Energy Exchange

FirstEnergy’s dangerous push for an $8B bailout: What you need to know

By Dick Munson / Published: May 17, 2018

A mega utility from Ohio is appealing to the Trump administration for an unprecedented $8-billion, ratepayer-funded bailout, even pointing to a 1950s Korean War Act for relief. It’s FirstEnergy’s last-ditch appeal after losing previous efforts to prop up a fleet of failing coal and nuclear plants.

The company’s Washington-based lobbyists have the ears of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, an avid coal champion, who could make a decision any day.

What neither FirstEnergy nor Perry are telling us is that a government handout of this magnitude could have implications for energy markets nationwide – while saddling Americans with a flurry of bailouts that go far beyond $8 billion. For no valid reason at all. Read More »

Posted in Clean Energy, Market resilience / Read 2 Responses

The latest trends in renewable-energy tech, markets, and policy

By EDF Blogs / Published: May 14, 2018

By Energy Dialogues

Renewable energy, and its role in energy future, is an intense topic that spans across all corners of the energy spectrum. For example, our recent Mexican Energy Series featured a lively discussion of whether Mexico is on course for the 2024 target of 35% renewable energy, and what this pledge means for the country. Each year, as new corporations, municipalities, and countries make bold and vocal commitments to offsetting energy consumption, and to pursuing clean energy resources at a higher level, the conversation intensifies.

For an insider perspective about the current state of renewable energy, we called upon Lenae Shirley, Senior Director, Technology Innovation and Market Adoption for Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Lenae is working at the nexus of technology, markets and policy, leading efforts with EDF’s demonstration partners to prove the impact of clean technology innovations. As a result of these initiatives, Lenae identifies trends and market opportunities to accelerate the transformation of the electricity sector, with data-driven decisions that push forward market adoption for renewable methods. Here is our conversation. Read More »

Posted in Clean Energy, Energy Financing, Energy Innovation, Renewable Energy / Comments are closed

Why and how we’re zeroing in on methane in Pennsylvania

By Mark Omara / Published: May 11, 2018

Recently, some in the oil and gas industry have expressed questions about an EDF analysis that estimates methane emissions in Pennsylvania to be five times higher than what companies report to the state.

Pennsylvania is the nation’s second largest producer of natural gas. Understanding how much methane and other harmful pollutants may be leaking from the state’s oil and gas infrastructure is critical to protecting our health and our environment.

Here are a few things to know about EDF’s analysis.

Posted in Methane, Natural Gas / Tagged Pennsylvania | Read 1 Response

OGCI Venture Day is an opportunity for methane technology

By Isabel Mogstad / Published: May 11, 2018

As the deadline for applications for OGCI Climate Investments Venture Day approaches, I had the opportunity to ask OGCI Climate Investments CEO, Dr. Pratima Rangarajam, a few questions to understand more about their plans for Venture Day and what opportunities exist for companies with technologies or business models for methane detection, measurement, and mitigation to present and receive funding.

OGCI Climate Investments supports the development, deployment, and scale-up of low emissions technologies. Applications are due by May 15, and Venture Day will be held on June 25 in Washington, DC. 10 to 15 companies will be invited to present their proposals seeking funding to support methane technology commercialization and participate in breakout sessions to challenge proposed technologies and business models and discuss deployment.

Posted in Methane, Natural Gas / Comments are closed

Resilience proceeding gives FERC a chance to advance gas-electric coordination

By Natalie Karas / Published: May 9, 2018

Last September, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) started a conversation on resilience, asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to provide new revenues and guaranteed profits to the owners of old, inefficient coal and nuclear power plants to compensate these resources for certain reliability and (undefined) resilience attributes.

FERC swiftly disposed of that proposal in a January 8 order, finding that it was not warranted and would run counter to its pro-market regulatory model. FERC then asked all of the Regional Transmission Operators (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) to explain how they are evaluating and addressing resilience within their respective markets.

Posted in Gas to Clean, Grid Modernization, Natural Gas, Regional Grid / Comments are closed

Recommendations for a resilient grid, no federal coal bailout required

By EDF Blogs / Published: May 9, 2018

By Michael Panfil, Rama Zakaria

In the past year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has used the issue of grid resilience as cover for an aggressive campaign to funnel a multi-billion-dollar yearly bailout to the owners of old, uneconomic coal and nuclear power plants. Although this DOE effort was rightly rejected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in January, the issue of resilience remains.

In denying DOE’s proposal, FERC (the agency responsible for overseeing our nation’s electric grid) asked regional grid operators to report practices they are currently implementing to ensure a reliable, resilient electric grid. In March, grid operators filed their reports, which generally concluded that the grid is resilient and we don’t need uneconomic coal and nuclear plants to keep the lights on.

Today, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) – alongside numerous other stakeholders from business, academia, industry, and public interest organizations – submitted to FERC individual and joint comments on these grid operator reports and the topic of grid resilience. Read More »

Posted in Clean Energy, Electricity Pricing, Market resilience / Read 2 Responses