Regulation & Policy
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FERC approves canceling NextEra transmission project blocked by Texas right-of-first-refusal law
The agency rejected NextEra Energy’s argument the $129 million project should be kept alive because litigation over the law is ongoing.
By Ethan Howland • March 21, 2023 -
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Democrats press Interior secretary to direct more money to BOEM to reach US offshore wind goals
The rapid growth of the offshore wind industry will create a need for more staff at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the legislators argued in a Monday letter.
By Emma Penrod • March 21, 2023 -
Explore the Trendline
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TrendlineThe Utility Dive Outlook on 2023
2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
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Transmission link between Puerto Rico, US mainland wouldn’t trigger FERC jurisdiction, agency declares
The clarification issued Friday could affect Alternative Transmission’s proposed undersea cable project that aims to bolster Puerto Rico’s grid.
By Ethan Howland • March 20, 2023 -
Permission granted by ISO New England
ISO-NE overvalues fossil fuel plants, reducing grid reliability, Sierra Club says, citing Synapse report
The coldest Christmas Eve in New England since 1975 has become a flashpoint between the Sierra Club, which opposes fossil fuel plants, and ISO-New England, which says the region was protected by an operating reserve.
By Stephen Singer • March 20, 2023 -
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Deep DiveBiden ‘EV revolution’ delayed as utilities, carmakers await critical IRS guidance on Inflation Reduction Act
A domestic EV industry and a national charging network buildout await federal agency interpretations of complex IRA tax credit and supply chain requirements.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 17, 2023 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
PJM, MISO, ISO-NE. ‘The capacity markets are not all right,’ FERC’s Christie warns.
In New England, quick action is needed to ease ‘knife’s edge’ winter-time operations, Commissioner Allison Clements said Thursday.
By Ethan Howland • March 17, 2023 -
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Deep DiveTreasury Department guidance urgently needed to tap IRA’s clean energy ‘gold mine,’ analysts say
Clarifications defining Inflation Reduction Act provisions on labor, domestic content, energy community, and clean hydrogen are urgently needed to put the “boldest action” by Congress to work, they say.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2023 -
Aaron Yoder via Getty Images
Power plant owners in 22 states face tighter NOx requirements under EPA’s final Good Neighbor rule
The rule released Wednesday includes flexibility for power plant owners to help maintain grid reliability, according to EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
By Ethan Howland • March 15, 2023 -
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NRC commissioner criticizes agency’s finances, citing rising spending, falling workload
“So far the agency’s transformation efforts have seemed to achieve the opposite of what was expected,” Commissioner Annie Caputo said.
By Stephen Singer • March 15, 2023 -
Permission granted by Idaho Power
Construction begins on Idaho Power’s first energy storage projects as it faces growing capacity shortfall
State regulators said “public convenience and necessity” require Idaho Power to acquire 120 MW of dispatchable energy storage.
By Stephen Singer • March 14, 2023 -
Courtesy of Bechtel
NRC chair defends reactor licensing changes: “We are in the middle of the rulemaking process, not at the end.”
Christopher Hanson’s upbeat message comes as nuclear energy enjoys rising support as an energy source that can help states and the federal government meet increasingly stringent greenhouse gas emissions limits.
By Stephen Singer • March 14, 2023 -
Retrieved from Google Maps on March 14, 2023
Confidential PJM meetings hinder state energy policy, oversight: West Virginia PSC, Maryland lawmaker
Efforts are underway to increase transparency at the largest U.S. grid operator, with Exelon and FirstEnergy opposing a bill to require annual voting reports of PJM meetings.
By Ethan Howland • March 14, 2023 -
Permission granted by ISO New England
ISO-NE: Annual capacity auction closes with sufficient power system resources for 2026-2027 capacity year
Nearly all of the new resources securing capacity supply obligations were wind, solar, energy storage or demand-reducing resources.
By Stephen Singer • March 13, 2023 -
NRC clears NIST nuclear reactor to restart following 2021 radiation escape, shutdown
NIST blamed the failure on inadequate training and qualification for operators, plant procedures, equipment and “inadequate management oversight.”
By Stephen Singer • March 13, 2023 -
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EPA, DOE issue framework for maintaining grid reliability during energy transition
The agencies will consider “short-term interventions” to address emerging reliability risks, according to the agreement released Thursday.
By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023 -
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‘Welcome to ERCOT.’ Regulators approve city of Lubbock, Texas, shift to retail competition
The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Thursday authorized the move after a last-minute agreement was struck regarding the allocation of termination fee proceeds.
By Robert Walton • March 10, 2023 -
imacoconut via Getty Images
OpinionCan utility regulators adopt Silicon Valley’s ‘fail fast’ approach? A new Connecticut program may tell
While the pace of electric system transformation and technological innovation has increased rapidly over the last 15 years, regulatory structures have struggled to keep pace.
By Josh Ryor, Matt McDonnell, and Eli Asher • March 10, 2023 -
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Biden’s proposed budget boosts funding for clean energy, permitting, efficiency programs
The budget, released March 9, includes $11.9 billion for Department of Energy climate and clean energy research, development, demonstration and deployment, a 20% hike over the FY 23 enacted amount.
By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023 -
David McNew via Getty Images
Energy Department offers $6B to decarbonize industrial manufacturing
Grants will be awarded to projects in energy-intensive and high-polluting sectors such as iron and steel, chemicals and refining and food and beverage.
By Megan Ruggles • March 9, 2023 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
OpinionFERC must ensure that customer funds are only used to benefit customers and not political activities
If FERC provides a level playing field, we have a chance to enact policies that are in our best interest, use science, follow the math, and implement non-emitting energy solutions.
By Priya Gandbhir • March 9, 2023 -
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Grid operators oppose FERC conference on barriers to merchant interregional HVDC transmission
But Invenergy’s petition for a conference was backed Wednesday by state utility regulators, renewable energy advocates, consumer groups and transmission companies.
By Ethan Howland • March 9, 2023 -
Permission granted by NuScale Power
NRC hammers out new licensing rules to adapt to advanced nuclear plants and small modular reactors
Sen. John Barrasso, then chairman of the Senate environment committee, said in 2019 a new law mandating updated reactor licensing rules is “critical if we are going to reduce carbon emissions in a meaningful way.”
By Stephen Singer • March 8, 2023 -
Aaron Yoder via Getty Images
EPA proposes stricter wastewater discharge limits for coal-fired power plants
“We have attempted with this rule, and with some other rules, to align our rulemaking schedule, so that the power sector can be thoughtful about the investments that they have to make,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said.
By Ethan Howland • March 8, 2023 -
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FERC reverses its approval of SPP’s capacity accreditation plan for wind, solar resources
FERC Commissioner Allison Clements urged the Southwest Power Pool to develop an accreditation process that doesn’t discriminate between types of generating sources.
By Ethan Howland • March 7, 2023 -
OpinionAre RTOs and ISOs sick, dying or dead?
Three recent occurrences illustrate that the regional transmission organization/independent system operator regulatory model is spent.
By Raymond L. Gifford and Matthew S. Larson • March 6, 2023
