Maryland PUC cut a 5 year proposal by Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Delmarva Power and Light, Potomac Edison and Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO).

• 5,000 EV chargers approved. 24,000 was the ask.
• largely be funded by ratepayers
• raise customer bills from a peak range of $0.25 to $0.42 per month
• includes EV time-of-use rates for residential customers

Baltimore Sun | Maryland Public Service Commission authorizes utilities to install 5,000 electric vehicle charging stations statewide

Senate Committee on Agrilcuture Water & Rural Affairs recommends:

• surface water permits: monitor for time, accurancy and transparency 
• align Groundwater District processes among districts to create similar pcrocesses across districts
  • Kolkhorst letter raises concerns of unique districts

Natural Resources recommends:

• Privately-funded pilot for water conservation awareness. “funding for the campaign’s development and execution is most appropriate from private sources at this time”

• Preserve the expedited decertification process of SB 573.
• State Funding for Water Availability Models
• Require the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee to develop well-plugging program  (water wells) through TDLR
• Rio Grande Water Repayment pass a “resolution calling on the federal government to amend the 1944 Treaty to require Mexico to commit to a firm water delivery schedule going forward”

House State Affairs recommends:

• Does not address or mention any energy related interim charges.

Senate Business and Commerce recommends:

• 3 step to ensure reliability
  • industry
    • “The industry may not be best suited to adapt our market to incorporate the numerous disruptions that they face.” 
  • legislature
    •  actively monitor and engage in public dialogue
  • PUC
    • ​ remain “a space where ideas can be debated about how to achieve the goal of providing reliable and cost effective resources for Texas consumers.”
       

Michigan has approved Consumers Energy’s PowerMIDrive electric vehicle charging program that will:

• be a 3 year program
• $10 million pilot program
  • $5,000 rebates for chargers installed in public areas
• supporting the state’s growing EV market
• with new rates, rebates & customer education
• includes a Nighttime Savers Rate to encourage charging from 7pm to 6am
  • $500 rebate for each EV

Times Union | Michigan approves Consumers Energy EV charging program 

The first states to adopt energy storage targets:

• CA
• OR

In 2018, 3 more states adopted energy storage targets:

• MA
• NY
• NJ

What’s on the Horizon:

• NV Energy included energy storage targets in its planning with an RFP for 350MW of renewable resources and energy storage
• CO in December called for utilities to include energy storage in planning

Utility Dive | 2019 Storage Outlook: Utility procurement will drive deployments, analysts say

Austrialian utility, Synergy, is retaining 2 fossil fuel power plants online to esnure a secure grid.

Grid concerns emerged when the grid was too reliant on renewables.

The West Austrailian | Synergy to keep fossil fuel back-up to secure grid

• Rooftop solar will be hit by Federal Reserve rate increases
• Software for energy storage will lead the path forward
• Need more of this:  inverter and battery companies whose products are seamlessly interchangeable
• Solar manufacturing will decline
• Instersection of grid reliability. “Public utility commissions will compel incumbent utilities to leverage distributed solar and storage — in addition to new grid infrastructure — to improve grid reliability. “
• Its going to take more time before 50% of systems include Cost-effective and reliable battery storage
• Virtual power plants will gain traction

Greentech media | 10 Predictions for Rooftop Solar and Storage in 2019

California Attorney General tols a federal judge that PG&E could be prosecuted for murder if:

•  PG&E operated its equipment in a “reckless” manner

Sacramento Bee | Camp Fire: PG&E could be prosecuted for murder, attorney general says in filing

Arizona regulators have finalized new EV charger policies that include:

• encourages investor-owned utilities to develop new rates
• ecourages investor-owned utilities to develop pilot programs supporting EV growth
•  ensures recovery of  “prudent costs” spent to develop charging stations
• requires development of optional rate design tariffs to encourage off-peak charging
• develop outreach and education programs focused on EVs, infrastructure and electrification of the transportation sector

Follow the Arizona regulator docket here.

Utility Dive | Arizona adopts new EV policy to spur new rate designs, pilot programs from utilities

California has allocated more state funds for 2019 EV rebates that will be distirbuted by utilities.

Here’s how EV rebates work in California:

• customers will out an application
• backed with state funds distributed to utilities
  • SCE’s rebate has gone from $450 to $1,000
  • PG&E has upped theirs from $500 to $800
  • SDG&E’s program allows each owner to apply for the credit each year,
•  each utility has slightly different qualifications for who can apply

Electrek | | California utilities are offering bigger EV rebates for 2019 – SCE $1,000, PG&E $800

Who: Malta, a geothermal energy storage company

What investors are involved: Breakthrough Energy Ventures which includes Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Richard Branson

What is a geothermal energy storage facility? a full molten salt storage facility that stores energy as heat – and that makes the system cost-effective to scale

Utility Dive | How many billionaires does it take to get a geothermal storage facility underway?

• At FERC I learned other states treat the damnd/supply issue by putting in place “insurance”
• This “insurance” to prevent blackouts works like this:
  • everyone pays their fair share
  • in effect, they pre-paying for future power supplies
• Texas PUC looked at this in 2013 and said no, but adopted the operating reserve demand curve
• Pat Wood prefers the operating reserve demand curve because:
  • Texas market design was designed to adapt
  • “it is key to ensure the market remains stout and reliable”

Dallas Morning News | Pat Wood III, principal of Wood3 Resources in Houston, is the former chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | The Texas electricity market needs a tweak to make sure we keep the lights on

Author: Anchia

The nuts & bolts of Anchia’s legislative proposal(s) to prevent gas explosions:

• boost oversight of natural gas companies
• more accountability
• speed up replacing old gas pipes
• more enforcement power for the Texas Railroad Commission
•  require gas companies to report leaks to the public in real time with an interactive, searchable map

Dallas Morning News | How Dallas lawmaker Rafael Anchia hopes to prevent the next deadly gas-leak explosion 

What entities are involved in this project?

• Texas State University researchers
• Bat Conservation International
• technology developed by NRG Systems

What is the technology to reduce bat collisions with turbines? Bat Deterrent System, an ultrasound deterrence system

Digital TRENDs | Ultrasound technology can greatly reduce number of bats killed by wind turbines 

Who makes up the membership of Powering Texas?

• American Wind Energy Assoc.
• Lamesa Area Chamber of Commerce
• Levelland Chamber of Commerce
• Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
• Lubbock Economic Development Alliancwe
• RGV Partnership
• Snyder Chamber of Commerce
• South padre Island Chamber of Commerce
• Sweetwatr Economic Development
• Texas Assoc. of Business
• Pharr Economic Development

What’s their thing? promote innovative, sustainable  (wind) electricity generation

Why?

• Will Keep up with Texas Population Growth. Wind supplied 15% of the power in 2017 and Texas is rapidly growing, making wind power contribution important
• Helps Rural Communities. economic opportunities for landowners and local school districts

Power Online | Powering Texas Launches To Promote Innovative, Sustainable Electricity Generation In Texas

What is the issue? The concern of ERCOT and the PUC over :

• demand & supply in the Texas summer
• while supporting new power plants &
• making the market more transparent

What does Texas Competitive Power Advocates say about this?

• Operating Reserve Demand Curve  (ORDC) needs to be tweaked. It does not offer necessary incentives for new capacity from reliable generating sources
• Texas population growth. We need to act. Texas population will hit a critical mass by 2021 in terms of power supply
• The ORDC isn’t a tax. think of the ORDC more like the federal reserve. It adjusts to reflect market conditions.

TribTalk | Michelle Gregg | Texas Competitive Power Advocates | Change to Scale Will Let Free Market Drive New Power Generation

Massachusetts’ newly released, The 213-page Comprehensive Energy Plan, sets forth these recommendations for “clean, affordable, and resilient” in-state energy:

• EV Transportation
• Electrify  heating and cooling, through the use of air source heat pumps
• Electricity should be sourced from a clean grid
• Electricity clean grid should be backed by storage
• Strengthening Building Codes

Mass Live | New Massachusetts energy plan zeroes in on vehicles and buildings for emissions reductions

Massachusetts Comprehensive Energy Plan

An Assistant Professor of Behavioral Studies studied electric customers in time of use programs and concluded:

• utilities should stop thinking of customers as rational actors
• most customers do not read their electric bills
• the decision to stay in time of use programs was on perceived savings, even if they were paying more

Recommendations to utilities:

•  providing customers with more information on cost savings
• keeping TOU programs simple

Ohio State | Utility customers overestimate cost savings with energy-conservation plans

Utility Dive | A study examined why customers remain in TOU programs, and the results were terrible

WHO: A Ph.D. student in systems engineering at Missouri S&T presenting the concept at 2 international forums (1) American Society for Engineering Management & (2) Institute of Industrial Systems Engineers

WHAT? Peet to peer energy sharing to “fill that gap between what’s already being done and what consumers want”

HOW would this work?

• individuals who get their power from multiple sources like solar or wind + traditional retail electric
• they would form communities for energy sharing
• by parterning with each other and local retail energy providers

NEW lingo? “prosumers” – end-users who both consume and produce electricity using their own renewable energy generators

BENFIT TO retail electric? lowering the impact of uncertain renewable generation on the grid.

Missouri S&T | The sharing economy’s next frontier: energy sharing 

ERCOT Market operations engineer in TribTalk lists these policies as more important than tax breaks to bring business to Texas:

•  land-use reform
  •  more multi-family housing in single residential housing areas
  • reclassify single residential to mixed use
  • looser parking requirements
• infrastructure investments to promote economic growth
  • encourage ride share
  • encourage scooters
  •  support existing public transportation
  • invest in expanding streets and bike lanes
  • invest in flood protection
  • invest in clean water protection
• without imposing too much of a burden on current residents

TribTalk | ERCOT Market operations engineer | Ditch the tax breaks: Better policies would attract companies to Texas

Where: Portland, OR

What plastics does the local ordinance apply to? 

• plastic straws
• stirrers
• utensils
• condiment packaging both when dining in and ordering out

What businesses does the plastics ordinance apply to?

• food carts and other dining facilities
• schools
• hospitals
• work cafeterias

What’s the fine? $100 to $500

How does the ordinance work? Customers ask first, and then plastics are offered to customers

Food & Wine | Portland Law Will Require ‘Ask First’ Policy for Disposable Plastic Straws and Utensils at Restaurants

• EV tax credit helps the environment and the economy
• EV tax credit caps shouldbe adjusted to account for consumer choice
• EV tax credit ecourages EV purchases nationwide

Utility Dive | White House proposal to end EV tax credit comes under fire

California is rolliong out the the nation’s largest time of use rates which include:

• 20 million customers on time of use rates
• 300 time varying rates
• 62 pilot areas
•  6.5% average, residential customers reduction of their on-peak usage for every 10% increase in the peak-to-off-peak price ratio

• 11.1% reductoin peak usage by  customers with enabling technology for every 10% increase in the price ratio

• over 90% stayed on the plan in PG&Es pilot ptogram

Utility Dive | California utilities prep nation’s biggest time-of-use rate roll out

The Texas Public Policy Foundation commentary, is it time for the political fall of renewable energy?, says the reasons for a YES are:

• Taxpayers & the “electricity tax”. Because “in October electricity generators and wind industry representatives asked the Texas PUC to approve a $4B/year tax”
  • Since 2006, renewable generators in TX have received $18 billion 
• Subsidies. renewables cannot be eeconomically sustained with subsidies.
• The Nature of Renewables is that they are “unreliable, inefficient, and expensive sources”

Michigan has a pipeline company that wants to put in a tunnel. There’s people on both sides. How do you solve it?

SB 1197 (2018 | MI) which will:

• create the The Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority
• not allow the authority to use eminent domain
• not allow the authority to be sued
• will be governed by 3 governor appointees with 6 year terms
• The MI Governor’s policy statement
  • “protect the Straits of Mackinac and the Great Lakes while ensuring energy stability for Michigan.”

WWMT | Senate passes bill creating new authority to oversee Line 5 utility tunnel

What entities are behind the first of their kind security rules for EV charging networks?

• the European Network of Cyber Security,
• and E.DSO, the European Distribution System Operators’ Association for Smart Grids

What do the rules do? Offer  municipalities & distribution network operators with guidelines

Where can I find these rules? here 

Smart Energy International | First-ever set of security requirements for EV charging infrastructure

What did ALEC members try to do last week? Pass a resolution that would have “urged lawmakers to open power generation and electric retailing to competition in states where utilities still retain monopoly control over those services”

What opposition emerged? Opposition from Edison Electric Institute

What is behind the opposition? Preservation of their market power

Utility Dive | ALEC members reject electricity competition resolution after EEI opposition

Why should Texas and Mexico Collaborate when it comes to electricity market?

• location, location, location
• Texas is the largest producer of alternative energy
• Mexico has a large appetite for renewables and Texas should capitalize on it
• The new President of Mexico campaigned on environmental concerns
• Offering more affordable renewable energy to Mexicans could lessen any protectionist sentiment within his ruling coalition
• The Market for Clean Energy Certificates initiative is established to assist in collaboration and Mexico is setting a renewable target of 35% within 5 years & 50% by 2050

Corpus Christi Caller Times | op-ed by Carlos Torres-Verdin is a professor of petroleum and geosystems engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin | It’s time for Texas to share its expertise in renewable energy with Mexico​

The business: One Big Switch, an Australian company

What does One Big Switch do? helps consumers get “better” deals on electricity

What does One Big Switch say makes it needed?

• Texas energy market is confusing
• wants to bring clarity ot the market
• bring more power to the consumer to get a good deal

KXAN | Company taps Texas energy market to get deals for customers

• Federal law compensation is viewed to exclude damages taken into acocunt under state law
• Property laws, like a pipeline easement are governed by state law which complicates just compensation as to whether the state or federal standards should apply
• Does a public objective under federal law meet public use under state law?

These are all coming to a head in an appeal in Pennsylvania court over an interestate natural gas pipeline.

Comments from the Appeals bench include:

• “it’s all about money here,” (directed to the pipeline)
• “A little less money in your client’s pocket.” (directed to the pipeline)
•  

Courthouse News | Public Interest of Pipeline Takes Focus in Damages Spat

New York Governor is expanding EV charger accessibility through the $250-million EVolve NY initiative.

What will the EVolve NY initiative include?

• New York Power Authority will be installing up to 200 fast charge stations across the state
• installed in more than 24 locations on major traffic corridors
• a fast charger every 75 miles along key interstate corridors
• install charging hubs at the state’s two major airports, JFK and LaGuardia
• total goal of 10,000 installed charging stations by the end of 2021

What will happen for residential customers?

•  those charging during off-peak hours won’t pay more than standard rates
• update on the state’s Drive Clean Rebate, including:
  • applies to 40 electrified models
  • $5-million available for rebates up to $4,000 for charging stations
  • additional tax credit of 50 percent

Hybrid Cars | NY Governor Cuomo Announces Expanded EV Charging Plans

PG&E has proposed a subscription model for commerical fleet EV charging.

How would it work to help fleets?

• offer a more predictable monthly bill for fleet managers struggling to adjust to the extreme variability that the current setup of electricity pricing can result in

What’s the current EV charging rate method for commericial fleets?

• time-of-use or tiered electricity rates with demand charges stacked on top often results in an electric bill for fleet managers that fluctuates

Will it apply to more than just fleets? Yes, it will also apply to:

• apartment buildings
• workplaces
• public locations

Clean Technica | California Utility Proposes Subscription Model For Commercial EV Charging

Arizona voters defeated a clean energy proposition that would have: increased the state’s renewables mandate from:

• 15% by 2025
• to 50% by 2030

Voters voted 69.3% to 30.7%

Polls show 86% if Arizonans favor clean energy.

The cost to defeat the proposal? $30.7 million

Where will regulation end up on clean energy? A clean energy standard (CES) rather than a renewable portfolio standard

Lingering policy issue? Accountability for utilities which must comply the with the CES

Utility Dive |  APS spent millions defeating Prop 127. Is a clean energy compromise ahead?

Who conducted the study: Cogent analysis by Market Strategies International-Morpace 

What data was reviewed? 52,000 residential customers across 132 utilities

Why are consumers leaning toward 3rd party providers?

• consumers want mnore engagement and information but utilites are not as fast to respond
• low utility brand trust

Utility Dive | Customer preference shifts from utilities to third-party providers for rooftop solar, EV: Cogent

By 2040:

• boast 942 gigawatts with 2,857 GWh
• $600 billion will be invested in the sector specifically
• 7% of the total installed power capacity globally
• 2/3 of the capacity will be in China, the US, India, Japan, Germany, France, Australia, South Korea and the UK,

Forbes | Battery Energy Storage Is A $620 Billion Opportunity As Costs Continue To Crash 

Clean Technica | Energy Storage Is A $1.2 Trillion Global Investment Opportunity & Is Soaring In The UK​

Who: PG&E

What: Proposing a rate system for EV charging based on a subscription service instead of a demand charge

Benefits?

• Profit. Demand rate systems have made it difficult to develop EV charging because it inhibits profitability
• Better for consumers. Allows customers to have simpler, more consistent monthly costs

Utility Dive | PG&E mimics smart phone data plans with EV charging rate proposal

• renewable energy sources lowering wholesale prices
• wind and solar support 33,000 jobs in Texas
• the numbers include residential and non-residential savings of  $856 million in 2017& $959 million in 2016

The study “The Economic Value of Renewable Energy to Texas,” is by  Wind Solar Alliance, American Wind Energy Association, & the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Houston Chronicle | Report: Renewables have saved Texans nearly $5 billion since 2010

Lege TREND. 2 requirements that exempted utilities from an eminent domain bill.

What use of eminent domain caused the legislation:    A school disrict in Pennsylvania needed to expand and made an attempt to use eminent domain for open space land

What was the legislative response?  Pennsylvnaia Legislature responded by enacting, and the Governo r signing, HB 2468 (PA | 2018) 

What does HB 2468 (PA | 2018)  prohibits eminent domain for open space unless:

• a court grants permission because there is no other reasonable and prudent alternative
• its a utility exercizing eminent domain if:
  • the utility is underground
  • does not permantly impact th eopen spaces benefited by the conservation easement

Massachusetts legislature passed H4739  (2018 | MA) that will:

• study the feasibility of mobile battery storage systems
• creates an Energy Storage Innovation Research Institute
• establishes a Center for Clean Transportation to conduct research and development
• creates new requirements for utilities to assess and improve their transmission and distribution systems

Mass Live | Grid resiliency and energy storage bill passes Massachusetts House

Massachusetts H4739 (MA | 2018)  will require:

• The state’s Department of Energy Resources to study the “feasibility of mobile battery storage systems if downed substations would need an emergency replacement”
• the policy goal: “shave peak demand and lower distribution costs when not in use for emergency purposes.” 
• utilities to file annual electric distribution system resiliency reports to DOER

Mass Live. | Grid resiliency and energy storage bill passes Massachusetts House

Utility Dive | Massachusetts House approves study of mobile storage as grid resilience tool

New Jersey is considering S2805 (2018 | NJ) that will:

• 10-cent tax on every 1,000 gallons of water
• that’s about $32 per year per household
• fund upgrades to water pipelines

How old are New Jersey water pipelines? Hoboken uses pipelines from 1857, 1869 and 1897

The legislative goal: Cleaner water. NJ still has miles of lead water pipes

NJ.com | Will New Jersey tax your tap water?

California Senate passed AB 2127 (2018 | CA) that will require coordinated EV charger station planning including:

• California Energy Commission sole authority to issue statewide EV needs
• more efficient use of public dollars
• smarter implementation of the state’s ongoing ZEV effort
• expand EVs as potential customers by expanding access

Utility Dive | California passes bill to coordinate EV charger planning

The legislation: SB 700 (2018 | CA)

What does California’s SB 700 do?

• Extends  its Self Generation Incentive Program through 2026
• support the installation of nearly 3 GW of behind-the-meter storage
• Enables the state’s residential solar industry to survive
• Regulators can collect up to $166 million per year from the state’s three large investor-owned utilities to fund SGIP

PV Magazine | California energy storage subsidy extension passes Assembly

State: Louisiana

the legislation: HB727 (LA | 2018)

What does HB 727 do? 

• Makes trespass of critical infrastructure a felony
• Damage to critical infrastructure can trigger up to 15 years in jail

Lousiana Watchdog | Pipeline protesters’ trespassing arrests are first test of state’s new felony law

TX Attorney General Opinion. Powers of Ground Water District Temporary Directors.

what question is the Office of the Attorney General answering? Several questions about the authority of temporary directors of the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District

What does the Opinion say about the authority of these temporary directors? 

• no authority to cancel the 2018 confirmation and candidate election
• temporary directors hold office and can exercise those powers expressly given them in section 8871.023 of the Texas Special District Local Laws Code until the initial directors are elected
• appointing officials may not withdraw their respective appointments
• There are 2 ways to remove temporary directors:
  • removal for misconduct
  • a quo warranto proceeding challenging the authority of the temporary directors to hold office

Any legislative loopholes that may need to be cleared up in 2019?

• Water Code Chapter 8871 “does not provide any mechanism by which the officials who appointed the temporary directors may withdraw their respective appointment.”

what else did we learn?

• there is “no authority allowing the temporary directors to cancel the confirmation and candidate election”
• Attorney General Opinion MW-380 is reiterated in that the “district is not created until approved at an election and that the directors cannot exercise powers granted until it is approved”
• Attorney General Opinion JC-0569 (2002) is cited in “that authority of unconfirmed groundwater conservation district’s temporary, but elected, directors is limited to that expressly granted to the temporary directors”

KP-0217 (2018)

Nevada’s SB 204 (2017 | NV) required the state utility regulator to determine if biennial targets for energy storage deployment by electric utility entities would be in the public interest.

How did this study work?

• Contract to study the question awarded to economists from Brattle Group

Study Findings: 

• ” A 30% decrease in storage costs, from US$300 per kWh to US$210 per kWh could increase optimal deployment levels from 200% to 500%”
• cost-effective addition to Nevada’s future mix of electricity resources
• reducing system costs
• benefitting consumers
• “value across a range of applications and use cases, including for resource adequacy, renewables integration, T&D investment deferral, reducing generation costs, reducing customer outages, and combination of these benefits streams”

Energy Storage News | Energy storage procurement targets could work for Nevada, PUCN-commissioned study says

The business: WePower

WePower will create security tokens backed by real-world assets to tokenize the electricity grid in Europe

How did WePower do this? By analyzing data for the entire Estonian electric grid

Why tokenize it? Make it easier to trading on the renewables market

Cryptovest | Startup WePower Sets Out to Tokenize Estonian Power Grid

The grantor: Texas Commission on Envrionmental Quality

The grant: $1 million for a  10-megawatt battery battery storage project

The grantee: Luminant

What else do I need to know about this battery storage proeject?

• Located in West Texas
• Next to Luminant’s 180-megawatt Upton 2 solar power plant
• Will be the 7th largest battery storage in the US

Government Technology | Texas Bets $1M on Huge Battery Storage Project

Utility ownership of microgrids are favored in areas that are:

• communities more distant from the existing density of grid network assets
  • remote communities
  • island commuities
• also as more towns adopt mixed models, utility microgrids emerge

Clean Technica | Solar Emerges As Top New Microgrid Energy Source

A request for information from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle that now exceeds $10 Billion for the development of EV charging equipment.

Why are cities combing forces?  leverage larger requests to attract more developers

Utility Dive | LA led way to leveraging EV RFPs, more cities follow with renewables 

What does the data say about cities and their use of energy?

• Cities consume 70% of the energy
• Cities areresponsible for more than 70% of global carbon emissions
• 20 cities look to partner in a RFP for renewable energy
  •  combined the 20 cities have 5,700 GWh of annual municipal loads
  • Cities with individual RFPs:
    • Philadelphia
    • Cincinatti
  • Cities with an RFI:
    • Los Angeles
    • San Francisco
    • Portland
    • Seattle

Utility Dive | LA led way to leveraging EV RFPs, more cities follow with renewables 

Cities, like traverse City, are concerned about the costs of replacing miles of pipelines.

Traverse City cwould need to replace 5 % over a period of 20 years at an “exorbinant cost.”

Traverse City Record Eagle | New water rules could soak ratepayers

Where: Portland OR

The ballot proposition: whether a licensing fee on large retailers should pay for clean energy projects

Governing | The Issues on Local Ballots: Teen Voting, Campaign Finance, Housing and More

What telecom issue is causing utilities concern? A FCC proposal to open 6G spectrum availability to unlicensed users on its 6 GHz band,

How could this impact utlities?

• Telecom regulations need greater focus on critical infrastructure sectors
• Utilities can communicate when systems are down on  their own information and communications technology (ICT) networks
  • This radion spectrum needs to be protected for emergency situations because the band is limited

How does come down by industry?

• Telecom + Tech v. Utilities

Utility Dive | Utilities worry FCC plan to open wireless spectrum could compromise communications

Who: County Council in Howard County Maryland

What: An ordinance to require all new buildings to have EV charging units

• new apartments. 1 charger, every 25 units
• new homes. capacity for a charger

Where: Howard Co., Maryland

Baltimore Sun | Howard legislation would require new homes to support electric vehicle charging stations

Colorado voters in Novmebr 2018 will vote on an Amendment  which concerns drilling near neighborhoods.

The impact of this amendment could impact Texas, Arkansas and Lousiana by:

• Colorado’s  top  oil  and gas drillers  are  subsidiaries  of  Texas companies
  • And have contibruted millions opposing the campaign
• Oil and gas services will be impacted, many of which are home to other states
• Investors impacted: financial services & private equity groups 

Red River Radio | Colorado Vote Could Affect Oil & Gas In Texas and Louisiana

WHO developed this magic tool? National Association of State Energy Officials + Cadmus

WHAT is this magic tool? THE RUBIC METHODOLOGY 

WHERE can I find ta cheat sheet to what policies are working with all this data on EVs?

• The evidence “clearly indicates the importance of vehicle purchase incentives in encouraging customer adoption. So which incentices work?
  • time of purchase are #1
  • rebates #2
  • tax credits #3
• What’s not working in terms of EV policies? EV government fleets.
  • Why?  “typically so small as to
    be relatively unnoticeable by the public.”

Utility Dive | New tool helps states identify EV policies that work, and those that don’t

Atlanta will require plug-in ready building for:

• all new residential homes
• all new public parking facilities
•  20% of the spaces in all new commercial and multi-family parking structures 

Vermont addressed EV readiness statewide by:

• establishing size requirements to trigger EV requirements
• applies to both commercial and residential projects
• when the size threshold is met, a certain percentageof EV supply equipment or EV-ready parking spaces are required

City Lab | The Grim State of Electric Vehicle Adoption in the U.S.

WHO: Oregon’s Pacific Power

WHERE: Oregon

WHAT:  a total of $1.5 million in grants for communities and businesses develop creative electric transportation infrastructure projects.

WHAT DOES THE GRANT COVER?

• up to 100% of eligible costs to purchase and install electric vehicle charging stations
•  all non-residential Pacific Power customers in Oregon are eligible to apply
• preference given to community-focused organizations, such as 501(c)(3) and city, county and regional governments.

Daily Energy Insider | Funding earmarked for electric transportation innovation

• American Electric Power in Ohio
  • $10 million in incentives offered
  • build out of 375 EV charging stations throughout the company’s service territory
• New Jersey: Public Service Electric and Gas Company
  • 6 year plan, the Clean Energy Future program
  • Support the development of nearly 40,000 EV  chargers
  • spanning a wide range of customers and sectors
•  Duke Energy in Florida
  • installing up to 530 EV charging stations across its service area
  • Park and Plug pilot program
  • to make charging ports available in multifamily housing complexes, workplaces and other high traffic areas

GovTech | Electric Utilities Plot Bullish Course for EV Charging Infrastructure

The Nature Conservacy offers the following regulatory/legislative changes for Texas water policy:

• Diversify. Water impacts a lot and policies should also address or complement:
  • food and energy production
  • wildlife and habitat preservation
  • health of our bays and estuaries
  • overall well-being and prosperity of our communities
• More innovation to protect future water supplies
• More information about water.
  • ​more funding to update water models
  • community outreach for  groundwater and environmental flows

Texas TribTalk | Checking in: The state of Texas water

WHO: CPS Energy working with Southwest Research Institute

WHAT:  $16 million project

• $3 million New Technology Implementation Grant from TCEQ

WHERE: 50 acres of land provided by Southwest Research Institute & will be constructed by RES Americas

PV Magazine | The shift is on: CPS Energy breaks ground on its first storage + solar project in Texas

• New York
  • New York has pledged 1500 MW goal qwith more than $40 million in stagte funding
  • part of a $1 billion solar project of the Governor
• California
• Utah
• Oregon
• Massachusetts

In Texas, the 5th largest installed solar capacity, 2 10MW projects were announced.

PV Magazine | New York to invest (another) $40 million in energy storage deployment

Who:Texas Alliance of Energy Producers &  the Independent Petroleum Association of America

What: “Sustainable Produced Water Policy, Regulatory Framework and Management in the Texas Oil and Gas Industry: 2019 and Beyond.” 

Where: Texas

What will this study focus on?

• consider the significant change in water volumes
• examine water recycling for the industry
• costs and benefits of water use by the energy industry
• associated environmental risks

Expected release: Spring 2019

Houston Chronicle | Energy trade groups partner on Texas water research project

• subsidies locals don’t like subsiding local development
• special perks tax benefits don’t allow businesses to make market corrections
  • they wouldn’t be as profitable without tax “perks”
• 3 examples:
  •  Won’t Feel Like Home, this group says wind farm will impact property values, property rights, and overall quality of life
  • Clay County Against Wind Farms echose what Won’t Feel Like Home Says
  • Don’t Blow It in Val Verde County says wind farms will impact border security operations, public parkland & ecotourism, and private property value

Empower Texas | TEXANS PUSHING BACK AGAINST WINDFARM SUBSIDIES

Jonathan Levy, VP for strategic initiatives at leading charger installer EVgo says utilities and regulators should:

• “adopt “tariff reform in general for [charging stations]
• prevent demand charges from being an impediment.”

Utility Dive | Are regulators hindering EV acceleration?

How are building codes amracing renewable energy? Green Roof Requirements

What is the economic argument? 

• PRO: Washington state Department of Energy and Environment found that $1 invested in green roofs generates $2 in benefits
• CON: University of Michigan found that a 21,000-square-foot green roof, for example, cost about $100,000 more to install than a conventional roof

Example building codes:

• San Francisco’s Better Roofs Ordinance mandates solar & living roofs on between 15% and 30% of new construction.
• Denver requires newly built buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to dedicate a portion of their rooftops to vegetation or solar panels
• Portland, Ore adopted an ecoroof requirement that requires vegetation must cover 100 percent of the roofs on buildings in the central city over 20,000 square feet

Governing | Green Roof Requirements Are On the Rise

Nevada’s SB 204 (2017 | NV) required the state utility regulator to determine if biennial targets for energy storage deployment by electric utility entities would be in the public interest.

How did this study work?

• Contract to study the question awarded to economists from Brattle Group

Study Findings:

• ” A 30% decrease in storage costs, from US$300 per kWh to US$210 per kWh could increase optimal deployment levels from 200% to 500%”
• cost-effective addition to Nevada’s future mix of electricity resources
• reducing system costs
• benefitting consumers
• “value across a range of applications and use cases, including for resource adequacy, renewables integration, T&D investment deferral, reducing generation costs, reducing customer outages, and combination of these benefits streams”

Energy Storage News | Energy storage procurement targets could work for Nevada, PUCN-commissioned study says

Who: Congressman Jeff Denham (R-CA)

Where: California

How is he trying to stop a water plan initiative, Bay Delta Plan,  in his district?

• DOJ lawsuit against California
• provision in a congressional budget bill to prevent federal dollars contributing and redirecting water to salmon populations
• White House asked EPA and Department of Interior to get involved
  • Interior is looking for a solution

Sacramento Bee | Denham is desperate to stop a California water plan. Nothing has worked – yet

WHERE: Camp Pendleton, CA

WHAT: A desalination plant plan by The San Diego County Water Authority

WHY: 

• costs
• permitting hurdles
• surrounding cities have adapted
  • City of San Diego developed their own water purification programs

Times of San Diego | Plug Pulled on Seawater Desalination Plant at Camp Pendleton Over Costs, Permits

Water Utiltiies should include residents in their Texas  2019 Water Conservation Plan because:

• residents and communities should receive transparency from their water utilties
• water utilities should engage in open dialog with the communities that they serve
• Engaged and informed consumers can make all the difference, including in the 12.3% of water that is lost by utiltiies from aging infrastructure and leaks

Trib Talk | National Wildlife Federation & Sierra Club-Lone Star Chapter | Water utilities should include residents in conservation planning

Where: Augusta County Farm Bureau in Virginia

The 6 reasons to oppose the Dominion Energy pipeline, adverse impacts to:

• groundwater
• crop production
• livestock health
• public safety
• our agricultural heritage
• common natural treasures

The News Virginian | Farm Bureau approves anti-pipeline resolution 

Nevada regulators adopted a 4 step plan for distributed resources that will:

• investor-owned utilities will be required to file every 3 years beginning 2019 to provide framework for distributed energy resources forecasting
• locational net benefit analysis, to better site distributed resources
• an assessment of grid needs to prioritize and screen projects addressing specific need
• hosting capacity analysis to identify where DERs can be developed on the grid

The Bill that got us to this point: SB 146 (2017 | NV)

Utility Dive | Nevada approves 4-part plan to integrate more DER 

what question is the Office of the Attorney General answering? Several questions about the authority of temporary directors of the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District

What does the Opinion say about the authority of these temporary directors? 

• no authority to cancel the 2018 confirmation and candidate election
• temporary directors hold office and can exercise those powers expressly given them in section 8871.023 of the Texas Special District Local Laws Code until the initial directors are elected
• appointing officials may not withdraw their respective appointments
• There are 2 ways to remove temporary directors:
  • removal for misconduct
  • a quo warranto proceeding challenging the authority of the temporary directors to hold office

Any legislative loopholes that may need to be cleared up in 2019?

• Water Code Chapter 8871 “does not provide any mechanism by which the officials who appointed the temporary directors may withdraw their respective appointment.”

what else did we learn?

• there is “no authority allowing the temporary directors to cancel the confirmation and candidate election”
• Attorney General Opinion MW-380 is reiterated in that the “district is not created until approved at an election and that the directors cannot exercise powers granted until it is approved”
• Attorney General Opinion JC-0569 (2002) is cited in “that authority of unconfirmed groundwater conservation district’s temporary, but elected, directors is limited to that expressly granted to the temporary directors”

KP-0217 (2018)

The Question answered by the Attorney General’s Office: Whether a groundwater conservation district  (GWD) may amend a historic or existing use permit in specific circumstances

What’s the answer, can these permits be amended? 

• It is a question of fact that can be reviewed by the courts
• Chapter 36 of the Water Code most likely requires fairness in that GWD actions cannot “give an advantage to a historic or existing permit holder who seeks new use approval that is not available to other new use permit applicants”

What’s the rational?

• Cannot just look to the Court in Guitar
• GWDs also have to look to Edwards Aquifer case
• Together these cases mean: “ a change in the purpose ofthe proposed use ofwater to be produced under a historic or existing use permit is a new use, even if the new use would occur within the district.”

Any other big points in this opinion? Yes…

KP-0216 (2018)

Members of the Coalition:

• automakers
• electric utilities
• cities
• consumer groups
• unions
• environmental groups

3 Recommendations:

• Continue to increase fuel-economy standards;
• extend and improve the electric-vehicle tax credit;
• invest more from the federal government in finding and deploying innovative technologies.

NRDC: Commission Unveils Plan to Cut Transportation’s Energy Use

State: Louisiana

the legislation: HB727 (LA | 2018)

What does HB 727 do? 

• Makes trespass of critical infrastructure a felony
• Damage to critical infrastructure can trigger up to 15 years in jail

Lousiana Watchdog | Pipeline protesters’ trespassing arrests are first test of state’s new felony law

Opponents to a proposed power line in Franlin County Virginia are saying:

• attack on their way of life
• attack on their livelihoods
• destruction of their rural communities and wildlife 
• loss of tourism revenue for communities
• eminent domain shouldn’t benefit a private company
• reduce property values
• harm local revenues

WITF | Opponents speak out on proposed power line in Franklin County

Solar installations post-Hurricane Maria have doubled.

• From September 2017 to September 2018 10,000 residential solar plus battery storage systems installed
• Before then there was a total of 12,000 solar systems
• 22 cents per kilowatt-hour in Puerto Rico
  • these high energy costs are said to drive push to renewables
• Current Mix of Puerto Rico’s energy supply:
  • 3% renewable
  • 1% hyrdo power
  • 45% from petroleum
  • 34% from natural gas
  • 17%  from coal

Bloomberg | Rooftop Solar Nearly Doubles in Puerto Rico One Year After Maria

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s Opinion: Texas landowners subsidize pipelines and powerlines says this happens in 3 ways:

• profits often outweigh the rights of landowners with some pipelines & transmission lines
  • agents may pocket any money budgeted that isn’t paid to land owners
  • disincentivizes fair offers to landowners
• Intimidation. The team of lawyers of pipelines and transmission line companies
• adequate offers are essential so landowners are treated like partners not pittances  

Where: New York

Agency offering an EV charging station rebate: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

The rebate applies to EV charging stations built at: workplaces, office buildings, multi-family apartment buildings, and public locations such as theaters, malls, parks and retail locations

Details about the rebate program for EV charging installation:

• included in the “Charge Ready NY” initiative
• $4,000 rebate
• rebate is per charging port
• applies to public or private employers, building owners, municipalities and non-profit organizations to install Level 2 charging stations

EC&M | New York Launches EV Charging Rebate 

In Hayes County, TX  local officials are discussing ground water.

Here’s what they’re saying:

• Lon Shell, County Commissioner:
  • problems in current regulations
  • need new, sensible regulations
  • ground water regulation needs to protect property rights
  • ground water regulation needs to treat neighbors equally
• Linda Rogers, president of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
  • system is not working
  • changes are necessary
  • water is a valuable resource
  • this is a property rights issue

Hayes Free Press | County officials question century-old water rights law

• More policies to encourage private investment in water
• Streamline TCEQ approval of water rights amendments
• Repeal the junior rights restrictions on interbasin water transfers
• “Clarify TWDB’s statutory authority in Regional Groundwater Management Areas to establish desired future conditions is consistent with the landowner’s right to groundwater in place”
• Legally integrate the Regional Water Planning process with the Bay/ Basin Environmental Flow process
• Codify policy objectives for environmental flow regimes to protect critical flows during drought and minimum standards for scientific
• “Clarify the “FourCornersProvision”(TWC11.122(b)) that a water right amendment for only a change or addition of use is not subject to administrative hearing.”
• Reinforce the value of water marketing for State Water Plan
• Allow for private development of new ground water supplies
• More ground water district transparency, more administrative record keeping & stronger conflict of interest policies

TPPF Legislator’s Guide 2019 

• Texas should keep suing over Clean Power Plan
• More transparency for renewable deals under Chapters 312 and 313 of the Texas Tax Code
• Make renewables pay for their costs to the grid
• Statutorily prohibit a capacity market
• Reorient/eliminate the Independent Market Monitor & regulation of market power abus
• Eliminate state & local subsidies/abatements for renewable energy
• Eliminate wholesale price caps
• Remove PUC ability to disgorge revenue
• Remove PUC’s ceasea nd desist authority

TPPF 2019 Legislator’s Guide to the Issues

Texas Property Tax Code Chapter 312 and 313 abatement agreements occur behind closed doors and heres what the Texas Public Policy Fundation says about them:

• The Texas tax Code is used to turn a profit on an otherwise bad renewable investment
• the process is hidden from the public, and th epublic should be able to stop it
• Local governments should pick winners and losers of investments by favoring certain businesses

The legislative Solutions:

• increase the transparency of the approval process
• extend the period of time that the public is aware that the process
  • public notification at the beginning of negotiations
  • 30 day opportunity for public input
• Align the time frames for Chapter 312 and 313 agreements

Texas Public Policy Foundation | HIDDEN FROM PUBLIC VIEW: Increasing the Transparency of the Chapters 312 and 313 Tax Abatement Process

WHO: Nissan and EVgo I-95 Fast Charging ARC

WHAT: the EV energy numbers from the Fast Charging ARC:

•  50 kW simultaneously at a power output per 4 super fast charger facility
  • A total of 52 fast chargers
• 150 kW fast chargers preparation required with pre-wiring for higher charging outputs 
• 80% charge in 30-40 minutes for a Nissan Leaf at one of the charging stations

WHERE: I-95 from Boston to Washington D.C.

NGT News | New EV Charging Corridor Launches Between D.C. and Boston

WHERE: Oklahoma

WHAT: New Oklahoma Rural Association

WHO are members of the ORA?

• energy
• agribusiness
• manufacturing
• financial services
• equipment
• utilities sectors
• including associations like: Farm Bureau, American Farmers and Ranchers, the Cattlemen’s Association
• corporations
• &  landowners.

Additional Issues they will engage the Legislature on:

•  education
• health care

The Oklahoman | New Oklahoma Lobbying Group to represent rural communities

Rolling Stone’s Blood and Oil MEXICO’S DRUG CARTELS AND THE GASOLINE INDUSTRY reveals that:

• Los Zetas began selling stolen gasoline around 2010
• “the businessman describes a dozen or more illegal schemes around the import and export of oil and gas between Texas and Mexico, everything from smuggling marine diesel in shrimp boats to passing gasoline off as unrefined lubricant to evade customs.”
• “tapping pipelines is “kid stuff.””
• The rela fuel theft is white collar in Mexico

For the 2nd Quarter the latest U.S. Energy Storage Monitor from Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewable Energy Consulting and the Energy Storage Association says:

• energy storage market deployed 156.5 MWh in Q2
  • thats a 24% increase over Q1
• a lack of supply will decrease this pace for the year’s remainder
• 2 policies that support residential energy storage:
  • changes in net metering programs 
  • utility tariffs shift to more time-of-use rates

Utility Dive | In first, US residential energy storage overtakes front-of-meter installations

IOWA

•  Iowa Utilities Board last week opened a rulemaking on electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure
• Iowa’s ORDER

CALIFORNIA

• California Public Utilities Commission approved $738 Million for EV infrastructure between the state’s three major investor-owned utilities

NEW YORK

• Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced the launch of EVolve NY, a new $250 million electric vehicle expansion initiative

NEW JERSEY

• Utility PSEG has announced plans to spend $300 million on EV infrastructure as part of a multi-billion dollar clean energy and grid investment plan

Utility Dive | Iowa launches electric vehicle infrastructure proceeding

 Bernard L. Weinstein, Associate director of SMU’s Maguire Energy Institute, says the Texas Power Grid is facing:

• the hot summer had ERCOT working perilously close to its generating capacity of about 78 gigawatts
• Texas population is growing too fast to continue like this & “investment in new base-load generating plants has lagged”
• “utilities are leery about investing in new base-load power plants because of uncertainty about recovering their capital investments”

What solutions are proposed?

• remove subsidies for wind because they create market distoritions
• remove subsidies for solar because they create amrket distortions
• promote policies that stimulate new investments in base-load generation
• allow base-load power plants to include a “capacity payment” to cover fixed costs

Trib Talk | The Texas power grid: Skating on thin ice during a hot summer

By end of year 2017, US utilities increased battery energy capacity by:

• 68% total capcity with the installation of longer-duration batteries
• to 1.3 gigawatt-hours
• 31%  increase in battery power capacity
• 75% of the nation’s incremental battery energy capacity was in California
• California was also home to 60% of the cumulative energy capacity in 2017

PV Magazine | Grid-connected battery energy capacity grew 68 percent last year 

California legislative leaders are offering a proposal to allow utilities to offer bonds to recoup disaster costs and prevent rate spikes.

Sacramento Bee | Ratepayers would help pay off utilities’ fire debts under Legislature’s proposal

The legislation: SB 700 (2018 | CA)

What does California’s SB 700 do?

• Extends  its Self Generation Incentive Program through 2026
• support the installation of nearly 3 GW of behind-the-meter storage
• Enables the state’s residential solar industry to survive
• Regulators can collect up to $166 million per year from the state’s three large investor-owned utilities to fund SGIP

PV Magazine | California energy storage subsidy extension passes Assembly 

Colorado’s November ballot will have Initiative 97 which would:

• make 85% of non-federal land off-limits to future oil and gas exploration, drilling and production
• creates 2,500-foot buffer zones around “occupied structures” and “vulnerable areas” where future oil and gas production would be off-limits
• what does “vulnerable structure” include?
  • playgrounds
  • permanent sports fields
  • amphitheaters
  • public parks
  • public open space
  • public and community drinking water sources
  • irrigation canals
  • lakes and reservoirs, streams and creeks
  • “any additional vulnerable areas designated by the state or a local government”

9News | Colorado’s oil and gas industry will face a major ballot test in upcoming election

The study by Duke University researchers found that water use in the Permian had increased 767% between 2011 and 2016.

The response from  Texas Alliance of Energy Producers is:

• “If you use water to drill oil wells, and you drill more and bigger oil wells, you will use more water.”
• water use to for shale production is less than 1% of statewide water withdrawals

Houston Chronicle | Texas energy group takes issue with Duke University water study 

Ballot Initiative 108 in Colorado, also known as amanemdnet 74, would:

• protect water and mineral rights in addition to physical property
• how would it protect these rights?
  • by protecting  “all private property owners, including homeowners, businesses, farmers and ranchers, urbanites and suburbanites from state or local governments taking their property by reducing its value without compensation,”

OPPOSITION:  Colorado Municipal League

Natural Gas Intelligence | Colorado Energy Industry-Backed Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot, Along with Enviro Item

California Senate passed AB 2127 (2018 | CA) that will require coordinated EV charger station planning including:

• California Energy Commission sole authority to issue statewide EV needs
• more efficient use of public dollars
• smarter implementation of the state’s ongoing ZEV effort
• expand EVs as potential customers by expanding access

Utility Dive | California passes bill to coordinate EV charger planning 

• Connecticut

  • Eversource rate case settlement lowered its fixed charge from $19.25/month to $9.21/month
  • Result of a 2015 legislative change:
    • “a new statutory definition of what a fixed charge should be: the fixed costs, operations and maintenance expenses that are directly related to metering, billing, service connections and customer service.”

• New York

  • settlement of Central Hudson’s 2017 GRC, the utility’s fixed charge will drop from $24/month in 2019 to $19.50/month in 2021
  • How did it happen? 100 municipalities banded together and said no settlement without lowering fixed charges

• Colorado

  • Black Hills Energy (BHE) request for a fixed charge increase from $16.50/month to $20.13/month was declined and instead teh PUC recommended lowering it to $8.77/month
  • How did it happen?
    • The regulators said that the method of calculation used did not fully support the state’s public policy goals

  Utility Dive | Are regulators starting to rethink fixed charges?

A lawyer representing rural landowners writes:

• Private for-profit companies are given the government’s power to take private property under assumptions that this is good, common good
• Are we rubber stamping common good projects for public use/benefit?
• Why are we taking land before the process is approved by the courts?
• We need to look at the costs and benefits of eminent domain
• What happens to old pipelines and how does this get factored into the costs and benefits?
• Landowners are in an unfair situation when a deep pocketed private company uses eminent domain
• Landowners are paying for lawyers and that’s not factored into court awards
• What about the costs to re-arranging farming and ranching activities to schedule around pipeline construction?

He also suggests this reading:

With The Largest Oil Find In History in West Texas, Are Eminent Domain Laws Fair?” by Thure Cannon of the Texas Pipeline Association

“Texas Landowners Subsidize Pipelines and Powerlines” by Brian McLaughlin, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association director

San Angelo Live Opinion | The Race to Build Pipelines from the Permian to the Gulf Coast is Trampling over Landowners’ Rights