On February 19, 2014, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held its sixth carbon allowance auction. Auction results over the first year show that compliance entities are becoming more comfortable with program and that investor market confidence is growing. Similarly, a secondary allowance market is also developing as market confidence grows. Overview The California Air…
On March 4, 2014, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) held the first carbon allowance auction under the new Model Rule. Auction prices reached record levels and high market participation and allowance demand exhausted the 5 million allowance Cost Containment Reserve. Overview The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the nation’s first mandatory market-based cap-and-trade…
The E-Access Act would incentivize states and utilities to adopt policies to ensure consumers timely access to electricity usage information. On March 27, 2014, Sens. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced the Access to Consumer Energy Information (E-Access) Act (S. 2165) aimed to enhance consumer access to information on electricity usage and prices…
The GRID Act, introduced in the House and Senate, would authorize FERC to effectively address electricity grid security issues. On March 26, 2014, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) introduced the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense (GRID) Act (H.R. 4298) aimed to amend the Federal Power Act to protect the bulk-power system and defense-critical electric infrastructure…
The New York Power Authority has released its updated strategic plan outlining actionable initiatives to attain a transformed energy system. On March 26, 2014, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) released its Strategic Vision 2014-2019, an updated strategic plan aimed to boost economic growth by providing more value to NYPA customers. Through the plan, NYPA…
Despite the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster, U.S. nuclear energy research and development continues undeterred. Despite new plant construction, nuclear energy byproduct storage and disposal remains a highly-debated topic in congress. Overview For the first time in more than 30 years, new nuclear reactors are under construction in the U.S. The construction consists…
The traditional electricity power grid is undergoing a historic shift with the emergence of decentralized power generation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is charged with overseeing complex state, regional, and local transmission laws and regulatory environments, which can vary significantly. This variance, combined with a more open transmission project market may lead to increased…
On March 4th, 2014 New York Power Authority (NYPA) released the first Build Smart New York (BSNY) Program Progress Report. In December 2012 Governor Cuomo created the BSNY program via Executive Order 88 (E.O. 88), mandating all New York State agencies to improve energy efficiency in buildings 20% by April 2020. The order directs New…
For the third time since 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the EPA’s regulation of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act. Overview On February 24, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments over the case Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on whether EPA is ultimately legitimized…
On February 27th, the Conference of Mayors released survey findings summarizing how cities across the nation spent $2.7b in funding disbursed through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). This program, authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was designed to provide state and local governments federal support to carry out…
The House has approved the 2014 Energy Efficiency and Improvement Act intended to boost energy efficiency of commercial buildings. On March 5, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014 (H.R. 2126), a bipartisan bill aimed to boost energy efficiency in leased commercial spaces and federal buildings. The bill,…
DOE’s new energy efficiency standards will make commercial refrigeration equipment 30 percent more efficient. On February 28, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) finalized new energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration equipment used in the food retail and foodservice industry. The new standards update 2009 standards and will make the average commercial refrigeration unit approximately…
