The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on July 16 revised regulations implementing the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, or PURPA, which established requirements for utilities to purchase power from small independent electricity generators and cogeneration facilities. The final rule increases flexibility for states in establishing rates at which qualifying facilities sell their output and…...
U.S. electric generators experienced more delays in commercial operation dates in March and April partly due to the COVID-19 mitigation efforts, according to a July 15 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Restricted travel of specialized workers, along with supply chain disruptions and permitting challenges increased the risk of project delays. According to a…...
The New York Public Service Commission on July 16 adopted a successor to net metering for residential and small commercial customers, establishing monthly charges that will apply to customers who install solar on or after Jan. 1, 2022. The decision addresses cost shifts identified in a December 2019 whitepaper which recommends changes applicable to mass…
The California Independent System Operator Corp. on July 13 announced that the first phase of LS Power Group’s Gateway Energy Storage Project connected to its power grid, adding 62.5 megawatts of storage, the largest in the U.S. The entire project, expected to come online in August, will have a total capacity of 250 megawatts. The…...
The U.S. Energy Department on July 14 released a draft roadmap for its Energy Storage Grand Challenge initiative, a comprehensive program launched in January to expedite the development of next-generation storage technologies. By 2030, the program aims to establish and sustain U.S. leadership in energy storage utilization and exports, with a domestic manufacturing supply chain…...
Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo on July 14 signed an agreement with 14 other states and the District of Columbia to electrify the medium- and heavy-duty bus and truck market. The memorandum of understanding sets goals of 30 percent zero-emission new vehicle sales by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050. The signatories will work through the…...
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a plan allowing Xcel Energy Inc. to idle two of its coal-fired power plants for six months of the year, potentially saving customers up to $3.48 million by 2023, according to a July 15 press release. Under the plan, the Allen S. King Generating Station and Unit 2 of…...
The U.S. Energy Department selected twelve projects to develop carbon capture and storage processes for the nation’s power system, according to a July 13 press release. The projects will receive $11.5 million to support the first phase of the FLExible Carbon Capture and Storage, or FLECCS program, to equip technologies such as gas power generators…...
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on July 8 announced it has entered into a partnership with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers to improve indoor quality in the post-COVID-19 environment to mitigate the risk on public health. The initiative also plans to advance building electrification and energy…...
The Michigan Public Service Commission on July 9 approved DTE Electric Co.’s amended renewable energy portfolio. The new supply-side renewable resources approved incorporate a 225-megawatt wind farm and two 25-year solar power purchase contracts of about 128 megawatts. The generation capacity, to be added over the next two years, would enable the company to comply…...
The Florida Public Service Commission on July 7 approved demand side management plans filed by the state’s five investor-owned utilities, finding that the programs are the public interest. The agency decided that the new initiatives are projected to meet conservation targets and have no adverse cost impact to customers. The commission rejected staff’s recommendation to…...
The Maryland Public Service Commission will convene a public conference next month to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on utility operations and consumer protections as the moratorium on utility service termination is set to expire on Aug. 1. The commission will seek input on regulatory measures that should be considered to mitigate and…...
