Power & Utilities
DOE has released a draft solicitation for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that could provide up to $4B in loan guarantees. On April 16, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a draft loan guarantee solicitation for innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency projects aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Renewable Energy and…...
The New York Independent System Operator has completed a $38M primary power control center to enhance grid monitoring capabilities. On April 15, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) recognized the completion of New York Independent System Operator’s (NYISO) smart grid and primary power control facility in Rensselaer, New York. The non-profit NYISO – which oversees…...
On January 2, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission officially entered into two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). The MOUs will provide solutions for overlapping jurisdiction and sharing information of mutual interest. Overview On March 5, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced…...
More than 23,000 buildings across the U.S. have earned EPA’s Energy Star Certification, saving more than $3.1B on utility bills. On April 10, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the sixth annual list of top 25 U.S. cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings. The cities demonstrate economic and environmental benefits achieved from…...
The Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act would create small-denomination treasury bonds to fund clean energy incentives. On April 8, 2014, Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2014, aimed to create treasury savings bonds – modeled after the victory bonds sold during World War II –…...
DOE has released a five-year Strategic Plan outlining priorities to address the nation’s energy, security, economic, and environmental challenges. On April 7, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) released its Strategic Plan for 2014-2018 to advance its mission of enhancing U.S. security and economic growth through transformative science, technology, and market solutions to address energy,…...
The solar energy industry is disrupting the traditional one-way power flow utility model. To account for this, utilities and states are working together on creative energy compensation and tariff policies. Overview On March 12, 2014, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved the nation’s first statewide value of solar tariff (VOST), a methodology that will…...
New York State’s HVAC Business Partners program more than doubled its 2013 Quality Maintenance project goal, resulting in energy savings of 1.53 GWh. On April 1, 2014, the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the completion of 1,227 Quality Maintenance projects under its 2013 HVAC Business Partners program, more than double its…...
On February 19, 2014, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held its sixth carbon allowance auction. Auction results over the first year show that compliance entities are becoming more comfortable with program and that investor market confidence is growing. Similarly, a secondary allowance market is also developing as market confidence grows. Overview The California Air…...
On March 4, 2014, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) held the first carbon allowance auction under the new Model Rule. Auction prices reached record levels and high market participation and allowance demand exhausted the 5 million allowance Cost Containment Reserve. Overview The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the nation’s first mandatory market-based cap-and-trade…...
The E-Access Act would incentivize states and utilities to adopt policies to ensure consumers timely access to electricity usage information. On March 27, 2014, Sens. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced the Access to Consumer Energy Information (E-Access) Act (S. 2165) aimed to enhance consumer access to information on electricity usage and prices…...
The GRID Act, introduced in the House and Senate, would authorize FERC to effectively address electricity grid security issues. On March 26, 2014, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) introduced the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense (GRID) Act (H.R. 4298) aimed to amend the Federal Power Act to protect the bulk-power system and defense-critical electric infrastructure…...
