Coal has long reigned as the leading energy source for U.S. electricity generation, but structural changes in U.S. energy markets, brought on by technological innovations and new regulatory initiatives, have called into question the future of the coal industry. For over a century, the coal industry has provided the lifeblood for American progress, fueling the…...
Distributed System Platform to Facilitate New Resource Integration The marketplace envisioned under the New York Public Service Commission’s (PSC) Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding targets efficient development of distributed energy resources (DERs). In its REV Track One regulatory framework issued on February 26, 2015, the New York PSC determined that utilities will perform the…...
EPA emissions rules and legislative actions will impact every aspect of the energy value chain in 2015 Key Takeaways: Policies impacting energy independence and associated environmental impacts are coming head-to-head at the federal level Legislators will aim to settle long-debated oil and gas infrastructure and export bills and will use legistive authorities to delay, defund,…...
EPA’s Clean Power Plan, regional programs, and continued solar installation growth aim to improve state-level resource and grid reliability. The proposed Clean Power Plan and regional reliability programs will continue to influence an energy mix shift and electric system improvements in the coming years. The energy mix shift is also being pushed by fuel and…...
Demand response (DR) performance in wholesale power markets has improved over the past six years, in part as a result of multiple FERC Orders. Removal of DR from organized electricity markets would favor generators through increased sales; this could lead to higher associated emissions and peak power prices. The Solicitor General has until January 15 to file…...
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…...
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…...
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…...
After years of debate in the lower courts, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) gained Supreme Court approval on April 29, 2014 to further regulate power plant emissions across 27 central and eastern states. Overview CSAPR was finalized in July 2011 to replace the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) to…...
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…...
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…...
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…...
