In the case of a fossil fuel facility, a plan shall include provisions to construct or invest in one or more renewable energy facilities in conjunction with construction and operation of the proposed fossil fuel facility. The aggregate estimated cost or investment in one or more renewable energy facilities shall be equal to no less…
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 8 established a procedure to determine goals and metrics for Xcel Energy Inc.’s performance-based rates. The commission adopted the Office of Attorney General’s recommendation which outlines a “goals-outcomes-metrics process” as an effective method to gather stakeholder input and develop performance metrics. The possible outcomes identified include affordability, reliability,…
The Maryland Public Service Commission approved a five-year electric vehicle charging program for the state’s largest utilities, taking a major step towards its ambitious goal of putting 300,000 electric vehicles on roadways by 2025, according to a Jan. 14 press release. The order permits utilities to own a limited number of public charging stations, in…
Regional grid operators have filed proposals to comply with the first federal directive for broader participation of the technology in regional wholesale power markets. The California system operator is already compliant with majority of the requirements, with a market design that FERC has cited as an example for integrating storage resources. New York grid operator’s proposal poses limitations, such as lack of dual participation in wholesale and retail markets, amidst the state’s efforts to advance an ambitious 3-gigawatt goal for storage.
PG&E Corporation announced it intends to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code as it faces billions of dollars in potential liability resulting from the 2017 and 2018 Northern California wildfires, according to a Jan. 14 press release. The move comes a day after Geisha Williams stepped down as CEO. The company said…...
The U.S. Energy Department announced funding for cost-shared research and development projects aimed to improve technologies used for oil and natural gas recovery, according to a Jan. 10 press release. The Initiative intends to further the technology and innovation that resulted in the shale revolution, which has transformed the U.S. energy landscape. The agency said…
The California Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 10 opened a docket to implement the provisions of Senate Bill 901 enacted last year, allowing utilities to pass some of their costs to ratepayers. The commission said it will adopt a methodology for wildfire cost recovery, but will not adopt any specific financial outcome for future applications…....
The Electric Power Suppliers Association on Jan. 7 filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review appellate court rulings that upheld zero-emission credit programs designed to support financially struggling nuclear plants in New York and Illinois. The organization argues that the subsidy programs infringe on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s jurisdiction over wholesale…...
The Virginia Electric and Power Company filed a rate adjustment clause proposing a revenue requirement of $113.6 million to recover the costs of complying with state and federal environmental regulations for the 2019 rate year starting Nov. 1 and ending Oct. 31, 2020, according to a Jan. 10 press release from the Virginia State Corporation…
In 2019, the U.S. is expected to add 23.7 gigawatts of generation capacity and retire 8.3 gigawatts, according to a Jan. 10 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. About 8 gigawatts of coal, nuclear, and natural gas generation are scheduled to retire this year, with coal accounting for 53 percent of the retirements. Texas,…
The Illinois Commerce Commission on Jan. 9 released a report identifying challenges and opportunities related to electric vehicle deployment and its impact on the grid. The report identifies high upfront costs, range anxiety, lack of charging stations, and inadequate consumer awareness as the key barriers to widespread adoption. The main benefits surrounding electric vehicles pertain…
Colorado House lawmaker Chris Hansen, a Democrat, introduced legislation on Jan. 4 that would increase the maximum size of community solar gardens to 10 megawatts, up from 2 megawatts permitted by current law. The bill would broaden access to community projects, which offers consumers the opportunity to participate in solar installations through subscriptions, by allowing…...
