The New York Public Service Commission on May 14 opened a proceeding to implement the provisions of the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act with regard to distribution and transmission upgrades and capital expenditures needed to meet the state’s clean energy goals. The law established a new siting office to streamline permitting for…...
National Grid released a report on May 8 supplementing its long-term capacity analysis issued earlier this year on natural gas capacity constraints in Downstate New York and available options for meeting long-term demand. The supplemental report incorporates feedback received from six public meetings, as well as the changing conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The…...
The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management on May 11 approved the Gemini Solar Project, a proposed 690-megawatt facility, located about 33 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The $1 billion project, which includes 380 megawatts of battery storage, is expected to be the eighth largest in the world. The project will serve NV Energy…...
The Michigan Public Service Commission on May 8 authorized DTE Electric Co. to increase its electric rates by about $188.3 million, which is 47 percent lower than the utility’s request. The change is expected to raise monthly residential bills for customers using 500 kilowatt hours of electricity by about 4.7 percent or $4. The impact…...
More states and utilities are exploring microgrids as part of their resiliency strategies driven by the growing demand to bolster the reliability of the power system in the face of extreme weather events, such as storms and wildfires.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission on May 6 announced the resumption of a renewable energy pilot program, following recent legislation that expanded the statutory limit for the program. The pilot allows non-utility owners of renewable energy to sell electricity to utility customers under a power purchase agreement. Due to the high interest in the program,…...
Daily weekday electricity demand in the U.S. central region saw a decrease of 9 percent to 13 percent during March and April due to mitigation efforts, like business shutdowns, put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to a May 7 report from the Energy Information Administration. New York experienced similar declines, while…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on May 7 approved a settlement imposing $1.937 billion in penalties against Pacific Gas and Electric Company for its role in causing the catastrophic wildfires in 2017 and 2018. The decision permanently suspends the utility’s obligation to pay a $200 million fine, so that the payment does not reduce the…...
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on May 6 issued a final decision adopting comprehensive marketing standards and sales practices for electric suppliers. The new standards are designed to ensure that customers choosing third-party suppliers have access to accurate information to make educated decisions. The standards apply to switching practices, solicitations and renewals, hiring and…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on April 29 proposed a decision adopting short-term actions to expedite the deployment of microgrids and related resiliency strategies that would mitigate the impacts of safety power shutoff events to avoid the risk of power lines starting wildfires. The proposal would direct the state’s large investor-owned electric utilities to streamline…...
The Arkansas Public Service Commission on May 5 approved a settlement agreement, allowing Southwestern Electric Power Co. to acquire up to 810 megawatts of wind energy from three projects in Oklahoma. The company will invest $1.01 billion to own 54.5 percent of a 1,485-megawatt portfolio of wind projects, which it plans to buy with Public…...
Dominion Energy Inc. on May 1 filed its 2020 integrated resource plan with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, reflecting the targets of the Clean Economy Act, which requires the company to produce its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2045. Under the proposal, the company proposes to add 6.7 to 18.8 gigawatts of solar over the…...
