Energy Efficiency
The DOE’s new SunShot Program funding could help lower costs across the solar PV value chain to help remove barriers to entry and de-risk solar energy grid integration. On January 29, 2015, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $59M in funding to expedite commercialization of innovative solar manufacturing technologies and support multi-year solar…...
Governor Cuomo’s 2015 Opportunity Agenda reiterates his commitment to early stage energy technology and grid resiliency investments. In his 2015 State of the State address on January 21, 2015, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo proposed significant initiatives to advance clean energy, environmental protection, and climate resilience efforts that support the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding…....
The DOE’s continued support of advanced vehicle technology research, development, and demonstration projects helps expand offerings, cut costs, and improve sales. On January 22, 2015, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $55M to develop and deploy advanced vehicle technologies aimed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce petroleum consumption. The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) supports DOE’s 2012 EV…...
FERC has approved PJM’s request for temporary relief from the $1,000/MWh cost-based offer cap to address winter price spikes that could cause generators’ marginal costs to exceed the offer cap. On January 16, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved PJM Interconnection LLC’s (PJM) Section 206 filing to raise the $1,000/MWh energy offer cap…...
Wholesale Demand Response Hinges on Order 745 Decision Demand response (DR) participation and compensation in organized electricity markets has grown over the previous five years, in part due to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Order 745. Order 745 sets compensation levels for DR in wholesale energy markets; however, its future validity is uncertain with…...
EPA emissions rules and legislative actions will impact every aspect of the energy value chain in 2015 Key Takeaways: Policies impacting energy independence and associated environmental impacts are coming head-to-head at the federal level Legislators will aim to settle long-debated oil and gas infrastructure and export bills and will use legistive authorities to delay, defund,…...
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…...
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…...
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…...
The DOE has announced $125M OPEN solicitation through ARPA-E to catalyze the advancement of transformational energy technologies. On January 7, 2015, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) issued its third OPEN funding opportunity announcement (FOA) – OPEN 2015 – for up to $125M to support potentially disruptive new technologies…...
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…...
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…...