Tag Archives: NEP

NEP Networking Night at Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company, Middletown, CT

A pre-tour of Greenskies (your vertically-integrated, solar partner) and a great night of networking with CPES’ New Energy Professionals at Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company on March 7, 2019.  More photos here.

Thursday, 3.7.19  |  5:30 PM – 8:00 PM  |  REGISTER

Join the New Energy Professionals Group for an evening of networking on Thursday, March 7th at 5:30 PM at the Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company in Middletown, Connecticut.

DIRECTIONS:
180 Johnson Street, Middletown, CT  
Whether you are coming from North Main Street or Johnson Street, head across the train tracks and stay to the right when pulling into the Remington Rand parking lot.  Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company is about 3/4 of the way down!

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 22, 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:

  • Coalition Sues State Over Sweep of Energy Efficiency Funds
  • ISO New England’s Summer Outlook Now Available
  • ISO’s Price-Responsive Demand Structure Effective June 1, 2018
  • ISO’s Annual Markets Report Now Available
  • Recent PURA Docket on Electric Distribution Company System Reliability

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

COALITION SUES STATE OVER SWEEP OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUNDS
A group of energy efficiency contractors and both consumer and environmental advocates sued the state of Connecticut on Tuesday, claiming that the legislature illegally swept ratepayer funds to close last year’s budget deficit. As part of the bipartisan budget agreement, $155 million was diverted from Conservation & Load Management, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority funds to help fill a large budget gap. The group was vocal last year about the sweep and warned the General Assembly that they would litigate. However, the General Assembly took no action before they adjourned on May 9.

ISO NEW ENGLAND’S SUMMER OUTLOOK NOW AVAILABLE
ISO-NE’s Outlook for Summer 2018 finds that electricity supplies should be sufficient to meet New England consumer demand, but tight system conditions could develop if forecasted extreme peak conditions occur.  Read the factsheet here and learn more at ISO’s Seasonal System Outlook webpage.

ISO’S PRICE-RESPONSIVE DEMAND STRUCTURE EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2018
On June 1, 2018, new price-responsive demand (PRD) structure will go into effect in ISO New England’s marketplace. Information on the types of demand response and participation requirements are available under the FCM Participation Guide on the Price-Responsive Demand webpage.  Related training are available on the Training Materials webpage.

ISO’S ANNUAL MARKETS REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
According to the 2017 Annual Markets Report issued by the Internal Market Monitor at ISO-NE, the region’s wholesale power markets were competitive in 2017.   The report addresses the development, operation, and performance of the wholesale electricity markets administered by the ISO and presents an assessment of each market based on market data and performance criteria. Read the full report here.

CONNECTICUT

On May 17, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-05-13:  PURA 2018 Annual Report to the General Assembly on Electric Distribution Company System Reliability

CPES NEP Series: Connecticut Siting Council 101

WRAP UP:

On Tuesday March 20, 2018 the Connecticut Power and Energy Society’s New Energy Professionals (NEP) Committee held its third 101 Series event, this time highlighting the role of the Connecticut Siting Council. Following up on the NEP’s earlier PURA and Legislative 101s, the Siting Council 101 event aimed to provide attendees with an introduction to the day-to-day operations of the Connecticut Siting Council, from a panel of Council Members and staff.  

Siting Council Executive Director Melanie Bachman led the panel with a general overview of the role of the Siting Council, its responsibilities and the various types of applications that come before the Council and the many challenges associated with siting certain projects. Supervising Siting Analysis Christina Walsh followed with a discussion regarding the technical aspects involved in preparing, submitting and analyzing an application before the Council and noted some of the particular details the Council often examines when reviewing applications. Council members Larry Lévesque and Robert Hannon both provided insights into each respective role on the Council and discussed how they bring unique perspectives to the overall Council review process. The panelists followed-up with a robust Q&A, further discussing common application pitfalls, the need to proactively engage the community and the ex-parte rules associated with Council review.

When: March 20, 2018 (Tuesday) Morning Meeting, 9:00am-11:00am
Where: PURA, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT
Register Now!  Limited seating available.

Melanie Bachman: Melanie has been Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) Executive Director since May 2013, and CSC Staff Attorney since October 2008.  She is also a Member of the CPES Advisory Committee.  She was at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, Regionalized Infractions Adjudications from 2006-2008; Land Use and Real Estate Associate 2005-2008, Adjunct Faculty Legal Studies at Naugatuck Valley Community College 2005-2008.  She received her JD from UCONN Law (Environmental Law focus) and her BS in Business Management from Fordham University.

Christina Walsh: Christina has been Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) Supervising Siting Analyst since 2010, and employed by CSC since 2000.  She has a MS in Environmental Science from the University of New Haven, BS in Environmental Science from Marist College, and is the CSC designee for the Blue Plan Advisory Committee.

Bob Hannon: Bob is currently serving as a member on the Wetlands and Conservation Commission in Farmington, CT and has been actively employed at the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection since August 1993.  He has been a member of the Connecticut Bar since 1991.  Previous experience includes being President of an Atlanta, GA contract packaging company; Assistant Town Clerk in Berlin, CT; Community Development Planner with the Midstate Regional Planning Agency; Town Planner in Woodbury, CT; Senior Principal Planner in Manchester, CT; and having served on the Town of Farming Charter Revision commission.

Larry Levesque: Larry is an Attorney and Administrative Hearing Officer at the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.  He previously was an Attorney in private practice, litigation, administrative proceedings and transactions representing municipalities, developers, businesses, and engineering firms.  He also served in the Hartford Corporation Counsel’s Office; was Research Associate to Land-Use Professor, UConn Law School.  He has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from University of Illinois; a B.A. in Economics.  He is past Chairman of Planning Commission, New Britain; and former member of New Britain Board of
Finance.

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 3, 2017

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. Department of Energy Proposes Grid Resiliency Rule for FERC Action
  • First Round Comments on DEEP’s draft 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy Available

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

U.S. Department of Energy Proposes Grid Resiliency Rule for FERC Action

On September 29, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) filed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) directing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) to issue a final rule to “ensure that the reliability and resiliency attributes of generation with on-site fuel supplies are fully valued.” The NOPR pointed to the significant number of retirements of fuel-secure generation and stated that the rule must provide for “recovery of costs of fuel-secure generation units frequently relied upon to make our grid reliable and resilient.”

DOE is requiring the Commission to consider and take final action on the proposed rule within 60 days from the date of publication of the NOPR in the Federal Register. In the alternative, DOE urges the Commission to issue the rule as an interim final rule, effective immediately, with provision for later modifications after consideration of public comments.  

First Round Comments Available

The first round of comments on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) draft 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy were due September 25, 2017. The comments are available on the DEEP webpage at the following link: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DEEPEnergy.nsf/$EnergyView?OpenForm&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=6.2&Seq=2

NEP: Energy Legislation 101: The Process and What Passed in 2017


Half Day Event, 9am – Noon
Connecticut Legislative Office Building
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Lobbying 101 Presentation 

Wrap Up:

CPES Holds Second 101 Series Event for New Energy Professionals!

On September 28, 2017, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society’s New Energy Professionals Committee hosted “Energy Legislation 101: The Process and What Passed in 2017” at the Legislative Office Building and State Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut. Energy Legislation 101 is the second in a series of informational sessions established to assist recently joined CPES members and those new to the industry as they become acclimated and involved within the organization. The overarching goal of the 101 series is to provide a meaningful overview of state agencies and businesses with whom professionals in the industry interact. While the event was geared toward New Energy Professionals, many established professionals were also in attendance.

The day began with an overview of the legislative process in Connecticut from Melissa Biggs, a partner at DePino, Nunez & Biggs, LLC, and Christopher Cordima, an attorney in the Connecticut Legislative Commissioners’ Office.

The overview was followed by a timely discussion of energy legislation that passed during the 2017 legislative session and what issues may arise next session. Joining the conversation were Senator Bob Duff, Representative Tim Ackert, Representative Holly Cheeseman, Representative Mike Demicco, Representative Stephen Harding, and Representative Jonathan Steinberg.  All serve on the General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee, Environment Committee, or both!

The day ended with a tour of the Legislative Office Building and State Capitol.

Blurb:
Please join us as Connecticut’s key energy and environment legislative staff and leaders offer a three-part Energy Legislation 101 to CPES New Energy Professionals*!  Come brush up on all the details of the legislative process.  Continue into a timely discussion of the bills which become effective as of October 1st.  Finish with a tour of the Legislative Office Building and Capitol.

This is a free event, but please register at your earliest convenience as space is limited.

Agenda:
9:00am – Networking, Coffee and Danish
(Second Floor Atrium of the Legislative Office Building)

9:30am – Energy Legislation 101:  Basics and Procedures (Hearing Room 2E)
Melissa Biggs, DePino, Nunez & Biggs, LLC
Christopher Cordima, CT Legislative Commissioners’ Office

10:00am – Current and Future Legislation Discussion: A detailed and timely conversation about the energy bills that just passed and become effective as of October 1st. (Hearing Room 2E)

11:15am: (Optional) The League of Women Voters is offering a tour of the Legislative Office Building and Capitol

*This group is not limited to age range or years of experience.  We welcome everyone to reach out to us.

The goal of the 101 series is to provide a meaningful overview of state agencies and businesses with whom professionals in our industry interact.  While this series was established with our New Energy Professionals in mind, all are welcome.” – Alex Isaac, NEP Group Member