Nuclear Power

Nuclear Plant Retirements Reflect Need For Wholesale Market Reforms

Key Takeaways: Entergy Corporation will retire its 852 MW FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in New York at the end of its current fuel cycle by early 2017 Natural gas-fired generation will largely replace decommissioned nuclear capacity Renewable generation will increase, although at a slower pace that may not offset lost nuclear generation, due to its…...

Signed Energy Act Sets Tone for Upcoming Energy Legislation Debates

Insight for Industry – Energy Efficiency Improvement Act Will Reduce Energy Demand The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, which President Obama signed into law on April 30, will add momentum to falling energy consumption per capita in the United States by reducing energy demand from commercial buildings, manufacturing plants, and homes. The relatively uncontroversial…...

FERC Advances Oregon LNG Export Facility as Congress Moves to Fast-Track New Trade Legislation

Trans-Pacific Partnership would Open New Markets for U.S. LNG Export Projects Key Takeaways: U.S. shale gas boom created opportunities to export surplus natural gas to high price markets in Asia, but lengthy regulatory processes have weakened U.S. natural gas producers’ ability to compete with global markets The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) could facilitate western LNG…...

Market Speculation Drops in 27th RGGI Carbon Allowance Auction

Insight for Industry – RGGI Market Gaining Stability The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s (RGGI) first quarterly auction of 2015 (Auction 27) results indicate a stable market design as compliance entities purchased all allowances and the clearing price remained below the Cost Containment Reserve (CCR) threshold. Despite high overall demand, zero non-compliance (solely financial market) entity…...

REV Policy Framework Restricts Utility Ownership of Distributed Energy Resources

Distributed System Platform to Facilitate New Resource Integration The marketplace envisioned under the New York Public Service Commission’s (PSC) Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding targets efficient development of distributed energy resources (DERs). In its REV Track One regulatory framework issued on February 26, 2015, the New York PSC determined that utilities will perform the…...

New York Utilities to Create New Distribution System Platform

Incumbent Utilities will act as Distributed System Platform Providers New York Public Service Commission (PSC) and Department of Public Service (DPS) staff has deemed incumbent utilities as the best entities to develop new distributed system platforms (DSPs) under the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding. The proceeding aims to reorient New York’s electric industry and…...

Demand Response to Grow Under Alternate Scenarios Regardless of FERC Order 745 Outcome

Demand response participation in wholesale power markets has varied across Regional Transmission Organizations since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finalized Order 745 in 2011. The outcome of the Supreme Court’s pending review of the May 2014 Order 745 vacatur will have varying impacts across RTOs based on market structure and demand response enrollments in wholesale…...

ISO-NE Requests Continued Winter Reliability Programs over Market-Based Solution through 2018

ISO-NE insists that its Winter Reliability Programs are a cost-effective interim means for fuel assurance prior to implementation of its Pay-for-Performance market-based solution in 2018. The New England Independent System Operator (ISO-NE) currently relies on its Winter Reliability Program (WRP) to maintain electric system reliability and mitigate system operation challenges caused by natural gas constraints…....

U.S. Nuclear Industry Supports Growth Despite Aging Plant Retirements

Despite aging nuclear plant retirements, the U.S. nuclear industry continues to support new development and advanced nuclear technologies.   The Administration supports continued federal nuclear energy program funding in its “all of the above” energy strategy. Despite aging plants challenged by low-cost natural gas-fired generation and several off-schedule new plant constructions, the nuclear energy industry…...

FERC and NARUC Panelists Voice Concerns Over Clean Power Plan Reliability Impacts

State and Regional Regulators Voice CPP Concerns at FERC and NARUC Meetings This past week, states and industry stakeholders directly voiced questions, concerns, support and opposition for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed emissions reductions from existing power plants. On February 19, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) held its first of four technical…...

NY REV Impact Statement Identifies Billions in Cross-Cutting Benefits by 2026

The REV and CEF are anticipated to yield overall positive environmental impacts, primarily by reducing fossil fuel-based energy generation and supporting demand management, rate structures, electric vehicles, energy storage, and smart grid technologies.   On February 6, 2015, the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) released its Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement providing…...

President’s Budget Would Increase Funding for Renewable Technologies but Defund Fossil Energy Research

The House Energy and Power Subcommittee heard testimony from Secretary Moniz on the DOE FY 2016 budget request, which outlined $1+B in renewable energy program funding increases but a decrease to fossil energy research and development. On February 11, 2015, the House Energy and Power Subcommittee held a hearing on the Department of Energy’s (DOE)…...