Regulation & Policy: Page 41
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MISO proposal to let utilities profit from upgrades for HVDC lines sparks debate at FERC
Clean energy advocates and SOO Green developer warn the plan could stymie transmission development and renewable energy buildout.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 22, 2021 -
'Anecdotal evidence' points to price gouging during winter storm Uri, NERC official says
Power shutoffs to gas compression facilities were not the primary cause of the February grid outages in Texas and the U.S. Southwest, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp. And price gouging may have played a part.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2021 -
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 -
FERC orders utilities to fine-tune line ratings to boost transmission efficiency
Chairman Glick outlined a path for the agency's transmission rulemaking, and gas pipeline companies came under scrutiny.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 17, 2021 -
Cities lack sufficient data to monitor their progress toward climate goals: report
Just 19 of 100 large U.S. cities studied by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy are on track to meet their climate goals, and only 25 have set goals to cut emissions from transportation.
By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 17, 2021 -
FERC eyes rule changes to prevent utilities from charging ratepayers for political expenses
The agency’s review of how trade group dues are treated could affect state rate cases, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, which initially petitioned the commission to investigate the issue.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 17, 2021 -
Energy transition likely requires market changes, transmission growth, PJM finds
A report released Wednesday identifies gaps in PJM's markets and signals changes in transmission planning and system operations, per the grid operator.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 16, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Will Tri-State's exit fee dispute at FERC shake up the cooperative utility model?
Even with United Power announcing plans to leave, Tri-State continues its pivot toward renewables and contract flexibility.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 15, 2021 -
Nevada moves to bring rooftop solar benefits to underserved customers in a step toward equity, advocates say
The potential use of community-based solar projects on commercial warehouses or parking structures will allow Nevada to generate power within urban areas, advocates say.
By Emma Penrod • Dec. 13, 2021 -
DOD, GSA start process in federal shift to all carbon-free power by 2030
The federal government aims to begin buying emissions-free power in competitive markets next year in response to an executive order.
By Ethan Howland • Updated Feb. 4, 2022 -
New Mexico regulators unanimously reject Avangrid-PNM merger, but observers see a second chance in 2023
Observers say it is possible the deal can be salvaged, but for now concerns over reliability and the development of renewable resources have scuttled the proposed $8 billion merger.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2021 -
Deep Dive
New York’s landmark Reforming the Energy Vision framework remains both vital and unfinished, analysts say
New York's REV initiatives have given full value to distributed energy resources, but the utility business model transformation must be finished, regulators and other stakeholders agreed.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 9, 2021 -
Opinion
Fuel neutrality, pipeline environmental reviews and a return to common sense at FERC
In curtailing the Minimum Offer Price Rule and undertaking environmental reviews of pipelines, federal regulators are fulfilling their responsibilities while respecting state authority, writes former FERC commissioner John Norris.
By John Norris • Dec. 7, 2021 -
Texas power plants 'ready for winter' following weatherization assessment, ERCOT says
On-site inspections of more than 300 generating units mean consumers "can be confident" the power system will remain stable this winter, according to the grid operator.
By Robert Walton • Updated Jan. 5, 2022 -
Opinion
Improving outcomes for everyone: Enthusiasm builds for broader Western electricity market
At issue is how we go about making our electricity cleaner, more reliable and more affordable, according to the CEOs of Southern California Edison and Pacific Power.
By Steven Powell & Stefan Bird • Dec. 6, 2021 -
Despite authority to require RTOs, Glick says FERC will encourage bottom-up approach to creating power markets
The top federal energy regulator supports RTO participation and said he is focused on orders that will not create disincentives for states or utilities to join the broader transmission planning groups.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 3, 2021 -
Opinion
Irreconcilable conflict? Lessons from the Central Maine Power transmission corridor debacle
The Central Maine Power corridor debate shows public support must be built for much-needed infrastructure through strategic, long-term transmission and distribution planning, the author writes.
By Rebecca Schultz • Nov. 30, 2021 -
Deep Dive
‘A long way to go’: How ConEd, Xcel and 4 other utilities are helping cities meet big EV goals
From New York City to Los Angeles, cities and utilities face cost, land and grid challenges in their efforts to electrify transportation systems.
By Robert Walton , Emma Penrod , Jason Plautz , Scott Van Voorhis • Nov. 30, 2021 -
8 states, DC urge FERC to reject EEI, Eversource call to drop competition for transmission projects
Utility regulators and attorneys general also want the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require independent monitors to help oversee powerline planning.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 29, 2021 -
Opinion
At the forefront: The biggest state clean energy legislative trends of 2021
States continue to act as laboratories of innovation, taking unique policy approaches and testing their own solutions to various clean energy policy issues, the author writes.
By Autumn Proudlove • Nov. 24, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Pricing carbon is vital to US climate goals and politically unlikely, but there is another way, analysts say
There are two basic approaches to pricing carbon emissions, and either can work, most economists agree. Though neither is politically viable, there is a way toward them, many analysts say.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 24, 2021 -
Opinion
Can the DOE's community solar target to power 5M homes be met? Not without state-level support
Without putting forth the resources and rewarding effective blueprints to pull off a monumental scaling effort of community solar, the DOE's new targets will not be met, the author writes.
By Mike Gordon • Nov. 24, 2021 -
Opinion
Illinois' new clean energy law could be a regulatory playbook for other states
While the law's decarbonization targets and workforce development components grabbed headlines, less has been written about the utility regulatory requirements and challenges associated with enacting it, the authors write.
By Carrie Zalewski, Jordan Graham and Tanya Rabczak • Nov. 23, 2021 -
The image by FirstEnergy is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
FERC balks at PJM utilities' proposal to profit on network upgrades
The plan by PPL Corp., Exelon and other utilities is part of a broader utility effort to be allowed to invest in more types of transmission projects.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 22, 2021 -
Opinion
Energy-efficient infrastructure projects hold a key opportunity for contractors
For builders that incorporate sustainable systems into their projects, the $1.80-per-square-foot 179D tax deduction can quickly climb to millions of dollars.
By Dean Zerbe • Nov. 22, 2021 -
FERC investigates possible market manipulation during Winter Storm Uri
Pointing to a jump in enforcement activity, Chairman Richard Glick said "the cop is back on the street."
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 19, 2021