Regulation & Policy: Page 71
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Trump permitting order benefits fossil fuels and renewables, but NGOs vow to challenge
A former Environmental Protection Agency attorney says the order is on shaky legal ground and will likely be challenged in court.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 8, 2020 -
FERC plans technical conference to tackle long-term energy sector impacts of COVID-19
The commission will examine operational challenges, electricity demand and transmission planning impacts, and the effects on the sector's access to capital, including credit, liquidity and returns on equity.
By Robert Walton • June 8, 2020 -
Explore the Trendline➔
adamkaz via Getty Images
TrendlineThe 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 -
Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by tommaso79 via Getty Images
OpinionUtility exec and consumer advocate: Arrearage management programs are a win for customers and utilities
These programs can be particularly useful when current utility shut-off moratoriums expire — it is estimated the residential electric sector alone may see a total increase in past due bills of more than $15 billion by early summer.
By Penni Conner and Charlie Harak • June 8, 2020 -
Massachusetts attorney general urges state examine shift from natural gas heating
The state has set a binding limit of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which Attorney General Maura Healey says will require a "transition away from fossil fuels and change [in] the way gas utilities do business in our state."
By Robert Walton • June 5, 2020 -
EV charging gets small slice in Democrats' $494B transport infrastructure bill
The INVEST in America Act would reauthorize funding that's currently provided under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act to invest in greener infrastructure, including electric vehicle charging stations.
By Chris Teale • June 5, 2020 -
Opinion
Renewables' potential depends on transparent and fair policies, not special interest giveaways
FirstEnergy spinoff Energy Harbor is receiving a $1 billion taxpayer bailout while also enriching its shareholders with an $800 million stock buyback. This is crony capitalism at its worst, the author writes.
By Michael K. Dorsey • June 5, 2020 -
Utilities stay silent on proposal to federalize net metering as states call it a 'threat' to solar policy
States have spent years examining distributed generation compensation policies, and upending those efforts for "one-size-fits-all federalization" is "irritating," Arkansas Public Service Commission Chair Ted Thomas said.
By Catherine Morehouse • Updated June 4, 2020 -
PJM: MOPR compliance plan aims to avoid FERC's 'immense' and 'unreasonable' burden
FERC clarified in April that default capacity auctions are a state subsidy under the Minimum Offer Price Rule. But PJM warns too expansive a definition could "paralyze" the voluntary markets.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 4, 2020 -
Herman K. Trabish
Deep DiveThe 3 key challenges to expanding the West's real-time energy market to day-ahead trading
Driven by new Western state renewables and zero emissions mandates, the 11 active participants and nine new applicants in the Energy Imbalance Market are pushing to expand it to day-ahead trading.
By Herman K. Trabish • June 3, 2020 -
Opinion
Outdated NEPA needs modernizing. Just ask Warren Buffett
As the U.S. economy prepares to recover from the current crisis, important job and revenue-creating proposals like the 1,000 mile Gateway West transmission project don’t need to languish in a regulatory morass, the author writes.
By Paul Griffin • June 3, 2020 -
Flickr
Massachusetts hopes 'localized approach' to GHG inventory can spread
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council rolled out tools for local communities to collect and track emissions data, something officials believe could be replicated in other regions.
By Chris Teale • June 2, 2020 -
Opinion
Is subnational carbon pricing the off-ramp for MOPR?
FERC's April ruling refines the applicability of MOPR to green industrial policy and clarifies that it does not apply to voluntary private behavior and environmental policy, opening the door to emissions-based policies, the author writes.
By Devin Hartman • June 2, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Ex-FERC commissioners debate solutions to coal self-committments said to cost millions
Former FERC Commissioner Suedeen Kelly says the issue will have to be resolved at the state level, while former Chair Jon Wellinghoff argues such market distortions should be addressed by FERC.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 1, 2020 -
Getty
Cities need more expertise, utility support in 100% renewables push: report
The authors said local leaders should invest more time to find ways that ensure the energy transition is equitable and does not leave marginalized communities behind.
By Chris Teale • June 1, 2020 -
Yujin Kim/Utility Dive
Deep DiveObserving recovery through a climate 'magnifying glass'
COVID-19 presented cities with fresh observations of climate trends, marking a crucial time for leaders to weave climate change mitigation into recovery efforts.
By Chris Teale • May 29, 2020 -
Renderings by SteelBlue, Perkins and Will.
A sneak peek at San Francisco's new low-carbon neighborhood
The city unanimously approved plans to build a 29-acre sustainable, transportation-efficient community on the site of a former century-old fossil fuel power plant.
By Cailin Crowe • May 29, 2020 -
US solar developers get reprieve on bifacial panel prices as judge rejects USTR move on tariffs
While the ruling ensures developers can purchase the more efficient two-sided panels from Asia for a few months without any tariffs, the government is expected to continue its efforts to remove the exemption.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 29, 2020 -
EPA backtracks on fish-protecting requirements in long-delayed Merrimack coal plant permit
The permit has not been updated since 1992, and environmentalists say the agency's proposal is "a complete 180" from the permit proposed in 2011, which would have required the plant to install cooling towers.
By Catherine Morehouse • May 28, 2020 -
24 Congressional Democrats urge FERC to reject net metering overhaul
The proposal is an affront to states' rights as well as a threat to distributed energy compensation policies, senators and representatives wrote.
By Catherine Morehouse • May 28, 2020 -
Catherine Morehouse/Utility Dive
Murkowski, Collins, Tillis urge Treasury to extend aid to solar industry
The Republican senators asked Secretary Steven Mnuchin to extend safe harbor requirements for the "start of construction" on renewables projects, and modify the "physical work test" rule to ensure eligibility for tax credits.
By Catherine Morehouse • May 26, 2020 -
Fotolia
OpinionPros and cons of FRRExit: Correcting the record in the wake of Monitoring Analytics' cost estimates
As states weigh FERC’s Minimum Offer Price Rule order, it’s important to clarify the risks and benefits of an alternative to PJM’s centralized capacity procurement called the Fixed Resource Requirement, the authors write.
By Rob Gramlich and Miles Farmer • May 26, 2020 -
Fotolia
Virginia approves Dominion time-of-use rate experiment over stakeholder objections
The proposal could be a precursor for a system-wide rollout of the time varying rates, but NGOs and the state's Office of Consumer Counsel first want the company to provide more details.
By Guy Burdick • May 22, 2020 -
Kendall Davis, Dive Design
State-federal tension 'at an all time high' between MOPR, net metering attack, says head Maryland regulator
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Neil Chatterjee, meanwhile, urged states to give the MOPR time.
By Catherine Morehouse • May 22, 2020 -
Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive/Utility Dive
FERC approves PJM reserve overhaul with $2B price tag, critics say move ignores overcapacity
"We are starting to see evidence that the future of PJM as we know it is at stake ... no matter how many times the chairman denies it,” Commissioner Richard Glick said in his dissent.
By Catherine Morehouse • May 21, 2020 -
EPA accused of 'pandemic of pollution' as Trump orders regulatory relief
Democrats and environmentalists say the EPA already has gone too far in cutting regulations as President Trump orders additional regulatory relief to aid in economic recovery amid the coronavirus pandemic.
By Guy Burdick • May 21, 2020
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