June 24th, 2016 by John Bullock, NRDC Summer Intern FERC finalizes updates to price formation, removing barriers for flexible energy resources. (Docket No. RM15-24-000 FERC Order No. 825) FERC directed ISOs and RTOs to take steps to align system dispatch and settlement intervals, which will help to ensure that resources are compensated at prices that reflect the value of the services they…
read moreMay 4th, 2016 by Jennifer Chen, Attorney, Sustainable FERC Project FERC Upholds PJM’s Treatment of Demand Response In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s EPSA decision lifting the uncertainty clouding FERC’s authority over demand response, FERC has been able to decide matters put on hold pending that ruling. At the last open meeting, FERC issued orders denying requests for changes…
read moreJanuary 20, 2016 by John Moore, Senior Attorney, The Sustainable FERC Project New guidance from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will help states develop more reliable (and affordable) compliance approaches to the Clean Power Plan's limits on power plant emissions. FERC, which regulates the high-power electricity transmission grid, issued the guidance in the form of a staff white paper.…
read moreDec 17, 2014 by John Moore Despite years of successful experience, dozens of studies, and increasing utility support for clean energy, urban myth holds that electricity from renewable energy is unreliable. Yet over 75,000 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar power have been integrated, reliably, into the nation’s electric grid to date. That’s enough electricity to supply 17.9 million homes.…
read moreDec 3, 2014 by Jennie Chen At its latest monthly meeting on November 20, FERC issued a number of significant orders: it approved the Exelon-Pepco merger, endorsed a utility’s request to EPA to extend the utility’s MATS compliance deadline (the first such request), and required that grid operators report on their ability to access fuel to ensure reliability within their…
read moreNov 18, 2014 by Steve Dahlke Steve Dahlke is a Policy Associate for the Great Plains Institute. King Arthur and his loyal knights embark on an arduous, difficult quest to find the Holy Grail. Many perish along the way. After a multitude of trials and tribulations, they find the Grail is hidden in the Castle of “Aaargh!” That is at least…
read moreSept 25, 2014 by John Moore Some energy industry observers recently have made much ado about concerns that the Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (or MISO), the entity responsible for managing the electric grid in the Midwest and middle South region, is tight on power supplies and faces an increasing risk of blackouts. Fortunately, recent and ongoing work by MISO and…
read moreApr 29, 2014 by John Moore and Allison Clements In the grip of the “Polar Vortex,” much of the nation experienced an extremely cold winter. The good news is that despite record electricity demand and some of the coldest weather in 20 years, power companies and grid operators kept the lights and heat on. Yet some observers are now claiming…
read moreMar 21, 2014 by John Moore The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an important set of reforms intended to save consumers money and improve the transmission planning process more than two years ago, but the merits of “Order 1000” were still being debated yesterday in a Washington, D.C., federal courtroom. Order 1000 includes several major changes: expanding regional and…
read moreMar 17, 2014 by Steve Dahlke Steve Dahlke is a Policy Associate for the Great Plains Institute. Imagine yourself lying on a warm beach, maybe in Hawaii, a Mai Tai in one hand and a good book in the other. Once you’ve caught enough rays you take a stroll back to your comfortable air-conditioned hotel where you relax some more.…
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