Regulation & Policy: Page 79
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Opinion
Forward Clean Energy Markets: A new solution to state-RTO conflicts
The Brattle Group has developed a new concept to competitively procure clean energy commitments in a technology-neutral fashion and complement other wholesale power market products, including capacity.
By Sam Newell, Kathleen Spees and Johannes Pfeifenberger • Jan. 27, 2020 -
NextEra aims to capitalize on PTC extension, repower wind in 2020
The company missed its Q4 earnings estimate but its developer arm excelled, beating fourth quarter earnings from 2018, and increasing its pipeline of projects to the largest it's ever been.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 27, 2020 -
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 -
Wisconsin utility plans to retire 345 MW of coal early as controversial natural gas plans remain in flux
Dairyland Power Cooperative is shutting down a coal plant in anticipation of a new natural gas project coming online, but the facility continues to face regulatory hurdles across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 27, 2020 -
FERC's McNamee not seeking 2nd term as commissioner
Commissioner Bernard McNamee will step down from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Sept. 4, he announced Wednesday.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 6, 2020 -
Opinion
When states pick expensive policies under the guise of 'states' rights,' consumers pay
The inconsistency between state choices and wholesale power markets has reached a boiling point, and it's time someone closed the lid, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.
By Todd A. Snitchler • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive
2020 Outlook: New state action on customer empowering rate designs and business models
Regulators, utilities and stakeholders will pilot simple price signals and work toward agreement on a performance-based framework, but California may be in for a surprise.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Massachusetts governor, lawmakers aim for net-zero emissions by 2050
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker's announcement precedes anticipated comprehensive legislation that will drive the goal.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive
2020 Utility Dive Outlooks: What's in store for coal, gas, renewables, DER and beyond
2020 promises to be another busy year across the U.S. power sector as the energy transition gathers more steam.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Opinion
A path forward for New England to a low-carbon future: Why a capacity market still matters
Significant work remains to integrate state decarbonization policies into the ISO New England and its wholesale markets, the author writes.
By Dan Dolan • Jan. 22, 2020 -
FERC MOPR order may have 'paradoxically unintended consequences': PJM
FERC's December order "might have made the process more administrative, more uncertain than it needs to be," a PJM official told stakeholders in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020 -
California ALJ boosts PG&E costs 70% for failures in program to prevent damage to underground equipment
A previously proposed $65 million settlement for violations of the utility's locate-and-mark practices was “too low for the number, duration and severity," according to ALJ Peter Allen who increased the amount to $110 million.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 22, 2020 -
Ameren, Xcel, Dominion, Duke among most at-risk from changing climate: Moody's
Extreme heat and flooding, along with water scarcity and more severe hurricanes related to climate change, present long-term risks to utility assets, the credit rating agency found.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020 -
Rhode Island governor wants state to be fastest to 100% renewable energy
Democrat Gina Raimondo signed an executive order to have all the state's energy supplied by renewable sources by 2030, but NGOs and industry are concerned about the lack of a multi-sector approach or any legal backing.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 21, 2020 -
Opinion
FERC gets around: PJM super MOPR — an around-market solution for the around-market solutions
FERC's PJM decision is not an attack on clean energy. It is an indictment of a regulatory construct that is crumbling, write the authors.
By Raymond L. Gifford and Matthew S. Larson • Jan. 21, 2020 -
New York regulators recommend charging infrastructure plan expected to deliver $2.6B in net benefits
The program will cover up to 90% of costs for "make-ready" charging stations to lower cost barriers for developers.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 21, 2020 -
Remediating fossil fuel sites
Georgia bill would require companies to treat coal ash like municipal solid waste
The proposed legislation would impose stricter regulations on coal ash cleanup, requiring landfills holding the waste to have bottom liners and leachate collection systems.
By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 17, 2020 -
California launches rulemaking to manage transition away from natural gas
The California Public Utilities Commission will look into updating current reliability standards, as well as long-term contracting and tariff change rules.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 17, 2020 -
DOE energy efficiency thresholds will endanger appliance standards, critics say
Trump says he wants to make dishes "beautiful" again, but efficiency advocates warn his administration is gutting regulations that could save billions in energy costs.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 17, 2020 -
New York says new renewables financing option to reduce developers' financial risk, save $4.6B
In addition to updating how renewable energy projects in the state are funded, the Public Service Commission directed $2 billion in utility energy efficiency and building electrification spending.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 17, 2020 -
Deep Dive
2020 Outlook: US renewable resources on steady course for increased deployment
"In 2020, there’s sort of a 'come on in, the water's warm' element of excitement and momentum" around renewable energy procurement, one analyst said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Indiana bill would require Trump administration or state regulator blessing to retire coal plants early
The bill would prevent utilities from retiring plants early or otherwise decreasing operations unless explicitly directed by the federal government, not counting the Environmental Protection Agency.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 16, 2020 -
How much — and how fast — will Colorado change its utility business model?
Xcel Energy's Colorado utility cautions that implementing performance-based regulation too quickly could "jeopardize" the state's progress toward clean energy.
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Early utility regulator retirement gives Wisconsin opportunity to move on third party solar impasse
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a renewable energy proponent, will have the chance to shift the state's utility regulatory body toward his agenda after Commissioner Mike Huebsch's early retirement.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
New Jersey sets high standard with passage of EV incentive bill, advocates say
In his State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy promised to unveil a comprehensive roadmap in two weeks detailing how the state would reach its goal of a 100% clean energy economy by 2050.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Opinion
Ash ponds: Keep calm and close in place
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to closing coal ash ponds, the author writes, cautioning against jumping to preordained conclusions on how to address the coal generation byproduct.
By Steven A. Burns is a partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources practice. • Jan. 15, 2020