ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS

Enforcement Concerns Raised at EPA’s Coal Ash Rule House Committee Hearing

Coal Power, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil, Power & Utilities1 Comment

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s hearing on EPA’s coal ash rule centered on compliance mechanisms to incorporate federal requirements into state programs. The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on January 22, 2015 to consider the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule to regulate disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) from electric utilities….…...

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SOTU 2015: Resolute Call for Climate Action

Biofuels, Carbon Markets, Coal Power, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

In his State of the Union Address, the President made a forceful call for climate action, asserting that the U.S. will double its emissions reduction pace. In his State of the Union (SOTU) speech on January 20, 2015, President Obama made a resolute call for climate action, stating that no challenge poses a greater threat…...

Justice Department Seeks Supreme Court Review of FERC Order 745 Vacatur

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

The Justice Department has sought Supreme Court review of the May 2014 invalidated FERC Order 745 vacatur, considering its importance for the future of electricity-market regulation. On January 15, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) — on behalf of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) — petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari to…...

EPA Methane Rule Would Set Costly Bar for Oil and Gas Industry, Despite Current Reduction Efforts

Emissions, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil1 Comment

EPA Regulations Could Add Costs to Constrained Industry On January 14, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlined measures to reduce methane emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the oil and natural gas (O&G) industry, with a new goal to reduce methane emissions by 40-45 percent by 2025 from 2012 levels, despite methane reductions…...

EPA Proposes Revisions to Oil Spill Contingency Plan

Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Oil

The EPA has proposed revisions to dispersant and bioremediation efficacy and toxicity testing protocols based on lessons learned from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. On January 13, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to Subpart J of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) requirements regarding use of dispersants…...

ISO-NE Details 2014/2015 WRP Resource Participation

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables

ISO-NE’s current Winter Reliability Program boasts increased fuel and resource availability through a restructured and expanded compensation structure. On January 12, 2015, ISO New England (ISO-NE) released a report on the resource participation of its 2014/2015 Winter Reliability Program (WRP), a temporary out-of-market solution to maintain electric system reliability. ISO-NE expressed confidence that a diverse…...

Utilities Cancel Cape Wind Power Contracts

Emissions, Environmental Markets, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Wind Power

The Cape Wind Project faces a major setback after losing power purchase agreements with National Grid and NSTAR. On January 7, 2015, National Grid and NSTAR announced a decision to cancel their Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Cape Wind, citing Cape Wind’s failure to meet the December 31, 2014 deadline to close financing.  Cape Wind…...

Keystone XL Legislation Moves Through Congress Despite Obama Veto Threat

Emissions, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil

Approval of the project would ease transportation constraints to refiners and decrease reliance on foreign imports, but would have minimal impact on benchmark WTI prices. While the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Keystone XL approval bill quickly last week under suspension of the rules by a two-thirds majority vote, the Senate companion bill will…...

New EPA Clean Power Plan Rulemaking Schedule Delays Compliance Deadlines

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Solar Power, Wind Power

The EPA Clean Power Plan and new generation source emission rule finalization to mid-summer 2015 pushes back compliance deadlines. On January 7, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a revised schedule to finalize rulemakings for power plant emission standards under its proposed Clean Power Plan.  The EPA intends to finalize the rules by mid-summer…...

California Governor Outlines 2030 Renewable Energy Goals

Biofuels, Carbon Markets, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Hydropower, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

The proposed increase to 50 percent by 2030 could also result in indirect boost to energy storage industries. In his inaugural address on January 5, 2015, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. proposed new initiatives to expand the state’s emissions reduction efforts under the AB 32 climate law and establish the next set of objectives…...

DOE Energy Efficiency Standards Projected to Save Consumers $78B

Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Environmental Markets, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Solar Power, Wind Power

DOE’s efficiency standards will not slow demand, but could save up to $78 billion in electricity bills. On December 31, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced energy efficiency standards for general service fluorescent lamps (GSFLs) and automatic commercial ice makers (ACIMs), achieving its goal of finalizing 10 energy efficiency standards in 2014.  Together, the…...