Southwestern Electric Power Company, a subsidiary of American Electric Power Company Inc., issued a request for proposals for 1.2 gigawatts of wind energy that would come online by Dec. 15, 2021, according to a Jan. 9 filing with the Louisiana Public Service Commission. The move comes six months after the company scrapped a $4.5-billion wind…...
U.S. coal production is projected to decline by 3 percent to about 729 million short tons in 2019 compared to 2018, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s short-term outlook released on Jan. 15. The agency forecasts 2020 production to reach 680 million tons, the first time that annual production will fall below 700 million…
The Oregon Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 15 determined that there is no “justiciable controversy” to resolve in the proposed acquisition of Avista Corporation by Hydro One Limited, following denials in Washington and Idaho. The agency issued an order suspending the proceeding indefinitely until the companies notify of a reversal of the denials, providing an…
The California Independent System Operator Corporation finalized agreements to provide reliability coordinating services for 32 electricity balancing authorities and transmission operators across the west, according to a Jan. 14 press release. Following a year of planning and coordination, the ISO said it will now focus on technology and system integration to implement the service by July 1…....
In the case of a fossil fuel facility, a plan shall include provisions to construct or invest in one or more renewable energy facilities in conjunction with construction and operation of the proposed fossil fuel facility. The aggregate estimated cost or investment in one or more renewable energy facilities shall be equal to no less…
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 8 established a procedure to determine goals and metrics for Xcel Energy Inc.’s performance-based rates. The commission adopted the Office of Attorney General’s recommendation which outlines a “goals-outcomes-metrics process” as an effective method to gather stakeholder input and develop performance metrics. The possible outcomes identified include affordability, reliability,…
The Maryland Public Service Commission approved a five-year electric vehicle charging program for the state’s largest utilities, taking a major step towards its ambitious goal of putting 300,000 electric vehicles on roadways by 2025, according to a Jan. 14 press release. The order permits utilities to own a limited number of public charging stations, in…
Montana House Lawmaker Mary Dunwell, a Democrat, introduced legislation on Jan. 14 that would impose a carbon tax of $10 per metric ton on large emissions sources from 2020, increasing annually by $1, plus the rate of inflation. The bill would set an emissions reduction goal of 25 percent by 2035, and 50 percent by…...
The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 14 opened a proceeding for a thorough scrutiny of Central Maine Power Company’s metering and billing issues, concluding a summary investigation that was initiated last March in response to hundreds of complaints from ratepayers over high bills. The agency will examine metering and billing issues affecting customers since…
Regional grid operators have filed proposals to comply with the first federal directive for broader participation of the technology in regional wholesale power markets. The California system operator is already compliant with majority of the requirements, with a market design that FERC has cited as an example for integrating storage resources. New York grid operator’s proposal poses limitations, such as lack of dual participation in wholesale and retail markets, amidst the state’s efforts to advance an ambitious 3-gigawatt goal for storage.
PG&E Corporation announced it intends to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code as it faces billions of dollars in potential liability resulting from the 2017 and 2018 Northern California wildfires, according to a Jan. 14 press release. The move comes a day after Geisha Williams stepped down as CEO. The company said…...
The U.S. Energy Department announced funding for cost-shared research and development projects aimed to improve technologies used for oil and natural gas recovery, according to a Jan. 10 press release. The Initiative intends to further the technology and innovation that resulted in the shale revolution, which has transformed the U.S. energy landscape. The agency said…
