Ethan Howland
Utility Dive
Portland, ME, United States
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Past articles by Ethan:
AEP moves to ‘de-risk’ with $1.5B sale of unregulated wind and solar assets as it eyes further sales
American Electric Power expects to make a decision before July on whether it will sell AEP Energy, its competitive retail energy business, company officials said Thursday. → Read More
EPA reverses Trump-era decision on power plant mercury standards, paving way for stricter limits
The decision on Friday was needed for any future tightening of mercury and other emissions limits for power plants. → Read More
FERC OKs cold weather reliability standards for US generators but orders NERC to address shortcomings
Proposals from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. were considered “not up to the task." FERC directed the grid watchdog organization to bolster them, partly by setting certain deadlines. → Read More
FERC rejects American Clean Power, RENEW Northeast complaint alleging ISO-NE bias towards gas plants
Amid a wintertime reliability threat, the agency should propose a solution for New England instead of waiting for the grid operator to offer one, Commissioner Allison Clements said. → Read More
DC Circuit upholds FERC decision on Broadview solar-battery PURPA project in blow to NorthWestern, EEI
However, the Inflation Reduction Act has blunted the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act’s importance in renewable energy development, experts said. → Read More
CPower, Voltus see thaw in MISO state opposition to aggregated demand response
Bundling DR in wholesale markets could ease capacity shortfalls, reduce the chance of grid emergencies and help states lower carbon emissions, proponents say. → Read More
FirstEnergy: Electricity rates 10%-40% below peers will buffer customers from $18B in capital spending
In addition, FirstEnergy is considering buying a 1.3-GW coal-fired power plant in West Virginia at the direction of state utility regulators, company officials said Tuesday. → Read More
AEP, Xcel, OG&E ask FERC to overturn Southwest Power Pool decision to hike reserve margin
The increased reserve requirement gives utilities six months to procure 1.6 GW and exposes them to $173 million in penalties, according to the complaint filed at FERC. → Read More
Exelon bumps 4-year capital spending plan up to $31.3B, expects 8% annual rate base growth
Exelon’s utilities connected their customers to nearly $600 million of energy assistance in 2022, up more than $100 million from 2021, Calvin Butler, Exelon president and CEO, said Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of affordability. → Read More
US issues Inflation Reduction Act guidance to drive billions to low-income and coal communities
At least $4 billion of the tax credits under the expanded Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit program must go to projects at closed coal mines or retired coal-fired power plants. → Read More
NextEra, renewable trade group urge FERC to keep competitively bid East Texas transmission project alive
Entergy supports the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s plan to cancel the $115 million project, which has been delayed by a right-of-first-refusal law. → Read More
FERC approves Western Resource Adequacy Program for regional capacity sharing
Utilities such as Arizona Public Service, PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy will be able to share capacity through the program that takes effect in 2025. → Read More
Moody’s lowers Tri-State’s outlook to ‘negative’ as three members seek to exit, cost recovery stalls
The revised outlook issued Tuesday also reflects a rate decrease for Tri-State’s members, which prevents the wholesale power supplier from fully recovering its expenses. → Read More
Maine PUC OKs 1-GW Longroad wind farm, LS Power transmission line amid equity and cost concerns
A Maine regulator warned the cost of the energy transition may pose an unfair burden to low- and middle-income people. → Read More
FERC approves Transco gas pipeline expansion despite New Jersey BPU study finding no need
A stay the agency put on its decision could delay the project that is expected to supply parts of the East Coast. → Read More
PJM generators face up to $2B in penalties for failing to run during December’s Winter Storm Elliott
Nearly a quarter of PJM’s fleet didn’t provide electricity as required, with gas-fired generation making up 70% of the unplanned outages, according to the grid operator’s initial estimates. → Read More
FERC approves PacifiCorp’s proposed interconnection process for replacing retired generation
The agency dismissed concerns the proposal would give PacifiCorp an unfair advantage in having access to the grid. → Read More
PG&E plan to sell non-nuclear generation assets could improperly increase rates, groups tell FERC
The utility’s proposal lacks enough details to determine if it should be approved, according to protests filed Tuesday at the federal agency. → Read More
AEP Ohio seeks approval for electric security plan with $2.2B in reliability spending
The utility expects its plan will increase residential rates by about 2.3% annually over six years. → Read More
White House guidance on GHG analysis will ease renewable energy permitting, trade groups say
The interim guidance comes as the infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act are expected to spur clean energy development, which can be slowed by permitting requirements. → Read More