Regulation & Policy: Page 218
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Washington state solar incentive bill set for Senate hearing after House passage
The bill would extend the state's solar incentives until 2021 and boost the size of the program.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 24, 2016 -
Maryland regulators provide initial guidance on rules for community shared solar
Under the proposed rules, community solar subscribers would earn retail rate credit on their utility bills for power generated by their portion of a central station array.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 24, 2016 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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 -
Opinion
Empowerment over protection: How solar and DERs can help the disadvantaged
Policymakers should "seek ways to accelerate adoption of DERs for everyone, including the poor," argue James Tong and Jon Wellinghoff.
By James Tong and Jon Wellinghoff • Feb. 23, 2016 -
First do no harm: Michigan researchers publish storage sustainability guidelines
University of Michigan researchers publish guidelines for the sustainble use of energy storage systems.
By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2016 -
Deep Dive
Taming the Wild West: CAISO begins study of a full regional electricity market
The California ISO is beginning a landmark study on whether a regional grid will ease the state's transition to 50% renewables by 2030.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 22, 2016 -
EPA cites 12 counties for exceeding SO2 standards under NAAQS regulation
12 counties were issued non-attainment designations under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and 23 were declared unclassifiable in the agency's latest release on pollution levels resulting largely from coal power plants.
By Gavin Bade • Feb. 19, 2016 -
Arizona rural utility proposes demand charge, more fees on rooftop solar users
UniSource Energy Services wants a lower net metering credit and impose a mandatory demand charge on solar customer customers to help recover fixed costs.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 19, 2016 -
Deep Dive
Is a national high voltage transmission system the cheapest way to cut emissions?
NOAA researchers say a national plan to efficiently connect clean energy resources to demand centers can cut power sector GHGs 80% with no electricity price bump.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 19, 2016 -
Deep Dive
Beyond net metering: How location can help put a value on DERs
Finding the precise locational value of distributed energy resources is key to ongoing and future value-of-solar proceedings, a report said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 18, 2016 -
Deep Dive
NARUC 2016: What the SCOTUS stay and Scalia's death mean for the Clean Power Plan
The plan is likely to be delayed about two years, if it is upheld, injecting new uncertainty into utility planning processes.
By Gavin Bade • Feb. 18, 2016 -
Nuclear regulatory commissioner Ostendorff will step down in June
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission member William Ostendorff will step down when his term expires this summer, potentially leaving the commission with just three of five seats filled.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016 -
Mississippi lawmakers push legislation to end PSC oversight of electric cooperatives
Bills in each chamber of the state legislature would put ratemaking and spending in the hands of co-op boards.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 18, 2016 -
17 governors sign pledge to modernize US power grid
A bipartisan group of governors around the country have committed to diversify energy generation, expand clean energy and modernize energy infrastructure.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016 -
As Oregon House passes clean energy bill, utility regulators say they were shut out
A bill to eliminate coal imports and institute a 50% RPS is attracting crticism from a number of regulators, including the head of NARUC.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016 -
Avista Utilities asks Washington state regulators to approve electric vehicle charger pilot
If it goes well, the pilot program could kick off a utility-backed effort to make more EV charging infrastructure available in Washington.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2016 -
Updated: Puerto Rico Gov. signs utility restructuring bill after legislative approval
Differences with a Senate version passed last week will have to be ironed out before Feb. 23, when a debt agreement reached with the utility's creditors expires.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2016 -
Deep Dive
Powered by PTC, wind energy expected to keep booming despite Clean Power Plan stay
Demand for cheap wind may be so great that utilities build out enough to meet CPP targets regardless of the stay.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2016 -
Deep Dive
That's the brakes: Utilizing stored energy from public transit for grid services
The Philadelphia region transit system, with industry partners, is pioneering a financial model for making regenerative braking economic.
By Peter Maloney • Feb. 16, 2016 -
Opinion
Utility regulators face unfriendly — and unfair — fire
Former regulator Ray Gifford writes that smear campaigns against utility commissioners are instilling distrust in the regulatory process.
By Ray Gifford • Feb. 16, 2016 -
Pennsylvania regulators set retail rate net metering for distributed generation
The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission ruled 3-2 last week to limit the output from distribution generation to 200% of residential electrical consumption needs while preserving retail rate remuneration.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 16, 2016 -
Deep Dive
How utility executives see the future of the electricity business
Here are some of the key findings from Utility Dive's third annual State of the Electric Utility report.
By Gavin Bade • Feb. 16, 2016 -
Oregon lawmakers propose carbon tax, coal phase-out
The bills would phase out coal, increase renewables and enact a carbon tax. But Oregon is currently in a short legislative session, and some say more time is needed to consider such significant changes.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2016 -
Solar advocates push Maine lawmakers to preserve net metering
Maine lawmakers are currently involved in a proceeding to evaluate the state's net metering policy and possible alternatives.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 12, 2016 -
Hawaii bill demands NextEra prove consumer benefit for $4.3B Hawaiian Electric merger
The House Bill 2567 would require NextEra to show "substantial net benefit" to customers before state regulators approve its takeover of Hawaiian Electric Industries, but the utility says the bill fails to define net benefits.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 12, 2016 -
Massachusetts solar 'on hold' as incentives in two major programs dry up
Small residential systems can continue to be built, but the expiration of key solar incentives has left the industry in limbo in the state.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 12, 2016