News | Energy Bar Association

Fact-checking 5 claims in Russia energy debate

Mar 16, 2022 09:20 AM

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has ignited an energy battle in Congress: Lawmakers are fiercely arguing over the correct policy path amid high oil prices and a ban on Russian energy imports. Republicans have relentlessly attacked President Biden, arguing that his cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline and climate executive orders are hurting domestic oil and gas production. Democrats, on the other hand, counter that the best way to secure the nation’s energy supply.

A 'conservative' approach to Texas grid operations is raising costs for consumers: ERCOT market monitor

Mar 16, 2022 09:15 AM

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has been taking a "conservative" approach to grid operations in the wake of the February 2021 blackouts, and Independent Market Monitor Carrie Bivens told lawmakers on Wednesday that additional reserves required by the strategy added $300 million to $400 million to customer bills in the latter half of 2021. Changes to how the grid operator schedules emergency reserve generation and demand response resources are also distorting ERCOT markets.

Rooftop solar companies enter fray over North Carolina net metering proposal

Mar 16, 2022 09:13 AM

Simmering discontent among North Carolina rooftop solar companies reached a boil last week, with more than a dozen calling on the state’s governor and utility regulators to put the brakes on a Duke Energy proposal they believe will cut the value of home solar panels by more than a third. Similar fights over how rooftop solar owners get credit for the electrons they create are raging across the country, with for-profit utilities squaring off against rooftop installers and climate activists.

FERC failed to adequately review a gas pipeline project's effect on carbon emissions: appeals court

Mar 16, 2022 09:10 AM

FERC in February adopted a new framework for reviewing natural gas infrastructure proposals that includes expanded criteria for deciding whether the facilities are needed and how they could affect people and the environment. The framework also includes an interim policy for reviewing a project's potential GHG emissions. The framework, especially the GHG review criteria, has come under sharp criticism from FERC commissioners James Danly and Mark Christie, some U.S. senators and the natural gas.

EBA Panelists: Western RTO Complicated but Necessary

Mar 16, 2022 09:08 AM

The Rocky Mountain chapter of the Energy Bar Association this month hosted a panel to discuss the intricacies of creating an organized market in the West. Each panelist at the March 3 “Winter Energizer” gave a short presentation on their organization and its part in the energy transition. And each made it clear that an organized market would be crucial to reaching the region’s decarbonization targets.

Golf course transmission reroute case could upend decades of precedent, Texas regulators say

Mar 09, 2022 10:27 AM

Texas was the fastest growing state in the country last year according to U.S. census data, and PUCT commissioners noted that some of that growth is happening in rural areas unfamiliar with the pace of change. At issue in the Pedernales co-op case is a planned reroute of 138-kilovolt transmission line to accommodate a golf course. Because the planned new route exists entirely within a tract owned by developer Driftwood DLC Austin and the transmission reroute would also be paid for by the develop

Mich. Appeals Court Rules for Wind Turbines near Airport

Mar 09, 2022 10:24 AM

LANSING, Mich. — In a case that could have statewide implications, Michigan’s Court of Appeals ruled that a Tuscola County Airport board improperly denied variances for eight new wind turbines near the airport, the latest decision in a number of court actions involving the wind farm operated by NextEra Energy Resources’ (NYSE:NEE) Pegasus Wind. Pegasus operates several wind farms in Michigan’s Thumb region, the location of the greatest concentration of wind farms in the state.

Florida passes net metering bill that will gut rooftop solar, advocates say, as they call for a veto

Mar 09, 2022 10:20 AM

As distributed solar penetration increases, states like California and Florida are considering equitable paths forward due to concerns of cost-shifting for utility customers. The passage of the controversial bill followed a virtual town hall held by solar advocates on Wednesday. Clean energy groups are maintaining that the policy would gut the distributed solar market in Florida.

Massachusetts legislation to support offshore wind has big implications for energy storage

Mar 09, 2022 10:15 AM

Legislation supporting clean energy in Massachusetts with a heavy focus on offshore wind looks set to go into law, including some important actions to be taken on energy storage. ‘H.4515: An Act Advancing Offshore Wind and Clean Energy’ passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives on 3 March and now awaits Governor Charlie Baker’s signature. The legislation will bring into law a policy commitment to soliciting 5,600MW of offshore wind capacity — up from a proposed 4,000MW target.

Texas regulators direct utilities to file emergency operations plans

Mar 02, 2022 02:50 PM

Electric utilities, transmission operators and power generators in Texas must file Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) with regulators by April 15, including strategies for improved communications, robust supply chains, cold weather events and cyberattacks. Utilities already develop emergency plans but the Public Utilities Commission of Texas adopted more comprehensive EOP requirements Friday, at the direction of lawmakers. The state wants to avoid a repeat of widespread, and deadly blackouts.