Regulation & Policy: Page 5
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California PUC rejects PG&E plan to spin off 5.6 GW in non-nuclear assets
PG&E failed to show the proposed transaction meets “even the minimal public interest standard,” the PUC said in its decision.
By Ethan Howland • May 10, 2024 -
New Pennsylvania PUC policy sparks debate over who can own energy storage assets
PECO Energy and Duquesne Light urged the commission to allow utilities to own energy storage assets, while the Solar Energy Industries Association and others sought a path for third-party ownership.
By Patrick Cooley • May 9, 2024 -
Explore the Trendlineā
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 -
Clean energy, gas generation in PJM may take longer to come online than expected: report
“Absent significant reforms or market innovations, most projects entering PJM’s queue today are unlikely to come online before 2030,” the report’s authors said.
By Ethan Howland • May 9, 2024 -
Opinion
There are 3 fundamental problems with Scope 2 GHG accounting. Hereās how to fix them.
Society cannot afford actions and expenditures to support claims of progress while not accomplishing real-world emission reductions.
By Neil Fisher, Roger Ballentine and Armond Cohen • May 8, 2024 -
DOE unveils 10 potential ānational interestā transmission corridors where projects could be expedited
The proposed corridors, which total more than 3,500 miles across targeted regions, could unlock federal financing.
By Robert Walton • May 8, 2024 -
Opinion
If you want āvirtual power plants,ā first define them
Persistent confusion around VPPs may impede successful policymaking, challenging regulatory commissions, stalling deployments and delaying important benefits to our electricity system.
By Ted Ko • May 7, 2024 -
Congress passes Russian uranium import ban, unlocking $2.7B to expand US nuclear fuel production
The money includes funding for high-assay low-enriched uranium, which is needed for certain advanced nuclear reactor designs.
By Brian Martucci • May 6, 2024 -
Replacing a Talen Energy coal-fired power plant with battery storage is infeasible: PJM
A Sierra Club proposal that aims to avoid a reliability must-run contract for the 1,280-MW Brandon Shores plant in Maryland is unworkable, the PJM Interconnection found.
By Ethan Howland • Updated May 6, 2024 -
Opinion
If EPAās latest power plant rules seem familiar,Ā donāt 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 -
$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 Americaās 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 isnāt 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 FERCās 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 -
"One Nevada transmission line" by Reliathon is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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 ādecades or generationsā
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 todayās 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