Category Archives: wind

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

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: February 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 Public Hearings: Feb 19 and Feb 21
  • PURA established Docket No. 19-02-13:  Declaratory Ruling Regarding Licensed Electric Supplier Practices of Altering the Prices in Fixed-Price Contracts
  • Consumers in Retail Competition Markets Saved $300B Over the Past Decade, Trade Group Says
  • Speaker Announced for ISO-NE March CLG Meeting: Jeffrey Grybowski, Co-CEO Ørsted US Offshore Wind
  • ISO-NE Announces Spring 2019 Market Training Classes
  • 2nd Circuit Sides With Direct Energy Services in Rate Hike Dispute
  • Vistra Energy to Expand Retail Business with $328M acquisition
  • Future US Electricity Generation Mix Will Depend Largely on Natural Gas Prices

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee will hold the following public hearings:
                 -Tuesday, February 19, 10:15 am in room 1E of the LOB Agenda
                 – Thursday, February 21, 10:00 am in Rm 1B of the LOB Agenda  

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

REGULATORY
On February 11, 2019, PURA established Docket No. 19-02-13:  Declaratory Ruling Regarding Licensed Electric Supplier Practices of Altering the Prices in Fixed-Price Contracts

REGIONAL/INDUSTRYCONSUMERS IN RETAIL COMPETITION MARKETS SAVED $300B OVER THE PAST DECADE, TRADE GROUP SAYS
Electricity prices in many states with retail choice are high, but RESA’s analysis concludes they are moving lower, as consumers reap the benefits of cheap natural gas and lower electricity demand. But the same cannot be said for states with monopoly utility structures. MORE

SPEAKER ANNOUNCED FOR ISO-NE MARCH CLG MEETING: JEFFREY GRYBOWSKI, CO-CEO ØRSTED US OFSHORE WIND
Jeffrey Grybowski, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ørsted US Offshore Wind, will give the keynote address at the March 14th meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) at the Omni Providence Hotel. Following, a panel will discuss Transforming the Power Sector: Customer Choice in a Changing Energy Landscape. 

ISO-NE ANNOUNCES SPRING 2019 MARKET TRAINING CLASSES
ISO-NE’s Customer Training will hold Introduction to Wholesale Electricity Markets April 29- May 3 and Intermediate Wholesale Electricity Markets June 11-13.  Learn more and register here.

2ND CIRCUIT SIDES WITH DIRECT ENERGY SERVICES IN RATE HIKE DISPUTE
Connecticut resident Gary Richards had sued private electricity supplier Direct Energy Services LLP, claiming it unfairly hiked prices by switching from a fixed to variable rate. A Second Circuit panel, ruling 2-1, upheld a lower court ruling that sided with the electricity supplier. MORE

VISTRA ENERGY TO EXPAND RETAIL BUSINESS WITH $328M ACQUISITION
Vistra Energy Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire Crius Energy Trust for about $328 million, the company announced in a news release Thursday. The move comes as Irving-based Vistra (NYSE: VST) seeks to expand its retail business. With the acquisition of Crius Energy, Vistra would serve 19 states and the District of Columbia in the electricity and natural gas product market for residential and small business customers. MORE

FUTURE US ELECTRICITY GENERATION MIX WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON NATURAL GAS PRICES
The mix of fuels used to generate electricity in the US has changed in response to differences in the relative costs of electricity-generating technologies and their fuels. EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2019 shows that projected generation and capacity is significantly influenced by natural gas prices. MORE

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 29, 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:

  • Executive Order Regarding Efficient Federal Operations
  • The Day: “New London, state leaders push offshore wind development as Mass., R.I. projects move forward”

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING EFFICIENT FEDERAL OPERATIONS                     
Read more here.

THE DAY: “NEW LONDON, STATE LEADERS PUSH OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT AS MASS., R.I. PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD”
Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Wednesday tapped two offshore wind developers who also remain in the hunt to provide offshore wind power to Connecticut, where local officials and energy companies are pushing for a new hub of manufacturing in a growing industry. Read more here.

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 1, 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’s State of the Markets Report 2017
  • ISO New England Winter Recap
  • Setting Regional Solar and Wind Power Records in New England
  • FERC Issues Letter Accepting the Results of the 12th Forward Capacity Auction
  • Docket No. 18-04-25: PURA Investigation Regarding Issues Related to Uncollectible Accounts and Docket No. 10-06-18RE02: Application of Spark Energy, L.P. for an Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Marketing 

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

FERC’S STATE OF THE MARKETS REPORT 2017
FERC’s Office of Enforcement’s Division of Energy Market Oversight published their annual assessment of natural gas, electric, and other energy markets developments during the past year.  The Commission’s accompanying presentation is always available on their website.

ISO NEW ENGLAND WINTER RECAP
ISO New England published a recap of the 2017/2018 winter conditions, describing the effect of the historic cold snap in the final week of December and first week of January. For more on how these cold weather conditions impacted grid operations, see ISO-NE’s analysis.

SETTING REGIONAL SOLAR AND WIND POWER RECORDS IN NEW ENGLAND
Over 130,000 solar power installations now span the six New England states, totaling about 2,400 MW (nameplate)—over 5,800 MW are expected by 2027. Almost all this solar power is connected to local distribution utilities or “behind the meter” (BTM) directly at retail customer sites. On April 9, a cool, cloudless day across New England, BTM solar power set a new regional record. Wind, energy-efficiency measures and storage are also contributing to the changing grid, reducing  the region’s emissions. Learn more at ISO-New England’s website.

FERC ISSUES LETTER ACCEPTING THE RESULTS OF THE 12TH FORWARD CAPACITY AUCTION
FERC issued a letter order accepting ISO New England’s filing of the results of the twelfth Forward Capacity Auction, held on February 5-6, 2018 for the June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022 Capacity Commitment Period. The document has been posted to the ISO’s website. 

CONNECTICUT

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On April 26, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-04-25:  PURA Investigation Regarding Issues Related to Uncollectible Accounts 

On April 25, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 10-06-18RE02:  Application of Spark Energy, L.P. for an Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Marketing 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018 and will adjourn on May 9, 2018.  General information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et