Pennsylvania State Lawmaker Proposes Bill Allowing Revenue Decoupling For Electric Utilities Implementing Efficiency Plans

Pennsylvania State Lawmaker Proposes Bill Allowing Revenue Decoupling For Electric Utilities Implementing Efficiency Plans

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse

Pennsylvania House lawmaker Christopher Quinn, a Republican, introduced legislation on Sept. 24 that would allow electric distribution companies to use a revenue decoupling mechanism to recover decreased revenues due to lower energy consumption or demand changes. The bill would limit upward adjustments through the mechanism to two percent of rates. The legislation would also allow…

Illinois Regulator Launches Inquiry to Examine Grid Impact of Electric Vehicles, Explore Policy Tools

Illinois Regulator Launches Inquiry to Examine Grid Impact of Electric Vehicles, Explore Policy Tools

Electric Vehicles, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse

The Illinois Commerce Commission opened a proceeding to gather information on the impact of electric vehicles on grid resiliency and energy efficiency, according to a Sept. 24 press release. The move follows two policy sessions that the commission held in April and September to examine transportation electrification. The commission said that regulatory uncertainty hinders widespread…

U.S. Announces Solar Tariff Exclusions, SunPower Gets Boost

U.S. Announces Solar Tariff Exclusions, SunPower Gets Boost

EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Solar

The U.S. Trade Representative on Sept. 19 granted exclusions from import duties for certain solar products. These include 45-W off-grid solar panels, 120-W flexible and semi-flexible off-grid panels designed for motor vehicles and boats, 90-W frameless panels in colors other than black or blue, back contact solar cells, and modules using U.S.-made solar cells. Solar…

Georgia Lawmakers Seek Cap on Vogtle Nuclear Project to Protect Ratepayers

Georgia Lawmakers Seek Cap on Vogtle Nuclear Project to Protect Ratepayers

EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Pulse, Nuclear, Top News

More than a dozen members of the Georgia General Assembly, in a Sept. 19 letter to the owners of the Vogtle nuclear plant, expressed concerns over the “ever-escalating cost” of the project and urged them to establish a cost cap to protect electric ratepayers from cost overruns. The lawmakers noted that, last month Georgia Power,…

New York's Energy Storage Goal to Pave Way for Thousands of Jobs, Drive Emissions Cuts: Report

Macquarie Wins U.S. Approval to Sell 610- Megawatt Bayonne Gas Power Plant in New Jersey

EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Mergers and Acquisitions, Natural Gas

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Sept. 19 authorized NHIP II Bayonne Holdings LLC to indirectly acquire the outstanding equity interests in Thermal Bayonne Holdings LLC from MIC Thermal Power Holdings LLC. Thermal Bayonne is an indirect parent of Bayonne Energy Center LLC, which operates a 610-megawatt gas power plant in New Jersey, and Zone…

U.S. Energy Department Approves Natural Gas Exports to Mexican LNG Project

U.S. Energy Department Approves Natural Gas Exports to Mexican LNG Project

EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, LNG, Natural Gas

The U.S. Energy Department on Sept. 19 authorized Mexico Pacific Limited LLC to export up to 621 billion cubic feet per year of natural gas by pipeline for end use in Mexico and to re-export the gas after liquefaction in Mexico to countries with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement or FTA countries.…

U.S. Agriculture Department Announces $400 Million to Upgrade Rural Electric Infrastructure

U.S. Agriculture Department Announces $400 Million to Upgrade Rural Electric Infrastructure

Electric Transmission, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $398.5 million to improve rural electric service in 13 states, according to a Sept. 19 press release. The spending includes about $43.7 million for smart grid technology to enhance the reliability and efficiency of electric power systems. The loan will also finance an 81 MW solar photovoltaic farm…

One-Third of U.S. Households Faced Energy Insecurity in 2015

One-Third of U.S. Households Faced Energy Insecurity in 2015: EIA

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Retail Power and Gas

About 31 percent of U.S. households faced difficulties in paying energy bills or meeting their heating or air conditioning needs in 2015, a year when overall energy-related spending was the lowest in more than a decade, according to a Sept. 19 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The statistics from the agency’s most recent…

Pennsylvania Announces Grants, Rebates For EV Charging Stations Using $118 Million Volkswagen Settlement

Pennsylvania Announces Grants, Rebates For EV Charging Stations Using $118 Million Volkswagen Settlement

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced up to $3 million in grants for installation of fast-charging stations and hydrogen fuel cell equipment for zero emission vehicles through 2019, according to a Sept. 19 press release. Applications for the grant program are due on Jan. 25, July 15, and Dec. 16, 2019. The department will…

Illinois Regulator Examines Electrification of Commercial Fleet Amid Growing Adoption of EVs

Illinois Regulator Examines Electrification of Commercial Fleet Amid Growing Adoption of EVs

Electric Vehicles, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse

The Illinois Commerce Commission held a policy session on the electrification of commercial fleets and buses and the effects of increasing electric vehicles in the transportation sector, according to a Sept. 19 press release. Panelists said that electric vehicles are gaining favor among commercial users due to lower maintenance costs, improved driving range, smaller environmental…