Regulation & Policy: Page 47
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Opinion
As climate risk disclosures loom, US utilities must not evade accountability
U.S. utilities, through their trade groups, are pressing the SEC for weak climate disclosure policies that contradict advice from leading authorities, the authors write.
By Howard Crystal and Ilana Cohen • Aug. 2, 2021 -
Xcel plans to roll out 10,000 MW of renewable energy in Minnesota, Colorado by 2030
Xcel Energy is accelerating plans to cut its carbon emissions in Minnesota, the utility's home base, and is also gearing up for a major transition, with longtime CEO Ben Fowke slated to retire on Aug. 18.
By Scott Van Voorhis • July 30, 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 -
Murkowski highlights potential boost to US critical minerals ahead of bipartisan infrastructure deal
Senators voted 67-32 to advance the latest version of the bipartisan infrastructure deal, securing the support of 17 Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
By Scott Van Voorhis • July 29, 2021 -
'This is starting on the right path': Hawaii sees early successes with performance-based regulation
Regulators are also considering developing new performance incentive mechanisms to regulate the retirement of a series of fossil fuel plants over the next few years.
By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2021 -
"Gateway Arch - St. Louis - Missouri" by Sam valadi is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Spire STL warns FERC 'lives at risk' if pipeline not able to operate following DC Circuit ruling
The pipeline developer requested federal regulators grant it a temporary certificate of public convenience and necessity while they sort out the fallout from a June ruling that vacated the pipeline's ability to operate.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 29, 2021 -
Opinion
Ensuring electricity reliability must be job number one for FERC
With a rapidly changing climate and a nationwide move toward renewables, the message should be clear: now is the time to redouble the focus on grid reliability, a former U.S. congressman writes.
By Rick Boucher • July 29, 2021 -
(2021). [Screenshot]. Retrieved from House Energy and Commerce Committee.
House grills FERC about commission's regulatory authority on cybersecurity, pipeline climate impacts
"There's no doubt that ... the biggest threat facing the electric grid today is cybersecurity," FERC Chair Richard Glick said during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 28, 2021 -
Opinion
A brighter day for distribution co-ops? FERC's Tri-State proceeding and reformation of the G&T model
Stakeholders might not look to Tupac Shakur in the first instance when analyzing the troubles of the generation and transmission model. But recent developments at FERC suggest perhaps they should, the authors write.
By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • July 27, 2021 -
California PUC unveils draft plan for 'forward-thinking' distributed energy policy
The plan focuses on integrating DERs into wholesale markets and ensuring they are fairly compensated for value stacking, among other measures.
By Kavya Balaraman • July 27, 2021 -
NextEra adds 1,840 MW renewables and storage to more than 15 GW backlog in Q2
NextEra Energy is nearing the halfway mark in its campaign to roll out 30 million solar panels across Florida by 2030, the multistate utility said Friday in its second quarter earnings report.
By Scott Van Voorhis • July 26, 2021 -
AEP seeing 'credible interest' from potential buyers of Kentucky Power subsidiary, CEO says
AEP is ramping up its push to build more renewable generation, executives said Thursday, as the company detailed an increase in second quarter earnings amid a rebounding economy and interest in its Kentucky subsidiary.
By Scott Van Voorhis • July 23, 2021 -
Texas PUC, ERCOT pledge 'reliability is first' as state pursues market reform
Regulators want the market to pay for reliability "in any form," including through additional thermal resources or on-site battery storage. They're also looking to better incentivize generators that provide power during periods of grid stress.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 23, 2021 -
FirstEnergy agrees to pay $230M fine for bribing Ohio officials to bail out two nuclear plants
Ohio groups called the fee a "drop in the bucket," despite it being the largest federal criminal penalty ever to be collected in the Southern District of Ohio, surpassing the $200 million fee imposed on Exelon subsidiary ComEd in 2020.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 23, 2021 -
Avangrid touts green hydrogen proposals under DOE initiative, raises 2021 earnings outlook
Avangrid filed several proposals with the Department of Energy, including a plan to build a 20 MW electrolyzer and hydrogen storage complex in Connecticut, to be powered by offshore wind and other renewable sources.
By Scott Van Voorhis • July 22, 2021 -
(2021). "U.S. House of Representatives Morning Hour" [Screenshot]. Retrieved from C-SPAN.
Democrats' 'Hot FERC Summer' campaign aims to boost FERC's visibility on Capitol Hill
As part of the campaign, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., and his colleagues are introducing a trio of FERC-related bills, including one that could open the door for FERC to implement a carbon price.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 21, 2021 -
PNM Avangrid Merger
Avangrid, PNM report progress with merger critics as criminal probe of Iberdrola raises new questions
As the utilities work to win over the remaining critics of their proposed $8.3 billion merger, the New Mexico hearing examiner wants more information about a criminal investigation into the activities of Avangrid's parent company.
By Scott Van Voorhis • July 21, 2021 -
Biden administration readies 3 initiatives to curb ransomware
The government wants cybercriminals to think twice before instigating an incident and for private industry to engage more.
By Samantha Schwartz • July 21, 2021 -
Billions more needed to address climate infrastructure needs of US cities: report
Cities need at least $10.6 billion to fund more than 300 sustainable infrastructure projects, according to a CDP survey of 97 U.S. cities.
By Jason Plautz • July 20, 2021 -
Cost allocation remains key challenge for FERC ahead of transmission reform, Glick says
"When you're talking about money — when you're talking about who pays and how much — that's always a difficult issue," FERC Chair Richard Glick said in an interview with Utility Dive.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 20, 2021 -
Cyber leaders officially join the ranks as White House grapples with remediation
The Senate confirmed Jen Easterly to lead CISA while the White House swore in Chris Inglis as the first national cyber director.
By Katie Malone • July 19, 2021 -
Challenge to Berkeley gas regulation dismissed, a win for cities in carbon emissions fight
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit last week that challenged the city's restrictions on natural gas in new low-rise residential buildings, a major boost for local governments looking to follow suit.
By Chris Teale • July 19, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Gridlock in transmission queues spotlights need for FERC action on planning
FERC is calling for stakeholder input to address the backlog in transmission queues holding 70% of the renewables needed for Biden's policy goals.
By Herman K. Trabish • July 19, 2021 -
California approves expedited pathway for near-term utility EV investments, despite cost concerns
Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves, however, pushed for "a progressive way" to fund these investments, adding that "whenever we're using utility bills to pay for this, it's inherently regressive."
By Kavya Balaraman • July 16, 2021 -
Heatwave, wildfires heighten urgency for Western RTO: Glick, Clements
Some ex-FERC commissioners and chairs have urged FERC to tackle this unilaterally, but Chair Richard Glick and Commissioner Allison Clements believe such a policy should come from Western stakeholders themselves.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 16, 2021 -
Sen. Lankford voices doubts over Democratic clean energy standard, calling it 'punitive' for fossil fuels
Democrats are advancing clean energy funding and policy through a variety of legislative pathways, but Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., doubts how much will make it into a final bill.
By Robert Walton • July 16, 2021