This article is the introduction to a report from FERC on the integration of natural gas into the other fuels that generate electrical power. It is significant to the wind industry because as utilities switch to relatively inexpensive natural gas ($3.51/M Btu as of Jan 18) they also give themselves the capability to work with…
FERC give Green Line the go-ahead
Plains and Eastern Clean Line (Clean Line) has obtained a key regulatory approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to begin negotiating transmission service agreements with potential customers of the transmission line project. The Plains & Eastern Clean Line is a roughly 750-mile overhead high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that will connect…
FERC rejects MISO’s request for waiver to accommodate Entergy integration
This article comes from Troutman Sanders LLP, troutmansanders.com In September 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) denied a tariff waiver request by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (“MISO”) concerning planning and cost allocation of network upgrades and a transition period for integrating Entergy Corporation and its operating companies (together…
MISO begins offering dispatchable intermittent resources to wind generators
This article comes from law firm Troutman Sanders LLP (www.troutman.com) In June, 2011 the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator Inc.’s (“Midwest ISO” or “MISO”) announced that dispatchable intermittent resources (DIRs) are available in the real-time energy market. This change means wind resources are now able to participate in the real-time market like other generators.…
FERC denies appeal of wind facilities requesting to not be considered transmission owners and operators
This article was written by law firm Troutman Sanders LLC. On June 16, 2011, FERC denied the appeals of Cedar Creek Wind Energy, LLC (“Cedar Creek”) and Milford Wind Corridor Phase I, LLC (“Milford”) because the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (“WECC”) registered both wind facilities as transmission owners and operators, subjecting the facilities to mandatory…
FERC mulls how to encourage transmission investments
The following comes from law firm Troutman Sanders LLP On May 19, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) released the Notice of Inquiry (NOI), Promoting Transmission Investment Through Pricing Reform. In passing the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Congress added a new section 219 to the Federal Power Act (FPA). That section directed…
FERC requires filing OATT for generator lead line
This article comes from law firm Foley Lardner LLC (foley.com) FERC’s recent Sky River decision highlights issues for owners of generator lead lines regarding the use of such lines by unaffiliated third parties. Sky River LLC owns a wind project and an interest in an associated lead line to connect to the transmission grid. Other…
FERC suggests pay-for-perfomance rule
Fast response, energy-storage flywheels support a more stable, reliable, and efficient electricity grid, says that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR). The rule would require each grid operator under its jurisdiction to structure their regulation market tariffs to provide pay-for-performance. Under pay-for-performance tariffs, grid operators would implement a…
FERC (Part II) proposes generator regulation service and frequency response, to the OATT
This article comes from law firm Stoel Rives LLP (www.stoel.com) Among FERC’s (Federal Energy Resource Commission) recent proposals is to add a new rate schedule to the pro forma OATT (Open Access Transmission Tariff) through which transmission providers can recover the costs of holding reserve capacity needed to manage the variability of generation resources serving…
FERC opens rulemaking to favor renewable energy
This article comes from law firm Stoel Rives LLP (www.stoel.com) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has taken another step to amending transmission practices that unduly discriminate against variable energy resources (VERs) such as wind and solar generators. In November, 2010, FERC first proposed changes to the pro forma Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) and…
Fed identifies five sets of standards for Smart Grid
The Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has advised the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that it has identified five “foundational” sets of standards for Smart Grid interoperability and cyber security that are ready for consideration by federal and state energy regulators. The standards, produced by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), focus…
FERC proposes, seeks comment on transmission planning, cost allocation principles
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has proposed to build on its Order No. 890 open access transmission reforms by establishing a closer link between regional electric transmission planning and cost allocation to help ensure that needed transmission facilities actually are built. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) is based on an extensive record: three…