Illinois Commission Examines Rate Design to Support Transportation Electrification

Illinois Commission Examines Rate Design to Support Transportation Electrification

The Illinois Commerce Commission on Aug. 20 opened an inquiry to explore electricity rate design options to support transportation electrification infrastructure and gather information about the impact rate structures will have on other forms of electrification, service, and affordability. The inquiry supplements previous efforts by the commission to study electric vehicles. In 2018, the commission…...

EPA Releases Strategic Plan in Conjunction with President's Proposed $11.8 Billion Budget to Address Climate Change, Environmental Justice

New York Creates Just Transition Working Group for Equitable Transition to Clean Energy Future

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on Aug. 24 announced the approval of the Just Transition Working Group and six advisory panels tasked with providing recommendations to the Climate Action Council. The council is a 22-member committee established under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which sets aggressive goals for…...

U.S. Interior Department Leases in Arizona Solar Energy Zones Expected to Produce 825 Megawatts

Montana Court Rules in Favor of Solar Developers

The Montana Supreme Court on Aug. 24 ruled that state regulators unlawfully reduced the payments and contract lengths for solar projects’ power supply arrangements under the 1978 Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA, which established requirements for utilities to purchase power from small independent generators. The decision affirms a 2019 lower court order, and…...

U.S. Energy Department Announces Crude Oil Purchase to Test Market

U.S. Interior Department’s New Mexico Oil, Gas Lease Sale Nets $8.3 Million

The Bureau of Land Management’s quarterly oil and gas lease sale in New Mexico generated net proceeds of $8.28 million, according to an Aug. 28 press release. Nearly half the revenue from the sale is allotted to the states where the oil and gas activity takes place namely, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The remainder…...

U.S. Added 5 Billion Cubic Feet Per Day of Gas Pipeline Capacity in First Half of 2020: EIA

U.S. Added 5 Billion Cubic Feet Per Day of Gas Pipeline Capacity in First Half of 2020: EIA

About 5 billion cubic feet per day of new natural gas pipeline capacity came online in the U.S. during the first half of 2020, according to an Aug. 24 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. At the same time an estimated 8.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of pipeline projects were canceled in…...

Senate Bill Aims to Restore U.S. Leadership in Nuclear Energy, Promote Safe Civil Nuclear Programs

Exelon Plans to Close Two Nuclear Plants in Illinois Citing Revenue Shortfalls

Exelon Generation on Aug. 26 announced that it plans to retire two nuclear plants in Illinois with a capacity of more than 4.1 gigawatts as they face revenue shortfalls due to falling energy prices and market rules that allow fossil fuel generators to underbid carbon-free resources in PJM Interconnection LLC’s capacity auction. The announcement follows…...

Michigan Regulator Approves Energy Efficiency Programs for Low-Income Utility Customers

Michigan Commission Approves $110 Million Rate Hike for DTE Gas

The Michigan Public Service Commission on August 20 authorized a settlement allowing DTE Gas to increase its revenues by $110 million, which is about 46 percent lower than the utility’s original request. The new rate, effective Oct. 1, will raise monthly residential bills for customers using 100 cubic feet of gas by about $2.97 or…...