The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether EPA unreasonably refused to consider cost factors in its MATS rulemaking process. On November 25, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court granted petitions to hear state and industry challenges against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) to decide whether EPA unreasonably refused to…...
The EPA has proposed to update air quality standards for ground-level ozone to levels within 65 ppb to 70 ppb from the current level of 75 ppb. On November 25, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to update the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone by strengthening primary and secondary ozone…...
Non-hydro utility-scale energy storage solutions are landing record-setting contracts in multiple regions, marking a transition beyond small-scale ancillary services. Fast-reacting and flexible energy storage resources can efficiently provide ancillary services to free-up traditional generation assets for wholesale market participation. The U.S. Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change recently cited that by 2022, the worldwide demand…...
The EPA has announced that it will not finalize 2014 RFS requirements before the end of 2014 due to delays in evaluating comments elicited by its 2014 RFS proposal released in November 2013. On November 21, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of delay in issuing the 2014 renewable fuel requirements under…...
The FERC has directed RTOs/ISOs to identify fuel assurance issues relevant to their respective markets and file a report on the status of their efforts to address the issues. On November 20, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order directing regional transmission organizations and independent system operators (RTOs/ISOs) to file reports on…...
A bill aimed to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline failed in the Senate by one vote short of the threshold required for passage. On November 18, 2014, the U.S. Senate rejected S. 2280, a bill aimed to approve the cross-border Keystone XL pipeline that would carry crude oil from Alberta to Gulf Coast refineries…....
The DOE’s Minorities in Energy Industry Partner Network aims to build minorities’ capacity to compete for energy sector opportunities. On November 18, 2014 — the first anniversary of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Minorities in Energy Initiative (MIE) — DOE launched the MIE Industry Partner Network to increase engagement of underrepresented communities in the energy sector…....
EIA data show that U.S. crude oil and lease condensate production surpassed 8.6 million bbl/d in August 2014, the highest level since July 1986. On November 17, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report highlighting that U.S. crude oil and lease condensate production exceeded 8.6 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in August, the…...
The DOE has issued two final authorizations permitting Freeport LNG to export a total volume of 1.8 Bcf/d of natural gas to non-FTA countries for a 20-year term. On November 14, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued two final authorizations for Freeport LNG Expansion LP and FLNG Liquefaction LLC to export liquefied natural gas…...
The U.S. has announced a $3B commitment to the Green Climate Fund – the largest single pledge to date. On November 15, 2014 – eve of the 2014 G-20 Summit in Australia – U.S. President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. will contribute $3B to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the financial support mechanism aimed…...
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed to approve the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project, marking the ninth time the House has voted to advance the project. On November 14, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 5682, a bill aimed to approve construction and operation of TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL…...
State energy efficiency resource standards (EERS) outline near- and long-term energy use reduction requirements for utilities and third-party program administrators. EERS play an instrumental role in reducing power-sector emissions growth and could help reduce electricity consumption by as much as 10 percent by 2020. States that do not have a history of EERS or incentive…...
