Regulation & Policy: Page 117
-
EPA will open MATS rule for review despite utility objections
Most coal plants have already complied with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards or shut down, but the agency's review could affect how it crafts regulations in the future.
By Gavin Bade • Aug. 30, 2018 -
FirstEnergy to retire more than 4 GW of PJM coal plant capacity
The shutdowns would be the end of its Ohio coal fleet, but the generator said retirements could be "reversed or postponed" if the Trump administration moves to bail out the plants.
By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2018 -
Explore the Trendlineâž”
adamkaz via Getty ImagesTrendlineThe 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 staff authorizes construction on Mountain Valley Pipeline
Democratic commissioners questioned whether staff should decide the stop order revision for the 300-mile pipeline.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 30, 2018 -
TVA shifts coal ash strategy in response to spill, Obama-era rule
The utility is moving away from "wet storage" which it says, in part, led to the Kingston plant coal ash spill in 2008.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 29, 2018 -
Newly-vacated hydro dam operation license creates quandry for Alabama Power
A U.S. Court of Appeals has vacated Alabama Power's license on seven of its dams, determining federal regulators did not adequately evaluate the environmental impact of the dams.
By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Exclusive: Ohio PUC details utility reform roadmap in PowerForward initiative
The plan, a product of a year-long business model investigation, aims to create a level playing field for innovation on the utility distribution system.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 29, 2018 -
California passes landmark 100% clean energy goal
The bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk would direct state agencies to begin planning to supply 100% of retail electricity sales with carbon-free resources by 2045.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 30, 2018 -
Renewables push CAISO prices lower, threaten inflexible generation
A new report finds uneven price distribution in utility-scale solar disproportionately affects baseload generation, such as coal and nuclear.
By Peter Maloney • Aug. 28, 2018 -
Colorado approves Xcel plan to retire coal, shift to renewables and storage
The plan will see the utility retire 660 MW of coal power and invest $2.5 billion in renewable energy, part of Xcel's "steel for fuel" strategy.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018 -
FERC says SCE can't treat storage customers differently in service
Southern California Edison sought authority to curtail electricity service to storage customers first during times of peak demand, but FERC said that would be "unduly discriminatory."
By Gavin Bade , Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018 -
California passes bill to coordinate EV charger planning
The bill would grant authority to the California Energy Commission to assess charging infrastructure build-out in an attempt to meet the state's ambitious EV goals.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 28, 2018 -
Playing with wildfire: California lawmakers outline utility liabilities in new report
What can state legislators accomplish in the last days of voting regarding the exposure that investor-owned utilities face to wildfire damages?
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 28, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Face the heat: Should EV incentives be restructured for battery degradation?
A new study advocates scaling electric vehicle incentives based on how quickly batteries wear out, but critics say it misses the bigger picture.
By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 28, 2018 -
Vistra Energy to close small waste coal plant in PJM
The 51 MW plant in McAdoo, Pa., is in the heart of coal country but loses money and has a "negative financial outlook," according to Vistra Energy.
By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018 -
Generators ask FERC to mandate capacity market for CAISO
California's market rules should be thrown out because they do not allow generators to recoup their costs, The Electric Power Supply Association said last week.
By Gavin Bade • Aug. 27, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Pollinator habitats: The bees' knees of rural solar development
Pollinator-friendly solar is a blossoming trend that saves maintenance costs and makes utility-scale solar more appealing to agricultural communities.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 27, 2018 -
Minnesota regulators unanimously reject Centerpoint's renewable natural gas program
The utility says it remains "committed to the importance of bringing a renewable natural gas option to our customers."
By Catherine Morehouse • Updated July 29, 2019 -
19 mayors commit to make all buildings net-zero carbon by 2050
The declaration precedes the Global Climate Action Summit, where leaders from around the world will be encouraged to collaborate on strategies for decreasing GHG emissions.
By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 24, 2018 -
Philadelphia sets path to reduce GHG emissions 80% by 2050
Other steps include initiatives to install rooftop solar and incentives for more efficient building thermal systems.
By Jason Plautz • Aug. 24, 2018 -
PacifiCorp, Idaho Power agree to make CAISO their reliability coordinator
As the California grid operator draws closer to filing at FERC for approval of its Reliability Coordinator services, two more utilities have signed on following a commitment by the Balancing Authority of Northern California in July.
By Peter Maloney • Aug. 24, 2018 -
New York unveils new toolkit to drive solar on brownfields
The procurement guidelines aim to spur community solar development on landfills and other underutilized land, advancing the state's 50% renewable generation goals.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 24, 2018 -
US Conference of Mayors condemns EPA Clean Power Plan replacement
Columbia, SC Mayor Steve Benjamin said cities "can’t do it alone" when it comes to tackling climate change, and urged more federal help.
By Chris Teale • Aug. 24, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Are regulators starting to rethink fixed charges?
Fixed rate reductions in Q2 of this year may indicate regulators are more conscious of low and moderate income customers as well as investments in energy efficiency and distributed energy resources.
By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 23, 2018 -
Court ruling a setback for EPA efforts to undermine coal ash rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit concluded Obama-era coal ash rules, which the Trump administration seeks to weaken, did not go far enough to protect the environment.
By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2018 -
Dems question FERC over chief of staff role in coal, nuke bailout
Sen. Maria Cantwell and Rep. Frank Pallone say statements made by FERC Chief of Staff Anthony Pugliese "call into question the impartiality and independence of the Commission."
By Gavin Bade • Aug. 23, 2018