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…
An amendment to the Keystone XL Bill aims to eliminate the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard. On January 16, 2015, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) introduced the “Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015” as an amendment to the Keystone XL Pipeline Act (S1) introduced on January 6. The…
EPA Regulations Could Add Costs to Constrained Industry On January 14, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlined measures to reduce methane emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the oil and natural gas (O&G) industry, with a new goal to reduce methane emissions by 40-45 percent by 2025 from 2012 levels, despite methane reductions…
The EPA has proposed revisions to dispersant and bioremediation efficacy and toxicity testing protocols based on lessons learned from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. On January 13, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed amendments to Subpart J of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) requirements regarding use of dispersants…
ISO-NE’s current Winter Reliability Program boasts increased fuel and resource availability through a restructured and expanded compensation structure. On January 12, 2015, ISO New England (ISO-NE) released a report on the resource participation of its 2014/2015 Winter Reliability Program (WRP), a temporary out-of-market solution to maintain electric system reliability. ISO-NE expressed confidence that a diverse…
The Cape Wind Project faces a major setback after losing power purchase agreements with National Grid and NSTAR. On January 7, 2015, National Grid and NSTAR announced a decision to cancel their Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Cape Wind, citing Cape Wind’s failure to meet the December 31, 2014 deadline to close financing. Cape Wind…
Approval of the project would ease transportation constraints to refiners and decrease reliance on foreign imports, but would have minimal impact on benchmark WTI prices. While the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Keystone XL approval bill quickly last week under suspension of the rules by a two-thirds majority vote, the Senate companion bill will…
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…
The proposed increase to 50 percent by 2030 could also result in indirect boost to energy storage industries. In his inaugural address on January 5, 2015, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. proposed new initiatives to expand the state’s emissions reduction efforts under the AB 32 climate law and establish the next set of objectives…
DOE’s efficiency standards will not slow demand, but could save up to $78 billion in electricity bills. On December 31, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced energy efficiency standards for general service fluorescent lamps (GSFLs) and automatic commercial ice makers (ACIMs), achieving its goal of finalizing 10 energy efficiency standards in 2014. Together, the…
$14.5M in funding supports market-ready emissions reduction technologies and is part a larger pool of more than $400M of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) proceeds that could help moderate future RGGI auction prices. On December 30, 2014, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced $14.5M in funding to support market-ready technologies…
The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station has been officially disconnected from the grid. On December 29, 2014, the Vermont Public Service Department (PSD) announced the official closure of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. The plant began operations in 1972 and was acquired by Entergy in 2002. Its current operating license expires on March 21,…
