U.S. Senate Confirms Fossil Fuel Advocate Bernard Mcnamee to FERC

The 50-49 party line vote shows the great controversy that surrounds McNamee, who has worked for pro-fossil fuel think thanks and has made hyperbolic negative statements about renewable energy.

Only one day after Cincinnati became the 100th U.S. city to commit to 100% renewable energy, the U.S. Senate confirmed Bernard McNamee as the third Republican on the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC).

Energy Storage Gets Its Day in Congress

The House Energy and Commerce Committee invited experts to testify on what federal storage policy should look like.

Energy storage experts got to ask what their country could do for them Wednesday.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee convened a hearing on “the role of energy storage in the nation’s electricity system,” which gave industry insiders the rare chance to share what they’ve been thinking before a national audience.

New Report Highlights the Benefits and Drawbacks of Regionalizing California’s Grid

A controversial plan to expand grid markets throughout the Western U.S. gets a generally positive review in a new report—but with important warnings attached.

 Should California expand its energy markets to incorporate the rest of the Western United States? 

This vital question for California’s energy future has been the subject of vigorous debate for years now. Supporters say it will allow California to access ever-cheaper wind and solar power from across the region, driving down energy costs and boosting jobs and the economy, while pressuring uncompetitive fossil-fuel-fired power plants to shut down. 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order 841 On Electric Storage: A Landmark Game- Changing Decision for Emerging Technologies in Organized Power Markets

By Jehmal Terrence Hudson, Esq.

Introduction

The electric power industry is going through a major transformation through advancements in technology and changing consumer preferences. New technologies can further optimize the electric grid by enabling greater balance of supply and demand. Consumers’ expectations are changing as they use new technologies to gain greater control over their electricity consumption and generation. Utilities, corporations, states, local entities, and other industry participants recognize the need to address and integrate new technologies to meet consumers’ demand and preferences. Energy technologies affecting electricity generation, transmission, and distribution include energy storage, microgrids, energy management systems, distributed generation, demand-side management, smart meters, smart appliances, and other intelligent grid technologies.

Federal Regulators Shut Down Perry’s Proposed Rule for Grid Resilience

In an order issued January 8, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) determined that Secretary Rick Perry’s Sep. 29 notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) on grid resilience does not meet the statutory requirements of the Federal Power Act (FPA).

FERC said that it has closed the docket it opened to consider the NOPR and take comments from stakeholders. As an alternative, however, FERC in its order initiated a new proceeding to explore resilience issues within the operations of U.S. regional transmission operators and independent system operators (RTO/ISO).

Federal Power Regulators Propose Rule to Remove Barriers to Energy Storage Participation in US Markets

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Nov. 17 issued a noticed of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) that plans to direct U.S. transmission system operators (TSO) to establish market rules to accommodate energy storage participation in organized wholesale electric markets.

FERC said in the NOPR that it hopes to remove barriers to the participation of energy storage resources and distributed energy resource aggregations in the capacity, energy, and ancillary service markets of TSOs.

US Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Demand Response

“I think it will be a very positive thing for all types of resources,” says former FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff.

The U.S. federal government took a snow day on Monday. But the U.S. Supreme Court soldiered on, delivering its decision in the case of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission vs. Electric Power Supply Association.

In a 6-2 decision, the Supreme Court struck down a lower court opinion and ruled that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has the authority to regulate demand response.