CPES Policy Committee Update: January 30, 2017

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. 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

This week’s features:

  • ISO New England Releases State and Regional Energy Profiles
  • Connecticut Legislation: Nineteen Bills of Interest

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO New England Releases State and Regional Energy Profiles

ISO New England has updated its state and regional energy profiles, providing the latest information on supply and demand resources tied into the New England electric grid and state policies transforming the resource mix. The profiles are available on the ISO’s Key Grid and Market Stats webpage.

  • New England Power Grid 2016-2017 Regional Profile
     Key grid and market stats relating to sources of electricity production, the impact of energy-efficiency and behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic (PV) resources on electricity demand, generator retirements and proposed generation, transmission needed for reliability, imports of power from neighboring power systems, and renewable energy
  • New England Power Grid 2016-2017 State Profiles
    State-specific facts and figures relating to supply and demand resources, proposed generation, electricity demand growth, generator retirements, renewable portfolio standards, greenhouse gas reduction goals, growth of solar PV resources, and rankings for energy-efficiency efforts.

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/

The following proposed bills may be of interest to our membership:

  • H.B. 6120: AN ACT MAKING RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDITS HAVE AN EQUAL VALUE. To make renewable energy credits have an equal value.
  • H.B. 6121: AN ACT CONCERNING RAISING THE CAP ON VIRTUAL NET METERING. To raise the cap on virtual net metering.
  • H.B. 6301: AN ACT CONCERNING THE REPAIR OF NATURAL GAS LEAKS WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS OF REPORTING TO THE GAS COMPANY.  To require natural gas leaks to be repaired within two business days of reporting to the gas company.
  • H.B. 6304: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR A DISTRICT HEATING NETWORK.  To establish a pilot program in Bridgeport for developing a district heating network.
  • H.B. 6306: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SOLAR-READY CONSTRUCTION STUDY GROUP.  To establish a solar-ready construction study group.
  • H.B. 6307: AN ACT CONCERNING RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.  To increase the renewable portfolio standard to fifty per cent by 2030.
  • H.B. 6309: AN ACT CONCERNING CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS WHEN CHANGES WILL BE MADE TO EXISTING STRUCTURES.  To require a public hearing when changes will be made to existing structures.
  • H.B. 6310: AN ACT CONCERNING NATURAL GAS UTILITIES AND NATURAL GAS FROM THE STATE’S ORGANIC WASTE STREAM. To require natural gas utilities to purchase a portion of their supply from resources that produce renewable natural gas from fractions of the state’s organic waste stream..
  • H.B. 6311: AN ACT CONCERNING CONSUMER ACCESS TO AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. To provide equal access to energy conservation programs created by the state..
  • H.B. 6312: AN ACT CONCERNING DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEM INCENTIVE PAYMENTS. To change the incentive payment made to district heating system end use customers.
  • H.B. 6544: AN ACT LIFTING THE VIRTUAL NET METERING CAP. To lift the virtual net metering cap.
  • H.B. 6546: AN ACT CONCERNING PROHIBITING SURCHARGES FROM BEING LEVIED ON UTILITY CUSTOMERS TO SUBSIDIZE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CAPACITY.  To prohibit additional costs on utility customers to subsidize the cost of interstate natural gas pipeline capacity.
  • H.B. 6547: AN ACT CONCERNING A CONNECTICUT GREEN PLAN AND RESOURCE USE INVENTORY FOR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE.  To determine the best practices for placement of energy infrastructure.
  • H.B. 6548: AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND RATE DESIGN STUDIES.  To remove requirements regarding municipal electric utilities and rate design studies.
  • S.B. 469: AN ACT CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR NATURAL GAS PRODUCERS AND THE REPAIR OF NATURAL GAS LEAKS.  To add requirements for natural gas producers and require repair of natural gas leaks within two days.
  • S.B. 470: AN ACT CONCERNING NATURAL GAS PRODUCER REQUIREMENTS AND NATURAL GAS LEAK REPAIRS.  To add requirements for natural gas producers and require repair of natural gas leaks within two days.
  • S.B. 539: AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE SAFETY OF NATURAL GAS PIPELINES.  To assess the safety of natural gas pipelines.
  • S.B. 565: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FROM CLASS I RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES THAT PROVIDE A WASTE STREAM MANAGEMENT BENEFIT.  To require a request for proposals.
  • S.B. 630: AN ACT CONCERNING CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES AND USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.  To increase the renewable portfolio standard and better incentivize use of renewable energy sources.

CPES does not take a position on these legislative proposals; this is provided for informational purposes only to CPES members.