Category Archives: Policy Committee Update

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.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 4, 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:

  • Governor Lamont Signs Executive Order Strengthening Connecticut’s Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change
  • DEEP and PURA Issue Draft Outline for Value of Distributed Energy Resources Study
  • PURA Issues Interim Decision Approving Millstone PPA
  • CT Mirror: CT offshore wind may face some rough seas
  • HBJ: CT expects $82.4M for winter assistance program
  • Register Now for ISO-NE’s 2019 Regional System Plan Public Meeting – September 12, Boston
  • Utility Dive: Rhode Island issues 10-year tax credit to draw offshore wind business

CONNECTICUT

Governor Lamont Signs Executive Order Strengthening Connecticut’s Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change
Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has signed an executive order strengthening Connecticut’s ongoing efforts to combat the effects of climate change and ensure that the state’s communities are as resilient as possible to rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms.

DEEP and PURA Issue Draft Outline for Value of Distributed Energy Resources Study
Review the draft outline here. Comments are being accepted until September 18.

PURA Issues Interim Decision Approving Millstone PPA
PURA issued an interim decision approving the 10 year PPA between Dominion.  A final decision is anticipated on September 18.

CT Mirror: CT offshore wind may face some rough seas

HBJ: CT expects $82.4M for winter assistance program

INDUSTRY

Register Now for ISO-NE’s 2019 Regional System Plan Public Meeting – September 12, Boston
The 2019 Regional System Plan (RSP) public meeting is scheduled for September 12 at the Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA from 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. At this meeting, the ISO will present the final draft of, and receive feedback on, the 2019 RSP. The meeting will also include a keynote address from Damir Novosel, president and founder of Quanta Technology, and a panel discussion entitled, “Transition to the Grid of the Future: Adapting to Disruptive Technologies.” Registration is required and available on ISO-TEN.

Utility Dive: Rhode Island issues 10-year tax credit to draw offshore wind business

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 27, 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:

  • DEEP Releases Offshore Wind RFP
  • The Day: Connecticut tips continental U.S. in electricity prices: what gives?
  • The Day: Orsted, Eversource confident in offshore wind as competitor faces delay in Massachusetts
  • CT Post: Feds delay environmental statement for offshore wind project
  • New ISO-NE Online Curriculum: ISO 101

CONNECTICUT

DEEP Releases Offshore Wind RFP
Read the DEEP press release and request for proposal (RFP).

The Day: “Connecticut tips continental U.S. in electricity prices: what gives?”

The Day: “Orsted, Eversource confident in offshore wind as competitor faces delay in Massachusetts”

CT Post: Feds delay environmental statement for offshore wind project

INDUSTRY

New ISO-NE Online Curriculum: ISO 101
ISO’s Customer Training released an updated ISO 101 Online curriculum consisting of four self-paced training modules: The Power System and ISO New England, System Operations, New England Energy Markets, and System Planning.  These trainings introduce the New England power grid, wholesale electricity markets, and the three primary responsibilities of ISO New England.

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 21, 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:

  • DEEP/PURA Seeking Comments on Value of Distributed Energy Resources Docket
  • DEEP Rules for New Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) Program
  • Commission Makes Recommendations On Offshore Wind
  • Shared solar program heading towards approval, complaints in tow
  • Environmental advocates denounce planned natural gas plant in Killingly
  • UConn Launches Institute of the Environment
  • US EPA Publishes Report on Public Health Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
  • Feds delay environmental statement for offshore wind project

CONNECTICUT

DEEP/PURA Seeking Comments on Value of Distributed Energy Resources Docket
Public comment is being accepted on the scope of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the value of distributed energy resources – see public notice for more details.  Comments are due August 21.

DEEP Rules for New Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) Program
In late July, DEEP submitted program rules to PURA for its statewide SCEF program. More information in DEEP’s press release and program website.

CT News Junkie: Commission Makes Recommendations On Offshore Wind

CT Mirror: Shared solar program heading towards approval, complaints in tow

Hartford Courant: Environmental advocates denounce planned natural gas plant in Killingly

UConn Launches Institute of the Environment
Drawing on its strengths as a leader in environmental research, education, and engagement, the University of Connecticut has launched the Institute of the Environment to help chart a course to a greener future. MORE

INDUSTRY

US EPA Publishes Report on Public Health Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
The agency’s report, Public Health Benefits per kWh of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the United States: A Technical Report, aims to help state and local government policymakers and other stakeholders estimate the monetized public health benefits of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

CT Post: Feds delay environmental statement for offshore wind project