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Robert Walton

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Utility Dive: NV Energy Proposes 400 MW Gas Peakers, More Than 1 GW Each of Solar, Storage in 2024 IRP

Posted by Robert Walton on Jun 11, 2024

Utility Dive covers NV Energy's 2024 IRP proposing more than 1,000 MW of each solar and storage, as well as the construction of 400MW of gas peakers. The story quotes United's Brian Turner, who finds NV Energy's IRP encouraging in its approach to demand and system planning but disappointing in its resource procurement. 

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Topics: United In The News, Nevada, Brian Turner

Utility Dive: NYISO Launches First-In-Nation DER Integration Program in Move toward FERC Order 2222 Compliance

Posted by Robert Walton on Apr 19, 2024

Utility Dive reports on the New York Independent System Operator's newly launched program to integrate aggregations of distributed energy resources (DERs) into wholesale markets. The article quotes Advanced Energy United on its critique of the program's 10 kW limit that restricts access for many clean energy resources.

“FERC’s acceptance of our landmark model is a huge win for grid reliability and energy consumers in New York,” NYISO President and CEO Rich Dewey said in a Wednesday statement.

In its application to revise its market rules to allow DER aggregation, NYISO said the 10 kW threshold “balances the need for efficient administration” of wholesale markets alongside the “value that small facilities can reliably provide the bulk power system.”

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Topics: Wholesale Markets, United In The News, FERC

Utility Dive: Nevada regulators set to approve NV Energy’s $2B IRP amendment, including new gas resources

Posted by Robert Walton on Mar 1, 2024

In an interview, Utility Dive talks with Advanced Energy United Director Brian Turner on how the Nevada PUC is set to approve NV Energy's 5th Amendment to its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan. 
 

Nevada regulators could vote today to approve about $2 billion in spending for NV Energy, including new gas, solar and battery resources which critics say should have received more scrutiny and could have been cheaper.

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Topics: Regulatory, United In The News, Nevada, Brian Turner

Utility Dive: California Governor Signs Bill To Speed Utility Interconnections

Posted by Robert Walton on Oct 9, 2023

Utility Dive reports on the Powering Up Californians Act, quoting Emilie Olson's explanation of how the bill will help to improve delays in the utility interconnection process and speed up clean energy technology adoption in the Golden State.
 

SB 410, known as the Powering Up Californians Act, directs the California Public Utilities Commission to set average and target time periods for grid connections and upgrades. It is supported by several clean energy groups while Pacific Gas & Electric has expressed concern about the balance between speed and safety when it comes to grid upgrades

SB 410 is a key initiative to speed adoption of electric vehicles, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

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Topics: United In The News, Emilie Olson, California

Utility Dive: Nevada revamps IRP process, opens path for NV Energy to own more renewables and storage

Posted by Robert Walton on Jun 21, 2023

Utility Dive reports on the passing of a bill that may undermine Nevada's transition to more affordable and accessible clean energies, quoting Sarah Steinberg on how the legislation could jeopardize the state’s regional clean energy leadership.

Clean energy advocates and conservation groups say AB 524 makes significant improvements to the state’s IRP process — and if NV Energy can build new resources at the lowest cost, then so be it.

“If that makes sense for Nevadans, sure. But it needs to go through the IRP process,” said Christi Cabrera-Georgeson, deputy director of the Nevada Conservation League.

NV Energy last year proposed a 400 MW gas peaker plant through an IRP amendment. It was approved in March, but opponents say the process did not allow for sufficient public input or review. 

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Topics: United In The News, Sarah Steinberg, Nevada

Utility Dive: Arizona regulators again reject SRP’s proposed 820-MW gas plant expansion

Posted by Robert Walton on Jun 7, 2022

Utility Dive reported on the Arizona Corporation Commission's vote rejecting a proposed gas plant expansion, quoting AEE's Shelby Stults on clean energy solutions utility Salt River Project can pursue instead. Read snippets below and the full article here.

The Arizona Corporation Commission voted 3-2 on Monday to deny rehearing and reconsideration of Salt River Project’s proposed 820-MW expansion of the gas-fired Coolidge Generation Station. Community and clean energy advocates say the utility failed to present new evidence in favor of the project, which the regulators initially rejected in April.

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Topics: Utility, Regulatory, United In The News, Arizona, Shelby Stults

Utility Dive: Arizona regulators again reject SRP’s proposed 820-MW gas plant expansion

Posted by Robert Walton on May 17, 2022

Utility Dive reported on the Arizona Corporation Commission's vote denying Salt River Project's proposed gas plant expansion, quoting AEE's Shelby Stults on cleaner energy options to consider. Read snippets below and the full article here.

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Topics: Utility, Regulatory, United In The News, Shelby Stults

Utility Dive: New York adjusts standby, buyback rate methodologies, sweetening value proposition for NYC storage

Posted by Robert Walton on Mar 24, 2022

Utility Dive detailed New York's new standby and buyback rate methodologies, quoting AEE's Danny Waggoner on the benefits for energy storage. Read snippets below and the full article here.

The New York Public Service Commission on March 16 issued an order adopting a new cost allocation methodology for standby and buyback service rates that advanced energy solutions providers say will improve the value proposition for distributed energy resources like electric vehicles, storage and demand management...

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Topics: Regulatory, United In The News, Danny Waggoner

Utility Dive: California markets in the Lone Star State? Texas regulators consider 'quasi-capacity' market system

Posted by Robert Walton on Oct 22, 2021

Utility Dive outlined Texas regulators' moves to implement ERCOT market changes, citing TAEBA's Suzanne Bertin on energy efficiency. Read snippets below and the full story here.

Generators and transmission operators will need to weatherize their systems ahead of winter as Texas regulators consider "monumental" market changes.

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Topics: United In The News

Utility Dive: FERC Chair Glick wants mandatory winterization standards for power plants following Texas grid failure

Posted by Robert Walton on Sep 24, 2021

Utility Dive outlined FERC and NERC's move for stronger weatherization standards, quoting AEE's Jeff Dennis. Read snippets below and the full article here.

The February 2021 cold snap was not the first time U.S. power plants and gas transportation systems failed under extreme cold conditions, the joint report makes clear. Rather, it was the fourth time in the last decade that cold weather "jeopardized bulk-power system reliability due to unplanned cold weather-related generation outages."

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Topics: United In The News