ERC Order on PJM Capacity Market Reforms Hinders States’ Plans for Clean Energy Transition

Visual Primer: FERC Order on PJM Capacity Market Reforms Hinders States’ Plans for Clean Energy Transition

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Solar, Wholesale Markets, Wholesale Power, Wind

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued an order on implementing reforms that expand the minimum offer price rule (MOPR) to most state-subsidized resources participating in the regional capacity market administered by PJM Interconnection LLC, which operates across 13 states and the District of Columbia. The ruling has sparked concerns over its potential to harm renewable generation seeking to participate in the capacity market and frustrate state clean energy policies.

U.S. Wind Industry

Visual Primer: U.S. Wind Industry Defies COVID-19 Impacts and Shows Rapid Growth Driven by Clean Energy Goals

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Renewables, Request for Proposal, Solar, Wind, Wind Power

The growing demand for renewable energy to meet state and utility goals is driving the rapid expansion in the U.S. wind power market. The sector emerged as the top provider of new power generation capacity in 2019, adding about 9.1 gigawatts of large-scale projects.

Hydrogen Offers Promising Potential for Clean Energy Transition

Visual Primer: Hydrogen Offers Promising Potential for Clean Energy Transition

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Vehicles, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Smart Grid, Solar, Wind

Hydrogen is emerging as an important player in the U.S. energy landscape because of its ability to decarbonize multiple sectors. A number of exciting projects harnessing the technology are taking shape as hydrogen and fuel cells can store energy to help enhance the power grid and maximize opportunities to deploy renewable energy.

Grid Modernization Strategies

Visual Primer: Grid Modernization Strategies Increasingly Center on Innovation and Customer Engagement

Climate Change and Emissions, coal, Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Smart Grid, Solar, Wind

State policy goals are driving comprehensive grid modernization endeavors aimed at transitioning to a flexible and efficient grid that caters to the needs of the evolving electric sector and diverse customer interests. A growing number of state regulators and utilities alike are embarking on innovative ventures, striving towards necessary enhancements to accomplish energy and environmental goals.

President Biden Commits U.S. to Achieve 50 Percent Emissions Reductions in 2030

Michigan Regulator Seeks to Update Utility Resource Planning to Reflect New Carbon-Neutrality Goal

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Pulse, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, PRODUCTS, REC Feed

The Michigan Public Service Commission on Sept. 24 requested staff and stakeholders in its MI Power Grid initiative to recommend how utility resource planning requirements should be revised to reflect the new emissions reductions goals set by an executive order from Governor Gretchen Whitmer.  The order, issued on Sept. 23, creates the MI Healthy Climate…...

Electric Vehicle Charging Programs

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Electric Vehicle Charging Programs on Rise as States Address Barriers to Transportation Electrification

Electric Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, PRODUCTS, Renewables

States and utilities across the U.S. are expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to overcome barriers to transportation electrification. The demand for fast charging in states with zero-emission vehicle goals, such as California, New York, and New Jersey, have heightened the need for reliable access to a wider network of stations.

New York Regulator Reaffirms Decision Approving Calpine’s 124-Megawatt Wind Project

New York Regulator Reaffirms Approval of Innogy’s 242 Megawatt Wind Project

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Pulse, Grid Modernization, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Wind

The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment on Sept. 3 denied petitions seeking rehearing of the agency’s decision permitting Baron Winds LLC to construct a 242-megawatt wind energy project in Steuben County. Petitioners challenged the approval of amendments to the siting permit in May on grounds that the board did…...

Utilities Continue Plans to Accelerate Phase-Out of Coal-Fired Generation

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Utilities Continue Plans to Accelerate Phase-Out of Coal-Fired Generation

Climate Change and Emissions, coal, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Natural Gas, Nuclear, Oil, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Request for Proposal, Smart Grid, Solar, Wholesale Power

Proposals to accelerate the phase-out of coal-fired generation appear more prominently in long-term resource plans of U.S. electric utilities, reflecting the growing shift to renewable energy. The transition from coal continues to be driven by state clean energy mandates, emissions reduction goals, low natural gas prices, and increased availability of low-cost renewables and storage resources.

EnerKnol Research AE Visual Primer Value of DER 2020 08 25 Blog preview

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Distributed Generation Compensation Evolves to Reflect Benefits With Greater Accuracy

Climate Change and Emissions, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Renewables, Retail Power and Gas, Solar, Solar Power, Wholesale Power, Wind

Recently, state regulators have stepped up efforts to value distributed energy resources (DERs) more accurately while looking for ways to better reflect the costs they impose on the grid. Among recent actions, New York adopted a mechanism to move the market towards more cost-reflective rates, while California decided to include avoided transmission costs in the valuation, and Connecticut unveiled a study on quantifying the benefits of these resources.

NY Green Bank Commitments Exceed $900 Million, Driving $2.4 Billion in Clean Energy Investments

New York Advances Transmission Projects to Deliver Clean Energy to Downstate Market

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Transmission, Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Grid Modernization, PRODUCTS, Solar, Wind

The New York Public Service Commission on Aug. 13 announced an update on transmission initiatives underway to implement the 2020 Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefit Act. This legislation calls for significant investment  to meet New York’s target of sourcing 70 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. The 2019 Climate Leadership…...

States Advance Alternative Ratemaking Plans to Support Clean Energy Transition

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – States Advance Alternative Ratemaking Plans to Support Clean Energy Transition

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Vehicles, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid, Solar, Wind

Alternative ratemaking plans and innovative rate design proposals continue to emerge as utilities adapt to policy and technology changes driven by decarbonization efforts and distributed energy growth. With growing state mandates to increase renewable energy generation, regulators are devising performance metrics and incentives to encourage utility innovation in achieving policy goals.

New York Commission Slashes NYSEG, RG&E Rate Increase Request by 70 Percent

Florida Utilities Receive Approval to Advance Storm Protection Plans

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The Florida Public Service Commission on Aug. 10 approved agreements on the storm protection plans filed by four of the state’s investor-owned utilities. A 2019 law directed utilities to file 10-year plans to reduce restoration costs and outage times associated with extreme weather events and enhance reliability. The agreements resolve issues in the plans filed…...