The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection proposed to set an initial carbon dioxide cap at 18 million tons in 2020 for the electricity generation sector when the state officially becomes a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Dec. 17…...
Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy on Dec. 28 announced the selection of two nuclear plants — Dominion Energy Inc.’s Millstone Power Station in Connecticut and NextEra Energy Inc.’s Seabrook Nuclear Power Station in New Hampshire — along with nine solar projects and one offshore wind project in the state’s solicitation for zero-carbon electricity. The procurements totaling nearly…...
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities adopted a proposed rule establishing offshore wind renewable energy certificates or ORECs detailing a process to fund the state’s offshore wind program and flow back revenue to ratepayers, according to a Dec. 18 press release. The industry has gained momentum under Democratic Governor Phil Murphy who seeks to…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a draft rule proposing to determine that it is not “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollutant emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants, rescinding a 2016 supplemental cost finding that formed the basis for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, according to a Dec. 28 press release.…
Rep. Mark Takano, a Democrat representing California, introduced legislation on Dec. 13 titled “Battery Storage Innovation Act,” which seeks to expand the innovative technology loan guarantee program to include battery storage applications in residential, industrial, and transportation sectors. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created the program, authorizing the U.S. Energy Department to issue loan…
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities staff issued a straw proposal to phase out the current Solar Renewable Energy Certificate or SREC Program following legislation enacted in May 2018, which closes the program when 5.1 percent of electricity sold in the state comes from distributed solar, and transition to a new system, according to…...
The Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator issued a report on Dec. 20 identifying obstacles and mitigating strategies to ensure that energy storage resources can be integrated into its market and can compete in the delivery of services when feasible. The report calls for clarity in the market rules, Ontario Energy Board codes, and legislation and…...
Canada-based Hydro One Limited and Washington-based Avista Corporation said that the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission erred in denying their proposed merger because the agency’s risk assessment was based on “generalized fears of political interference” and failed to take into account the commitments that protect the U.S. company from any influence by the Province of…
Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo on Dec. 17 outlined his 2019 policy agenda, including an initiative to make the state’s electricity 100 percent carbon neutral by 2040. The announcement follows the state’s adoption of an ambitious energy storage target of 3 gigawatts by 2030. Cuomo expects the new goal to put the state on the path…
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission adopted rules to incorporate energy storage procurement into utilities’ long-term planning processes, taking an important step towards harnessing the emerging technology, according to a Dec. 12 decision. The move follows legislation enacted in June 2018 directing the commission to establish a process by February 2019 for electric utilities to evaluate…...
Solar Connecticut Inc. filed an interim solar residential tariff with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority following legislation enacted in May 2018 requiring the agency to establish procurement plans and tariffs for projects selected under the plans for each electric distribution company. The law grandfathered existing net metering customers through 2039 and ended the program…
The New York Public Service Commission on Dec. 14 approved phase III of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s plan to implement the Clean Energy Standard or CES, adopted in August 2016, to achieve the state’s goal of obtaining half its electricity from renewable resources by 2030. The program includes a renewable…...
