The California Independent System Operator Corp. on May 3 announced that the Bonneville Power Administration and Tucson Electric Power have joined the Western Energy Imbalance Market, or WEIM. Enrolling with the WEIM allows both utilities the opportunity to achieve cost saving and lower carbon emissions for their customers. Moreover, participating in the market provides another…...
The Oregon Public Utility Commission on April 25 approved the 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs) for PacifiCorp, Portland General Electric, and Idaho Power. The commission also recommended that the utilities collaborate with commission staff as a means of improving the information they include in their plan for 2023. The Idaho Power 2022 plan was approved…...
The Texas Public Utilities Commission on April 29 announced the completion of the Electricity Supply Chain Map of critical infrastructure that can be used during emergency preparedness and response activities. The map will enable emergency management officials to pinpoint the location of critical facilities as well as their emergency contact information. The map identifies critical…...
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, unveiled a roadmap for transitioning the state to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by the middle of the century, including a potential clean energy standard. The Clean Energy Plan, which is in response to a 2019 executive order, highlights four major pathways to a carbon-free future: accelerating clean energy technology…...
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, vetoed legislation on April 27 that would have phased down compensation for customer generators under the state’s net metering program and allowed utilities to impose new charges on those customers to recover their alleged underpayment of grid maintenance costs. DeSantis said that the new charges, designed to recover lost…...
The U.S. Energy Department on April 19 announced that it will seek applications and sealed bids for the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit, or CNC, Program to keep the existing U.S. nuclear fleet running. The guidance provides information for owners or operators of nuclear power reactors that might have to close prematurely due to economic…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on April 21 issued a proposed rule to improve regional transmission planning and cost allocation, addressing the need for increased resilience and reliability of energy infrastructure while achieving cost savings for consumers. Among the key provisions, the proposal would require each transmission provider to seek the agreement of relevant state…...
The Bureau of Land Management on April 18 issued sale notices for its June 2022 competitive oil and gas lease sale. The reformed onshore lease sale follows the Department of the Interior’s November 2021 report that recommended an overhaul of the federal oil and gas program. The agency will apply the first increased royalty rate…...
The New York State Public Service Commission on April 14 approved the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s contracts for two transmission projects: Clean Path New York LLC’s Clean Path NY and H.Q. Energy Services (U.S.) Inc.’s Champlain Hudson Power Express. The projects will deliver solar, wind, and hydroelectric power from upstate New…...
The U.S. Energy Department on April 12 issued a request for information to gather feedback from stakeholders regarding the implementation of the $225 million funding provision for improved building codes under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. States and building stock owners will benefit from this funding by upgrading building codes to ensure efficient…...
U.S. Senate lawmakers introduced legislation on April 8 to create an Executive Office for Nuclear Policy. The bill, titled “International Nuclear Energy Act of 2022,” aims to develop a nuclear export strategy to counteract the growing influence of China and Russia on global nuclear energy development. The bill, introduced by Chairman of the Senate Energy…...
In 2021, nuclear electricity generation in the U.S. declined for the second straight year, according to a report published by the Energy Information Administration on Apr 8. A total of 778 million megawatt-hours was produced by U.S. nuclear power plants in 2021, which is 1.5 percent less than the previous year. Across all sectors, nuclear…...