Alternative energy
The net metering policy landscape is reacting to growing customer-sited generation. Facing pressure from utilities about grid use charges to net metering customers, policymakers have started actively seeking alternatives to the policy. Responses vary from new demand charges in Massachusetts and ending net metering in Michigan to New York’s new Value Stack pricing mechanism for distributed generation.
New Jersey lawmakers have passed a suite of sweeping measures to propel the state’s clean energy agenda under Democratic Governor Phil Murphy's administration. The swift turn of events marks a significant shift from his Republican predecessor Chris Christie who withdrew the state from the carbon market and shunned offshore wind.
The Trump administration is seeking new avenues to revive coal and nuclear, such as research to diversify coal use and design new reactors. Although new technologies may slow the downturn of coal and nuclear, hopes of a renaissance remain dim as the industries lose out to cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient resources.
The recent surge in electric vehicles (EVs) highlights the crucial role of electric utilities in developing comprehensive charging networks, including public charging stations. As more EVs draw electricity from distribution systems, state regulators must balance reliability, cost-effectiveness, and utility planning.
This content requires that you purchase additional access. The price is $99.00.
The recent surge in electric vehicles (EVs) highlights the crucial role of electric utilities in developing comprehensive charging networks, including public charging stations. As more EVs draw electricity from distribution systems, state regulators must balance reliability, cost-effectiveness, and utility planning.
Ever more states are embracing pro-renewable policies by committing to clean energy and ramping up their clean energy targets despite federal policy uncertainty under the Trump administration. Frontrunners like California, Hawaii, New York, and Massachusetts are encouraging other states with nascent markets to follow suit.
This content requires that you purchase additional access. The price is $99.00.
Ever more states are embracing pro-renewable policies by committing to clean energy and ramping up their clean energy targets despite federal policy uncertainty under the Trump administration. Frontrunners like California, Hawaii, New York, and Massachusetts are encouraging other states with nascent markets to follow suit.
The wind industry is facing new problems just as developers are rushing to get new projects in the pipeline ahead of the 2019 expiration of the federal production tax credit, a key driver of growth. Roadblocks include efforts to slash payouts to wind farms under PURPA, delays in connecting to the grid, and even a State moratorium on new projects.
This content requires that you purchase additional access. The price is $99.00.
The U.S. wind energy industry has grown significantly over the past decade thanks to federal and state support, along with technology advancements improving costs and performance. The federal production tax credit (PTC) has left the greatest impact on the industry. However, the PTC expires in 2019 narrowing the window for new projects as the industry prepares for a slowdown. Other challenges, such as attempts to redefine PURPA terms and assess the impact of wind farms on tourism, along with slow growth in electric demand, make the outlook on wind less certain.
The New York Independent System Operator says the deactivation of the Indian Point nuclear plant in 2021 will not affect system reliability if approximately 1,800 MW of gas-fired generation come online as planned. Competition from cheap natural gas and Westinghouse reactor design failure have caused nuclear operators and developers to retire their plants early and cancel new projects. Amid state and federal actions to help nuclear power plants remain operational in the face of financial pressures, it remains to be seen whether advanced technologies bring a resurgence and expansion.
The New York Independent System Operator says the deactivation of the Indian Point nuclear plant in 2021 will not affect system reliability if approximately 1,800 MW of gas-fired generation come online as planned. Competition from cheap natural gas and Westinghouse reactor design failure have caused nuclear operators and developers to retire their plants early and cancel new projects. Amid state and federal actions to help nuclear power plants remain operational in the face of financial pressures, it remains to be seen whether advanced technologies bring a resurgence and expansion.
The Michigan Public Service Commission has finalized a formula to determine the avoided cost that Consumers Energy Co. must pay to buy power from qualifying facilities under the federal Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978. The new methodology extends the power purchase contract period to up to 20 years, and boosts the capacity of eligible projects to 2 megawatts, up from 100 kilowatts. While current contracts are based on the costs of running a coal plant, new contracts will be based on the energy and capacity costs of natural gas-fueled plants. The ruling, which marks the first update to avoided cost payments in almost 30 years, is expected to increase certainty for distributed energy resources, such as solar.