The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on April 6 ordered the closure of the Solar Renewable Energy Certificate, or SREC, program effective April 30, declaring that the state has attained the milestone set by the 2018 Clean Energy Act to phase out the program. The law directed the board to close the program when…
In just the last three months, almost a dozen states have advanced measures to ramp up support for electric vehicles (EVs), reflecting the important role of transportation electrification in achieving clean energy goals. However, transportation electrification, similar to other clean energy sectors, faces uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rollback of federal fuel economy standards.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities issued a report on March 31, forecasting that 5.1 percent of electricity sold in the state will be supplied by qualified solar generation facilities around or before May 2020. The forecast for the attainment of 5.1 percent, the threshold set by legislation enacted in 2018 to phase out…
The U.S. Energy Department announced $20 million funding for offshore wind projects focused on enhancing the ability to forecast production and demonstrating the application of new commercial-scale technologies. In a separate funding opportunity, the department’ Water Power Technologies Office announced up to $22 million for marine energy foundational research by continuing to build research capabilities…
The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management announced a proposal to offer 45 parcels of land, totaling about 67,244 acres located on Jackson, Las Animas, Rio Blanco, and Weld Counties, at the September quarterly oil and gas lease sale, according to a Mar. 31 news release. The agency is seeking public input on issues…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on March 26 announced a temporary policy relaxing its enforcement of environmental legal obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy gives more flexibility to power plants and other regulated entities on pollution control measures in a time of crisis. The measure allows the noncompliance as long as the entity provides…
DTE Electric Company proposed a 225-megawatt wind farm and two solar power purchase contracts of about 125 megawatts in its revised renewable energy plan filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission on March 31. The generation capacity, to be added over the next two years, would enable compliance with the 15 percent of the renewable…
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on April 1 approved the Public Service Company of New Mexico’s request to abandon the San Juan Generating Station and use securitization bonds through the Energy Transition Act, or ETA, to finance its remaining investment in the plant. The move follows the state Supreme Court’s ruling that the commission must apply the ETA to the closure and replacement…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on March 31 finalized fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions standards for cars and light trucks for model years 2021 to 2026. The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient, or SAFE, Vehicles Rule increases the stringency of these standards by 1.5 percent a year,…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on March 30 authorized the acquisition of El Paso Electric Company by an investment vehicle advised by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., subject to approval of mitigation measures to address potential adverse effects on competition. This is the final regulatory approval required to consummate the transaction. The proposed sale has…...
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on March 31 issued a draft solicitation inviting proposals for public forums to consider energy affordability and equity for the state’s commercial and industrial customers. Last October, the agency opened an investigation into the topic of energy affordability for all customer classes following the approval of a framework for…...
Offshore wind energy, which is key to realize the clean energy transition in several East Coast states, is faced with tough challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the global supply chain, affecting project timelines. Delays have the potential to threaten power purchase contracts and federal tax credits that are crucial for project economics.