Author Archives: Kathryn Dube

CPES Policy Committee Update: April 2, 2019

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Solar jobs concentrated in Hartford County
  • Canadian Provinces Implement Carbon Tax
  • ISO-NE’s Planning Advisory Committee “Grid Transformation” Event May 23rd, Westborough MA
  • Federal Officials, Fishing Industry Reach Offshore Wind Development Agreement
  • FERC Opens Two New Inquiries, Opportunity for Comment

CONNECTICUT

Hartford Business Journal “Solar jobs concentrated in Hartford County.”  Read the full story here.

INDUSTRY

CANADIAN PROVINCES IMPLEMENT CARBON TAX
The federal Liberal government will begin levying its carbon tax on greenhouse gas-emitting fuels today in the four provinces that have refused to take part in the pan-Canadian climate framework. Read the full story here.

ISO-NE’S PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE “GRID TRANSFORMATION” EVENT MAY 23, WESTBOROUGH MA
ISO New England is planning a day-long event for the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) called “Grid Transformation” to be held May 23, 2019, at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, Massachusetts. The meeting will focus on the technical challenges and potential benefits presented by this grid transformation, as well as the potential solutions for addressing many of the changes the industry is facing. To that end, the ISO is inviting industry experts and stakeholders to engage in this discussion about grid transformation.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS, FISHING INDUSTRY REACH OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 
Federal officials sign a 10-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) about offshore wind energy with fishing industry interests on the East Coast. MOU states that wind energy developments on the shelf must take into consideration how the activities could affect the marine environment and other industries. NOAA says the memorandum will help sustain fishing opportunities while allowing energy projects.

FERC OPENS TWO NEW INQUIRIES, OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT
– FERC Opens Inquiry on Improvements to Electric Transmission Incentives Policy: examination of possible improvements to FERC’s electric transmission incentives policy to ensure that it appropriately encourages the development of the infrastructure needed to ensure grid reliability and reduce congestion to reduce the cost of power for consumers. 
– FERC to Examine Return on Equity Policies: examination of whether, and if so how, to revise its policies on determining the return on equity (ROE) used in setting rates charged by jurisdictional public utilities.

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 19, 2019

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Energy & Technology Committee Meeting: March 19
  • PURA Docket Number 19-03-10
  • Off shore wind measures advance out of committee
  • Dominion to keep Connecticut Millstone nuclear plant in service
  • Hartford Courant “At New London’s State Pier, wind power gives Connecticut its next economic development opportunity
  • 2018 Report of the Consumer Liaison Group Published
  • ISO New England Press Release on 2018 Wholesale Electricity Prices

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a Committee Meeting on March 19 at 10:30 AM in Room 2B of the Legislative Office Building. The Bill Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

PURA DOCKET
On March 12, 2019, PURA established Docket No. 19-03-10: 2019 PURA Report to the General Assembly Concerning Lost and Unaccounted for Gas

INDUSTRY

OFF SHORE WIND MEASURES ADVANCE OUT OF COMMITTEE
The co-chairs of the Energy & Technology Committee announced that two off shore wind important measures moved out committee. The legislation, SB 875, An Act Expanding Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Energy Portfolio, would expand offshore wind energy and HB 7156, An Act Concerning The Procurement Of Energy Derived From Offshore Wind, would authorize the procurement of energy derived from offshore wind. Article 

DOMINION TO KEEP CONNECTICUT MILLSTONE NUCLEAR PLANT IN SERVICE
Dominion Energy Inc said on Friday that it reached a 10-year agreement with Connecticut utilities that will keep the state’s only nuclear power station in service. Read article here

HARTFORD COURANT “AT NEW LONDON’S STATE PIER, WIND POWER GIVES CONNECTICUT ITS NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY” Read the full story here.

INDUSTRY

2018 REPORT OF THE CONSUMER LIAISON GROUP PUBLISHED
The report, prepared jointly by the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) Coordinating Committee and ISO New England highlights the 2018 activities of the CLG and provides an update on other consumer-related, wholesale electricity industry topics. 

ISO NEW ENGLAND PRESS RELEASE ON 2018 WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICES
ISO-NE’s average wholesale electricity price in 2018 rose over the 2017 price, but still ranked as the six-lowest since the current wholesale markets were implemented in 2004. Read more in the press release.

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 12, 2019

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Energy & Technology Committee Meeting: March 12
  • Dominion Pushing for Sweeter Deal to Keep Millstone Open
  • NE Publishes 2019 Regional Electricity Outlook
  • U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce Holds Hearing on Energy Efficiency Standards

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a Committee Meeting on March 12 at 2:30 PM in Room 1B of the Legislative Office Building.

The Bil Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

DOMINION PUSHING FOR SWEETER DEAL TO KEEP MILLSTONE OPEN
When an industry analyst on a February conference call asked if Millstone Power Station still faced closure, Dominion Energy President and CEO Thomas Farrell replied that executives were “not here to do any saber-rattling.” Article

INDUSTRY

NE PUBLISHES 2019 REGIONAL ELECTRICITY OUTLOOK
ISO’s 2019 Regional Electricity Outlook (REO) is an annual report looking at the trends affecting New England’s power system today and in the future.

U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & COMMERCE HOLDS HEARING ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS
The March 7th hearing focused on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) delay of 16 appliance energy efficiency standards and failure to publish Final Energy Conservation Standards.  Related documents are available here.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 5, 2019

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Energy & Technology Committee Public Hearings: March 5
  • Finalized Auction Results Confirm Sufficient Capacity Resources for 2022–2023
  • FERC Accepts Revisions for Batteries and Other Emerging Storage Technologies to More Fully Participate in the New England Markets

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a public hearing on March 5 at 10:00 AM.  Agenda  The agenda includes An Act Concerning Energy Efficiency Standards (HB 7151) introduced by Governor Lamont.

The Bil Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

INDUSTRY
FINALIZED AUCTION RESULTS CONFIRM SUFFICIENT CAPACITY RESOURCES 2022–2023
ISO New England has filed the finalized results of FCA-13 with FERC. A press release summarizing the filing, and the full filing, can be found on the ISO’s website.

FERC ACCEPTS REVISIONS FOR BATTERIES AND OTHER EMERGING STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES TO MORE FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW ENGLAND MARKETS 
The revisions allow emerging storage technologies to be dispatched in the Real-Time Energy Market in a manner that more fully recognizes their ability to transition continuously and rapidly between a charging state and a discharging state and provides a means for their simultaneous participation in the energy, reserves, and regulation markets. Learn more about these market changes from ISO.

FERC SCHEDULES RELIABILITY TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON RELIABILITY OF THE BULK-POWER SYSTEM
FERC will hold a Technical Conference on Thursday, June 27, 2019, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM to discuss policy issues related to the reliability of the Bulk-Power System

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 26, 2019

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Energy & Technology Committee Public Hearing Feb 26
  • Governor Lamont Introduces Two Energy Bills
  • ISO-NE Publishes 2019 “State of the Grid” Media Briefing Materials
  • Registration Open for ISO Webinars: FCM Show of Interest for New Demand Resources and FCM Show of Interest for New Generation and Imports

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a public hearing on February 26 at 1:45 PM.  Agenda 

The Bill Record Book, which contains House and Senate Energy bills, is available here.

CONNECTICUT
GOVERNOR LAMONT INTRODUCES TWO ENERGY BILLS
As part of the 2019 Legislative Proposal from Governor Lamont’s administration, two energy bills address offshore wind energy procurements and energy efficiency standards:
SB 875, An Act Expanding Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Energy Portfolio
HB 7151, An Act Concerning Energy Efficiency Standards

 

ISO-NE PUBLISHES 2019 “STATE OF THE GRID” MEDIA BRIEFING MATERIALS
ISO New England President and CEO Gordon van Welie updated reporters on the state of the region’s power system during a media briefing on February 20, 2019. The presentation and remarks are now available on ISO’s website.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR ISO WEBINARS: FCM SHOW OF INTEREST FOR NEW DEMAND RESOURCES AND FCM SHOW OF INTEREST FOR NEW GENERATION AND IMPORTS
These webinars will inform prospective project sponsors and market participants about the requirements and submittal process for the Show of Interest (SOI) for the fourteenth Forward Capacity Auction (FCA #14) to be held in February 2020 for the 2023-2024 Capacity Commitment Period. Register now.