Oregon State Lawmakers Pass Five-Year Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing

Oregon State Lawmakers Pass Five-Year Ban on Hydraulic Fracturing

The Oregon legislature on June 7 approved a measure that seeks to prohibit the use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production. The ban is set to expire on Jan. 2, 2025. (HB 2623) The bill exempts the use of fracturing for natural gas storage wells, geothermal activities, and existing coal bed…

New England Grid Operator Incorporates Wind, Intermittent Hydro into Day-Ahead Energy Market

New England Grid Operator Incorporates Wind, Intermittent Hydro into Day-Ahead Energy Market

The ISO New England Inc. requires wind and intermittent hydropower generators with a capacity supply obligation to offer their power into the grid operator’s day-ahead energy market, starting June 1. The requirement stems from an initiative launched in 2016 to enable these resources to take part in real-time markets and begin taking electronic dispatch instructions.…

Connecticut Joins Offshore Wind Race With 2-Gigawatt Commitment

Connecticut Joins Offshore Wind Race With 2-Gigawatt Commitment

Democratic Governor Ned Lamont signed legislation on June 7, authorizing the state to purchase up to 2 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, equivalent to 30 percent of the state load. The bill requires the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to select proposals through one or more solicitations and direct the state’s electric distribution companies to…

Consumers Energy Faces Probe for Violating Safety Practices in Michigan

Consumers Energy Faces Probe for Violating Safety Practices in Michigan

The Michigan Public Service Commission found that Consumers Energy Co. did not act in a timely manner to mark natural gas and electrical lines after receiving notices of excavation plans in over 20,000 instances, according to a June 7 press release. The findings were based on the commission staff’s tracking of the company’s responses to…

Appeals Court Overturns Case Blocking Keystone XL Oil Pipeline, Following Renewed Cross-Border Permit

Appeals Court Overturns Case Blocking Keystone XL Oil Pipeline, Following Renewed Cross-Border Permit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court on June 6 ruled in favor of TC Energy’s proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, vacating a lower court decision that halted construction of the project after determining that the environmental review of the project was incomplete. The appeals court found that the injunction no longer…