New Mexico Regulator Clear PNM’s Plan to End Coal-Powered Generation by 2031

New Mexico Regulator Clear PNM’s Plan to End Coal-Powered Generation by 2031

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on Dec. 19 approved the Public Service Co. of New Mexico’s integrated resource plan which calls for retirement of the utility’s remaining units at the San Juan Generating Station by 2022 and withdrawal from the Four Corners coal plant when the its contracts with that facility end in 2031.…

U.S. Energy Department Partners With Industry to Tap Lead Battery Potential for Vehicles, Power Grid

Washington to Revise Electric Utilities’ Competitive Procurement Rules to Reflect Industry Trend

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on Dec. 31 issued a notice seeking comments on a draft rule for competitive resource acquisition by utilities. The proposal is a result of stakeholder workshops and public comment processes since the commission unveiled a proposal in 2016 to examine whether rules governing the integrated resource plan and utility…

Maryland Board Rejects Permit for TransCanada’s Gas Pipeline

Maryland Board Rejects Permit for TransCanada’s Gas Pipeline

The Maryland Board of Public Works on Jan. 2 unanimously rejected a permit for Columbia Gas Transmission LLC to build a pipeline across the state to transport natural gas from Pennsylvania to West Virginia. Republican Gov. Larry Hogan joined Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp to vote against an easement required to install a…...

Illinois Alternative Energy Supplier Agrees to Refund $2.65 Million for Violating Marketing Rules

Consumers Energy, DTE Electric to Return $162 Million in Federal Tax Cut Savings to Michigan Customers

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved the second round of federal tax cut adjustments, called Credit B, requiring Consumers Energy Company and DTE Electric Company to return about $69.7 million and 92.8 million, respectively, to their electric customers beginning this month. With this ruling, the commission has ordered $228 million in Credit B refunds, in…

Virginia Poised to Reap Offshore Wind Industry Benefits by Establishing Supply Chain

Virginia Poised to Reap Offshore Wind Industry Benefits by Establishing Supply Chain: Report

Democratic Governor Ralph Northam on Dec. 27 unveiled a report providing a roadmap for Virginia to develop a supply chain to serve offshore wind projects planned along the East Coast. The report examines Virginia’s strategic role in the emerging industry, highlighting that the state is well-positioned to serve as a supply chain hub thanks to…...

NJR Clean Energy Wins FERC Approval for $209 Million sale of Wind Portfolio

NJR Clean Energy Wins FERC Approval for $209 Million sale of Wind Portfolio

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Dec. 31 authorized NJR Clean Energy Ventures II Corporation to sell its interests in four wind energy projects totaling 117 megawatts to SRIV Partnership LLC. NJR Clean Energy said that the $208.5 million transaction completes the sale of all its operating wind facilities. In June, the company sold a…...

Minnesota Power Wins Approval for 250-Megawatt Wind Power Contract

Minnesota Power Wins Approval for 250-Megawatt Wind Power Contract

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission authorized Minnesota Power’s 20-year power purchase agreement with Tenaska Inc. for 250 megawatts of wind-generated power, according to a Dec. 20 press release. The energy would be supplied by the proposed Nobles 2 facility in Nobles County along Buffalo Ridge expected to come online in October 2020. The contract, which…...

Dominion’s Millstone Nuclear Plant Wins Zero-Carbon Energy Contract in Connecticut

Dominion’s Millstone Nuclear Plant Wins Zero-Carbon Energy Contract in Connecticut

Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy on Dec. 28 announced the selection of two nuclear plants — Dominion Energy Inc.’s Millstone Power Station in Connecticut and NextEra Energy Inc.’s Seabrook Nuclear Power Station in New Hampshire — along with nine solar projects and one offshore wind project in the state’s solicitation for zero-carbon electricity. The procurements totaling nearly…...

New Jersey Approves Funding Method for 3.5-Gigawatt Offshore Wind Program

New Jersey Approves Funding Method for 3.5-Gigawatt Offshore Wind Program

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities adopted a proposed rule establishing offshore wind renewable energy certificates or ORECs detailing a process to fund the state’s offshore wind program and flow back revenue to ratepayers, according to a Dec. 18 press release. The industry has gained momentum under Democratic Governor Phil Murphy who seeks to…...

Greater Regulatory Clarity Will Facilitate Fair Competition of Storage Resources in Ontario Power Market: Report

Greater Regulatory Clarity Will Facilitate Fair Competition of Storage Resources in Ontario Power Market: Report

The Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator issued a report on Dec. 20 identifying obstacles and mitigating strategies to ensure that energy storage resources can be integrated into its market and can compete in the delivery of services when feasible. The report calls for clarity in the market rules, Ontario Energy Board codes, and legislation and…...

Georgia Regulator Clears 4.3-Megawatt Power Contract Under Georgia Power’s Customer-Sited Solar Program

Colorado Rule Paves Way for Utility Investment in Battery Projects

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission adopted rules to incorporate energy storage procurement into utilities’ long-term planning processes, taking an important step towards harnessing the emerging technology, according to a Dec. 12 decision. The move follows legislation enacted in June 2018 directing the commission to establish a process by February 2019 for electric utilities to evaluate…...

New York Clean Energy Standard Enters Third Phase, Incorporates Offshore Wind Credits

New York Clean Energy Standard Enters Third Phase, Incorporates Offshore Wind Credits

The New York Public Service Commission on Dec. 14 approved phase III of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s plan to implement the Clean Energy Standard or CES, adopted in August 2016, to achieve the state’s goal of obtaining half its electricity from renewable resources by 2030. The program includes a renewable…...