The California Public Utilities Commission on Dec. 21 announced it is considering reforms ranging from splitting Pacific Gas and Electric into separate electric and gas companies to reconstituting into a public entity in the wake of wildfires that caused widespread destruction in Northern and Southern California. The agency said that the utility has had serious…
Monitoring Analytics LLC, the independent market monitor for PJM Interconnection LLC, filed a complaint against the grid operator for determining not to assess a penalty to a market participant who violated the fuel cost policy, according to a Dec. 28 filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The market monitor said that the violation occurred on…...
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…...
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…...
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection proposed to set an initial carbon dioxide cap at 18 million tons in 2020 for the electricity generation sector when the state officially becomes a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Dec. 17…...
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…...
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…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a draft rule proposing to determine that it is not “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollutant emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants, rescinding a 2016 supplemental cost finding that formed the basis for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, according to a Dec. 28 press release.…
Rep. Mark Takano, a Democrat representing California, introduced legislation on Dec. 13 titled “Battery Storage Innovation Act,” which seeks to expand the innovative technology loan guarantee program to include battery storage applications in residential, industrial, and transportation sectors. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created the program, authorizing the U.S. Energy Department to issue loan…
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities staff issued a straw proposal to phase out the current Solar Renewable Energy Certificate or SREC Program following legislation enacted in May 2018, which closes the program when 5.1 percent of electricity sold in the state comes from distributed solar, and transition to a new system, according to…...
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…...
Canada-based Hydro One Limited and Washington-based Avista Corporation said that the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission erred in denying their proposed merger because the agency’s risk assessment was based on “generalized fears of political interference” and failed to take into account the commitments that protect the U.S. company from any influence by the Province of…
