Category Archives: Policy Committee Update

CPES Policy Committee Update: April 30, 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 Order Directing State Agencies to Reduce Energy Consumption and Environmental Impacts
  • Energy & Technology Committee Meeting 4/30
  • Mass. Approves State’s First Offshore Wind Contracts for 800MW
  • ISO’s Forward Capacity Market (FCM) Participation Guide Updated

CONNECTICUT

Governor Lamont Signs Order Directing State Agencies to Reduce Energy Consumption and Environmental Impacts
On April 24, 2019, Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has signed an executive order – his first since being sworn into office earlier this year – that directs executive branch state office buildings and vehicle fleets to become greener and more energy efficient through an expanded “Lead By Example” sustainability initiative aimed at reducing the state’s carbon footprint and reducing the cost of government operations.

Energy & Technology Committee Meeting 4/30
E&T will hold a committee meeting on Tuesday, April 30 at 10:30am in Room 1D of the Legislative Office Building.  Agenda

INDUSTRY

Mass. Approves State’s First Offshore Wind Contracts for 800MW
Learn more from the Mass. Department of Public Utilities here.

ISO’s Forward Capacity Market (FCM) Participation Guide Updated
The FCM Participation guide is intended to assist anyone needing more information on the FCM processes and capacity market.  The updated version reflects the latest procedures, reference materials, hyperlink and terminology. MORE

CPES Policy Committee Update: April 23, 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 4/23
  • Governor Lamont Announces PURA Nomination
  • Debates will continue this spring regarding net metering in CT
  • The ISO- NE is developing a long-term proposal to address energy security issues
  • Eversource is going forward with the Cape Cod Battery Project
  • FERC Releases 2018 State of the Markets Report
  • ISO Publishes Winter 2018/2019 Recap

CONNECTICUT

Energy & Technology Committee Meeting 4/23
E&T will hold a committee meeting on Tuesday, April 23 at 10:00am outside House Chamber.  Agenda

Governor Lamont Announces PURA Nomination
Governor Lamont has nominated Marissa Paslick Gillett to serve as a PURA commissioner. Read the press release here.

Debates will continue this spring regarding net metering in CT READ MORE

INDUSTRY

The ISO- NE is developing a long-term proposal to address energy security issues. This will be filed with federal regulators in October. MORE 

Eversource is going forward with the Cape Cod Battery Project
Construction of a 13-mile distribution line through the Cape Cod National Seashore will be deferred. The Project has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. MORE

FERC Releases 2018 State of the Markets Report
The annual report, which summaries the commission’s assessment of natural gas, electric, and other energy market developments during the past year, and the accompanying FERC overview presentation are available at FERC’s website.

ISO Publishes Winter 2018/2019 Recap
ISO’s Newswire Post “Winter 2018/2019 recap: what a difference a year makes” discussed how more moderate temperatures this past winter lead to lower wholesale electricity prices and less stressful system conditions.  Read more here.

 

 

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.