[Report] Utilities Nationwide Adjust Rate Designs to Meet Changing Customer Demand

Coal Power, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Utilities are increasingly pursuing rate design reform to earn revenue as kilowatt-hour demand growth flattens. As net energy-metered residential solar PV installation growth continues, utilities will be challenged with building and maintaining infrastructure with diminishing revenue streams. The fixed charge and net energy metering NEM compensation debate will continue as utilities fight for sustained revenue…...

[Report] New England Renewable Energy Policies Support Attractive Market

Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Hydropower, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Solar Power, Wind Power

Federal tax incentives, strong state renewable portfolio standards, and associated renewable energy certificate programs facilitate regional installation growth. New England states must continuously analyze and update their RPS policies to ensure renewable energy growth, as developers currently rely on the standards and associated REC markets for project demand and financing. With federal and state policies…...

New York Is First To Tackle Grid Modernization With REV

Coal Power, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power1 Comment

The New York State Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative aims to answer the question of how to proceed with New York’s energy future in the face of aging electric generating plants and the need for a more resilient energy infrastructure. Overview The initiative – announced by Governor Cuomo in April 2014 – tasks the…...

EXPIRE Act Supports Renewable Energy Industry at a High Cost

Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Multiple energy industries rely on federal tax incentives to spur private investment in commercializing renewable technologies. However, the periodic expirations of these tax credits have led to business uncertainty and an inability to make long-term planning decisions. The most recent Senate extender bill – the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act of 2014…...

Federal Regulations and Tax Credits Support Diesel and Natural Gas Vehicle Adoption

Biofuels, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil, Renewables

Despite the recent surge in domestic crude oil and natural gas production, diesel-fueled passenger vehicles and natural gas-fueled fleet vehicles still face challenges in achieving large-scale adoption. Overview Diesel-fueled vehicles provide an option for manufacturers to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration average fuel-efficiency standards of 54.5 miles…...

New FERC and EPA Regulations will Impact Cost and Security of Electricity Supply

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Since the turn of the century, increased scrutiny has been placed on the U.S. electric grid. The threat of weather disruption, physical and cyber-attacks, and decreased regional power generation capacity due to emissions regulations are key factors framing the debate over how to achieve power security and supply. Overview In 2012, Hurricane Sandy exposed electric…...

New York Green Bank to Transform Clean Energy Markets

Biofuels, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Hydropower, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

On February 5, 2014, The New York Green Bank (NYGB) issued its first solicitation for project funding. With project funding commencing, NYGB aims to create a sustainable stream of private capital to replace intermittent grants and subsidies from state and federal sources, and be the first U.S. Green Bank to target $1 billion in capitalization…....

Memoranda of Understanding Aim to Increase Transparency of Energy Market Oversight

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil, Power & Utilities, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

On January 2, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission officially entered into two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). The MOUs will provide solutions for overlapping jurisdiction and sharing information of mutual interest. Overview On March 5, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced…...

Value of Solar Tariffs Aim to Further Address Costs and Benefits

Energy Efficiency, EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power

The solar energy industry is disrupting the traditional one-way power flow utility model. To account for this, utilities and states are working together on creative energy compensation and tariff policies. Overview On March 12, 2014, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved the nation’s first statewide value of solar tariff (VOST), a methodology that will…...

California Cap and Trade Program Strong after First Year of Operation

Carbon Markets, Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

On February 19, 2014, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held its sixth carbon allowance auction. Auction results over the first year show that compliance entities are becoming more comfortable with program and that investor market confidence is growing. Similarly, a secondary allowance market is also developing as market confidence grows. Overview The California Air…...