Where: Germany

Who: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy

What is electric thermal energy storage? “store large quantities of energy, using volcanic rock as the storage medium.”

Powermag | Volcanic Rock Offers New Take on Energy Storage

Who: Tesla new product, Megapack

Goal of Megapack: alternative to natural gas “peaker” power plants.

Where is the Megapack at work? Moss Landing energy storage project in California with PG&E

What is the output?  182.5 MW of the upcoming 567 MW 

TechCrunch | Tesla has a new energy product called Megapack

Where: Florida

Who is paying for EV charge expansion? VW settlement

What will the EV plan look like?

• 23 sites with fast-charge public stations
• covering I-95, I-75, I-10 + the Miami metro area.

Jacksonville | On the road: EV Charging got Expand on Florida Roads

Where: Arizona

What? Allegations of an oil and gas company working against utility EV projects

Why the inter-industry brouhaha? Chevron partners with EVgo for charging stations at its gas stations. These chargers would compete with public chargers — and public rates.

What is the Arizona Corporation Commission calling for in the EV projects?

• focus on infrastructure, education, and outreach
• make-ready
• rate design
• incentives/rebates
• cost recovery
• underserved and disadvantaged communities

Elektrek | Arizona asks utilities to present public EV charging projects, oil lobby campaign fails

Where: Iran

What: Tariff for electric use by crypto currency miners

What policy reasons? Electricity is affordable and crypto miners, that use high volume of electricity, impact residents electric use

Is this unusual? No, Wyoming plan ed electric use regulations on crypto miners

OBN | New electricity tariff for crypto-currency miners in Iran

Where: Kyle, TX

What does the lawsuit allege? Kyle TX overstepped its authority with its July 2nd ordinance prohibiting natural gas pipelines

What does Kyle’s ordinance require?

• all natural gas pipelines with a diameter of 30 inches must obtain a city permit
• buried at least 13 feet below the surface
• located at least 200 feet away from schools, day cares, hospitals, retirement homes and other sensitive facilities
• several fees, including a $2,500 permit application fee and a fee per linear foot for city right-of-way used

Houston Chronicle | Kinder Morgan sues Austin suburb over anti-pipeline ordinance

Where: Denton TX

What: City Council looks to increase minimum required distance between new homes and old gas wells

Policy justifications?

• fast growth area
• protecting health and safety of residents
• growing body of research concerning health issues for those near oil and gas facilities

Legal issues?

• Does state law prevent Denton from acting/do they care?
• Does it open the city to a reverse taking that would require compensation?

Denton Record Chronicle | Denton ponders longer distances between new homes, old gas wells

Top states:

• California, with roughly 230 MW;
• Texas, with slightly under 100 MW;
• West Virginia, with about 60 MW;
• Alaska, with slightly under 50 MW;
• Ohio, with about 40 MW; and
• Pennsylvania, rounding out the top 10 with roughly 30 MW.

What do the states have in common?

• oil and gas producing states

Natural Gas Intel | Top States for Battery Storage Power Growth also Major Oil, Gas Players

Where: California

What does the bill look like? AB 1788 (2019 | CA)

How is this bigger than killing pests? The pesticides sought to be banned also kill unintended animals up the food chain like large cats, mountain lions

Who is the opposition to statewide ban?

• pest control companies
• California Chamber of Commerce
• apartment owners
• food processors, restaurant associations and other industry groups wary of rodent infestations.

As a hard to pass bill in California, what did pass? a pesticide ban limited to areas prone to wildfires

Sacramento Bee | As rats overrun California cities, state moves to ban powerful pest-killers

Where? Berkeley CA

What? City Council unanimous vote to ban natural gas infrastructure in new low-rise residential buildings starting 1.1.2020

Exceptions? Yes, 2. new industrial & commercial buildings

Supporters?

• PG&E
• Sierra Club
• atural Resources Defense Council 

What will be required in new buildings instead? electrification of space and water heating and air conditioning

Smart Cities | Berkeley, CA sets historic law banning natural gas from new buildings

What is happening? Increasing private equity (venture capital) funding for energy storage

Show me where:

• Energy Capital Partners  acquired energy storage developer Convergent Energy + Power
•  solar sector investments in Q1 2019 totaled $176 million, up from $161 million in Q1 2018

What are the market projections for energy storage? will be a trillion dollar market

Utility Dive | Private equity investment in storage expected to increase as ECP buys Convergent

Where: Montana

The energy storage: Storing 400 MW of  pumped storage hydro power in central Montana

How was funding secured? Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners 

AP | Montana energy storage project lines up financial partner

Where: North Carolina

What EV pilot program is involved? Duke Energy’s $76 million electric transportation pilot program

What did regulators say when they said no?

• it would be giving pre-approval to consumers paying for EV infrastructure
• the EV pilot is being used to avoid a full rate case

What did the utility say in defense of the pilot?

• it will help NC meet clean air thresholds
• it is necessary for the state to meet its own EV goals of 80,000 electric vehicles by 2025
• the pilot program is necessary to understand the market

S&P Global | NC public staff questions need for Duke Energy EV pilot program

What question is being answered in KP-0262? May Jackson County Navigation District (the “District”) require an easement for new and existing aerial utility lines which cross over its boundaries?

The answer: Yes as long as it does so to meet statutory and constitutional provisions

A caveat? Yes, if the land was acquired by patent from the state. Then the state can set the limitations.

The study: Authenticity Gap report by FleishmanHillard Fishburn

What did consumers say for this 7th annual Authenticity Gap report?

• 66% consumers want companies to show greater purpose & societal impact
•  59% expect companies to stand up on climate and environmental issues (that’s up from 39% in 2018)
• 84% of the 160 companies studied don’t meet consumer expectations concerning environmental issues and climate change

What did it say about how this message should be conveyed?

• 76% expect CEOs to first and foremost communicate issues that impact customers
• 71% expect CEOS to first and foremost communicate issues that impact employees
• 55% believe Companies should act on issues with a large societal impact, even if there is no significant affect to the company
• 48% consumers think companies must take a stand on controversial issues that influenced government policy changes
• 43% consumers think corporations should take stands on issues concerning the CEOs own personal views and beliefs 

The Holmes Report | Study: Consumer Expect Brands To Take A Stand On Climate Change & Data Security

What’s happening? traditional mutual funds & exchange-traded funds are investing in clean water

Why? As clean water becomes scarcer, the price goes up

How are they investing?  Companies that contribute to the delivery, testing and cleaning of potable water.

NY Times | As Fresh Water Grows Scarcer, It Could Become a Good Investment

Who wants cloud storage rules? Utility security experts

Who are these utilities asking for these rules?  FERC

What does this mean to the industry? 

• It should shift data storage away from onsite data storage for grid and facility security purposes
• Supporters say it is more cost effective for smaller utilities
• PPL Electric Utilities is looking at it
• Southwest Power Pool raised the issue at 2018 Reliability Technical Conference

Are any others tackling cloud storage and grid security? Yes NERC is working on proposed standards

Utility Dive | Utilities press FERC to allow cloud-based storage to increase data security, reliability

Who are the 7 groundwater districts?

• Calhoun Co. GCD
• Headwaters GCD
• Live Oak Underground water CD
• Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer CD
• Gonzales Co. Underground Water CD
• Mesa Underground Water CD
• Evergreen Underground Water CD

What did the SAO say? The Priority District is Live Oak has issues identified present risks or effects that if not addressed could critically affect the audited entity’s ability to effectively administer the program(s)/function(s) audited. IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

What did Live Oak not do?

• Obtain an annual audit of its financial condition
• Obtain bonds for district officers, employees, or consultants who are

responsible for handling district funds

• Obtain bonds for district board members
• More regular meetings
• More written policies need to be adopted to establish an audit or
• finance committee of the board.

Is there a runner up? Yes, Evergreen has issues identified present risks or effects that if not addressed could substantially affect the audited entity’s ability to effectively administer the program(s)/function(s) audited. PROMPT ACTION REQUIRED

What did Evergreen not do?

• Management plan goals did not control & prevent waste of groundwater.
• Management plan goals address conjunctive surface water management issues. 
• Management plan goals did not address  conservation.

SAO 19-039 (Texas State Auditor) 

Friendly reminder that gubernatorial power includes issuing executive orders that would:

• direct staff to explore alternative paths to climate change
• Direct agencies to take action concerning alternative paths to climate change

Where is this happening? Oregon

How did the Legislature get to a threat of Executive Action? By killing a Climate Change bill that resulted in the threat of executive action

The Hill | Oregon governor prepared to use executive powers to pass climate legislation after GOP walkout

What: Texas Comptroller Natural Resources Program new research on imperiled and listed bird and turtle species in Matagorda Bay

Where do I find this? Here

What? Sharing laundry services by an app. Make money from your washing machine.

Where did this start? UK

What are the apps? Washare & Cashare (for appliances generally)

How does this overlap water regulations?   Depending on the water usage changes in residential areas and the impact to water service

Forbes | Washapp! Now Even Your Washing Machine Can Make Money In The Sharing Economy

Nevada joins Hawaii in moving to performance based rate making.

What is performance based ratemaking? 

• Utilities forego rate cases and instead
• Generate earnings by meeting efficiency and clean energy goals, & delivering new services 

The legislation: SB 300 (2019 | NV)

Policy goals: “to leverage and benefit from technological changes and innovative operating practices,”

Utility Dive | Nevada follows Hawaii, moves toward performance-based ratemaking

Ohio’s HB 6 (2019 | OH)  will:

• end renewable mandates on utilities 
  • this also ends a $5 fee on customers
• subsidize nuclear and coal plants
• generate $190 million annually with a $1 per month fee through 2026
• allow electric distribution utilities to charge customers a monthly fee

Cleveland | Heavy hitters turn up the pressure on state lawmakers as Ohio energy bill approaches key vote

Who: Maas Energy Works, 1 of 2 companies building methane digesters, with grants to add 6 more dairies to the plant

Where: California

What:

• A network of farms that turns manure gas, from 35,000 cows, into a biofuel
• Help dairies slash greenhouse gas emissions
   

How much is the project? $30M with grant from the state’s cap-and-trade program

Sacramento Bee | Turning poop into power: California dairies appeal for more state climate change money

SB 475 (2019 | TX) and SB 936 (2019 | TX)

SB 475 (2019 | TX) will:

• Create the Texas Electric Grid Security Council
• To coordinate the sharing and implementation of best security practices
• within the industry

SB 936 (2019 | TX) will:

• creates a a cybersecurity monitor program
• backed by a framework for collaboration among state regulators, utilities and the reliability coordinator
• to secure critical grid infrastructure against cyberattacks 
• permits electric utilities to “recover reasonable and necessary costs incurred in connection with activities under the cybersecurity monitor program.”

Utility Dive | Texas passes first grid protection bills to boost cybersecurity monitoring and best practices

Montana’s HB 286 (2019 | MT) limits state access to water rights in 2 ways:

• A court must determine that the state is an owner of a water right
• OR
• state is in possession of a deed transferring ownership of the water right 

How did this start? Natural Resources & Conservation Trust Land Management Division claimed partial ownership of private water rights if water was used on state land – even if the well was on private land.

TSLN | Farm Bureau applauds state land water bill becoming Montana law

Where: Kyle Texas

The Ordinance:  Oil and Gas Pipeline Building Ordinance

What does the  Oil and Gas Pipeline Building Ordinance do? sets rules for all pipelines going through the city limits

The rational for the ordinance: “recognizes the need to continue to regulate certain aspects of oil and gas pipeline activity as well as development in and around hazardous pipelines in order to preserve and protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and to preserve the quality of life and property values.”

The vote: unanimous

Hays Free Press | Kyle ordinance protects against pipeline incidents

Fuel retailers including:

• NATSO, the national association representing truckstops and travel plazas,
• National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)
• Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA)
• Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA)

Support private investment in EV charging infrastructure.

Oppose public utilities to “unfairly compete against the private sector by utilizing rate payer dollars to make such investments” Because it  “will effectively destroy the incentive for private sector investment”

CISION | Fuel Retailers Urge Lawmakers to Support Private Investment in EV Charging Infrastructure

Where: California

The legislation: SB 54 (2019 | CA)  and AB 1080 (2019 | CA) 

Goal of the legislation: Reduce single use plastic use in California by 75% before 2030

What companies will benefit? Recyled materials, wood pulp, paper, wood, compostable packaging

KPCC | Debating The Single-Use Plastic Bills Moving Through State Legislature 

Where: Louisiana

Who sued? Environmentalists

State or federal court? Federal

Why? Civil rights lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a state law concerning protests at critical infrastructure

The Advocate | Protest a pipeline, become a felon? In Louisiana, that’s possible. Groups challenging new law 

Arizona Corporation Commissioner Olson continues to oppose an EV policy from the commission.

His opposition is:

• It does not prioritize afforable energy
• Ratepayer-funded subsidies for electric vehicles will drive up utility bills

AZ Central | Arizona’s utility regulators are making decisions that will needlessly cost you

The businesses: Honda & Ohio-based American Electric Power

What’s the plan? used Honda Fit EV batteries goe to AEP for use in the electric grid

2 Goals of the program?

•  develop technology and standards for future vehicle grid integration
• new business models to improve the value of EVs

Green Car Congress | Honda, American Electric Power developing 2nd life applications for used EV batteries

Inside EVs | Honda To Study 2nd Life Of Used EV Batteries In Ohio 

• Florida Business Trends
  • NextEra Energy Resources LLC combines storage with wind & solar to create a renewable energy power plant with guaranteed capacity
  • Florida Light & Power plans to build world’s largest battery, energy storage, that will allow it to shut down two aging natural gas units
• Texas Legislation SB 1941 (2019 | TX)
  • allows entities to contract for storage for reliability purposes
• Arizona Public Service Co
  • Will add 850 MW of battery storage over several years
• Southern Co.’s Georgia Power Regulatory Case
  • To add 50 MW of battery storage as part of its long-term resource plan
• North Carolina Regulators
  • Approved Duke Energy’s microgrid, part of the utility’s proposed 300 MW of storage

E&E | 5 state battles to watch

• Minnesota
  • backing the U.S. Climate Alliance
  • toward 100% “clean” or renewable energy
  • Governor put 100% clean move in the state budget
  • only legislative chamber to pass a 100% energy bill is in Minnesota HF 100 (2019|MN)
• Illinois
  • backing the U.S. Climate Alliance
  • toward 100% “clean” or renewable energy
  • Legislation to move to 100% clean
• Texas
  • Sierra Club says Texas will reach 50% within 10 years
• Michigan
  • backing the U.S. Climate Alliance
  • toward 100% “clean” or renewable energy
  •  
• Wisconsin
  • backing the U.S. Climate Alliance
  • toward 100% “clean” or renewable energy
• Nevada
  • 2050 goal for 100% clean
• New Mexico
  • 2045 goial for 100% clean
  • Public Service Company of New Mexico utility willbe 100% emission free by 2040
• Arizona
  • 2018 voters rejected a proposal of 50% renewables by 2030 for regulated utilities

E&E News  | 5 state battles to watch

Where: Utah

The tax cut proposal: Cut the 7.5% sales tax on equipment and materials used to coax hydrocarbon out of the ground

The legislation: SB 201 (2019 | UT) 

Salt Lake Tribune | Lobbyists ask Utah lawmakers to eliminate 7.5% sales tax to help oil and gas industry 

The start up:  Griddy Energy LLC, a Texas-based supplier

What’s the buiness model of Griddy? homeowners & businesses get direct access to the ups and downs of wholesale prices + a $9.99 monthly fee

Average customer price: 8.8 cents per kilowatt-hour

Bloomberg | Texas Startup Letting Homeowners Buy Wholesale Power Gets Funding to Expand

What is Asset-Backed Demand Response? 

• Provider installs, manages and operates the system tailored to the customer’s needs
• Ownership can be with the customer or NRG
• Microgrid reliability, power stays on when the grid goes down
• Customer makes little or no capital investment
• Holistic energy system
• Predictable energy spending

What does tge prodiver bring to the table for a customer agreement for asset backed demand response?

• Design of the actual microgrid technology
• Management of all third-party commodity agreements
• Support of grid reliability
• Coordination of bill management via single monthly energy payments

Microgrid Knowlwedge | NRG editorial team| Asset-Backed Demand Response: The ‘Next Big Idea’ in Energy

• Wind energy provided Starr County a diversified tax base & new stream of tax revenue
• The county economy was revitalized because of Chapter 312 and 313 incentive package it offered
• The county cleared its debt and has a established a Rainy Day Fund

How Wind Saved Star County | County Judge Vera

Where: Michigan

The pilot program name: ‘Charging Forward’ pilot 

The Public Utility Commission docket: Order  for  DTE’s transportation electrification pilot

What the EV pilot program looks like:

• utility will be allowed to invest $13 million
• campaigns for residential & commercial customers
• rebates for residential customers
• $20,000 rebates for electric charger site hosts

The EV Pilot goals:

• maximize program participation at the lowest cost
• test new technologies
• ensure EV charging loads maximize benefits to all ratepayers
• ensure investments in make-ready infrastructure
• address range anxiety and other barriers
• enable DTE to learn how to “manage charging times and locations, minimize investment in distribution infrastructure, and eliminate adverse grid impacts.”

Utility Dive | Michigan regulators approve DTE $273M rate increase, EV pilot, net metering replacement

Where: Seattle

What does Seattle’s ordinance do?

• Require charging stations at all new buildings with off street parking
• All residences with private parking must have one space with EV charging accessibility
• Multi-family residences with shared parking must have 20% of their spaces EV-ready
• non-residential buildings will need at least 10% of parking to be EV-ready

Statement by Mayor Jenny Durkan on City Council’s Vote to Approve Her Legislation That Ensures More New Seattle Buildings Are Ready for Electric Vehicles

UTILITY DIVE | Seattle passes EV readiness requirements

The story:

• A North Carolina Lawmaker is also a lawyer
• The lawfirm represents a large utility
• The lawmaker is accused on pushing legislation for the utility
• An ethics commission complaint was filed alledging he was profiting from the legislation

Tacoma News Tribune | AP | Group files ethics complaint against N Carolina legislator 

Where: Vermont

The regulatory rules:

• allow a premium rate by building smaller projects sited on landfills, sandpits and other less desirable properties
• the goal: move projects away from agricultural lands

Do Vermont regulators want to look at expanding this to cover other factors? Yes, to include tree clearing and grid congestion

Energy News | Vermont rules spur solar development on landfills, brownfields 

What does is talk of this proposal? The Minerals Security Act to bolster mining for the EV industry

Who is proposing it? US Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska & Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va

What would the legislation’s goals be?

• streamline regulation and permitting requirements for mines that can produce EV supply chain materials.
• targets lithium mining
• develop a national supply chain for EV materials

Electek | New US legislation would aid domestic mining of electric vehicle materials 

State : Vermont

The legislation: H214 (2019 | VT )

How does this bill allow natural gas permits to consider groundwater contamination?

• makes the environmental impacts of natural gas leaks a health and safety concern for Vermont
• uses a regional standard for groundwater impact with this drafting language: 
  • “impact of groundwater contamination caused by the extraction of the natural gas in the region where the extraction is conducted”

As an added bonus it also adds in these limits on financing pipelines:

• can’t be financed beyond the useful lifetime
• “shall not allow construction costs to be securitized on other utilities beyond the pipeline infrastructure”

NE Public Radio | House Committee Hears Testimony On Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Bills

Where: Maine

What: A ban selling or distributing polystyrene AKA styrofoam

What businesses are covered in the ban?

• convenience stores
• restaurants
• grocery stores 

3 Reasons why the stat ebanned styrofoam?

• detrimentally impacting Maine’s economy
• Top 10 items littered
• Doesn’t readily decompose & difficult to recycle in Maine

Governing | Maine Becomes First State to Ban Styrofoam

State: Vermont

Legislation: H175 (2019 | VT )

How does this bill ban pipelines from using eminent domain?

• Prohibits the construction or expansion if eminent domain is used
• to build infrastructure to “produce electricity, heat, or other energy using fossil fuel.”

Is this just a Vermont thing? No, Missouri legislature backed a ban on eminent domain for tranmsission lines that produce no benefit to Missourians

NE Public Radio | House Committee Hears Testimony On Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Bills

State : Vermont

The legislation: H51 (2019 | VT)

What would this bill do?

• Prohibit construction of fossil fuel infrastructure UNLESS
• construction project is certified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

What does it mean by fossil fuel infrastructure? Pipelines by this defintion: 

• Fossil fuel infrastructure” means a structure and ancillary facilities used to move fossil fuel from one location to another, such as a natural gas or oil pipeline

NE Public Radio | House Committee Hears Testimony On Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Bills

Where: Grids in California, Wyoming & Utah

What: A “cyber event” interrupted grid operations, but did not lead to an outage

When: March 5th 9 a.m. until nearly 7 p.m

E& E News | ‘Cyber event’ disrupted U.S. grid networks — DOE

WHO: Coalition for a Fair and Open Port

Who is in the Coalition for a Fair and Open Port?

• Enterprise Products Partners LP
• Kinder Morgan Inc.
• Targa Resources Corp.
• Intercontinental Terminals LLC
• SemGroup Corp.
• Magellan Midstream Partners, LP
• Occidental Petroleum Corporation
• Vopak North America Inc.
• Apache Corp.
• EOG Resources, Inc.
• ConocoPhillips Company

What bills are they supporting? SB 1915 and SB 2223 (2019 | TX)

Why are they supporting these bills?

• SB 1915 restore good governance to the Port of Houston
• SB 2223 is the foundation for “capital investments and improvements can be made and, over the long term, maintains the dynamic “two-way” traffic”

Business Wire | Statement of Texas Energy Leaders about Port of Houston Legislation

Where: Alabama

What: stimulating the installation of new EV charging stations with incentives like Alabama’s state funded grant program

HOW: Governor’s Council created the Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan

WHO has access to the grant program?

• municipalities
• counties
• universities
• other public institutions

Alabama Newscenter | Alabama EV charging station grant program could provide model for nation

No, the mineral rights owner will not have rights to pore space, the underground cavities, in North Dakota with the passage of this legislation.

The pore space will belong to the surface rights owner.

Why does this matter? Underground injection wells, who has access and ownership of underground cavities

WRAL  | Energy bill dealing with underground cavities becomes law 

This Journal of Environmental Economics and Management clocks a 29% decline in toxic emissions when local plants were covered by local newspapers.

Governing | When No News Isn’t Good News: What the Decline of Newspapers Means for Government

Where: Iowa

What: The Iowa Utilities Board order on a proposed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations rule specifies that EV stations are not considered public utilities under state law

What does this mean for rates?

• 3rd parties can set their own rates

• “If the electricity used for electric vehicle charging is obtained from a rate-regulated public utility, the terms and conditions of the service to the electric vehicle charging station shall be governed by and subject to the utility’s filed tariff,” the order says

IOWA Utilities Board | Order|  IN RE: ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE

What Regualtory Body invoiced for a transmission line? New Mexico Public Utility Council

What company received the $39 Million invoice? Facebook

Why? The new transmission line only benefited Facebook & served no public benefit

Washington Post | New Mexico panel surprises Facebook with $39M utility bill

Nebraska has been debating a bill that removed the power of eminent domain for provate entities building wind farms.

Its been amended to do this:

• leave eminent domain in tact
• increase access to courts for property owners

AP | Nebraska advances scaled-back bill aimed at wind energy

The academics: The Energy Institute at HAAS School of Business, University of California Berkeley

Their arguments to support pay as your drive programs:

• The gasoline tax is highly regressive, and EV drivers tend to be disproportionately high income
• EV environmental damage is not ZERO
• EV cars still impact roads and impact congestion and traffic

Energy Institute at HAAS | Should Electric Vehicle Drivers Pay a Mileage Tax? 

City: Atlanta

Atlanta’s Clean Energy Plan: 100% Clean Energy by 2035

What were the local government mechanics to craft this plan?

•  Developed by the Mayor’s Office of Resilience
•  City Council Approval 

What does it mean for homeowners?

•  Rebates. rebates to Georgia Power customers who install energy saving improvements
•  Low Income Programs. round up electric bills to the nearest dollar to fund low-income energy efficiency initiatives
• Affordable solar. solar bulk purchasing programs

How does Atlanta define clean energy? wind, solar, existing and low-impact hydroelectric, geothermal, biogas and wave technology sources

WHAT 6 OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR?

• Aspen, Colorado
• Georgetown, Texas
• Greensburg, Kansas
• Burlington, Vermont
• Kodiak Island, Alaska
• Rock Port, Missouri

Atlanta Journal Constitution | Homeowners play a role in Atlanta’s Clean Energy Plan

State: California

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “strike force” on utilities and wildfires report is calling for state PUC reforms.

What PUC reforms are being proposed?

• expand the PUC’s safety expertise
• improve the PUC’s ability to review wildfire mitigation plans, conduct inspections and audits, and enforce safety standards
• Delegate more authority to staff for safety
• Limit the Commissioners to core questions of rate setting 

RTO Insider | Calif. Must Limit Wildfire Liability, Governor Says

State: California

Excuse, what? California is limiting liability who is recommending this? California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “strike force” on utilities and wildfires report

What reforms are being proposed?

• equitable distribution of wildfire liability
• eliminate the existing strict liability standard
• liability should be based on the amount of wrong doing

RTO Insider | Calif. Must Limit Wildfire Liability, Governor Says

State: Colorado

The legislation: HB 1198 (2019 | CO)  Electric Vehicle Grant Fund

The urban-rural EV plan: The new EV fund would direct more funds towards EV charger stations that could not earn enough revenue from charing alone (rural areas)

Utility Dive | Colorado passes bill to avoid urban-rural divide on EV chargers

State: California

Legislation: SB 288 (2019 | CA)

Who does SB 288, the Solar Bill of Rights apply to?

• homes
• schools
• businesses

What does the Solar Bill of Rights say?

• “the fundamental right to generate and store renewable energy and to reduce and shape their use of electricity obtained from the electrical grid, whether their facilities are off-grid or interconnected to the grid”

The opposition:

• state’s investor-owned utilities
• The Utility Reform Network consumer group

San Francisco Chronicle |  ‘Solar Bill of Rights’ advances in California Legislature

Where?  Four Midwestern rural electric cooperatives

• MiEnergy Cooperative
• Richland Electric Cooperative
• Oakdale Electric Cooperative in Wisconsin
• Jo-Carroll Energy in Illinois

How?  testing installation of battery storage for residential customers

What? the coops want to see if it is economically will reduce peak demand or provide other benefits to customers

Energy News Network | Midwest co-ops test value of placing batteries in customers’ homes

The company: Apple

How is Apple meeting uts call to curb climate warming emissions? supply chain manufacturers are vowing to use 100% renewable energy

What’s the renewable energy use for Apple? 40% 

Is Apple doing anything else to promote renewables? Yes, “$2.5 billion in “green bonds” it raised for use in promoting renewable energy and climate-related projects.”

Washington Post | Apple takes step toward curbing climate-warming emissions from its supply chain

In Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-0247 (2019) lets u sknow that a ground water district can probably define these terms BUT ONLY IF the defintion does not exlcude items included in the defintions in the Section 36.001 Water Code.

Whose question is being answered? Chair Bob Hall

What question is being answered?  What is the authority of a groundwater conservation district to define the term “agricultural crop” for the purpose ofdetermining the applicable fe~ rate for “irrigating agricultural crops.”?

The St. Louis Dispatch Editorial Board raises these 3 concerns about a SB 93 (2019 |MO) about protestors at pipelines and other critical infrastrcuture:

• The bill impacts protestors from the RIGHT & the LEFT, such as farmers that protested the Grain Belt Transmission Line Project in Missouri. Both sides have Free Speech Rights
• When protestors engage their constitutional rights, trespeass and existing laws already make hugging a pipeline in protest illegal
• It subjects groups to 10 times ordinary penalties for the actions of a few of their members

St. Louis Dispatch | Editorial: Missouri bill aims to silence environmentalists. It could silence farmers, too.

Last week, FL GOP Governor created a Chief Science Officer to bring science back. This week, a 6 term GOP Mayor of Carmel, Indiana is in D.C. supporting climate change policies in Congress.

Why is this GOP mayor supporting cilimate change policies?

•  “the root of the word ‘conservative’ is ‘conserve.’”
• Congress should offer more Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
• What’s conservative about recklessly disregarding what the vast majority of the world’s scientists are saying?”
• A January 2019 AP Poll of Republicans shows 52% climate change policies

Governing | The GOP Mayor Pushing Climate Change Policies in Congress

Where: Florida

Who: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) 

What: Florida’s Republican Governor appointed the state’s 1st Chief Science Officer

Why?

• Part of the Governor’s “focus on the environment”:
• The Chief Science Officer is housed in the state Department of Environmental Protection
• The Chief Science Officer will focus on:
  • water
  • algae blooms that impact fishing, swimming, tourism and wildlife
  • “Science is back in the state of Florida,”
  • The Republican Govenor takes climate change very seriously

Sun Sentinel | A First for Florida: GOP Governor Appoints Chief Science Officer

• prevent deregulated market rates from furthr decreasing
•  stifles competition for energy transmission 
• overturns a competitively awarded transmission contract
• coporate welfare bill

Citizens Against Government Waste | Texas House Bill 3995 Would Hurt Consumers in the Lone Star State

Let’s dig into Illinois’ Commerce Commission and its role in grid security:

• 2 years ago it opened its Office of Cybersecurity and Risk Management
• Which industries is it talking to when it wants to secure the state grid?
  •  electric
  • telecommunications
  • gas
  • water utility
• Grid securing also involved emergency management
  • collaborated with:
    • Illinois Emergency Management Agency
    • first responders
    • hospital officials

3 Take aways from the collaborative preemeptive planning:

• Utilities must be “vigilant and take base-level tactical actions to avoid creating unnecessary cyber risks”
• Human behavior is the weak point in security
• Be prepared for changes in the tools available to you to solve your problems

Energy News Network | In Illinois, utility regulators are playing bigger role in smart-grid cybersecurity

Where: Victoria County Texas

What: A district’s Brackish groundwater rules would allow “companies to pump as much as 16 acre-feet of water per year per acre owned in certain parts of the county if their well is deep and the water is salty enough.”

Goals:

• relieve pressure on freshwater supplies

What restrictions would be on companies?

• quarterly reports to the district
• cannot pump all their annual brackish water at once

Victoria Advocate | County’s flexible water rules could entice businesses

What are we talking about specifically? 2015, 2017 & 2019 legislative attempts by retail public water utilities to mandate how groundwater conservation districts should allocate groundwater rights

Texas Farm Bureau lays out 3 reasons why this taking water rights is unconstitutional:

• The groundwater rights were being allocated to the public water utilities without the owners consent, simply by location within a CCN
• The Rule of Capture decision by the Texas Supreme Court related to oil and gas should apply here too
• If retail utilities want the water, ask for consent and pay compensation

Huntsville Item | Taking water rights without consent is unconstitutional

• The Repeal Maine’s LD91 (2019 | ME) repeals its gross metering rule for solar.
• The Quasi Repeal for Business. How was the gross metering rule working out before this repeal?  The utlity commission had suspecnded the fee for business and industrial sectors
• The Refresher: What is gross metering? “requires customers to pay a delivery charge on power consumed behind the meter”

Solar Industry | Maine Legislature Approves Bill To Repeal Gross Metering

• 62% increase from 2015 to 2017
• 1,300 megawatts of DER in ERCOT by December 31, 2018
• 1 and 10 megawatts of DER in steady growth since 2015
• DOUBLE growth for small DER of less than 1 megawatt from mid 2016 through 2018

The study, “Valuing and Compensating Distributed Energy Resources in ERCOT,” is by the Texas Clean Energy Coalition & The Brattle Group.

Solar Power World | Study finds Texas is investing in more distributed energy resources

Where: Arizona

What happened?

• A new development sought water services
• Lawsuit ensued when the city used eminent domain
• The Arizona Supreme Court pointed to the AZ constitution to find that state regulatory body had no authority over a municipal utility

San Francisco Chronicle | Ruling: Utility panel lacks authority over eminent domain

The company: Solugen

Its “alleged” origins: a potentially former meth lab, rent was low

The decarbonization process by Solugen is as hazardous as making beer. 

For the science nerds, like me: “Solugen’s secret sauce is its ability to create oxidase enzymes cheaply that can be combined with simple sugars to make oxidation chemicals”

Tech Crunch | Meet the Texas startup that wants to decarbonize the chemical industry

Pennsylvania legislation wants natural gas pipelines to meet with county emergency coordinators prior to pipeline construction. 

The bill also seeks more citizen input via new commission to study pipeline construction & operations.

ABC 27 | Some state lawmakers question safety of natural gas pipelines 

Arizona’s Public Utility Commission public comment period for EV rules ended this month and here’s where it shakes out:

• Tucson Electric Power likes Demand-Side Management
• EVGo supports commercial charging rates are “critical for increasing the viability of transportation electrification for renters, fleets, rideshare drivers, and others who utilize public fast charging.”
• New Issues: appropriateness of utility-owned charging equipment?
• Arizona Public Service supports utility expansion of EV equipment
• Arizonans for Electric Choice and Competition supports EV expansion by the competitive market
• is there value of flexible pilot programs?

Arizona Corporate Commission EV Docket

Utility Dive | As Arizona’s EV policy takes shape, demand charges come under focus

• Low Job Numbers.  In 2018, 2 of 30 applicants said they would create the required 10 jobs
• Late Applications. Applications are submitted after projects have commenced
• Its ok because Sally & George did it too.  Applications have been approved because other applicants failed to meet standards so its ok that that applicant can’t meet standards either.
• Schools. Chapter 313 funds come directly from tax revenue that would otherwise fund schools
• Projected Costs  $1.1 billion a year by 2024 

Houston Chronicle | Solar companies flock to a Texas tax break with questionable payback 

Legislation in Oklahoma would require separate approval by a land owner before groundwater rights can be taken when surface lands are taken by eminent domain.

KWON | Sen Daniels Backing Groundwater Protection Rights  

“Massive corporate property tax breaks for renewable energy projects” are being lauded as standing in the way of available funding for schools according to Texas Public Policy Foundation.

TPPF wants to end Chapter 312 agreements.

Colorado SB 181 (2019 | CO) would give greater control to local officials over the location of oil and gas facilities. 

“Having permits be subject to a higher health and safety standards is not going to be devastating for the industry.”

Denver Post | Colorado’s tougher approach to oil and gas advances in House as Democratic lawmakers weigh climate change push 

California AB 495 (2019 | CA) would ban PFAS in cosmetics.

What are PFASes? “20 highly toxic chemicals including asbestos, mercury, lead, formaldehyde and fluorinated compounds”

The Hill | California legislators consider banning all cosmetics with cancer-causing chemicals

California, Hawaii and New Mexico have set 100% clean energy mandates.

The latest, New Mexico SB 489 (2019 |NM) will require:

• 100% carbon free electricity by 2045
• renewable portfolio standard will move to 50% by 2030 & 80% by 2040
• and allows for carbon capture technology paired with fossil fuel plants

Other states with similar legislation:

• Minnesota
• Washington
• New York
• Illinois

Utility Dive | Three’s company: New Mexico joins California, Hawaii in approving 100% clean energy mandate

Who is organizing the stakeholder group? Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA)

What’s the stakeholder group called? Transportation Electrification program

What stakeholders are included?

• utilities
• regulators
• automotive sector representatives
• charging infrastructure providers
• others

What is the stakeholder group working on?

• EV deployment
• Adding & managing more charging capacity
• Ensuring utilities have enough load

Smart Cities Dive | Smart Electric Power Alliance launches EV research program

Minnesota’s HF 2233 (MN | 2019) creates incentives for EVs but also includes a set aside up to $1.5 million for grants to fund public-charging infrastructure.

E&E NEws | Some fear wave of EV fees might swamp emission goals

SB 1435 (2019 | TX)  Would require property owner notification of major modifications of existing easements.

HB 2470 (2019 | TX) would permit landowners to seek recovery of loss of value to their property due to an easement

Why are they talking about this? A neighborhood bifurcated by an 80 foot transmission line easement added transmission towers to the easement.

Houston Chronicle | Bills filed to protect homeowners near transmission projects 

• energy storage cpaacity expected to double in 2019, deploying 1,681 MWh
  • In 2018 350.5 MW, 777 MWh was installed
• 53% of it is behind themeter storage
• Annual deployments to exceed 4.4 GW by 2024
• Price reductions in costs are roughly 6% due to supply shortages

Hotspots for energy storage growth:

• California
• Texas
• Hawaii
• New York

Utility Dive | US energy storage market expected to more than double in 2019, report says

Whose poll is this? Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation (CTEI)

Pollsters: n Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies

What were the results?

• Help the economy and create jobs (63%) 
• Improve reliability of the electric grid (63%) 
• Increase customer choice (75%) 
• Help Texas continue to lead the nation in energy technology (79%) 
• Result in more energy innovation (81%)

www.conservativetexansforenergyinnovation.org Poll: Republican and Independent Texans Strongly Support Responsible Clean Energy Solutions

A natural gas pipeline project in Pennsylvania raised concerns over property rights, the environmental effects and quality of life issues is giving rise to a proposal to create a pipeline moratorium that will:

•  2 years long
• Allow the legislature  to develop regulatory process regarding the safety of pipelines carrying highly volatile liquids
• the use of eminent domain by pipelines that carry highly volatile liquids

Daily Local News | Local lawmakers announce formation of pipeline safety caucus

Where: Pennsylvania

Why?  package of comprehensive pipeline safety bills that address:

• environmental violations
• public safety concerns
• geologic problems
• private property rights
•  water rights
• quality-of-life issues

Daily Local News | Local lawmakers announce formation of pipeline safety caucus 

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission removed barriers that prevented 3rd party ownership of EV charging stations.

The regulatory changes:

• EV charging stations will not be considered “resale of electricity”
• EV stations will be excluded from pricing requirements of the state’s Public Utilities Code

Utility Dive | Pennsylvania removes barrier to third-party EV charging station ownership

Missouri’s HB 482 (MO | 2019)  excludes from open records related to critical infrastructure including:

• utility documents that would be a threat to public safety if released, including computer systems and physical sttuctures
• the exclusions are limited to entities regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Beloit Daily News | HOUSE COMMITTEE PROPOSES TO EXEMPT CRITICAL INFORMATION FROM OPEN RECORDS LAWS 

The County: Hays

The pipeline project: Permian Highway Pipeline

The reasons for opposing the Pipeline:

• The company has not engaged with impacted landowners
• Asks the LEgislature:
  • adopt stricter eminent domain laws
  • approve environmental and economic impact studies be done for all oil and gas pipeline developments
• Safety

UNIVERSITY STAR | Hays County Commissioners Court opposes pipeline

Missouri’s HB 1062 (MO | 2019) remnoves the power of eminent domain for transmission lines that meet these 4 requirements:

• a high-voltage direct current electric transmission line
• that does not provide for the erection of electric substations at intervals of less than fifty miles
• which substations are necessary to accommodate both the purchase and sale to persons located in this state
• is a private entity

Iowa’s HSB 185 (IA | 2019)  would impose a $400 annual tax on solar installations to cover the cost of connecting to the grid.

Opponents say Iowa loses solar employment.

Supports say it is fairness for use and maintenance of the grid.

The Gazette | Utility-backed ‘sunshine tax’ for solar energy advances in Iowa House 

What sparked the concern about EV chargers impacting grid security? Schneider Electric issued 3 security updates for its EV chargers

What researchers are studying EV grid security?

• Idaho National Laboratory
• charging-station vendors ABB and Tritium
• 2 utilities, unnamed
• Electrify America
• Oak Ridge National Energy Lab
• The National Renewable Energy Lab

cyberscoop | Power struggle: Government-funded researchers investigate vulnerabilities in EV charging stations

City: Seattle

The EV requirements: 

• 10% of parking spaces at commercial uildings must be EV ready
• residential homes will be required to have 1 EV space
• multifamily buildings must be 20% EV-ready requirement

Smart Energy | Seattle mayor calls for EV readiness 

This week the US Supreme Court heard  Cty. of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, U.S., No. 18-260 which could impact wastewater discahrge by:

• factories
• pipelines
• sewer systems
• power plants
• petrochemical industries 

What is at issue? the impact of wastewater that seeps into groundwater 

The Supreme COurt is expected to answer whether “businesses freely dispose of pollution into a groundwater source if that pollution eventually flows into a body of water on the surface?”

Water Wastewater Digest | SUPREME COURT TO HEAR GROUNDWATER POLLUTION CASE

Los Angeles Times | Supreme Court to decide if Clean Water Act limits Hawaii’s underground wastewater dumping 

Who is making recommendations? Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection

What are the 3 recommendations for utilties to invest in EV?

• transportation electrification
• establishing statewide sales goals
• expanding an alternative fuel investment grants program for municipalities, businesses and organizations

3 Ways the EV investment can benefit utilities:

• invest in EV infrastructure to benefit drivers and the grid
• support fleet EV purchases for government
• Innovative financing program support through utilities for storage and charging

What company is bringing the world’s largest battery storage to West Texas?  Intersect Power LLC,

Where: Borden County, Texas

When: 2021

How big? 495-MW storage connected to a solar farm

Oil Price | The World’s Largest Battery To Power The Permian