ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS
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…...
Innovative Plans Optimize Excess Pipeline Capacity during Spring and Fall Seasons Northeast natural gas demand is not consistent year-round. This challenges pipeline project developers to prove project necessity. However, developers are proposing enhancements to existing systems and innovative strategies to make use of potentially excess pipeline capacity. Some proposed options to optimize excess supply and…...
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…...
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 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…...
The DOI has proposed additional regulations for exploratory drilling in the Alaska OCS to ensure that operators implement necessary measures – including integrated operations and spill-response plans – through all phases of offshore exploration. The oil and gas resource potential of the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) has received considerable attention from industry. On February…...
Expansion of demand response across utility territories is expected to provide longer-term benefits by reducing energy costs, avoiding or deferring new infrastructure, and improving overall system reliability and resiliency. Demand response (DR) programs have primarily focused on addressing peak loads and meeting reliability needs during system stress conditions. On December 15, 2014, the New…...
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…....
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…...
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…...
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…...
Apple’s $848M power purchase agreement with First Solar could stimulate more corporate solar contracts, spurred by looming solar tax credit reductions. On February 10, 2015, First Solar Inc. announced that Apple has committed $848M to purchase 130 MW of clean energy from First Solar’s California Flats Solar Project under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA)…....