Category Archives: nuclear

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 24, 2019

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 Committee or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • PURA Approves Zero Carbon RFP Contracts
  • DEEP and PURA Issue Draft Outline for Value of Distributed Energy Resources Study
  • Governor Lamont Applauds PURA Approval of Millstone Contract Between Dominion, Eversource, and United Illuminating 
  • Former FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur joins ISO-NE Board of Directors
  • FERC Proposes to Modernize PURPA Regulations
  • ISO-NE expands auction opportunities for Financial Transmission Rights
  • Materials From ISO System Plan Public Meeting Online
  • New Study Finds Energy Efficiency Reduces Emissions and Helps Achieve Climate Goals

CONNECTICUT

PURA Approves Zero Carbon RFP Contracts PURA Filing

Governor Lamont Applauds PURA Approval of Millstone Contract Between Dominion, Eversource, and United Illuminating Governor Lamont Press Release

INDUSTRY

Former FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur joins ISO-NE Board of Directors
Last week, ISO announced the election of the 2019 Board of Directors slate, including new Director Cheryl LaFleur. LaFleur was most recently a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) commissioner.  Read more at ISO’s website.

FERC Proposes to Modernize PURPA Regulations
FERC announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking focused on recent wholesale power market developments.  Comments are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register; read more at FERC’s website.

ISO-NE expands auction opportunities for Financial Transmission Rights
On September 17, 2019, ISO New England launched the Financial Transmission Rights – Balance of Planning Period (FTR BoPP) project to provide market participants with more opportunities to configure their FTR portfolio. Learn more at ISO’s website.

Materials From ISO System Plan Public Meeting Online
ISO New England held its biennial Regional System Plan Public Meeting in Boston, Mass. on September 12, 2019, to present the final draft 2019 Regional System Plan (RSP 19) and receive feedback from stakeholders.  Keynote and panel presentations, as well as highlights from the RDP19 report are available on ISO’s website.

New Study Finds Energy Efficiency Reduces Emissions and Helps Achieve Climate Goals
The report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Halfway There: Energy Efficiency Can Cut Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half by 2050, shows that energy efficiency can reduce US energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 3, 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:

  • Second Circuit Upholds NY Nuke Plant Subsidies
  • FERC Technical Conference on Winter Operations and Market Performance in RTOs/ISOs
  • Upcoming ISO-NE Training Opportunities
  • Regulators back Millstone assertion of ‘at risk’ status
  • Zero Carbon RFP
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

SECOND CIRCUIT UPHOLDS NY NUKE PLANT SUBSIDIES
The Second Circuit on Thursday upheld subsidies offered by New York state to prop up struggling nuclear power plants, joining the Seventh Circuit in concluding that such subsidies don’t usurp Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority over wholesale electricity markets. More info

FERC TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WINTER OPERATIONS AND MARKET PERFORMANCE IN RTOs/ISOs
FERC will hold a technical conference on October 18 in Washington, D.C. to hear from the RTOs/ISOs on their efforts for ensuring reliable and economic system performance during the 2018-2019 winter season.  A live webcast will be available for the meeting.  For details, see notice or FERC website.

UPCOMING ISO-NE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Registration is open for ISO New England’s fall 2018 market training classes and webinars. Link to full calendar.

CONNECTICUT

REGULATORS BACK MILLSTONE ASSERTION OF ‘AT RISK’ STATUS
Millstone Power Station’s push for a competitive edge in the state’s zero carbon electricity auction recently gained a boost from regulators and a consumer advocacy agency, who backed Dominion Energy’s assertion that the nuclear plant could face premature closure. Link to article.

ZERO CARBON RFP
DEEP has received more than 100 bids for solar, wind, hydro and nuclear facilities in the Zero Carbon RFP. Evaluation will take several months, and DEEP is expected to announce selection of winners in Winter 2018/2019. Link to article.

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On September 19, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 08-09-14RE02:  Application of Discount Power, Inc. for an Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Marketing 

CPES Policy Committee Update: January 23, 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:

  • Operational Fuel-Security Analysis Released
  • U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Allco v. Klee
  • Update on the Economic Stability of Millstone
  • CT Legislative Session will convene on Wednesday, February 7th
  • PURA Dockets released in January

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

OPERATIONAL FUEL-SECURITY ANALYSIS RELEASED
On January 17th, ISO New England released its Operational Fuel-Security Analysis, a study assessing whether possible future resource combinations have enough fuel to ensure bulk power system reliability throughout an entire winter. The results indicate that maintaining reliability is likely to become more challenging, especially if current power system trends continue. Read the press release, and find more information on the ISO New England website.

ALLCO V.KLEE
The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Allco v. Klee. In June 2017, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal. It concluded that Connecticut’s renewable energy procurement program was not preempted by the Federal Power Act and the state’s rule that the state’s RPS program did not violate the dormant Commerce Clause. The opinion is particularly significant because it is the first federal court decision to discuss the scope of the Supreme Court’s 2016 Hughes decision. The Second Circuit’s interpretation of Hughes will inform district courts that are weighing motions to dismiss claims about zero emission credits (ZECs) for nuclear plants. Click here to view the procedural overview courtesy of the State Power Project.  

CONNECTICUT

UPDATE ON THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF MILLSTONE
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) have released a revised draft report in Docket No. 17-07-32: DEEP and PURA Joint Proceeding to Implement the Governor’s Executive Order Number 59. The joint proceeding is tasked with reviewing the economic stability of the Millstone nuclear generating station in Waterford, Connecticut.  The most recent draft report reverses previous conclusions reached by PURA/DEEP regarding Millstone’s retirement risk and supports implementing a multi-tiered solicitation to procure energy from nuclear power facilities such as Millstone. DEEP/PURA have requested comments on the revised draft report which are due this Thursday, January 25, 2018. The notice and draft report are available here: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/All/E08A9CCEF25C28FB8525821D0055E28F?OpenDocument

2018 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convenes on February 7, 2018.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here.

RECENTLY RELEASED PURA DOCKETS
On January 16, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-01-31:  2017 Report to the Legislature – Electric Supplier Report 

On January 11, 2018, PURA established the following dockets:
Docket No. 18-01-29:  Annual Report to the Legislature – The State of Electric Competition 
Docket No. 18-01-28:  2018 Report to the General Assembly Regarding the Connecticut Electric Efficiency Partners Program 

On January 3, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-01-15:  PURA Review of Rate Adjustments Related to the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 

CPES Policy Committee Update: December 19, 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:

  • Millstone Finances Expected To Be Strong In Coming Years

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

MILLSTONE FINANCES EXPECTED TO BE STRONG IN COMING YEARS

The Millstone nuclear plant in Waterford is expected to be profitable, according to a state report examining whether Connecticut’s sole plant is able to remain in business. 
The Millstone Power Station is expected to be profitable for years to come, according to preliminary results released Thursday from a study that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered to determine if it can operate in energy markets increasingly dominated by natural gas. The report, issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, said that under various market conditions the present value of Millstone’s cash flow from 2021 through 2035 is expected to be between $1.3 billion and about $2.4 billion. Even at the low end, Connecticut’s sole nuclear plant should remain “deep in the black,” the study said. The financial results show Millstone “is likely to operate profitably from the early 2020s through the mid-2030s,” the report said. 

Hartford Courant article
CT MIrror article

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 21, 2017

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. 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.

This week’s features:

  • Consumer Liaison Group Meeting will Focus on the Role of Nuclear Power in New England
  • The Energy and Technology Committee will hold a public hearing at 1:00 PM on February 21, 2017

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

Consumer Liaison Group Meeting Will Focus on the Role of Nuclear Power in New England

The first quarterly meeting of the New England Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) for 2017 will be held on March 2, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough, Massachusetts. The meeting will focus on the role of nuclear power in New England, particularly its impacts on reliability, carbon reduction, and market prices. The meeting will feature Tracy Babbidge, Bureau Chief for the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) as the keynote speaker.

Panelists will include:

  • Kevin Hennessy, State Policy Director – New England, Dominion Resources, Inc.
  • William Berg, Vice President of Wholesale Market Development, Exelon Corporation
  • Peter Fuller, Vice President of Market and Regulatory Affairs, NRG Energy
  • Dr. Gilbert Brown, Emeritus Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell

To register for the meeting, visit the Consumer Liaison Group webpage on the ISO New England website.

 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/

On February 21, 2017, the Energy and Technology Committee will hold a public hearing at 1:00 PM.  The agenda is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/etdata/pha/2017PHA00221-R001300ET-PHA.htm

CPES does not take a position on these legislative proposals; this is provided for informational purposes only to CPES members.