Category — Uncategorized
California ISO Approves 2011-2012 Transmission Plan
On March 23, 2012, the California Independent System Operator Corporation (“California ISO”) approved its “2011-2012 Transmission Plan” which identifies thirty projects needed to maintain reliability. Those thirty projects are projected to cost $691 million. Approved transmission projects in the California ISO can be identified as a reliability, public policy, or economic upgrade. Reliability projects are analyzed on a 10-year planning horizon where facilities are evaluated based on whether they would be compliant with the mandatory reliability standards established by NERC and the California ISO. No new economic projects were approved this year, and the new plan also reaffirmed that the projects approved from previous years are sufficient to meet the additional requirements of the state’s goal of meeting a 33% renewable portfolio standard by the year 2020. [Read more →]
April 4, 2012 Comments Off
Volcker Rule Potentially Damaging to Energy Industry, Says Recent Study
On March 28, 2012, business information services company IHS Inc. released a report raising the possibility of detrimental impacts of the so-called “Volcker Rule” on the energy industry. The report, entitled, “The Volcker Rule: Impact on the U.S. Energy Industry and Economy,” concludes that the proposed rule will limit certain financial institutions’ ability to provide critical hedging liquidity to the energy sector, which in turn will lead to substantial energy price increases and job losses. The study was commissioned by Morgan Stanley. [Read more →]
April 4, 2012 Comments Off
EPA Proposes Greenhouse Gas Performance Standards for Electric Generators
On Tuesday, March 27, 2012, EPA proposed greenhouse gas (“GHG”) New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) for coal and natural gas combined cycle (“NGCC”) electric generation units (”EGUs”). The proposal applies to new units only. It does not apply to modifications or to existing units. [Read more →]
April 4, 2012 Comments Off
GAO Issues Report on DOE Loan Guarantees
On March 12, 2012, the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) released a report concerning the Department of Energy’s (“DOE”) $30 billion Loan Guarantee Program (“Program”). The report, titled “Further Actions Are Needed to Improve Tracking and Review of Applications,” reviewed data provided by DOE on its loan applications and the established process through which DOE reviews loan applications. The report expressed concern regarding the lack of meaningful and centralized data on the loan program. GAO recommended that the Secretary of Energy direct the Executive Director of the Program Office to undertake specific actions to help manage the program and mitigate risks. [Read more →]
March 21, 2012 Comments Off
Bonneville Files Oversupply Management Protocol in Federal Power Act 211A Complaint Proceeding Before FERC
On March 6, 2012, the Bonneville Power Administration (“Bonneville” or “BPA”) submitted an Oversupply Management Protocol (“OMP”) as part of its compliance filing in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (the “Commission” or “FERC”) December 7, 2011 Order which found that BPA engaged in unduly discriminatory curtailment practices and directed BPA to file an OATT pursuant to Federal Power Act Section 211A. The December 7 Order found that: “Bonneville must submit a revised OATT, pursuant to section 211A, that addresses the comparability concerns raised in this proceeding in a manner that provides comparable transmission service that is not unduly discriminatory or preferential.” [Read more →]
March 21, 2012 Comments Off
