Nuclear Power

NY REV Impact Statement Identifies Billions in Cross-Cutting Benefits by 2026

The REV and CEF are anticipated to yield overall positive environmental impacts, primarily by reducing fossil fuel-based energy generation and supporting demand management, rate structures, electric vehicles, energy storage, and smart grid technologies.   On February 6, 2015, the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) released its Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement providing…...

President’s Budget Would Increase Funding for Renewable Technologies but Defund Fossil Energy Research

The House Energy and Power Subcommittee heard testimony from Secretary Moniz on the DOE FY 2016 budget request, which outlined $1+B in renewable energy program funding increases but a decrease to fossil energy research and development. On February 11, 2015, the House Energy and Power Subcommittee held a hearing on the Department of Energy’s (DOE)…...

California Climate Bills Could Set Precedent for Emissions Policies in Other States

California Senators Propose to Increase State’s Renewable Energy Targets in Support of Governor’s 50-50-50 Goal On February 10, 2015, California Democrat Senator Kevin de León publicly announced four bills as part of the California Climate Leadership bill package to support the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and establish objectives beyond its 2020 emissions reduction targets…....

Senators Challenge EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation on Clean Power Plan Along Party Lines

Senators in the Environmental and Public Works Committee presented dueling cost-benefit arguments for the climate change mitigation proposal that split between Republicans and Democrats, despite widespread state opposition to the rule. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Clean Power Plan (CPP) proposal on June 2, 2014, to address greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from existing…...

President’s FY 2016 Budget Request Prioritizes Clean Energy and Climate Action

The President’s Budget Leaves a Legacy of Clean Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Support The president’s budget provides strong support for clean energy and addressing climate change. The proposal would allocate substantial funding for clean energy and climate initiatives, while removing favorable tax deductions for the fossil fuel exploration and production (E&P) industry. The budget…...

Resource Constraints Yield High Prices in New England’s Ninth Forward Capacity Auction

High clearing prices in ISO-NE’s ninth forward capacity auction will stimulate new resource build-out to meet future demand. FCM Auction Attracts New Resources to Meet Low Reserve Margin The New England Independent System Operator’s (ISO-NE) ninth annual Forward Capacity Market (FCM) auction to acquire resources to meet June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019 electricity…...

FERC Approves PJM’s Request for Offer Cap Relief

FERC has approved PJM’s request for temporary relief from the $1,000/MWh cost-based offer cap to address winter price spikes that could cause generators’ marginal costs to exceed the offer cap. On January 16, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved PJM Interconnection LLC’s (PJM) Section 206 filing to raise the $1,000/MWh energy offer cap…...

The 2015 Political Landscape Will Have Far-Reaching Energy Industry Implications

EPA emissions rules and legislative actions will impact every aspect of the energy value chain in 2015 Key Takeaways: Policies impacting energy independence and associated environmental impacts are coming head-to-head at the federal level Legislators will aim to settle long-debated oil and gas infrastructure and export bills and will use legistive authorities to delay, defund,…...

SOTU 2015: Resolute Call for Climate Action

In his State of the Union Address, the President made a forceful call for climate action, asserting that the U.S. will double its emissions reduction pace. In his State of the Union (SOTU) speech on January 20, 2015, President Obama made a resolute call for climate action, stating that no challenge poses a greater threat…...

Justice Department Seeks Supreme Court Review of FERC Order 745 Vacatur

The Justice Department has sought Supreme Court review of the May 2014 invalidated FERC Order 745 vacatur, considering its importance for the future of electricity-market regulation. On January 15, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) — on behalf of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) — petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari to…...

ARPA-E Issues OPEN 2015 Solicitation for Transformational Energy Projects

The DOE has announced $125M OPEN solicitation through ARPA-E to catalyze the advancement of transformational energy technologies. On January 7, 2015, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) issued its third OPEN funding opportunity announcement (FOA) – OPEN 2015 – for up to $125M to support potentially disruptive new technologies…...

New EPA Clean Power Plan Rulemaking Schedule Delays Compliance Deadlines

The EPA Clean Power Plan and new generation source emission rule finalization to mid-summer 2015 pushes back compliance deadlines. On January 7, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a revised schedule to finalize rulemakings for power plant emission standards under its proposed Clean Power Plan.  The EPA intends to finalize the rules by mid-summer…...