Gretchen Kershaw

A bipartisan permitting reform bill was released on Monday. The proposed legislation supports FERC's authority to approve transmission lines and paves the way to require interregional transmission planning. If passed, the law would also require planners to consider advanced conductors and reconductoring in order to maximize current transmission capabilities. Read more about the new bill and the industry response in the article below. ⬇️ #FERC #Transmission #USEnergy #KinectSolar

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In a new op-ed, ACP Chief Advocacy Officer JC Sandberg unpacks the importance of the Energy Permitting Reform Act, introduced by Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso, which is due for mark-up this week. The legislation’s ability to help the U.S. meet growing demand for electricity, deploy transmission lines to deliver clean, reliable power, and strengthen American energy security is clear. Read on: bit.ly/3YuctB7

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Advanced Energy United has written and published a report on recommendations for solving challenges with siting and permitting renewable energy sources. One critical aspect of this plan was for community benefits: "Community benefit agreements are becoming a more common and useful mechanism by which developers provide longterm benefits to a community above and beyond the project’s base tax obligation, but they are not one-size-fits-all." ♻ ☀ Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gFGMSabj

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Via ESN: " Dominion Energy Virginia IRP includes 12GW of solar PV, 4.5GW energy storage: US utility Dominion Energy Virginia has outlined options for meeting future power demand, including an additional 12GW of PV and 4.5GW of battery storage. " #EnergyStorage #Energy #BatteryStorage

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I’m excited to see a real solution to the mounting generation retirement dilema in PJM move forward. PJM has acknowledged that new entry of resources has not kept pace with the amount of MWs lost due to rapid retirements. What the Stakeholder Coalition is trying to accomplish is at least “maintain the same level of resource adequacy” and MWs in critical locations historically relied on to undergird the system so that we continue to have a reliable and operable system and market. And beyond the technical and system need, there is the human need and element here. Elevate and other Coalition members are trying to keep generating facilities operating so that jobs aren’t lost and the economic tax base remain in these cities and locales where retiring power plants sit. Transferring Capacity Interconnection Rights (CIRs) from an existing generator to a replacement resource in an expedited interconnection review process of 9 months or less is more efficient and timely and allows for a deactivating unit to deenergize and its replacement resource (any technology type) to energize at around the same time frame to avoid mass closures and impacts to energy communities that have already paid for the network upgrades and existing infrastructure. We have a true reliability need in PJM and this Stakeholder Coalition proposal is one tool in the tool kit that can address the need and was closely designed based on 9 previous generator replacement processes already approved by the FERC. We look for continued member support at the MRC.

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Electricity demand in New England is growing and the region’s grid operator is considering a host of changes, including to its capacity market and how it will deal with potential energy shortfalls.

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Proud to share NHEC's support for the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024. This legislation is crucial for depoliticizing the energy project permitting process, reducing the 20% higher energy cost burden on Hispanic families, and fostering economic growth. Join us in supporting this landmark legislation and learn more about its impact on our communities by reading the full press release down below. #EnergyReform #AffordableEnergy #HispanicCommunities #BipartisanSupport #EnergyEquity #PermittingReform Senator Joe Manchin Senator John Barrasso

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The regional transmission planning and cost allocation and interstate electric transmission permitting rules finalized Monday by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission represent major improvements to the planning and siting processes for transmission projects essential for economic development across the United States and a win for all energy customers! Economic growth requires expanded and upgraded transmission. The current state of transmission planning in the U.S. is ineffective and not cost-efficient, with those additional costs being passed onto energy consumers. These rules ensure more proactive, longer-term transmission planning that can optimize the most cost-efficient transmission projects with the greatest economic and reliability benefits to consumers. Read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/e-QeBV8H

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UtilityDive reporting that PJM is trying to reform the capacity auction process. "PJM plans to delay upcoming capacity auction by six months The delay will give the PJM Interconnection time to craft potential market reforms sought by state utility regulators and others, the grid operator said. A delay would affect at least three upcoming auctions set to be held in six-month intervals. PJM is preparing to hold a capacity auction in early December to buy capacity for the 2026/27 delivery year. The grid operator has also planned to hold auctions in June and December 2025 to buy capacity for the 2027/28 and 2028/29 delivery years, respectively. Late last month, the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen, Sustainable FERC Project and Union of Concerned Scientists filed a complaint at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, challenging PJM’s failure to reflect reliability must-run power plants in its capacity auction. The groups asked FERC to order PJM to make changes to its rules before the next auction. The complaint is supported by PJM’s market monitor, the Organization of PJM States, Inc., or OPSI, and the Maryland Public Service Commission." Read more at https://conta.cc/48n18FX #solar #energy #solarenergy #renewables #renewableenergy #electricity #ener

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🚨 #EnergyInfrastructureReformUpdate Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY) are crafting bipartisan legislation to reform the permitting process for energy infrastructure. This initiative aims to: ⚡ Expedite renewable energy projects and pipelines 💡 Meet growing power demands from sectors like data centers and manufacturing 🔌 Enhance grid reliability and transmission capacity It’s great to see collaboration across party lines to build a solution that works for all! 🔗Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gMRRN5j4  #BipartisanBill #RenewableEnergy #Infrastructure #GridReliability

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File under: energy regulatory observations, #RTO #complaints / #waivers when there are #tariff issues that don't make sense. I read a fair number of daily orders from / filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and this granting of a complaint against PJM stood out as a quick one to highlight for a few reasons. First, the level of tax-codification (like Shakespeare, I'll invent the words I need) that RTO tariffs have undergone. Read the intro paragraph of the order capturing the crux of the issue. My goodness. I cover issues across ISOs/RTOs from PJM, to NYISO, CAISO, and of course ISO-NE as well non-888/2000 regions like BPA and public utility districts and everyone has their own rules. For companies doing business in the US (which, for example, is common with generation, transmission developers, and large loads), it's like needing to be fluent in several languages. Observation: no wonder #FERC has some aspirations to more standardized language to at least create a bit of standardization in the tariff tower of Babel. Second, the complaint as a consensus tool. It's human nature to want to be right. Evolutionary, it's a mark of power. And power means safety. Humans are wired that way for survival, and it takes some self-awareness and reflection to engage the rational cortex over the non-verbal and much older limbic system and to hit the pause button to a challenge. The term "complaint" doesn't always help and neither does the "party v. party" case caption. The whole structure connotes conflict. Here, Dominion filed a waiver with a complaint in the alternative because PJM interpreted its tariff to not allow for a resource submission given a change in entity type. But instead of simply defending the tariff, PJM acknowledged the issue and supported a fix if the also supported waiver wasn't granted. FERC granted the complaint to fix the issue generally rather than a one off. While the stakeholder process - and all the interests that are encompassed therein - can make agreement to a change like this more difficult, the complaint and waiver processes are paths that can and should be used especially where time matters. One of the most critical things for those administering the rules to understand is: a delay is not harmless, a "comeback next time" is not without victims. Many projects have to have all elements align to move forward. Other issues may be more durable but can add needless costs to consumers, and those add up. This "how can we work with parties" approach is great to see and hopefully we'll see more of it. From capacity markets to interconnections, there is a lot of room for win-wins. Also, great to see Commissioner Rosner's name on these. #energy

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In September 2022, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued a funding opportunity titled “Consent-Based Siting for Interim Storage Program – Community Engagement Opportunities” to provide financial assistance to engage communities to provide resources and learning opportunities about consent-based siting as well as the management and interim storage of commercial spent nuclear fuel resulting from nuclear power production. Under this funding opportunity, award recipients (the Consortia), the DOE, and other entities will be collaboratively working through the early phase of the consent-based siting process. The Consortia members will use their funding to complete tasks in three main areas: 1. Organize, lead, and maintain meaningful, inclusive public engagement processes related to management of spent nuclear fuel. 2. Elicit and map public values, interests, and goals to promote effective collaboration and community-driven insights and feedback on a consent-based siting process for one or more federal consolidated interim storage facilities. 3. Develop, implement, and report outcomes and strategies that support mutual learning among interested parties, stakeholders, communities, and experts on nuclear waste-related topics. The State of Arkansas has identified Russellville and Fort Smith as two communities to center its focus. Both communities provide attractive growth opportunities around the I-40 corridor and the regional rail and riverways. In addition to potential economic growth, the communities exude a sense of collaboration that will be necessary for this project. By spending the next several months actively engaging with the community, we hope to learn about your vision for Arkansas and determine if an appropriately sited industrial facility may fit in.

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REsurety's Lee Taylor is a contributor on the policy brief: Assessing the Impact of Voluntary Actions on the Grid, that was published today from RMI with other contributors from National Renewable Energy Laboratory, WattTime.org and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Summary: The urgency of the climate crisis is leading many large energy consumers to consider how they can more accurately assess the impacts of various potential actions on grid decarbonization. This paper provides an overview of the ZEROgrid Impact Advisory Initiative’s collective findings on consequential impact and reliability assessments, their implications, and areas where further research is required. This consensus paper is intended for corporate practitioners and policymakers navigating policy, investment, and procurement decisions that affect grid decarbonization and reliability. Download the brief here: https://lnkd.in/ekiTzFNC #renewableenergy #cleanenergy

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Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso are leading a bipartisan effort to reform the permitting process for critical energy projects ✍️ This proposed legislation aims to address the increasing power demands and facilitate the development of renewable energy, pipelines, and other essential infrastructure ⚡ With support from both parties, this reform could be a game-changer for the energy sector. Read more from Utility Dive: https://loom.ly/6tOZKSA

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Member Steven Shparber spoke to POLITICO Pro on how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is set to announce a significant rule that aims to address how energy transmission upgrades are paid for, among other grid-related issues. He commented on the complexity of deciding the role states will play in approving the methods of allocating these costs. Steven said, “Cost allocation is going to be extremely important – and especially the role of the states in opining on or approving cost allocation methods. That’s going to be probably the thorniest issue. What FERC says on this could determine how effective a final rule ultimately is in terms of getting new transmission built.” https://bit.ly/4dLVgID

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The Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 aims to strengthen American energy security. Learn more about the bipartisan bill. (Image: tttuna/E+/Getty Images)

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The bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, proposed by Senators Manchin and Barrasso, is an exciting development for the future of energy infrastructure and perhaps a chance to unite the divided Congress. Our analysis shows the bill’s potential to dramatically compress timelines for projects with litigated permits  — increasing certainty for developers and financiers across the energy sector. We applied the bill's judicial reform provisions to Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) as a case study, and found the proposed 150-day statute of limitations would have expedited many legal challenges, while the requirement for expedited court consideration may substantially have reduced overall litigation timelines. Perhaps most impactfully, the 180-day deadline for agency action on remands could have saved years on the project’s schedule. While the bill's path through Congress remains uncertain, it represents a crucial step towards addressing long-standing issues in energy infrastructure development. We think addressing the judicial process is an important aspect of permitting reform, because pipelines are increasingly challenged in courts by well-funded and sophisticated opposition groups — a tactic now replicated in opposition to renewable infrastructure.

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