U.S. Electricity Generation From Renewables to Surpass Natural Gas in 2045

U.S. Electricity Generation From Renewables to Surpass Natural Gas in 2045: EIA Annual Energy Outlook

U.S. electricity generation from renewable sources such as wind and solar are projected to surpass nuclear and coal by 2021 and to surpass natural gas in 2045, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook 2020. The share of U.S. electricity generation from renewable sources is projected to double, accounting for 38 percent…

U.S. Court Orders EPA to Review Biofuel Waivers Granted to Refineries Under Renewable Fuel Standard

U.S. Court Orders EPA to Review Biofuel Waivers Granted to Refineries Under Renewable Fuel Standard

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on Jan. 24 vacated three orders issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2017 granting extensions of small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, program. The court ruled that the agency cannot allow extensions of exemptions that had lapsed, noting that none of…

New Mexico Regulator Clear PNM’s Plan to End Coal-Powered Generation by 2031

New Mexico Court Directs Utility Regulator to Apply Energy Transition Act to PNM’s Coal Plant Retirement Plan

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Jan. 29 ruled that the Public Regulation Commission must apply the Energy Transition Act, or ETA, to the closure and replacement of the San Juan coal-fired plant, granting a petition by New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, and the legislators who sponsored the act. The…

Wind Farm 11 3 2019

SWEPCO Reaches Agreement to Buy 800 Megawatts of Wind Power in Oklahoma

Southwestern Electric Power Co. reached an agreement with the Arkansas Public Service Commission’s staff, the Office of Arkansas Attorney General, and Walmart Inc. to acquire 810 megawatts of wind energy from three projects in Oklahoma, according to a Jan. 24 filing. SWEPCO will own 54.5 percent of a 1,485-megawatt portfolio of wind projects, which it…

SPP Transmission Upgrades

Southwest Power Pool to Invest $545 Million in Transmission Upgrades Amid Rapidly Changing Generation Mix

The Southwest Power Pool Inc.’s Board of Directors approved the grid operator’s 2020 transmission expansion plan report, a comprehensive listing of transmission projects in the region for the 20-year planning horizon, according to a Jan. 28 news release. The plan includes 78 projects to be constructed over the next six years in eight states at…

New York Advances $485 Million Transmission Project to Enhance Grid Reliability, Support Renewables

D. C. Regulators Address Rate Design, Microgrids in Grid Modernization Order

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission issued an order outlining the initial steps to achieve the vision of Power Path DC, which was launched last August to advance the next phase of the agency’s grid modernization efforts, according to a Jan. 29 news release. The order approves a set of recommendations from the PowerPath…

New Jersey 100 Percent Clean Energy

New Jersey Unveils Energy Master Plan for 100 Percent Clean Energy by 2050

Democratic Governor Phil Murphy on Jan. 27 released a comprehensive plan, outlining strategies to reach the administration’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and achieve the target of 80 percent emissions reduction from 2006 levels set by the Global Warming Response Act enacted last year. To support the strategies, Murphy signed an executive…

Solar Panels Power Plants

California Bill Seeks to Add Nuclear Power to Renewable Portfolio Standard

Republican lawmakers introduced legislation on Jan. 16 that would allow all hydroelectric generating facilities in operation as of Jan. 1, 2021, and nuclear power plants to qualify for California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard program. The legislation would also suspend the renewable power mandates, and direct the savings from the temporary pause to investor-owned utilities’ infrastructure investments to…

Virginia Bill Seeks to Establish Competitive Retail Power Market

Virginia Delegates Mark Keam, a Democrat, and Lee Ware, a Republican, introduced legislation on Jan. 17 that would enable customers to purchase electricity from the retail provider of their choice, ending monopoly control over the state’s energy system. The bill would require each incumbent investor-owned utility, electric cooperative, and municipal electric authority to separate its…

Blog preview 2020 01 22

EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – Grid Modernization Efforts Expand to Accommodate Proliferation of Distributed Resources

More states are venturing into grid transformation initiatives that enable customer-focused and innovative solutions to support clean energy commitments. The electricity system is undergoing a significant transition powered by technological innovation, increased use of distributed energy resources (DER), and changing customer preferences. These factors are driving the changes needed to make the grid more efficient, flexible, resilient, and renewable.

New York Regulator Reaffirms Decision Approving Calpine’s 124-Megawatt Wind Project

Maryland Regulator Appeals FERC Capacity Market Order Citing Potential to Frustrate State Clean Energy Efforts

The Maryland Public Service Commission requested rehearing of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s order issued last December to revamp PJM Interconnection LLC’s capacity market rules, according to a Jan. 21 news release. The ruling would expand the minimum offer price rule, or MOPR, to new or existing resources entitled to state subsidies, with certain exemptions.…