Regulation & Policy: Page 39
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Deep Dive
Texas just dodged a repeat of 2021 outages, but its power sector has a long way to go, analysts say
Texas has weatherized its generators and protected critical infrastructure, but additional market reforms, new technologies, regional support and energy efficiency are still required, policymakers and analysts agreed
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 25, 2022 -
DOE announces supply chain strategy for clean energy
The administration will back critical materials mining and domestic manufacturing in a bid to capture the clean energy economy.
By Jason Plautz • Feb. 24, 2022 -
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 -
Opinion
How PJM's 'fat market' for capacity fuels environmental injustice and consumer expense
As FERC Chair Richard Glick did recently, it’s imperative to continue to draw attention to ways in which unnecessary and uneconomic fossil fuel generation is prolonged by market flaws, the authors write.
By Liz Stanton and Joshua Castigliego • Feb. 24, 2022 -
Opinion
Transmission, reliability and gas system decarbonization top of mind for state utility regulators in 2022
Energy Innovation analysts share their top takeaways from last week's NARUC policy summit, along with insights for unlocking access to low-cost renewables, bolstering system reliability, and cutting natural gas emissions.
By Michelle Solomon and Hadley Tallackson • Feb. 23, 2022 -
14 states urge FERC to tighten accounting rules to prevent utilities from recouping lobbying expenses
The Edison Electric Institute told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Tuesday that existing accounting rules are adequate.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 23, 2022 -
Deep Dive
Utility regulators eye new tools to ensure equity efforts don’t impinge on other policy goals
Utilities can advance equity with innovative performance-based or arrears management programs that keep rate spikes from slowing beneficial electrification and emissions reductions, stakeholders said.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 21, 2022 -
FERC expands criteria for reviewing gas infrastructure proposals, outlines GHG framework
The commission said the change provides more legal certainty, but critics called the decision "reckless" and "legally dubious," arguing it will hurt pipeline development.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 18, 2022 -
Opinion
Revisiting California's natural gas hookup subsidies
California is one of the biggest consumers of natural gas in the U.S., and has been adding new gas customers faster than any other state. These trends are in direct conflict with its ambitious climate goals, the authors write.
By Clifford Rechtschaffen and Simi Rose George • Feb. 18, 2022 -
FERC, state task force eye benefits of considering transmission project portfolios, ending 'silos'
The FERC-NARUC task force aims to break down barriers to transmission development.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2022 -
Opinion
Without mapping tools, environmental justice investments could be just a shot in the dark
With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, continued discussions around the Build Back Better Act, and state-level net-zero targets, trillions of dollars and a just transition are on the line, the author writes.
By Michelle Solomon • Feb. 16, 2022 -
Biden administration launches industrial decarbonization initiative, targets $9.5B for clean hydrogen
The White House also issued interim guidance to federal agencies on Tuesday to make sure carbon capture, utilization and sequestration technologies advance in a "responsible manner."
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 16, 2022 -
Dozens of lawmakers press Biden to prioritize appliance efficiency standard updates
There were 28 standards in need of review when President Joe Biden took office, and more deadlines are approaching. "The scale of the rulemaking task ahead is challenging," warned more than 50 lawmakers.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2022 -
PJM rejects generator trade group request to bar some renewables from capacity auction
The grid operator is preparing to re-evaluate how it accredits capacity for fossil-fueled plants to account for their outage risks.
By Ethan Howland • Updated March 7, 2022 -
Louisville eyes forming public electric utility to meet climate goals
Its goal of achieving 100% clean energy communitywide by 2040 does not match the decarbonization plans of its current energy provider, leading the city to look for alternatives.
By Jason Plautz • Feb. 14, 2022 -
PJM stakeholders advance interconnection reform plan to speed process, clear clean energy backlog
The widely endorsed plan includes a two-year pause on new interconnection applications to give PJM time to clear out a backlog of interconnection requests — mostly renewable and energy storage proposals.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 11, 2022 -
Utility capital spending remains strong, but inflation, federal policy uncertainty complicate outlook: EEI
Investor-owned electric utilities will make capital investments of about $140 billion annually from 2021-2023, officials from the Edison Electric Institute told Wall Street analysts.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2022 -
The number of natural gas customers will continue to rise, even as US decarbonizes: AGA report
Efficient gas appliances are one key to ensuring an equitable transition to a net-zero carbon economy, according to the American Gas Association.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2022 -
ISO-NE plan to extend MOPR through 2024 faces uncertain fate at FERC, experts say
The delay in eliminating the minimum offer price rule could slow renewable development in New England, according to clean energy advocates. However, a power market consultant disagrees.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 9, 2022 -
Opinion
California's omission of community solar from distributed energy policies is shortsighted
Community solar can make moot the controversies surrounding behind-the-meter solar and enable new approaches that can maximize societal value for all Californians, the authors write.
By Anna Brockway and Duncan Callaway • Feb. 8, 2022 -
Biden extends solar tariff 4 years, eases Trump-era requirements
The extension doubles the quota of solar cells and upholds the exclusion of bifacial modules, moves the solar industry welcomed.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 7, 2022 -
Opinion
2022 electric market resolution: Changing how we approach the RTO/ISO debate
There is another way to approach the market debate, and we should pursue it to achieve an objective we can all agree on: reliable decarbonization, the authors write.
By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Feb. 7, 2022 -
NYC mayor reshapes climate approach to put environmental justice at the fore
Eric Adams announced the launch of a Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. "We intend on holding the mayor's office accountable to that title," said the head of one key EJ advocacy organization.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 4, 2022 -
Massachusetts approves $4B efficiency plan. Is it 'transformational' or a 'missed opportunity' on equity?
The Mass Save budget recognizes efficiency as a key to meeting the state's carbon reduction goals, but regulators declined to approve some provisions focused on energy equity.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 4, 2022 -
Deep Dive
Breakthroughs in generation and system integration are driving the utility of the future, analysts say
The new technologies will reverse the supply-demand equation and bring competitive procurement and a transaction platform to merge the bulk power and distribution systems.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 31, 2022 -
Con Edison, KeySpan urge FERC to ignore EPA call to pause natural gas project reviews
The utilities say they support cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but downstate New York needs more gas on cold winter days.
By Ethan Howland • Jan. 31, 2022