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:
- U.S. Department of Energy Proposes Grid Resiliency Rule for FERC Action
- First Round Comments on DEEP’s draft 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy Available
REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS
U.S. Department of Energy Proposes Grid Resiliency Rule for FERC Action
On September 29, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) filed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) directing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) to issue a final rule to “ensure that the reliability and resiliency attributes of generation with on-site fuel supplies are fully valued.” The NOPR pointed to the significant number of retirements of fuel-secure generation and stated that the rule must provide for “recovery of costs of fuel-secure generation units frequently relied upon to make our grid reliable and resilient.”
DOE is requiring the Commission to consider and take final action on the proposed rule within 60 days from the date of publication of the NOPR in the Federal Register. In the alternative, DOE urges the Commission to issue the rule as an interim final rule, effective immediately, with provision for later modifications after consideration of public comments.
First Round Comments Available
The first round of comments on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) draft 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy were due September 25, 2017. The comments are available on the DEEP webpage at the following link: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DEEPEnergy.nsf/$EnergyView?OpenForm&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=6.2&Seq=2