U.S. petroleum refineries significantly altered operations in response to plummeting demand for motor gasoline and jet fuel, both of which have fallen to near-all-time lows because of efforts to mitigate the COVID 19 pandemic, according to an Aug. 28 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Beginning in April, refiners responded to less demand for…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on Aug. 27 issued a decision providing guidelines on how regulated energy utilities should address vulnerabilities caused by climate change and engage with disadvantaged communities on adaptation measures. The decision ensures equitability by requiring utilities to minimize the climate-related impacts of infrastructure, operations, and service changes for the most vulnerable…...
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Aug. 27 announced plans to fund installation efforts for over 38 fast-charging stations within the state, extending the incumbent EV highway corridor network by more than 2500 miles in the process. Fast charging capabilities can fully replenish an EV with a 100-mile range in as few as 20 minutes…...
There is a growing interest in how carbon pricing can be incorporated into wholesale power markets as more jurisdictions embrace policy goals to transition to a lower-carbon power system. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has scheduled a technical conference to consider state adoption of mechanisms to price carbon emissions in regions with commission-jurisdictional electricity markets.
The Illinois Commerce Commission on Aug. 20 opened an inquiry to explore electricity rate design options to support transportation electrification infrastructure and gather information about the impact rate structures will have on other forms of electrification, service, and affordability. The inquiry supplements previous efforts by the commission to study electric vehicles. In 2018, the commission…...
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on Aug. 24 announced the approval of the Just Transition Working Group and six advisory panels tasked with providing recommendations to the Climate Action Council. The council is a 22-member committee established under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which sets aggressive goals for…...
The Montana Supreme Court on Aug. 24 ruled that state regulators unlawfully reduced the payments and contract lengths for solar projects’ power supply arrangements under the 1978 Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA, which established requirements for utilities to purchase power from small independent generators. The decision affirms a 2019 lower court order, and…...
The Bureau of Land Management’s quarterly oil and gas lease sale in New Mexico generated net proceeds of $8.28 million, according to an Aug. 28 press release. Nearly half the revenue from the sale is allotted to the states where the oil and gas activity takes place namely, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The remainder…...
About 5 billion cubic feet per day of new natural gas pipeline capacity came online in the U.S. during the first half of 2020, according to an Aug. 24 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. At the same time an estimated 8.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of pipeline projects were canceled in…...
Exelon Generation on Aug. 26 announced that it plans to retire two nuclear plants in Illinois with a capacity of more than 4.1 gigawatts as they face revenue shortfalls due to falling energy prices and market rules that allow fossil fuel generators to underbid carbon-free resources in PJM Interconnection LLC’s capacity auction. The announcement follows…...
The Michigan Public Service Commission on August 20 authorized a settlement allowing DTE Gas to increase its revenues by $110 million, which is about 46 percent lower than the utility’s original request. The new rate, effective Oct. 1, will raise monthly residential bills for customers using 100 cubic feet of gas by about $2.97 or…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on Aug. 27 authorized a budget of $437 million to fund the installation of about 38,000 charging ports under Southern California Edison Company’s Charge Ready 2 program. The decision adopted changes that make the program more cost effective and better align with California’s electric vehicle goals than the utility’s initial…...