Category Archives: Policy Committee Update

CPES Policy Committee Update: December 18, 2018

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:

  • FERC accepts ISO-NE proposal to retain retiring resources for fuel security
  • ISO-NE announces 2019 classroom and webinar training schedule
  • Report Published by GC3 on Strategies for CT to Reduce GHGs
  • NYISO Recently Launched New Website
  • Lamont Transition Energy Report
  • PURA issues Final Decision declaring Millstone Power Station “At Risk” of Premature Retirement 
  • Connecticut Water merger tentatively rejected
  • Recent PURA Updates

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

FERC ACCEPTS ISO-NE PROPOSAL TO RETAIN RETIRING RESOURCES FOR FUEL SECURITY
Dec. 3, FERC issued an order accepting ISO-NE’s interim tariff changes to retain resources seeking retirement on the basis of fuel-security reliability need.

ISO-NE ANNOUNCES 2019 CLASSROOM AND WEBINAR TRAINING SCHEDULE
ISO’s 2019 Wholesale Energy Markets and Forward Capacity Markets classroom sessions are scheduled.

REPORT PUBLISHED BY GC3 ON STRATEGIES FOR CT TO REDUCE GHGS
Early this month, the Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3) released a draft of their analysis Building a Low Carbon Future for Connecticut: Achieving a 45% GHG Reduction by 2030.

NYISO RECENTLY LAUNCHED NEW WEBSITE
Click here to visit the new website

CONNECTICUT

LAMONT TRANSITION ENERGY REPORT
The Energy Transition Policy Committee provided the following update yesterday at at Curtis Packaging in Sandy Hook. Report

PURA ISSUES FINAL DECISION DECLARING MILLSTONE POWER STATION “AT RISK” OF PREMATURE RETIREMENT 
The final decision by the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority found that the Waterford facilities are “at risk of retirement.” Dominion’s bids in the DEEP Zero Carbon RFP will be judged on their price, as well as environmental and economic attributes.

CONNECTICUT WATER MERGER TENTATIVELY REJECTED
PURA issued a Proposed Final Decision rejecting the proposed $1.1 billion merger of Clinton-based Connecticut Water Service and California-based SJW Group. The tentative rejection of SJW Group’s proposed acquisition of Connecticut Water came in the form a 33-page draft ruling in which commissioners with the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority expressed concern about how the deal would affect local ratepayers. PURA granted an extension of time requested by Connecticut Water Service and SJW Group to file supplemental information on or before December 14th.

RECENT PURA UPDATES
On December 13, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 19-06-01:  Annual Review of Connecticut Electric Suppliers’ and Electric Distribution Companies’ Compliance with Connecticut’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards in the Year 2018 

On December 10, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-12-12:  Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-262c(c) Reports

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 20, 2018

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:

  • Lawmakers to hold oversight hearings on gas explosions
  • Former Massachusetts Coal Plant Transitioning To Offshore Wind Support Center
  • Next Consumer Liaison Group Meeting Dec. 6, Boston
  • ISO-NE Webinar: Quarterly Settlements Forum
  • PURA Draft Decision Deems Millstone ‘At Risk’
  • Ten Projects Receive Funding Under First Round Released as Part of Connecticut’s VW Settlement Agreement

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

LAWMAKERS TO HOLD OVERSIGHT HEARINGS ON GAS EXPLOSIONS
Following the gas explosions that occurred in Merrimack Valley, The Massachusetts State Senate will hold oversight hearings on the state’s natural gas system. They will focus on gas pipeline safety statewide. MORE

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS COAL PLANT TRANSITIONING TO OFFSHORE WIND SUPPORT CENTER
The former Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, MA (previously the largest coal-fired power plant in New England) will become a logistics port, manufacturing hub, and support center for the offshore wind energy sector. MORE

NEXT CONSUMER LIAISON GROUP MEETING DEC 6 BOSTON
The next meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) will be held on December 6 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. The topic will be, “The Evolving Markets: How Fuel Security is Changing the Wholesale Electricity Markets and What That Means for Your Bottom Line.”

ISO-NE WEBINAR: QUARTERLY SETTLEMENTS FORUM
Registration is open for ISO New England’s webinar “Quarterly Settlements Forum” on Thursday, December 6. This webinar presents information on ISO New England settlements and billing including the following topics:  energy storage devices, capacity supply obligation (CSO) cover changes, and Forward Capacity Market (FCM) substitution auction.

CONNECTICUT

PURA DRAFT DECISION DEEMS MILLSTONE ‘AT RISK’
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority released a draft decision on Friday deeming the Millstone nuclear plant “at risk of retirement.” It’s a designation long sought by owner Dominion Energy and lawmakers concerned about the potential economic and environmental impacts of an early Millstone closure. MORE

TEN PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER FIRST ROUND RELEASED AS PART OF CONNECTICUT’S VW SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Governor Malloy announced that the State of Connecticut is making available $12.2 million dollars from the legal settlement in the Volkswagen (VW) Corporation emissions scandal to fund ten clean air projects in the state. MORE

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 6, 2018

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:

  • U.S. DOE Proposes New Approach to Classification of Grid-Related Information
  • ISO-NE Continues Progress on Energy Storage Integration
  • New ISO-NE Webinar Posted: Forward Capacity Market Substitution Auction for FCA #13
  • Department of Energy Announces $53 Million in New Projects to Advance Solar
  • FERC Acts on Cyber Security Risks with New Supply Chain-Related Reliability Standards
  • FuelCell Inks Power Agreement for Hartford Project

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

U.S. DOE PROPOSES NEW APPROACH TO CLASSIFICATION OF GRID-RELATED INFORMATION
The Energy Department has proposed a new system for labeling sensitive information about the electric grid and other energy systems. The proposed rule works to align the agency’s CEII process with rules at FERC. See the Federal Register notice for more information and instructions on submitting public comment.

ISO-NE CONTINUES PROGRESS ON ENERGY STORAGE INTEGRATION  
Plans for implementing ISO-NE’s new rules for energy storage devices  are now available on ISO’s webpage for the Energy Storage Device project, which will allow participants with grid-sized storage technologies to offer the full range of their asset’s capability in the regulation market while continuing to operate as a dispatchable energy market resource.

NEW ISO-NE WEBINAR POSTED: FORWARD CAPACCITY MARKET SUBSTITUTION AUCTION FOR FCA #13
The presentation and recording of the October 11, 2018, Forward Capacity Market Substitution Auction for FCA #13 webinar are now available on the ISO website.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ANNOUNCES $53 MILLION IN NEW PROJECTS TO ADVANCE SOLAR
TechnologiesThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced selections for up to $53 million in new projects to advance early-stage solar technologies. There were 53 projects chosen, which span across 21 states. More

FERC ACTS ON CYBER SECURITY RISKS WITH NEW SUPPLY CHAIN-RELATED RELIABILITY STANDARDS
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved new mandatory Reliability Standards to bolster supply chain risk management protections. The standards are aimed at mitigating cyber security risks. More

CONNECTICUT

FUELCELL INKS POWER AGREEMENT FOR HARTFORD PROJECT
FuelCell Energy Inc. announced Thursday it signed long-term power purchase agreements with local utilities to cover a 7.4-megawatt project in Hartford. PURA will grant final authorization of the agreements. More

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 10, 2018

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:

  • EIPC Publishes Report on the State of the Eastern Interconnection
  • FERC Publishes Strategic Plan for FY 2018-2022
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

EIPC PUBLISHES REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE EASTERN INTERCONNECTION
The Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) has issued a new report, “State of the Eastern Interconnection,” the collection of power systems serving two-thirds of the US and Canada. The report describes the region’s coordinated planning to maintain the reliability of the bulk power grid.

FERC PUBLISHES STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FY 2018-2022
On Oct. 1 FERC released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2018 to 2022. The plan addresses six strategic objectives and the evolving barriers and opportunities related to each. 

CONNECTICUT

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
October 3, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 17-10-46RE01:  Application of The Connecticut Light and Power Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to Amend its Rate Schedules – EV Rate Rider 

On October 1, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-10-02:  PURA Review of the Connecticut Gas Utilities Forecasts of Demand & Supply 2019 – 2023  

On September 26, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 10-03-11RE03:  Investigation into Town Square Energy, LLC – Marketing 

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 28, 2018

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:

  • EPA Proposal to Replace the Clean Power Plan
  • Federal Hearing Explores Energy Sector Application of Blockchain
  • ISO New England Updates Battery Storage Projections  

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

EPA PROPOSAL TO REPLACE THE CLEAN POWER PLAN
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released its plan to replace 2015’s Clean Power Plan . The plan is subject to a 60-day comment period.   To read the proposal, visit EPA’s website.

FEDERAL HEARING EXPLORES ENERGY SECTOR APPLICATION OF BLOCKCHAIN
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources held a hearing on August 21st, Energy Efficiency of Blockchain and Similar Technologies, to discuss the energy efficiency of blockchain and similar technologies and the cybersecurity possibilities of such technologies for energy industry applications.   The recorded webcast and witness testimonies are archived on the committee’s webpage. 

ISO NEW ENGLAND UPDATES BATTERY STORAGE PROJECTIONS   
Grid-scale (also called utility-scale) battery storage is coming on fast in New England, according to ISO-NE.  By 2022, currently proposed new projects could add almost 850 MW of battery storage capacity in the region- an increase of 4,000% from the 19 MW currently on line.  To learn more about state efforts spurring storage resources, the different technologies, and how they participate in ISO’s markets, visit ISO’s webpage. 

CONNECTICUT

PURA HEARING ON MILLSTONE “AT-RISK” DETERMINIATION
On Wednesday, August 29th at 10:00 a.m., PURA will hold a hearing to review Dominion’s petition to be deemed an “existing resource confirmed at risk”, for purposes of the DEEP RFP.  More information is available in the Notice of Hearing.

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS IN PURA’s GRID MODERNIZATION DOCKET 
Comments are due August 22nd to PURA under Docket #17-12-03 “PURA Investigation into Distribution System Planning of the Electric Distribution Companies.  The request for written comment poses a series of questions regarding distributed energy resources, electrification, and distribution system planning that PURA is seeking public input on. 

PURA DOCKET NO. 18-08-14: REVIEW OF THE COMBINED HEAT AND POWER PROJECT SOLICITATION  
On August 7, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-08-14: PURA Review of the Combined Heat and Power Project Solicitation Pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-258e