Category Archives: 2019

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 22, 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 Committee or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • DEEP Issues Draft “Electric Vehicle Roadmap for Connecticut” and Announces Public Meeting
  • DEEP Issues Notice of Revised Scope, Updated Schedule for 2018 Integrated Resources Plan
  • FERC Approves First Compliance Filings on Storage Rule (Order 841)
  • New ISO Resource on Distributed Generation Interconnection

CONNECTICUT

DEEP Issues Draft “Electric Vehicle Roadmap for Connecticut” and Announces Public Meeting
DEEP’s Electric Vehicle Roadmap identifies specific policies, programs, and strategies that would enable Connecticut to optimize deployment of electric vehicles and associated infrastructure. A technical meeting and public comment session is scheduled for November 8.

DEEP Issues Notice of Revised Scope, Updated Schedule for 2018 Integrated Resources Plan
Learn more about the IRP process at DEEP’s website, and see notice of here.

INDUSTRY

FERC Approves First Compliance Filings on Storage Rule (Order 841)
FERC approved the first two orders implementing Order No. 841, the storage rulemaking aimed at breaking down market barriers to electricity storage.  See FERC’s press release for more information on the orders addressing SPP’s and PJM’s compliance filings.

New ISO Resource on Distributed Generation Interconnection
ISO has recently developed an informational handout on DG interconnection for state officials, developers, and other stakeholders – learn more here.

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 15, 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 Committee or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • DEEP Issues First Progress Report and Last Four Goals of the 20BY20 Initiative
  • CT Issues Annual Cybersecurity Update
  • ISO-NE’s New Online Guide for Interconnection
  • U.S. EIA projects that renewables will provide nearly half of world electricity by 2050

CONNECTICUT

DEEP Issues First Progress Report and Last Four Goals of the 20BY20 Initiative DEEP released the first quarterly report of the 20BY20 initiative, a set of 20 short-term high-impact agency goals aimed at providing greater predictability, efficiency, and transparency for environmental permitting and regulatory processes to be achieved by the end of 2020.

CT Issues Annual Cybersecurity Update
The third annual cybersecurity review of Connecticut’s electric, natural gas, and large water companies was compiled in an ongoing effort by the state to detect and prevent cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure.

INDUSTRY

ISO-NE’s New Online Guide for Interconnection
Read a summary of the guide on ISO’s Newswire and access the guide here

U.S. EIA projects that renewables will provide nearly half of world electricity by 2050
In its International Energy Outlook 2019, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that renewables will collectively increase to 49% of global electricity generation by 2050. Learn more here.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 8, 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 Committee or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • PURA Announces New Framework for Grid Modernization
  • Three Bids Submitted for Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Source
  • New Report Finds CT #6 in Nation for Energy Efficiency
  • Developer Breaks Ground on New Energy Efficient Data Hub
  • ISO-NE 2020 Annual Work Plan Now Available
  • Summer 2019 Saw the Lowest Regional Grid Electricity Use in at Least 16 Years

CONNECTICUT

PURA Announces New Framework for Grid Modernization
PURA released an Interim Decision that details the Authority’s Framework approach to investigate methods for equitably modernizing the electric grid in Connecticut.  PURA splits its Framework into near-term topics for further investigation within the next two years, as well as, a long-term plan to ensure continued enhancements to Connecticut’s electric grid through a biennial integrated distribution system planning process. Press release

Three Bids Submitted for Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Source
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s recent request for proposals for up to 2,000 MW of offshore wind power has attracted three bids.

New Report Finds CT #6 in Nation for Energy Efficiency
In the annual report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Connecticut ranked 6 overall for its efforts supporting energy efficiency.  More here.

CT News Junkie: Developer Breaks Ground on New Energy Efficient Data Hub

INDUSTRY

ISO-NE 2020 Annual Work Plan Now Available
ISO’s work plan, published each September and updated each spring, outlines major priorities and activities for the year that are designed to improve upon existing ISO systems, practices, and services to New England.  Learn more here.

Summer 2019 Saw the Lowest Regional Grid Electricity Use in at Least 16 Years
In a new article, ISO discusses that despite a hot July, New England saw the lowest summer season grid demand and the second lowest wholesale pricing since 2003.  Learn more here.

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 1, 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 Committee or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Millstone, utilities finalize 10-year contract
  • CT Updates Rules for Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
  • DEEP/PURA Value of Distributed Energy Resources Technical Meetings
  • When is a new power plant ‘necessary’ in New England? Regulators defer to capacity market

CONNECTICUT

Millstone, utilities finalize 10-year contract
State regulators recently approved a 10-year contract between the owner of Millstone Power Station and utility companies, effectively ending the yearslong political, regulatory and environmental battles to keep the plant operational. More

CT Updates Rules for Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Read DEEP’s press release on the regulations, proposed by DEEP in coordination with other states who are part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), that make a number of improvements including an additional 30 percent regional CO2 emissions cap between 2020 and 2030.

DEEP/PURA Value of Distributed Energy Resources Technical Meetings
Deep and PURA are holding technical meetings on their joint value of distributed energy resources study.  See the presentation from September 20th meeting here and details for the second technical October 4th meeting here.

When is a new power plant ‘necessary’ in New England? Regulators defer to capacity market
Within the span of a few weeks in June, regulatory officials in Connecticut and Rhode Island came to starkly different conclusions on development proposals for natural gas-fired electric generating plants on sites about 20 miles apart. Read more

INDUSTRY

ISO-NE Developing Method for Assessing Energy-Efficiency Resources Performance
Read a recap of the final report by the Demand Resources Working Group on how to address the performance of energy efficiency resources.

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 24, 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 Committee or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • PURA Approves Zero Carbon RFP Contracts
  • DEEP and PURA Issue Draft Outline for Value of Distributed Energy Resources Study
  • Governor Lamont Applauds PURA Approval of Millstone Contract Between Dominion, Eversource, and United Illuminating 
  • Former FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur joins ISO-NE Board of Directors
  • FERC Proposes to Modernize PURPA Regulations
  • ISO-NE expands auction opportunities for Financial Transmission Rights
  • Materials From ISO System Plan Public Meeting Online
  • New Study Finds Energy Efficiency Reduces Emissions and Helps Achieve Climate Goals

CONNECTICUT

PURA Approves Zero Carbon RFP Contracts PURA Filing

Governor Lamont Applauds PURA Approval of Millstone Contract Between Dominion, Eversource, and United Illuminating Governor Lamont Press Release

INDUSTRY

Former FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur joins ISO-NE Board of Directors
Last week, ISO announced the election of the 2019 Board of Directors slate, including new Director Cheryl LaFleur. LaFleur was most recently a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) commissioner.  Read more at ISO’s website.

FERC Proposes to Modernize PURPA Regulations
FERC announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking focused on recent wholesale power market developments.  Comments are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register; read more at FERC’s website.

ISO-NE expands auction opportunities for Financial Transmission Rights
On September 17, 2019, ISO New England launched the Financial Transmission Rights – Balance of Planning Period (FTR BoPP) project to provide market participants with more opportunities to configure their FTR portfolio. Learn more at ISO’s website.

Materials From ISO System Plan Public Meeting Online
ISO New England held its biennial Regional System Plan Public Meeting in Boston, Mass. on September 12, 2019, to present the final draft 2019 Regional System Plan (RSP 19) and receive feedback from stakeholders.  Keynote and panel presentations, as well as highlights from the RDP19 report are available on ISO’s website.

New Study Finds Energy Efficiency Reduces Emissions and Helps Achieve Climate Goals
The report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Halfway There: Energy Efficiency Can Cut Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half by 2050, shows that energy efficiency can reduce US energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050.