Your connection to the latest in electricity, natural gas, and utilities news.
In this Issue:
Renewables
Renewables now second-largest source of U.S. power generation
Renewables have emerged as the second-largest source of U.S. power generation behind natural gas, averaging a 40.5 percent share in the first quarter of 2024. Small-scale solar was up 20.4 percent year over year, while utility-scale thermal and photovoltaic surged by 28.4 percent. As a result, solar comprised 5.3 percent of all power production in Q1 and is forecast to keep growing.
Report: Local opposition to renewable projects is increasing
A new analysis found that state and local opposition to renewable energy projects has increased significantly in the past year. It reported that 395 local restrictions were severe enough to block projects in 41 states – 55 more than there were in May 2023. It concluded that the volume and nature of the restrictions show opposition is “widespread and growing.”
FERC
Senate confirms three FERC nominees
The U.S. Senate confirmed three nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: Lindsay See, the solicitor general of West Virginia; Judy Chang, an energy and climate official with Massachusetts; and David Rosner, a FERC energy analyst working with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The agency is now up to its full five-member complement.
FERC passes landmark transmission rule – and now comes the hard part
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission passed a landmark rule to transform how the grid is planned and paid for. Now comes the hard part. While legal challenges will likely emerge, a larger issue is whether utilities, grid operators and state regulators responsible for implementing the reform will follow through. There is “a lot to be worked out,” said one industry official.
FERC commissioner calls transmission and cost allocation rule just one step
A Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member called FERC’s regional transmission and cost allocation rule “a strong step” toward improving grid reliability and making power more affordable. But she added it was just one step and that more work needed to be done at FERC and in Congress. She also dismissed a colleague’s dissent, calling it a striking mischaracterization.
FERC unveils two transmission rules representing ‘watershed’ moment for power system
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission unveiled two transmission rules that, taken together, represent what FERC’s chair called a “watershed” moment for the U.S. power system. One sets forth policies for transmission planning and cost allocation, and was sharply criticized by a member; the other amends permitting regulations for siting electric transmission facilities.
Interconnection
Storage interconnection requests surge, but projects face ‘undue burdens’
Storage interconnection requests have surged by 540 gigawatts since 2022, but most projects do not get built because of a growing backlog and high grid improvement costs. The growth is being driven in part by falling battery costs, and states, grid operators and the Department of Energy must weigh effective policy and process reforms to ease “undue burdens” the projects face.
Experts see need for more changes to interconnection process
Members of an expert panel said implementation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order 2023 exposes the need for more changes to the interconnection process. They voiced concerns that the order – which mandates interconnection process reforms – did not adequately address the issue of retirement and replacement of older fossil-fuel generating plants.
Nuclear
White House moves to bolster support for nuclear reactors
The White House vowed to give more federal support to both large- and small-scale nuclear reactors, enabling a new generation of the projects to be built faster and on budget. The Biden administration has created a working group to deal with the high costs and construction times for modern reactors – a move that comes after nuclear has been at a near standstill for decades.
National
Weather-related power outages soar, but solving the problem is expensive
From 2000 to 2023, 80 percent of all major power outages in the United States were due to weather, and the number of weather-related interruptions has surged since 2014. While there is no single perfect solution to the problem, experts say massively upgrading, modernizing and strengthening vulnerable power infrastructure is key. But that carries a significant price tag.
BLM proposes end to federal coal leasing in key basin
The Bureau of Land Management proposed ending federal leasing in the Powder River Basin, the largest supplier of coal in the United States. But companies can keep developing existing leases, allowing for the current output rate to continue through 2041. Wyoming’s governor vowed to “fully utilize” all available options “to kill or modify” the action.
Power demand forecast to grow 2.7 percent this summer
Power demand is expected to rise 2.7 percent this summer to 1,487 terawatt hours, according to a new report from federal energy regulators. It also forecast data center load will climb to almost 21 gigawatts, up from 19 GW in 2023, and that overall demand will grow to 35 GW by the end of the decade. Wholesale prices are generally expected to be the same or lower year over year.
Senators vow to unveil draft permitting reform legislation
U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and John Barrasso said they will soon unveil draft bipartisan permitting reform legislation. While Manchin said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s recent transmission planning and cost allocation rule will help strengthen grid reliability, he added it did not address expanding transmission capacity between regions.
U.S. opens applications for $1.3B to expand EV charging infrastructure
The Biden administration opened applications for $1.3 billion in funding to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the country – the largest single grant opportunity for EV charging in U.S. history. A previous round of financing aided 47 projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, supporting construction of about 7,500 EV charging plugs.
Top utility-industry trade group sues EPA over greenhouse gas rule
A leading utility-industry trade group sued the Environmental Protection Agency over its rule to cut greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and new gas-fired plants. It challenged EPA’s conclusion that carbon capture and storage should be the basis for compliance with parts of the rule, saying there was no support for wide CCS deployment and calling the finding “premature.”
U.S. unveils guidance for new technology-neutral clean power credits
The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service unveiled proposed guidance for new technology-neutral clean power credits that will replace current production and investment tax credits. The new credits offer incentives to “any clean energy facility that achieves net zero greenhouse gas emissions” and identifies the various technologies that qualify.
White House aims to boost confidence in carbon offsets
The Biden administration put forth a set of broad government guidelines aimed at bolstering confidence in a much-criticized tool for battling climate change. The guidelines seek to define “high quality” carbon offsets in the face of concerns that current practices do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions as claimed and should be abandoned.
Environmental groups sue EPA, saying new wastewater rules are inadequate
Environmental groups filed a suit challenging provisions of the Environmental Protection Agency’s updated wastewater limits for coal-fired plants, saying the rules don’t go far enough. They charge that the guidelines exempt power plants that promised to retire by 2034, thus putting downstream communities at risk for an additional decade.
Biden administration’s $7B plan for hydrogen industry raises red flags
The Biden administration’s plan to create a $7 billion “clean” energy hydrogen industry has raised concerns over a lack of rules for transporting the resource – an issue that could hamper the White House’s aim of reducing emissions. There is no real blueprint for how to move the fuel from production facilities to buyers, and the policies for issuing interstate pipeline permits are patchy.
Companies
Google to power Nevada data centers with geothermal energy
Google said it has entered into an agreement with NV Energy to power its Nevada data centers with roughly 115 megawatts of geothermal energy. The supply deal for the 115 MW will raise the amount of enhanced geothermal energy capacity that the tech company uses for operations by a factor of 25.
Mountain Valley Pipeline gets green light, ending yearslong battle
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave Equitrans Midstream Corp. approval to begin operations at its controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline, saying the project complied with all necessary safety and environmental rules. With the green light to move forward, a lengthy legal and regulatory fight that began in 2015 has effectively ended.
The States
Virginia opted for solar, but state’s largest utility put up high-cost roadblocks
After Virginia went all in on solar power, the state’s largest utility imposed expensive grid connection mandates that critics say make smaller projects not viable. The company says the upgrades – which can raise costs by up to 40 percent – are needed for grid reliability and safety. Others believe they target third-party projects that compete with part of the utility’s business.
Developers poised to seek loans from $5B Texas Energy Fund
Developers representing over 41 gigawatts of primarily gas-fired projects have signaled they will seek low-interest loans through the $5 billion Texas Energy Fund. The fund is aimed at incentivizing new or expanded dispatchable generation facilities. It allows for loans to cover 60 percent of project costs for a minimum of 100 MW that can connect to the grid before June 1, 2029.
PJM
PJM market monitor files complaint with FERC over energy efficiency payments
PJM’s market monitor filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission seeking to bar energy efficiency payments to multiple companies. The monitor alleged that the companies had failed to show adequate measurement and verification reports demonstrating they were eligible for $128 million from the grid operator’s capacity market.