Regulation & Policy: Page 13


  • Smoke stack of coal power plant
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    martin_33 via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    If 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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    Nikada via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by West Monroe

    Technologies, 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
  • A picture of wind turbines in front of solar panels in Palm Springs, California. Explore the Trendline
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    Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
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    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
  • clean-energy-wine
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    (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) via Getty Images
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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
  • Transmission towers in fog at dawn.
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    Andrei Ksenzhuk via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Long-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
  • Row of High Voltage Power Lines under a Blue Sky on the plains of eastern Colorado.
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    Ronda Kimbrow via Getty Images
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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 April 30, 2024
  • Solar panels in front of the U.S. Capitol dome.
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    Douglas Rissing via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Solar tariffs are in the spotlight again. Our current approach isn’t the answer.

    Provisions in the IRA combined with aggressive tariff policy will cause the price of solar to skyrocket when we need to deploy it at a massive scale to solve the climate crisis.

    By Dan Whitten • April 30, 2024
  • Steam billowing from a gas-fired power plant in the winter.
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    James Pintar via Getty Images
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    Extreme winter weather grid performance improves, and 5 other takeaways from FERC’s open meeting

    FERC rejected a preliminary permit application for a 3.6-GW pumped storage facility on Navajo Nation land in Coconino County, Arizona, in a nod to its new tribal policy.

    By April 26, 2024
  • The remains of a charred power pole hangs from power lines in the aftermath of the Smokehouse Creek fire on March 03, 2024 near Canadian, Texas.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Xcel Energy named in 15 lawsuits over 2024 Texas panhandle fires

    Company officials said they will push for federal or state-level legislation to guarantee wildfire insurance for utilities or otherwise limit losses.

    By Emma Penrod • April 26, 2024
  • Inside Detail of Nuclear Reactor
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    E+ via Getty Images
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    NRC proposes streamlined environmental reviews for new reactor license applications

    If finalized, the proposed rule would apply to any future fission reactor application and could reduce environmental review costs by up to 45%, Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff found.

    By Brian Martucci • April 25, 2024
  • NV Energy's One Nevada transmission line.
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    "One Nevada transmission line" by Reliathon is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    DOE sets 2-year deadline for federal transmission permitting, cutting average timelines in half

    In addition, the Energy Department has tentatively agreed to provide up to $331 million to an LS Power transmission project that could help create a new transmission pathway in the West and deliver wind from Idaho to California.

    By April 25, 2024
  • A closeup of JPMorgan Chase's headquarters in New York.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    JPMorgan warns clean energy transition could take ‘decades or generations’

    New research from the U.S. bank pointed to inflation, high interest rates and geopolitical issues as key roadblocks delaying the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

    By Zoya Mirza • April 25, 2024
  • A facade of the White House in Washington, D.C.
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    Nick van Bree via Getty Images
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    EPA finalizes power plant emission rules, but utilities balk at expected need for carbon capture

    Electric utilities called the power plant rules “disappointing” and “unlawful” and say the rules will create reliability and affordability challenges.

    By April 25, 2024
  • Wind farm and electricity pylons in the desert of Coachella Valley, California.
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    Phil Augustavo via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    A single, unified Western power market will deliver affordability, reliability and climate benefits

    The expansion of the Western Energy Imbalance Market with a day-ahead market and a new independent governing authority can open major opportunities for customer benefits and increased grid reliability.

    By Lauren McCloy, Ben Otto, Diego Rivas and Fred Heutte • April 24, 2024
  • Photovoltaic solar panels on a residential building.
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    xphotoz via Getty Images
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    EPA awards $7B to 60 low-income solar access programs

    The funds will support community solar programs as well as initiatives to provide loans and grants to low-income households looking to install rooftop solar, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    By Emma Penrod • April 23, 2024
  • High Voltage Electric Power Lines At Sunset
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    imaginima via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    The case for electricity transmission competition has never been clearer with today’s inflation

    Both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have found that competitive bidding will improve grid sustainability and resiliency while lowering rates and increasing innovation.

    By Paul Cicio • April 23, 2024
  • Mt. Adams, Washington, from Sherman County, Oregon.
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    Aaron Boren via Getty Images
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    APS, others plan 1-year delay in fines for Western Resource Adequacy Program capacity shortfalls

    Supply chain problems, unexpected load growth and extreme weather are challenging efforts to ensure adequate power supplies in the West, according to Avista, Calpine and other program participants.

    By April 23, 2024
  • Patrick McHenry speaks during a news conference
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    House GOP spearheads legislation to strike down SEC climate disclosure rule

    The Financial Services Committee advanced a Congressional Review Act challenge to the rule by a 28-22 vote split along party lines.

    By Lamar Johnson • April 19, 2024
  • Concrete cooling tower at a nuclear power plant.
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    steverts via Getty Images
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    Congressional Democrats press Treasury for ‘well-functioning’ 45U nuclear tax credit

    Six House Democrats urged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to adopt flexible guidance for the Inflation Reduction Act credit, which benefits existing nuclear power facilities.

    By Brian Martucci • April 19, 2024
  • Transmission towers are shown near solar panels from the 100-megawatt MGM Resorts Mega Solar Array after it was launched on June 28, 2021, in Dry Lake Valley, Nevada.
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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    Democratic bill mandates FERC interconnection reforms to bring new resources online faster

    The bill would help bring new power supply online to address surging demand growth and increasing grid reliability concerns, according to the R Street Institute’s Devin Hartman.

    By April 18, 2024
  • A group of wind turbines and an electrical substation.
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    NanoStockk via Getty Images
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    DOE issues road map for speeding, improving grid interconnections to unlock 2.6-TW backlog

    “There is unlikely to be any document for years to come reflecting such a comprehensive set of [interconnection] solutions,” said Tyler Norris, former head of development at Cypress Creek Renewables.

    By April 18, 2024
  • Rooftop solar panels at the Soleil Lofts apartment complex in Herriman, Utah
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    Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
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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 April 17, 2024
  • An illustration of a NuScale Power plant layout from 1000ft view
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    Permission granted by NuScale Power
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    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
  • A row of servers at a data center.
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    Nikada via Getty Images
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    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 April 17, 2024
  • Solar panels and wind turbines generating renewable energy for green and sustainable future.
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    pidjoe via Getty Images
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    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
  • High voltage power lines photographed at blur hour.
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    timnewman via Getty Images
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    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 April 16, 2024