Regulation & Policy: Page 13
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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 -
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 -
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 -
$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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 Ethan Howland • April 26, 2024 -
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 -
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 -
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 Ethan Howland • April 25, 2024 -
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 -
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 Robert Walton • April 25, 2024 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 Ethan Howland • April 23, 2024 -
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 -
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 -
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 Ethan Howland • April 18, 2024 -
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 Ethan Howland • April 18, 2024 -
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 Herman K. Trabish • April 17, 2024 -
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 -
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 Ethan Howland • April 17, 2024 -
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 -
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 Ethan Howland • April 16, 2024