Key Takeaways: Removal of crude oil export restrictions expands U.S. access to the global market, but an immediate boost to U.S. crude exports is unlikely due to the global oil-supply glut and low prices Crude oil exports could harm the domestic refining industry, although the level of impact depends on the refining sector growth and…...
Key Takeaways: Florida’s investor-owned utilities will continue to employ current natural gas hedging practices, which have resulted in approximately $6B opportunity costs Evolving supply-demand dynamics of the natural gas market spur utility commissioners to reconsider hedging policy Ongoing state efforts to enhance hedging mechanisms reflect the need for long-term supply contract structures Insight for…...
Key Takeaways: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s (RGGI) latest auction sold allowances at a record high price of $7.50 each, reflecting sound market operation Rising allowance prices signify the potential for developing carbon offset projects to meet RGGI emissions reduction requirements RGGI’s power sector-focused program is increasingly recognized for its compatibility with the Environmental Protection…...
Key Takeaways: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) has received support from 18 states and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple corporate associations, in recent motions to intervene State air quality regulators are devising their own strategies to avoid subjugation to a federal plan, which could be inconsistent with state abilities…...
Key Takeaways: Reforms to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) interconnection requirements will eliminate the current reactive power exemptions for wind generators To implement the proposed amendments, each public utility transmission provider would be required to submit a compliance filing within 90 days after the final rule takes effect With growing wind energy penetration, grid…...
Key Takeaways: Natural gas pipeline expansions will deliver new incremental production from the Marcellus and Utica regions to emerging markets in the Midwest, Southeast and Gulf Coast Cross-border pipelines are increasing natural gas exports to Canada and Mexico Bidirectional pipeline projects will optimize potential excess supply in the Northeast during spring and fall Impending liquefied…...
Key Takeaways: Entergy Corporation will retire its 852 MW FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in New York at the end of its current fuel cycle by early 2017 Natural gas-fired generation will largely replace decommissioned nuclear capacity Renewable generation will increase, although at a slower pace that may not offset lost nuclear generation, due to its…...
Key Takeaways: Arizona will investigate the costs and benefits of distributed generation (DG) to address net metering cost-shift issues and ensure a balanced share of grid maintenance costs between DG and non-DG ratepayers Arizona’s decision could set national model for states seeking reasonable net energy metering (NEM) reimbursement as DG penetration increases Reforms to NEM…...
Key Takeaways: Litigation over the merits of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) rulemaking will affect compliance timelines for state implementation plans Uncertainty over the timeline and outcome of litigation will burden utilities to begin preparations for state plans before the 2016 deadline The potential for the CPP to be wholly or partially…...
Key Takeaways: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) revised Market-Based Rate Program will reduce administrative burden on industry participants and increase certainty for sellers FERC will no longer require market-based rate sellers to file quarterly land acquisition information for new generation sites Market-based rate sellers will not have to report behind-the-meter generation in the indicative…...
Key Takeaways: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will strengthen the requirements for ground-level ozone under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards States and local areas would strengthen emissions control for stationary and mobile sources to ensure their plans receive EPA’s approval Stronger ozone standards will increase the burden on sources of ozone precursors, including the…...
Key Takeaways: The Department of Transportation’s proposal to strengthen hazardous liquid pipeline safety would expand the agency’s integrity management requirements related to assessments, repairs, and leak detection The proposal would establish reporting requirements for certain unregulated pipelines, including all gathering lines New conservative repair criteria and response timelines would increase the number of anomalies that…...