The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Aug. 27 announced plans to fund installation efforts for over 38 fast-charging stations within the state, extending the incumbent EV highway corridor network by more than 2500 miles in the process. Fast charging capabilities can fully replenish an EV with a 100-mile range in as few as 20 minutes…...
There is a growing interest in how carbon pricing can be incorporated into wholesale power markets as more jurisdictions embrace policy goals to transition to a lower-carbon power system. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has scheduled a technical conference to consider state adoption of mechanisms to price carbon emissions in regions with commission-jurisdictional electricity markets.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on Aug. 24 announced the approval of the Just Transition Working Group and six advisory panels tasked with providing recommendations to the Climate Action Council. The council is a 22-member committee established under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which sets aggressive goals for…...
Exelon Generation on Aug. 26 announced that it plans to retire two nuclear plants in Illinois with a capacity of more than 4.1 gigawatts as they face revenue shortfalls due to falling energy prices and market rules that allow fossil fuel generators to underbid carbon-free resources in PJM Interconnection LLC’s capacity auction. The announcement follows…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on Aug. 27 authorized a budget of $437 million to fund the installation of about 38,000 charging ports under Southern California Edison Company’s Charge Ready 2 program. The decision adopted changes that make the program more cost effective and better align with California’s electric vehicle goals than the utility’s initial…...
The twenty-fourth quarterly carbon auction held by California and Quebec sold nearly 89 percent of the carbon permits offered for current emissions, rebounding from a dip in the previous auction which sold only 37 percent, according to the results released on Aug. 25 by the California Air Resources Board. The auction generated about $474.4 million…...
Recently, state regulators have stepped up efforts to value distributed energy resources (DERs) more accurately while looking for ways to better reflect the costs they impose on the grid. Among recent actions, New York adopted a mechanism to move the market towards more cost-reflective rates, while California decided to include avoided transmission costs in the valuation, and Connecticut unveiled a study on quantifying the benefits of these resources.
The California Air Resources Board finalized agreements with major automakers – Ford, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen, and Volvo – to cut vehicle emissions in the state based upon a framework released last year, according to an Aug. 17 press release. The framework, which supports continued annual reductions of vehicle emissions through the 2026 model year, sets…...
Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards on Aug. 19 signed two executive orders to address climate change and enhance coastal resilience. The first order establishes the state’s first Climate Initiative Task Force to make recommendations to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 100 percent by 2050. The second order outlines measures under the Adaptive Governance Initiative…...
The New York Public Service Commission on Aug. 13 announced an update on transmission initiatives underway to implement the 2020 Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefit Act. This legislation calls for significant investment to meet New York’s target of sourcing 70 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. The 2019 Climate Leadership…...
Alternative ratemaking plans and innovative rate design proposals continue to emerge as utilities adapt to policy and technology changes driven by decarbonization efforts and distributed energy growth. With growing state mandates to increase renewable energy generation, regulators are devising performance metrics and incentives to encourage utility innovation in achieving policy goals.
Xcel Energy Inc. announced a plan to power 1.5 million electric vehicles in the eight states it serves by 2030, according to an Aug. 12 press release. The company expects 20 percent of the vehicles in its service territory to be replaced by electric vehicles, over the next decade, a 30-fold increase from current levels…....
