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…
The FERC has issued a draft EIS for Jordan Cove’s proposed LNG export terminal at Coos Bay and the associated natural gas transmission pipeline proposed by Pacific Connector. On November 7, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Jordan Cove Energy Project LP’s proposed liquefied natural gas…
The 2013-2014 winter polar vortex and cold snap events caused record forced generation capacity outages in the PJM Interconnection region. The high outage levels prompted PJM to reassess its capacity product definitions – and associated performance incentives and penalties – to ensure future system reliability. The currently proposed Reliability Pricing Model (RPM) reforms pose significant…
ISO New England’s 2014 Regional System Plan underscores that retirements indicate the need for new resources to address future demand despite energy efficiency measures projected to flatten demand over time. On November 6, 2014, ISO New England (ISO-NE) issued the 2014 Regional System Plan, its annual guide on New England’s long term power-system planning efforts. The…
The 2015 Fuel Economy Guide indicates that 2015 vehicle models comprise a larger number of fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles in a broader range of classes and sizes compared to previous years. On November 6, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) released the 2015 Fuel Economy Guide providing information on…
The DOE has announced four research projects focused on advanced technologies to improve gasification systems for greater power generation efficiency and environmental performance. On November 6, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced funding for four projects focused on next-generation gasification systems that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The research projects will develop technologies that…
The EPA has announced the largest penalty under the Clean Air Act, requiring automakers Hyundai and Kia to pay $100M for violating tailpipe GHG emission standards. On November 3, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement resolving alleged Clean Air Act violations of Hyundai and Kia for…
The White House has released federal agencies’ sustainability and climate plans outlining methods to incorporate energy and climate considerations into their decision-making. On October 31, 2014 – the fifth anniversary of the 2009 Executive Order on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance – the White House released federal agencies’ sustainability and climate change adaptation plans, detailing…
On October 16, 2014 the FERC ruled New England Transmission Owners’ base ROE unjust and unreasonable, and lowered the base rate to 10.57 percent. The rate reductions and refunds are not currently considerable financial burdens to NETO companies, however the lower ROE may impact future transmission infrastructure investments. With tightening capacity reserve margins and a shifting…
The BLM has released the final environmental review of the proposed GMT1 project, facilitating the first commercial oil and gas activity on NPR-A. On October 29, 2014, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued the final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the proposed Greater Mooses Tooth Unit 1 (GMT1) project, facilitating the first commercial…
N Governor Cuomo has announced the establishment of a strategic fuel reserve in Upstate New York to address potential emergency supply gaps. On October 29, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the Upstate Strategic Fuel Reserve Program to address potential disruptions in fuel supply during storms and emergencies. The reserve comprises six terminals…
