
By Michael Ferguson • Nov. 26, 2018 -
FERC rejects generator proposal for CAISO capacity market
Generators said growing renewable energy is putting them out of business, but FERC determined they failed to identify where CAISO market rules are unreasonable or any serious reliability problems that could result.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 21, 2018 -
FERC nominee McNamee slams renewables, green groups in Feb. video
The nominee told Texas lawmakers that renewable energy "screws up the whole physics of the grid" and portrayed industry lawsuits with environmental groups as a "constant battle between liberty and tyranny."
By Gavin Bade • Updated Nov. 21, 2018 -
Deep Dive
New Microsoft contract could expand corporate renewable energy deals to smaller buyers
The "volume firming agreement" could mitigate some of the risk and volatility of renewable energy power purchase agreements, helping to expand procurement beyond large corporate buyers.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 20, 2018 -
Chicago challenges businesses to power buildings with renewable energy
Participants in the Chicago Renewable Energy Challenge pledge to keep their buildings powered with renewable sources for at least 10 years, and to track and share their progress.
By Jason Plautz • Nov. 20, 2018 -
Connecticut moves to keep Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant afloat
Connecticut joins states like Illinois and New York in developing mechanisms to keep existing nuclear plants online.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2018 -
PG&E reports second line fault in Camp Fire area
The report adds to the utility's involvement with the record blaze just days after California's head regulator assured investors the utility would not go bankrupt.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 19, 2018 -
24 of 26 Duke coal ash ponds in Carolinas not compliant with CCR rule
Nearly all the ash basins violated rules that requires the bottom of a disposal facility to be five feet above groundwater aquifers and stipulate there can be no connection between aquifer and disposal facility.
By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 19, 2018 -
NY simplifies interconnection standards to ensure 'robust' clean energy pipeline: PSC chair
"If you want people to do something, make it easy," Public Service Commission Chairman John Rhodes told Utility Dive.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2018 -
Trump to nominate acting EPA head Wheeler for permanent top spot
Wheeler has directed multiple efforts to roll back environmental regulations, including vehicle efficiency standards and rules on coal plant mercury emissions, carbon pollution and ash disposal.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 19, 2018 -
California PUC chair says state won't let PG&E go bankrupt
The utility withdrew its revolving credit lines this week as its equipment was linked to the deadly Camp Fire, a move that can presage a bankruptcy filing.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 16, 2018 -
FERC nominee McNamee distances himself from Trump coal bailout at hearing
Despite helping craft the White House's ill-fated coal and nuclear bailout last year, McNamee told senators he would view the issue differently if confirmed to a seat on FERC.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 15, 2018 -
PJM, states clash over market jurisdiction at NARUC conference
PJM CEO Andy Ott said some states in his market had entered a "compact" to allow generation decisions to be determined by competitive markets, sparking spirited responses from state regulators.
By Gavin Bade • Nov. 14, 2018 -
Deep Dive
APS spent millions defeating Prop 127. Is a clean energy compromise ahead?
The utility beat the push for 50% renewables, then started talk about an 80% clean energy standard.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 14, 2018