New Jersey Launches Largest 'Single-State' Solicitation For 1.1-Gigawatts of Offshore Wind Power

New Jersey Launches Largest ‘Single-State’ Solicitation For 1.1-Gigawatts of Offshore Wind Power

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved an application window for 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind capacity, the first step towards meeting the state’s 3,500-megawatt goal by 2030, according to a Sept. 17 press release. Developers can file applications from Sept. 20 to Dec. 28. The board plans to review the applications by July…

California Passes Landmark Bill Setting 100 Percent Carbon-Free Electricity Goal

California Passes Landmark Bill Setting 100 Percent Carbon-Free Electricity Goal

The California legislature approved legislation on Aug. 29 that reinforces the state’s clean energy leadership with a goal of procuring 100 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable and zero-carbon resources by 2045. The bill would strengthen the Renewable Portfolio Standard to 60 percent by 2030, up from the current 50 percent. Hawaii was the…

Massachusetts Legislature Passes Bill to Expand Targets for Renewables, Energy Storage

Massachusetts Enacts Laws Expanding Renewable, Storage Targets, Creating $2.4 Billion Bond For Climate Adaptation

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed legislation on Aug. 9 that strengthens the state’s renewable portfolio standard by requiring a 2 percent boost in procurement of the supplies each year from 2020 to 2029, up from the current 1 percent annual increase. The current goal requires 15 percent by 2020, followed by a one…

Illinois Power Agency Issues Plan to Achieve Stronger Renewable Portfolio Standard Targets

Illinois Power Agency Issues Plan to Achieve Stronger Renewable Portfolio Standard Targets

The Illinois Power Agency finalized its first long-term plan for renewable procurements and programs for the years 2018 and 2019 to meet the state’s stronger renewable portfolio standard targets, according to an Aug. 6 filing with the Illinois Commerce Commission. The measure follows legislation enacted in 2016 that required a separate plan for procuring renewable…

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

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

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on July 31 rejected challenges to ISO New England Inc.’s rules that provide an exemption to the minimum offer price rule, or MOPR, for certain renewable resources participating in the capacity market. In 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved revisions to allow up…

Massachusetts Legislature Passes Bill to Expand Targets for Renewables, Energy Storage

Massachusetts Legislature Passes Bill to Expand Targets for Renewables, Energy Storage

Massachusetts lawmakers approved legislation on July 31 to strengthen the state’s renewable portfolio standard by requiring a 2 percent boost in procurement of the supplies each year from 2020 to 2029, up from the current 1 percent annual increase. The current goal requires 15 percent by 2020, followed by a one percent increase each year.…

Enbridge Cleared by U.S. to Sell Stakes in 300-Megawatts of Renewable Power to Canadian Pension Board

Enbridge Cleared by U.S. to Sell Stakes in 300-Megawatts of Renewable Power to Canadian Pension Board

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on July 20 authorized a subsidiary of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to acquire a 49-percent stake in Cedar Point Wind LLC and Silver State Solar Power North LLC from Enbridge Holdings (Power) LLC. Cedar Point owns a 252-megawatt wind farm in Colorado, while Silver State owns a 52-megawatt…

Kansas Electric Utilities on Track to Reach 2020 Renewable Goal

Kansas Electric Utilities on Track to Reach 2020 Renewable Goal: Commission Report

Kansas electric utilities have enough capacity to meet the goal of 20 percent renewables by 2020 under the state’s voluntary renewable energy program, according to a July 11 report from the Kansas Corporation Commission staff. The staff said that compliance filings show that reporting utilities have surplus renewable energy credits to meet the 2020 goal…

California Regulator to Revisit 40-Year-Old Law Setting Payouts For Renewable Producers

California Regulator to Revisit 40-Year-Old Law Setting Payouts For Renewable Producers

The California Public Utilities Commission is weighing updates to the rules governing the power purchase contracts utilities must enter into with small producers under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, or PURPA, to reflect market changes, according to a July 11 proposed decision. The commission intends to adopt a new standard offer contract…

photovoltaic 2814504 960 720

California Opens Proceeding to Enhance Oversight of Renewable Portfolio Standards

The California Public Utilities Commission on July 2 started a new rulemaking to continue oversight of the state’s renewable portfolio standards program. The commission will continue to review and monitor renewable procurement plans of retail sellers as well as procurements of investor-owned utilities, assess compliance, and take enforcement action. The new proceeding will consider improvements…

Arizona Unveils Draft Rules for State to Reach 80-Percent Renewable Energy Target

Arizona Unveils Draft Rules for State to Reach 80-Percent Renewable Energy Target

The Arizona Corporation Commission on July 5 issued draft rules to implement the Arizona Energy Modernization Plan that sets a goal for the state to deploy 3,000 megawatts of energy storage by 2030 and requires 80 percent of annual electric sales to come from clean resources by 2050. It also includes a clean peak standard…