By Ted Caddell When the Obama administration released its first version of the Quadrennial Energy Review two years ago, it addressed a hypothetical concern about threats to the nation’s oil and natural gas pipeline infrastructure. The second review from the Department of Energy, released last week, turned its attention to...

PJM announced that its comprehensive analysis and recommended solution for issues related to Artificial Island won’t be ready until April. Staff had expected to present the plan at the February meeting of the RTO’s Board of Managers. “While PJM’s analysis is progressing well, during discussion of preliminary results with stakeholders,...

SPP has filed an application with the Department of Energy seeking permission to transmit electricity from the U.S. into Canada, using member Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s existing transmission facilities in North Dakota. SPP's proposed exports to Canada would be transmitted via a North Dakota transmission line owned by Basin Electric...

SPP stakeholders agreed on Wednesday to amend a two-year-old policy paper and clarify when FERC approval would be needed to allocate costs for some seams projects between 100 kV and 300 kV. The Seams Steering Committee voted 6-1 in favor of the change. The change clarifies that the RTO will...

By Robert Mullin California will require improved transmission access to a diverse set of renewable resources throughout the state and the broader West to cost-effectively meet its renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets, according to a report released by the state’s Energy Commission. Windy Flats, Klickitat County, WA |...

By Amanda Durish Cook MISO’s 2017 will likely be filled with capacity auction changes, cost allocation debates, an updated interconnection queue and multiple transmission studies. The RTO filed its proposed forward capacity auction for its retail-choice areas Nov. 1 and requested a March 1 effective date (ER17-284). (See MISO Files...

By Tom Kleckner SPP and its stakeholders enter 2017 seeking ways to integrate the massive amounts of renewables in the RTO’s interconnection queue, while also completing the painful Z2 project, improving the Order 1000 competitive transmission process and implementing more sophisticated combined cycle modeling. Expiring tax credits and reduced costs...

By William Opalka New England policymakers hope to reach agreement in 2017 on revised market rules to accommodate state clean energy policies, as three states seek to complete renewable procurements and Massachusetts readies for a new solicitation. Although Donald Trump’s election threatens federal initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, New England...

By William Opalka FERC ordered hearing and settlement procedures in a dispute over capacity obligations in an area of Northern Maine separate from ISO-NE (ER17-192). The dispute concerns the Northern Maine Independent System Administrator, whose transmission system is not directly connected with the rest of New England and whose market...