Carbon Markets

2017 State Legislative Action Calls for Greater Energy Diversity

Legislation enacted across states in 2017 calls for greater diversity in power sources—from expanding renewables to supporting nuclear and natural gas infrastructure. However, there is a clear trend showing the intent to prioritize clean energy and climate policy. States in the forefront of grid modernization plans continue to support renewable development while others are following their models as a way to emulate effective policies.

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State Legislation Update: 6/2017

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – State Legislation Update: 6/2017

Legislation enacted across states in 2017 calls for greater diversity in power sources—from expanding renewables to supporting nuclear and natural gas infrastructure. However, there is a clear trend showing the intent to prioritize clean energy and climate policy. States in the forefront of grid modernization plans continue to support renewable development while others are following their models as a way to emulate effective policies.

RGGI Examines Tightening Emissions Cap to Comply with Clean Power Plan

As part of their 2016 Program Review, member states of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) are examining opportunities to link RGGI with the Clean Power Plan (CPP), such as altering or removing the program’s Cost Containment Reserve (CCR) to address oversupply of allowances while preserving a mechanism to prevent price volatility. The alignment of RGGI control periods with CPP interim step periods would facilitate market expansion, as RGGI is the primary CPP compliance mechanism for member states and continues to draw attention from non-RGGI states. As the legal fate of the CPP is still pending, with an outcome that will have notable implications on allowance prices, clarifications regarding RGGI’s post-2020 cap will help reduce regulatory uncertainty in the RGGI market.

MATS Impacted by Supreme Court Decision, but Likely to Survive

Key Takeaways: The Mercury and Air Toxics (MATS) rule represented one of the most significant air pollution regulations in U.S. history when it was announced in 2011 The Supreme Court rejected the rule, ruling that the EPA should have considered costs initially when assessing whether the rule was “appropriate and necessary” The specific nature of…...

EPA Announces New Emissions Standards for Trucks and Trailers

Key Takeaways: The 2013 Climate Action Plan called for new standards to advance fuel economy and emissions reductions in the transportation sector Proposed Phase 2 standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles aim to achieve 24 percent improvement in fuel efficiency by 2027 The new standards will spur advancements in trucking technology, resulting in substantial costs…...

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…...

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…...