The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing financing through its electric loan program to upgrade rural electric systems, including smart grid technologies to enhance operations and monitor grid security across 13 states, according to an April 8 press release. The spending will help build or improve about 2,635 miles of power lines. These include almost…
PJM Interconnection LLC will proceed with its upcoming capacity auction scheduled to begin on Aug. 14 unless the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules otherwise, according to an April 10 filing. The agency has not yet rendered a decision on the grid operator’s proposal filed last year to address the pricing-suppressing effects from the growing influx…
The Montana legislature on April 8 approved a bill that aims to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the state by allowing utilities to sell power to private entities operating charging stations in their service territories. The bill would also determine that these operators are not public utilities. (HB 456) Under the legislation, charges pertaining…
The U.S. Energy Department on April 11 announced up to about $100 million for research projects under its “Coal FIRST” initiative, which aims to develop modular coal-based power plants built with advanced methods to meet the requirements of the evolving electric grid. The agency will also invest up to $87 million in innovative coal technologies…
The Maine Public Utilities Commission on April 11 voted unanimously to grant a permit allowing Central Maine Power Company to move forward with its New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project, which is designed to deliver up to 1,200-megawatts of Canadian hydropower into the Northeast. The proposed 145-mile high-voltage power line would cross western Maine…
The U.S. Senate voted 56-41 on April 11 to confirm David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior. President Trump’s pick for the position has been acting secretary since Jan. 2, following Ryan Zinke’s resignation amid multiple ethics probes. He served as the department’s top lawyer under President George W. Bush and worked as a lobbyist for the…
U.S. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on April 10 aimed to speed up the federal process for cross-border energy infrastructure projects and restrict the role of states in the permitting process for siting pipelines and other fossil fuel projects. One order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to review a section of the Clean…
Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp, proposed a modification to its net metering program for Idaho customers by allowing a once-per-year transfer of financial credits between eligible meters, according to an April 9 press release from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. The company said that current regulations do not provide for aggregation of accounts…
The New York Independent System Operator Inc.’s board of directors selected two transmission projects, which would add the largest amount of capacity to the state’s power grid in over 30 years, according to an April 8 press release. The grid operator said that the aging and congested transmission infrastructure is not capable of accommodating the…
The Maryland General Assembly approved a bill on April 8 that would raise the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2030 from 25 percent by 2020. The measure would require a study to create a comprehensive plan to achieve a 100 percent goal by 2040. The legislation adds to the growing list of state-level…...
Hawaii and Puerto Rico are at the forefront of a trend just starting to sweep the nation as regulators look to overhaul a grid now growing more reliant on intermittent supplies. The experience of these islands could shed light on the need to consider the implications of future grid investments for both reliability and regional…...
Rep. Michael Doyle, a Democrat representing Pennsylvania, introduced legislation on April 4 that would expand the solar investment tax credit to include energy storage technology for utilities, businesses, and homes. The current tax code provides the credit for battery technologies paired with a solar installations. (H.R.2096) More than 100 House Democrats, led by Congresswoman Haley…...
