FERC Approves Two Major LNG Export Terminals as Global Demand Rises

FERC Approves Two Major LNG Export Terminals as Global Demand Rises

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted authorization for Tellurian Inc.’s Driftwood LNG export project, a 27.6 million metric tons per year liquefaction facility in Louisiana, and the associated 96-mile pipeline connecting to the facility. The project is set to begin construction in 2019 and start operation in 2023. Port Arthur LNG LLC, a subsidiary…

Nevada Passes Bill to Double Renewable Standard, Aim for Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050

Nevada Passes Bill to Double Renewable Standard, Aim for Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050

Nevada State lawmakers unanimously approved legislation on April 19 to boost the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2030, and set a goal for achieving 100 percent of the state’s electricity from carbon-free resources by 2050. The existing target calls for the state to get 25 percent of supplies from renewables by 2025.…

Kentucky Passes Bill That Could Stall Residential Solar Growth

New York Revises Compensation Policy, Paving Way for 1 Gigawatt of Community Solar

The New York State Public Service Commission approved refinements to its value stack policy to facilitate better price signals and compensation that will expand opportunities for customers to benefit from community solar projects in their utility service territories, according to an April 18 press release. The agency authorized the New York State Energy Research and Development…

New Jersey Regulator Approves $300 Million Annual Subsidy for Nuclear Power Plants

New Jersey Regulator Approves $300 Million Annual Subsidy for Nuclear Power Plants

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on April 18 awarded zero emission credits to the Hope Creek and Salem nuclear power plants after determining that the facilities could close within three years due to financial distress. The subsidy program was established under legislation enacted last May to compensate the fuel diversity and zero-carbon attributes…

ENERGY FACILITY SITING ACT

Retail Supplier Investigations Pile Up in Ohio as More Companies are Accused of Dubious Marketing

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is investigating the marketing and sales practices of two retail energy providers in the state, Indra Energy and Verde Energy. Commission staff reviewed customer contacts and filed a notice to the regulator alleging potential misleading and deceptive practices by PALMco Energy OH and PALMco Power OH, which together do…

Massachusetts Regulator Approves Long-Term Contracts for 800-Megawatts of Offshore Wind Power

Massachusetts Regulator Approves Long-Term Contracts for 800-Megawatts of Offshore Wind Power

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities authorized power purchase agreements between Vineyard Wind LLC and the state’s electric distribution companies Unitil Corp., National Grid plc, and Eversource Energy for a period of 20 years, according to an April 16 press release. The approval is crucial for the developer to start construction by this year and…

Ohio Retail Supplier Faces Probe for Unscrupulous Sales Practices

Ohio Retail Supplier Faces Probe for Unscrupulous Sales Practices

The Ohio Public Utilities Commission opened an investigation into Verde Energy USA Ohio LLC’s sales practices in response to hundreds of complaints related to enrollment disputes, deceptive information, and false representations purporting the competitive supplier to be another utility, according to an April 16 notice. The agency said that 18 percent of the supplier-related investigations…

Bipartisan Bill Seeks Extension of Tax Credit for Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles

Bipartisan Bill Seeks Extension of Tax Credit for Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles

Democratic Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, along with Republican Senators Lamar Alexander and Susan Collins have introduced the Driving America Forward Act (S.1094), which will expand the electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell tax credit. The bipartisan legislation seeks to raise the current cap of 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer by an additional 400,000, allowing more consumers to reap a $7,000…

Maine State Lawmaker Proposes Bill Allowing Choice of Single Power Provider for Municipality

Maine State Lawmaker Proposes Bill Allowing Choice of Single Power Provider for Municipality

Maine House lawmaker Diane Denk, a Democrat, introduced legislation on April 11 that would establish a process to enable a municipality, which is served by two transmission and distribution utilities, to choose one of them to meet all its power needs. (LD 1542) To make the choice, the municipality would hold a referendum made by…