The Virginia State Corporation Commission announced a pilot program that will allow Dominion Energy Inc.’s commercial customers to combine the load of separately metered retail stores to purchase electricity from third party suppliers, according to a June 10 press release. The measure is in response to legislation enacted in April that directed the agency to…...
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 4 directing federal agencies to use emergency powers to expedite infrastructure projects to facilitate recovery from the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19. The order allows agencies to consult with the White House Council on Environmental Quality to identify “alternative arrangements” for complying with the requirements…...
Canada is the second-biggest destination for U.S. energy exports, next only to Mexico, and the main source of U.S. energy imports, according to a June 5 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2019, energy accounted for $85 billion, or 27 percent, of the trade value for U.S. imports from Canada; crude oil and…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on June 1 issued a final rule specifying the timeframe for states to review water quality requirements for infrastructure projects under a section of the Clean Water Act. The rule requires states or authorized tribes to take final action within one year of a certification request. The agency also clarified…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on June 5 announced it will convene a technical conference next month to consider the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on various segments on the U.S. energy industry. The agency will analyse the potential longer-term impacts on regulated entities to ensure efficient functioning of energy markets, power transmission, oil…...
The Arkansas Public Service Commission on June 1 issued an order retaining the current net metering rate structure, which credits rooftop solar customers at retail rates for net excess generation, through the end of 2022. The commission decided that systems under 1 megawatt should receive the full 1:1 retail rate credit until Dec. 31, 2022…...
The 48th quarterly carbon auction of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade program to cut power sector emissions, sold more than 16.3 million carbon allowances at a clearing price of $5.75. The auction generated about $93.9 million, bringing the total proceeds to nearly $3.6 billion. The clearing price was slightly higher…...
The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment on June 3 granted a permit, allowing Alle-Catt Wind Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Invenergy LLC, to construct a 340-megawatt wind generating facility in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Wyoming counties. The $454 million facility, spanning about 30,000 acres, is expected to generate up to…...
U.S. biomass-based diesel imports increased by 26 percent in 2019 to more than 27,000 barrels per day after three consecutive years of decline, according to a June 2 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Production of biomass-based diesel, which refers to biodiesel and renewable diesel, is largely driven by federal and state policies as…...
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority extended the start date for delivery of renewable energy credits, or RECs, from low and zero emission facilities under the state’s LREC/ZREC program to provide flexibility for projects that may be facing delivery delays due to the COVID 19 pandemic, according to a June 1 press release. The agency…...
The New York Independent System Operator Inc. expects to have 41,319 megawatts of power capacity, including in-state generation, imports, and demand response to meet forecasted peak demand this summer, according to a May 28 press release. The grid operator anticipates a peak demand of 32,296 megawatts, which is 86 megawatts lower than the 2019 baseline…...
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on May 18 unveiled its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Ecosystem 2020 Straw Proposal, which will inform recommendations to develop an approach for charging infrastructure build-out, as well as the roles of private and public entities. New Jersey enacted legislation in January that sets a goal of having 2 million…...
