Monthly Archives: February 2016

New Energy Professionals / CPES: POLICY COMMITTEE UPDATE: March 1, 2016

The Connecticut Power and Energy Society is pleased to announce a new series of energy policy updates featuring regulatory, legislative and industry developments in Connecticut, New England and the U.S. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals.

Policy Committee 

Last year, CPES formed a Policy Committee to develop additional programming and provide timely information on policy developments in the state of Connecticut and New England wide. In August of last year, the Policy Committee hosted its first meeting to discuss energy legislation and policymaking following the 2015 legislative session. The Committee heard from representatives of the Energy & Technology Committee, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In February, the Policy Committee arranged for Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty to deliver a federal energy policy update at the CPES monthly dinner meeting.

New Energy Professionals

This year, CPES formed the New Energy Professionals Committee to welcome members who are new to the energy industry and provide opportunities for new energy professionals to learn, grow, and connect with others in the field. As a service to the Policy Committee, the New Energy Professionals Committee will be gathering timely information on policy developments in Connecticut and the New England region and posting it about weekly to the CPES website.

Feedback

If you are interested in learning more about the New Energy Professionals, the Policy Committee, or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we would welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

Connecticut Regulatory Update: Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has approved Eversource Energy’s proposed FERC filing seeking recovery for NSTAR merger-related transaction and integration costs. The PURA decision is available at: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/8e6fc37a54110e3e852576190052b64d/1c21d70c67b49dc485257f61005ff2d9?OpenDocument.

Connecticut Legislative Update: Energy & Technology Committee

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.  The committee has scheduled a public hearing for March 1, 2016, the agenda for which is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/etdata/pha/2016PHA00301-R001300ET-PHA.htm

The following raised bills may be of interest to our membership:

  • S.B. No. 103 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROCUREMENT MANAGER OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND MINOR REVISIONS TO ENERGY-RELATED STATUTES’, to transfer the responsibilities of the PURA procurement manager to other employees of the agency and make other minor revisions to energy-related statutes.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • S.B. No. 168 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING TRASH-TO-ENERGY FACILITIES’, to require the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to conduct a study pertaining to trash-to-energy facilities.

REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

  • S.B. No. 224 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE CAPACITY AND CRITERIA FOR CERTAIN RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES’, to allow submission of proposals for Class I renewable energy generation facilities with an increased potential size for such facilities.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • S.B. No. 272 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF MICROGRID GRANTS AND LOANS FOR CERTAIN DISTRIBUTED ENERGY GENERATION’, to allow the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to provide microgrid grants and loans for additional types of costs associated with such microgrids.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5241 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRIORITY OF THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS LIEN UNDER THE GREEN BANK’S COMMERCIAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROGRAM’, to provide municipal tax liens and assessments priority over benefit assessments liens created under the Green Bank’s commercial sustainable energy program.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5242 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL VIRTUAL NET METERING’, to allow agricultural customers to lease or enter into long-term contracts for an agricultural virtual net metering facility. 
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5309 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING FACILITATION OF THE MUNICIPAL RESIDENTIAL SOLAR APPLICATION PROCESS’, to require the Green Bank to approve a standardized solar photovoltaic system permit application form for use by municipalities.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5310 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING LOCATION OF SITING COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS’, to require the Connecticut Siting Council to hold a public hearing in the municipality in which a proposed facility is to be located if the proposed facility will be located only in that municipality.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5427 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE SHARED CLEAN ENERGY FACILITY PILOT PROGRAM’, to make changes to the shared clean energy facility pilot program regarding utilities’ cost recovery, tariff mechanisms, and other technical changes. 
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Regional and Industry Developments

ISO New England Files Finalized Auction Results with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

On February 29, 2016, ISO New England filed the results of the tenth Forward Capacity Auction (FCA #10) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for review and approval.  The auction was held on February 8, 2016 to procure the capacity resources needed to meet electricity demand in New England during the 2019–2020 timeframe.  Finalized results confirm that the auction concluded at a lower price than the previous auction (FCA #9) and with sufficient resources, including three new power plants, to meet demand in 2019–2020.  The filing is available on the ISO’s website at: http://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/2016/02/er16-___-000_2-29-16_fca_10_results_filing.pdf.

A press release discussing the finalized results of FCA #10 is available at: http://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/2016/02/20160229_fca10_finalresults.pdf.

US Wind Energy Tops New Electric Capacity in 2015

In 2015, new wind resources accounted for 35% of all new generating capacity in the US, according to CleanTechnica, highlighting a report by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Bloomberg New Energy and Finance.

http://cleantechnica.com/2016/02/17/us-wind-energy-tops-new-electric-capacity-2015/

(NH) Eversource Applies to Buy, Sell Gas from Expanded Pipeline

New Hampshire’s largest electric utility is seeking permission to buy and sell natural gas from a proposed pipeline expansion. The Concord Monitor reports Eversource filed a request with the Public Utilities Commission that would allow it to buy natural gas from the Access Northeast pipeline expansion for two decades. The pipeline expansion would be built by the Hartford, Connecticut-based utility and two other firms through Connecticut and eastern Massachusetts.

http://nhpr.org/post/eversource-applies-buy-sell-gas-expanded-pipeline

 

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty Visits with the CPES

From left to right: Weezie Nuara, ISO New England; Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty; Joey Lee Miranda, Robinson & Cole, CPES President; and Alexandrea Isaac, Starion Energy, CPES Board Member.

From left to right: Weezie Nuara, ISO New England; Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty; Joey Lee Miranda, Robinson & Cole, CPES President; and Alexandrea Isaac, Starion Energy, CPES Board Member.

On February 17, 2016, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) hosted Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, the U.S. Representative for the 5th Congressional District of Connecticut. Congresswoman Esty offered her thoughts on a wide range of issues, including climate change, the Clean Power Plan, and the 2016 Presidential race. On the issue of climate change, Esty pointed to a deep divide in Congress, but said she is working with other Members to strengthen our resiliency to the impacts of climate change. From the east coast to the west coast, the impacts are clear, she said, and we must prepare for more frequent and extreme weather events.

She commended the state of Connecticut for its leadership role in climate change mitigation and renewable energy policy, particularly the efforts of Deputy Commissioner Katie Dykes. On November 18, 2015, Dykes testified before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee on Connecticut’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and other climate change mitigation programs, which, in her view, have been accompanied by consumer savings, economic growth, and reliable power. Congresswoman Esty assured attendees that Connecticut was smart to move ahead on RGGI and other complimentary policies relating to climate change and renewable energy development. Congresswoman Esty also commented on the recent extensions of the Production and Investment Tax Credits, policies favorable to wind and solar development in the U.S. She made clear that fuel cells were intended to be among the technologies eligible for these important tax credits and that she is working with House Speaker Paul Ryan to amend the legislation to include them.

Congresswoman Esty commented on the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who days before his death joined a five-judge majority to stay the implementation of the Clean Power Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule to reduce carbon pollution from fossil-fueled power plants. Esty paid homage to Scalia’s intellectual force and brilliant legal mind. She noted that President Obama is considering several names for nomination to fill the vacant seat, but was unsure whether the Senate would hold a confirmation hearing before his term expires.

Finally, Congresswoman Esty assured attendees that despite the volatility of an election year, she is committed to working across party lines to find common ground and “get things done” in Washington. She likened her approach to finding the overlapping space in a Venn diagram, stating that “this is the space I am trying to work in.” She is striving to make progress, she said, not headlines.