Massachusetts Regulator Discusses Net Metering, SMART Program Revisions Proposed by Utilities

Massachusetts Regulator Discusses Net Metering, SMART Program Revisions Proposed by Utilities

Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, REC Feed, Solar

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities is scheduled to discuss revisions proposed by electric distribution companies to net metering and Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target, or SMART, programs, according to a Feb. 25 order of notice. Unitil Corp, National Grid plc, and Eversource Energy have submitted revised model tariffs for net metering and the SMART program, clarifying the eligibility of facilities…

New Jersey Regulator Poised to Take Up Solar Credit Reforms

New Jersey Regulator Poised to Take Up Solar Credit Reforms

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, REC Feed, Renewables, Solar, Solar Power

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will consider changes to the solar renewable portfolio standard at its Feb. 27 meeting. The board issued a straw proposal last December to phase out the current Solar Renewable Energy Certificate, or SREC, Program following legislation enacted in May 2018, which closes the program when 5.1 percent of…...

Eversource Files Final Procurement Plan for Connecticut Renewable Energy Credits

Eversource Files Final Procurement Plan for Connecticut Renewable Energy Credits

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, REC Feed, Solar, Wind

The Connecticut Light and Power Company submitted its final procurement plan for the approval of 15-year contracts to purchase class I renewable energy credits from renewable energy projects in the state, totaling $2.83 million per year in contract commitments from low emissions renewable energy projects and $5.6million per year for medium and large zero emission projects. The company’s Year…

Oregon Regulator to Revise Implementation of Federal Power Purchase Law

Oregon Regulator to Revise Implementation of Federal Power Purchase Law

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, REC Feed, Renewables, Solar, Solar Power, Wind, Wind Power

The Oregon Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 19 opened a proceeding to examine the implementation of the federal Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA, which requires utilities to purchase power from small independent electricity generators at the “avoided cost” or the cost the utility would spend to procure the electricity itself. The move stems…...

U.S. Court Upholds New England Capacity Market Exemptions For State-Sponsored Renewables

Alliant Energy Proposes Voluntary Renewable Power Programs for Wisconsin Customers

Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, REC Feed, Renewables, Solar, Solar Power, Wind, Wind Power

Wisconsin Power and Light Company is seeking approval of three new tariff options to expand its voluntary renewable energy options for customers, according to its Feb. 18 application filed with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. The proposal includes a subscription-based community solar program, renewable energy contracts targeted at large commercial and industrial customers, and a…...

Virginia Legislature Passes Bill to Raise Net Metering Cap for Customers of Electric Cooperatives

Virginia Legislature Passes Bill to Raise Net Metering Cap for Customers of Electric Cooperatives

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, REC Feed, Renewables, Solar, Solar Power

Virginia lawmakers approved legislation on Feb. 18 that would make changes to the net metering program for customers of electric cooperatives, including increasing the cap from one percent of system peak to three percent for residential, four percent for not-for-profit and non-jurisdictional, and two percent for non-residential customers. The bill would allow electric cooperatives to…...

Portland General Electric, NextEra to Develop Nation's Largest Wind-Solar-Storage Project

Portland General Electric, NextEra to Develop Nation’s Largest Wind-Solar-Storage Project

Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Solar, Wind

Portland General Electric Company and NextEra Energy Resources LLC have announced plans to build a 300-megawatt wind farm combined with 50 megawatts of solar and 30 megawatts of battery storage, making it the largest project of this kind in the nation, according to a Feb. 13 press release. The new project called the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility…

Colorado Regulator Clears Xcel to Retire Coal Plants, Add Renewables, Energy Storage

New York’s Distributed Solar Capacity Reaches 1.6 Gigawatts, Marks Progress Toward Self-Sustaining Market: NYSERDA Report

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, REC Feed, Renewables, Solar, Solar Power

New York installed 744 megawatts of solar generating capacity through 2018, with an additional 883 megawatts in the pipeline under the NY Sun program, a $1 billion initiative that aims to add 3 gigawatts by 2023, according to a Feb. 14 report from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Expanding to include…...

Consumers Energy Asks Michigan Regulator to Set New Avoided Costs Consistent With Long-Term Resource Plan

Consumers Energy Asks Michigan Regulator to Set New Avoided Costs Consistent With Long-Term Resource Plan

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, REC Feed, Renewables, Solar, Solar Power, Wind, Wind Power

Consumers Energy Company, in a Feb. 12 filing with the Michigan Public Service Commission, said that its avoided cost, which must be paid to small independent power producers under the federal Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act, should be rescinded as it was based on out-of-date information. The company asked the agency to approve new rates…...

TVA Votes to Close Two Aging Coal Power Plants Due to Unfavorable Economics

TVA Votes to Close Two Aging Coal Power Plants Due to Unfavorable Economics

coal, Coal Power, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Pulse, Fossil Fuels, REC Feed, Solar

The Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors on Feb. 14 approved the retirement of Paradise Unit 3 by 2020 and the Bull Run Fossil Plant by 2023, in order to better balance its generation system with changing demands. The vote reflects TVA’s commitment to replace less-efficient coal-fired plants with cleaner resources, despite President Donald Trump’s…...

SCE&G’s 15-Year Resource Plan Proposes Solar, Gas-Fired Generation Additions

SCE&G’s 15-Year Resource Plan Proposes Solar, Gas-Fired Generation Additions

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Natural Gas, REC Feed, Renewables, Solar, Solar Power

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company proposed two resource plans based on the least cost options from 19 scenarios that were modeled for its 2019 integrated resource plan filed with the South Carolina Public Service Commission on Feb. 8. The plans, which detail resource needs from 2019 through 2033, reflect a shortage in base capacity…...