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

Activists invoke States Rights to deny pipelines:

• Federal law allows states to deny Clean Water Act permits
• Tie the pipeline to the water supply damage

Has it worked? Yes in NY. In process in WA. Was involved in the Keystone XL court battles.

It has also sparked federal legislation by Repulicans to repeal state abilities to enforce the Clean Water Act in this manner.

NPR | Activists Have A New Strategy To Block Gas Pipelines: State’s Rights

A taking of private land by a private company for a pipeline results in no compensation from royalties, unlike a taking of property for solar or wind energy.

The difference in this compensation resulted in Clark Co. Wisconsin calling on the state to reform its eminent domain laws.

CWB Radio | Clark County Board of Supervisors Approves Resolution Asking Wisconsin to Review Eminent Domain Laws

WHERE: California

WHAT: California Governor Jerry Brown proposed plan to re-engineer California’s water network

HOW MUCH AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION OVER 16, THE PROJECT TIMELINE:

•  $19.9 billion, a 22% increase
• $10.8 billion is Metropolitan Water District of Southern California agreed to spending
• $1.6 billion loan from the US EPA  was requested by south-of-Delta water agencies

Sacramento Bee | Delta tunnels cost soars to nearly $20 billion when accounting for inflation

WHERE: Missouri

What happened? Courts are determining whether EV charging stations are a means of obtaining a charging service or more like a gas station?

What’s the impact? If the EV charging stations are treated like gas stations then utilities can add EV charging stations in their rate base

What did the state PUC argue? That the EV charging stations offer a service, not the sale of electricity, and are not to be included in the rate base

What are Missouri courts saying? An Appellate court found that EV charging stations are like a gas station can thus costs are recoverable in the rate base

Utility Dive | Missouri court overrules regulators, finds PSC has jurisdiction over EV charging stations

The Texas Public Policy Foundation sued the City of Georgetown for failing to disclose  a payback analysis on solar panels at the city’s westside service center.

What’s the requestor say: wants access to information concerning the city’s return on investment

What’s the city say? the information is protected competitive business information

TERRILL Putnam v. City of Georgetown 

TPPF | TPPF Sues City of Georgetown for Public Information on Solar Project

Where:  Maryland

Who does the pilot program appliy to:  Anyone who wants to power their home with solar. Owners, renters, tree dwellers, 

How does the pilot ptogram work?

• subscribe to 1 of 6 solar power projects
• includes discounts off standard electric rates

WHY? Developers need users to build out their solar projects

How much community solar did the MD Legislature authorize? 200 megawatts, about 40,000 households, over 3 years

Governing | Solar Power Pilot Program Launched in Maryland

Where: Wyoming

Candidate: Current State Treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Gordon

The Divestment: Bank of the West divesting from all businesses involved in the production, exploration and distribution of natural gas and coal

The campaign response: The state would no longer bank or enter into contracts with the Bank of the West

Casper Star Tribune | Gordon: Wyoming closed for business to Bank of the West following divestment announcement

WHO | Crunched the Numbers GTM Research

The numbers for EV by 2030:

• 11% market share for EVs, up from current 3%
  • Bloomberg says 28% of all car sales will be EV 
• 40 million global charging points
• $13 billion in 2030 for yearly market transactions for energy and delivery of grid services in North America
•  $18.6 billion by 2030 for equipment, installation, analytics and operational services for EV charging infrastructure projects
•  12 million residential charging stations

PV Magazine | EV charging infrastructure market to reach $18 billion by 2030

CleanTechnica | GTM Peers Into The Future & Sees 40 Million EV Charging Stations Worldwide By 2030

Israeli researchers discovered irrigation systems can be hacked to drain local governments of water reserves.

MotherBoard | Hackers Could Cause Havoc By Pwning Internet-Connected Irrigation Systems 

WHO | What Desalination Plant is at the center? The proposed desalination plant at the Port of Corpus Christi TX

WHERE |  Port of Corpus Christi

WHAT | What is the opposition saying?

• Aesthetics The Port Aransas Conservancy says there is an aesthetic issue and they support preserving nature
• Financial It will harm tourism and fishing industries
• Location Support the desalination plant moving offshore

KRISTV | Group against proposed Harbor Island desalination plant

 WHO |  Energy Companies

•  Devon Energy $100,000 + (OK)
• Continental Resources $100,000 + (OK)
• Newfield Exploration Co. $100,000+ (TX Company)

WHAT |  Opposing Medical Marijuana Legalization by contributing $1.3 Million to Campaigns opposing medical marijuana

• Medical Marijuna proposition passed in OK

WHERE |    Oklahoma 
 

Brownsville Herald via AP | Energy companies opposed medical marijuana in Oklahoma 

The Coalition: Don’t Blow It Texas from Devils River Conservancy

Which wind energy project does the group oppose? future wind farm development in Val Verde County to built by Chinese corporation

What is the goal of the group? 

•  thoughtful regulation of wind energy development
• to save one of the last wild areas & ecotourism
• protect Border Security Operations
• harm property values

• Rhode Island
  • 2016 regulatory approval
  • PPA price of $244/MWh
• 2 Maryland regualtors have approved 2 offshore wind projects
  • 248 MW U.S. Wind project expected to come online in 2020
  • 120 MW Deepwater Wind project expected to come online in 2022
• Massachusetts regulators are considering a Martha’s Vineyard project this year
  • utilities would pay $74/MWh for the first phase of the project
  • utilities would pay $65/MWh for the second phase
  • capacity market value of the plant may be between $5/MWh and $10/MWh

Utility Dive | Massachusetts utilities file US-record offshore wind contracts at $65/MWh

DOE Secretary Perry looks to DOUBLE the number of utilties sharing cyberthreat information.

Why?

• Close collaboration between DOE and utiltiies helped thwart utilty cyber attacks last year
• DOE is increasing its cyber security efforts
• “We’re leading by example, by strengthening protection and response capabilities for our own power marketing administrations that fall under the DOE’s supervision,” Perry said.

FCW | DOE looks to double number of electric utilities sharing cyber threat data

WHAT: Most Texas cities repealed their sales tax on utiltiies in the late 1970s: 141 Cities in Texas repealed their sales tax on utilities

How can this sales tax be implemented: Some say it can be revived by city ordinance

Where is it being considered? El Paso as an alternative to raising property tax revenues

KVIA | ​City of El Paso Considering a Sales tacx for utility services. 

What entity is looking at a pumped storage project? Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Where would the pumped storage facility be? Hoover Dam, which runs at 20% of capacity for generation

How would the pumped storage project work?

• solar and wind resources would pump water back up to Lake Mead
• water would be kept in Hoover Damn
• the stored water would be used for generation when needed

NY Times | The $3 Billion Plan to Turn Hoover Dam Into a Giant Battery. 

A Navigant research report on cyber security of utilities suggested recommendations for smart meter cyber security:

• robust security strategy
• clear breach response plan
• providing strong and constant security training to all employees

State Tech | Where Smart Utilities Meet Cybersecurity 

California legislature is considering AB 33 (2017-2018 | CA)  that would:

• PG&E issue state-authorized bonds
• The bond proceeds would pay to settle the more than 200 lawsuits sparked by the fires

California Governor Jerry Brown proposes reducing utility liabilty for wildfires by:

• Requiring a court to consider whether:
  • the utility acted reasonably
  • balance the harm caused to the property owner with the public good of the utility

Governor Brown Proposal July 2018 | 24759 CA Legislative Counsel Digest 

The California Public Utility Commission denied a rate increase for San Diego Gas & Electric Co.’s request to bill ratepayers for a 2007 fire.

How much did San Diego want to pass on to customers?  $379 million in costs

Why was the rate increase denied? A court found SDG&E didn’t properly trim trees near transmission lines

What’s the bargain in California when eminent domain is granted? In exchange for the power of eminnt domain, CA utilities are responsible for paying damages if their equipment starts fires, even if they aren’t negligent.

Local Government: Albany County

The local styrofoam ban: Impacts styrofoam cups, take away containers in all eateries

Background: In 2013 styrofoam was banned in chain restaurants, the 2018 proposal expands the ban to all eateries

Opponents, the New York State Chemistry Council Group​ say:

• “studies that show polystyrene is not a health hazard, not a carcinogen”
• costly to businesses

WNYT | Albany County Legislature holds public hearing on proposed expanded Styrofoam ban

The latest U.S. Energy Storage Monitor report from GTM Research and the Energy Storage Association finds:

• 2018 Q1 saw 36 MWh grid-connected residential storage deployed
• 2018 Q1 overall deployment of energy storage was 126 MWh 
• 2018 Q1 is as much as the 3 previous quarters
• 74% of the residential deployments were in CA & HI
• 95% of all residential storage is solar-paired
• 51% of deployments are commercial and industrial and the front-of-the-meter markets

The energy storagae deployiment increase is atrributed to: Policy changes in HI and CA that reduced net metering compensation

Energy Storage Assoc. | U.S. Residential Energy Storage Market Hits New Highs in Q1 2018 

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? 

Wild fires in California coupled with utility liability issues have lowered credit rating issues from S&P Global Ratings.

S&P Global Ratings suggested action on state backed debt for utilities.

Without state backed debt, lower credit ratings mean less access to financial capital to pursue battery storage projects.

Press Telegram | A political firestorm is about to hit the Capitol: Who will pay for wildfire damages? 

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

Background: Missouri regulators had rejected an application that would grant eminent domain authority to the Grain Belt Express, in part, due to no service would be provided to person in Missouri.

Grain Belt Express over came regulators by:

• entering into an agreement to provide service to Missourians
• winning at the Missouri State Supreme Court which found that precedent requiring pre-approval of counties was not appropriate 

St Louis Dispatch | Missouri Supreme Court says state regulators erred in denial of Grain Belt Express transmission line

Utilities are said to be using Artificial Intelligence & Red Teaming.

Large  utilities like PG&E and Duke Energy have in-house cyber security whereas small rural providers, like Co-ops do these 2 things:

• outsource
• dual hat existing employees in control centers, which security experts say create a skills gap

CyberScoop | Electric utilities use red-teaming, AI to prepare for advanced threats

 Is the utility industry finally on it when it comes to cybersecurity? Or is it simply using techniques many other industries have deployed for years? Cyberscoop

Which entity detemrined the demand in electricity will rise 38% due to Electric Vehicles?National Renewable Energy Laboratory

What is the low estimate in electricty demand from EVs? 20% increase in electricty demand

What does this mean for utility growth?   Stagnant 1.65 utility growth will be replaced by  sustained absolute growth of 80 terawatt-hours per year.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory | Electrification Futures Study: Scenarios of Electric Technology Adoption and Power Consumption for the United States

The Massachusetts legislature passed  H.4739 (2018 | MA)  that will require utilities to:

• submit annual reports including “heat maps” that show areas of load and congestion on the grid
• solicit competitive bids for “non-wires alternatives” — such as storage or demand response — when their lines need upgrades

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

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

Why are straws an easy target for bans? Straws are considered nonessential 

Cities passing no plastic straw ordinances:

• Seattle
• Miami Beach
• Oakland

3 States that considered plastic straw bans in 2018:

• California, excludes take out
• Hawaii
• New York
• U.S. Virgin Islands

Companies vowing to end single use plastic:

• Virgin Companies 
• Alamo Draft House

Opponents to Plastic Straw Bans, from the Hawaii legislation:

•  Hawaii Food Industry Association
• Hawaii Restaurant Association
• Retail Merchants Association
• American Chemistry Council

Governing | Plastic Straw Bans Face Blowback

Forbes | Sir Richard Branson Literally Stands Up During Blockchain Summit To End Single-Use Plastics

St. Johns Source | Senators Hold Tree Protection and Plastic Straw Ban Bills in Committee

KVUE | ‘Straws suck’ | Alamo Drafthouse announces new eco-friendly initiatives

Washington Post | Seattle becomes first major U.S. city to ban straws

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) May infrastructure update in May:

• 2.1 GW of new gas capacity
  • total capcity of 2,455 MW
  • 85% share of new resources
• fossil fuels’ share of energy consumption in 2017 was 80%
• 6,646 MW of new gas year to May
  • 1,956 MW of wind capacity for the year
  • 1,921 MW of new solar for the year
  •  total installed capacity in 2018 sits at about 43.5%
    • coal (23%) total installed capacity
    • nuclear (9%)
    • hydro (8.5%)
    • wind, (7.7%)
    • oil (3.5%)
    • solar (2.8%)

Utility Dive | Despite renewables gains, gas leads new US generation 

State: Mssachusetts

How did the limits on eneergy use for pot growers arise? A recommendation of the Cannabis Control Commission’s Energy Working Group

How much energy does an indoor pot growing facility use? 8 to 10 more than office space

Some say 3% of all California’s energy use is dedicated to pot growing

What limits are placed on MA pot growers?

•  36 watts of power per square foot of canopy for growing over 10,000 square feet of pot
• 50 watts for smaller facilities

is there a loophole? yes, pot growers who use renewable power

Bostonomix | How Green Is Your Weed? Mass. Limits Energy Usage For Marijuana Growers

Texas needs battery storage for renewable energy because:

• renewable energy providers can’t rely on ratepayers to cover costs
• energy entrepreneurs need battery storage to ensure profit for their investment
• it can show that a deregualted, hands off approach, yields big energy gains

Dallas Morning News | A big battery in West Texas might help your electricity bill

Refreshing our recollection. informed:intel June 19, 2018:

The solar project: Vistra Energy’s 180 MW-AC Upton County Solar 2 solar power plant

The battery storage project: 

•  AC-coupled facility will be a 10 MW / 42 MWh lithium ion battery
• peak output of ‘nearly 200 MW
• will capture the power that is being clipped
• will solidy the capacity of the solar project

Tax Benefits: the battery proejct is eligible for the Investment Tax Credit and bonus depreciation

PV Magazine | Texas to get its largest battery, coupled with its largest solar power plant

Renewables can benefit from the flexibility in cryptocurrency operations by:

• Over- generation User “By running off electricity that would otherwise be curtailed because of low demand, crypto-mining could allow more clean energy to be profitably built on the grid”
• Texas is a leader in intermitancy Texas has been a leader in dealing with intermitancy that can power crytocurrency
  • Texas “competitive renewable electricity zones”  
    • average wind curtailment in Texas decreased from over 16% to less than 2%
    • wind generation more than doubled
  • private investment in energy storage
•  Flexible Demand flexible demand option for crypto currency that can quickly ramp up operations during times of overgeneration

Trib Talk | Market operations engineer, ERCOT | Cryptocurrencies could increase capacity for renewable energy

State Regulator: California Pulic Utilty Commission

Energy Company: SoCal Edison

Overall ratepayer funded capital sought: $760 Million 

EV Charging Station Roll Out: So Cal Edison would install 48,000 additional electric-vehicle charging ports over 4 years

State policy goal achieved by access to ratepayer funds: California’s stringent greenhouse gas reduction targets

How to achieve the load shift: 

•  Shift EV load to hours of the day when there is excess generation
• Driven by large- and small-scale solar projects
• Making the the load is less costly to serve
• Eventually reducing costs and rates

Greentech Media | SoCal Edison Seeks $760M to Build 48,000 New EV Charging Stations

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

State: Vermont

Grid Security Partners:

• Protect Our Power, an independent, nonprofit organization
• The Institute for Energy and the Environment at Vermont Law School

Goal of Partnership: to make the grid more resistant to physical or cyber threats & to improve its ability to restore power quickly in the event of an attack

Outcome: offer regulatory and legislative proposals

Valley News | Vermont Law School Team to Research Electrical Grid Security 

State: California 

The grid regionalization bill: Assembly Bill 813 (CA | 2018) 

What Californias’s grid regionalization bill does: 

• broader electricity system for trading renewable energy
• source renewable energy from a wider geographical swath
• smoothing out the intermittency
•  potentially saving hundreds of millions of dollars

Opponents say:

• California loses control over the cleanliness of the energy mix
• Bolster out of state energy plant growth
• Moves energy jobs out of California to the new energy plants

Green Tech Media | California Tries Again With 3 Landmark Clean Energy Bills. This Time Things Are Different 

The companies : Blink Charging & Israeli smart city developer Ya’acobi Brothers Group

The benefits of EV Charging via city infrastructure:

• flexible charging to enable smart city infrastructure
• charging stations can be integrated with wif-fi, cloud networks, cameras

How do these EV chargers work? An energy management system allows optimization of the energy output

Utility Dive | Blink eyes significant EV charging expansion via smart streetlights 

 Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s annual electric vehicle outlook offers 3 insights on EV battery storage:

• Charging infrastructure is key to the prolifration of EVs
• EV Charging stations are going to be as crucial as parking spaces are today
• Charging Station proliferation will require coordination with city developers to add charging stations to new buildings, apartments and residences

Financial Review  |  EV charging points to become ‘as important as a parking spot is today’

New York enacted Assembly Bill 10474 (NY | 2018) which re-defines Value of Distributed Energy Resources by:

• fully and accurately account for the energy and  capacity value  of  the electricity generated

• include long-term value of public benefits provided by such resource, including but not limited to, grid security and resilience, climate security, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other air and water pollutants, and  reduced  exposure  to  fuel  price  volatility,  environmental justice attributes, and avoided societal and ratepayer costs from the reduction of energy  bills for low-income customers

• the definition must also be predictale and simple

Energy Manager Today | New York Assembly Passes Bill To Establish New Value For Solar Energy

Moody’s lowered its outlook on the U.S. regulated utility sector.

The new outlook is negative, a downward move from the formerly stable outlook. 

3 reasons why the increased financial risk outlook:

• lower cash flow 
• holding company leverage for regulated utilities
• Lower corporate taxes will result in lower cash flows for utilities and higher debt ratios

Utility Dive | Moody’s goes negative on regulated utilities for first time, citing tax law impacts

The solar project: Vistra Energy’s 180 MW-AC Upton County Solar 2 solar power plant

The battery storage project: 

•  AC-coupled facility will be a 10 MW / 42 MWh lithium ion battery
• peak output of ‘nearly 200 MW
• will capture the power that is being clipped
• will solidy the capacity of the solar project

Tax Benefits: the battery proejct is eligible for the Investment Tax Credit and bonus depreciation

PV Magazine | Texas to get its largest battery, coupled with its largest solar power plant

According to CBO it is $86 million from 2019 to 2023. 

How does the $86 million break down?

• 90%ish to pilot programs—to develop the physical infrastructure necessary to support pilot projects to test security-related technology (includes existing budgetary esimates for cyber 
• 10% ish to administrative regulatory costs, including databases and information-sharing systems

CBO | H.R. 5175 Pipeline and LNG Facility Cybersecurity Preparedness Act

Department of Energy’s Senior Cyersecurity Advisor rolls out a 3 Point approach to data security:

• Cybersecurity
• Energy Security
• Emergency Response (CESER)

FCW | How Energy’s new cyber shop will work 

State: Ohio

Orphan Well Legislation: HB 225 (2018 | OH)

Why did Ohio pass HB 225? Concerns that only 14% of the  state’s Oil and Gas Well Fund were being used for plugging orphan wells

What will H 225 require? 30% of the state’s Oil and Gas Well Fund to be spent on plugging orphan wells

Farm and Dairy | Ohio Legislature approves orphan well plugging bill

Where: Canada’s Quebec Province

Background: The state owned hydro power company offers cheap power and has drawn crypto mining firms to the region

The power request from crypto miners: 17,000 megawatts

The power usage suggested by regulators: 500 megawatts

What are the new regualtory rules looking like? How the state hyrdo power wants rules to “maximize the energy producer’s revenue.”

Coin Desk | Quebec Halts Crypto Mining Approvals Pending New Restrictions 

City: London

London’s EV Infrastructure Taskforce:

• 16 members, including:
  • British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA)
  • British Retail Consortium
  • Cross River Partnership
  • Energy UK
  • Federation of Small Businesses
  • Freight Transport Association
  • London Councils
  • London First
  • Office for Low Emission Vehicles
  • Ofgem
  • RAC Foundation
  • Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
  • Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
  • Shell UK
  • SSE Enterprise
  • UK Power Networks
• Goal:  install vital rapid charging points &  tackling London’s air pollution problem
• Public-private partnership for final rollout
• Recommendations should benefit:
  • businesses
  • taxi drivers
  • encourage a switch to electric vehicles (EV)

Mayor of London | Mayor launches new taskforce to expand electric vehicle infrastructure

The Baker Institute at Rice author offers 3 reasons Texas has th emost to gain from Mexico’s energy deregulation:

• Texas’ location
• Texas’ long standing energy leadership
• Exports of natural gas have skyrocketed from Texas to Mexico

Houston Chronicle | Texas benefits most in a collaborative U.S.-Mexico relationship. [Opinion]

What election included power generation debt & renewable propositions? San Francisco’s June 5th election

Did both propositions for energy pass? YES

What did the San Francisco Generation Proposition do? Expanded the city’s bond authority from  issuing bonds to pay for water and sewer upgrades to also include power generation

What did the San Francisco Renewables Proposition do?Expanded the city’s bond authority from  issuing bonds to pay for water and sewer upgrades to also include renewable power investments

San Francisco Chronicle | San Francisco passes ban on flavored tobacco; education parcel tax wins

State: North Carolina

Protestors that were arrested were with: Poor People’s Campaign

What energy issues do the Poor People’s Campaign support?

• end to fracking
• 100% reliance on renewable energy

How long have demonstrations continued? Weekly since May 14th

13 NewsNow | More than a dozen arrested inside North Carolina legislature. 

Plastic straws are the new hot trend for cities and countries to ban. In many states, this means the state Legislatures will stop the cities from banning plastic items.

Here’s how fast it is moving….

The cities that have banned plastic straws:

• New York City, Hawaii, and California have pending straw ban legislation.
• California: Alameda, Carmel, San Luis Obispo, Davis, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Oakland, Richmond, and Berkeley
• Washington: Seattle and Edmonds
• New Jersey: Monmouth Beach
• Florida: Miami Beach and Fort Myers
• Vancouver, BC
• Scotland
• Taiwan
• Prime Minister Theresa May announced a Britain-wide ban on the sale of plastic straws, stirrers, and plastic cotton swabs

The businesses that banned with plastic straws:

• Alaska Airlines
• Bon Appétit in all 1,000 of its cafes across 33 states, including locations like AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Getty Museum, Vassar College, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Portland in Oregon
• Queen Elizabeth II banned plastic straws and bottles from all royal estates,  cafes, and gift shops
• Waitrose, London City Airport, McDonalds UK, and Costa Coffee
• Ryanair aims to be “plastic free” by 2023
• Marriott is implementing a straw ban at all 60 UK properties

Fast Company | Here are the U.S. cities that have banned plastic straws so far

State: Pennsylvania

The legislation: Republican authored SB 1189 (2018 | PA)

How are landowners compensated for a fracking ban?

• A fracking ban imposed Delaware River Basin Commission
• would allow landowners to receive compensation 
• by defining the ban as a taking of property”
• triggering just compensation

The new report:  In response to Executive Order 13800

Report prepared by: Department of Energy and Department of Homeland Security

7 gaps in grid security:

• lack of clarity around the roles of specific organizations in responding to prospective cyber incidents
•  electric sector’s cyber workforce shortfalls
• a lack of effort to address supply chain vulnerabilities specific to the electric sector
•  lackluster information sharing between private industry and the federal government
• clear rules and responsibilities under cyber response frameworks
• cybersecurity integration into state energy assurance planning
• resources for cybersecurity preparedness

The Hill | Federal assessment finds ‘gaps’ in preparation for electric grid attacks

Utility Dive | DOE cybersecurity report reveals 7 ‘gaps’ in power sector defense capabilities

Its like when Harry met Sally, except for Energy Storage and Railways: 

First of its kind partnership between railways and energy storage:  Russian Railways 85.5 thousand kilometers and renewable energy company, Enel Group.

The partnership goal: develop a “low cost strategy for improving system operations without getting into more expensive grid upgrades”

Clean Technica | A New Energy Storage Solution For A Massive Railway System

• Seattle City Light installs first city-owned electric vehicle fast-charging stations
•  California utilities offer $10K rebate on new BMW electric vehicle. with free EV charging
• Pennsylvania’s HB 1446 (2018)  EV Charging Station framework
• California Governor’s Executive Order $2.5 billion in revenues directed to EV charger deployment
•   SB 145 (2017 | NV) Nevada regulators support utility owned EV charging stations
• Colorado’s HB18-1270 (CO |2018)  requires regulators to establish rules for investor-owned electric utilities to procure energy storage systems 
• Ohio is looking at a plan to rollout 350 EV charging stations Less than $1 fee on residential customers

• Montana: Montana’s HB 219 (2017 | MT)  wants supporting data for the solar value
•  California regulators required all new homes, after 2020, to include solar panels
• In Ohio town, energy ‘locavores’ drive demand for community solar
•  Solar customers don’t have to pay some taxes, Arizona Supreme Court rules
• SB 966 in Virginia offers electric companies the ability to retain more profit in exchange for investment in renewables, including solar
• Utah lawmakers approve rooftop solar compromise bill SB141

Company: NET Power

The Clean Power Source:  “a prototype power plant that uses a stream of pure carbon dioxide — not air — to drive a turbine”

The Texas facility & its future power production:

• March 2016 construction began on a 25-megawatt plant
• $140 million in capital raised for the project
• 2017 construction completed
• 2018: facility is  running a battery of tests on the combustor that powers the plant
  • cpomuster built by Toshiba
• late 2018: NET Power will hook up the turbine and begin generating electricity

International Journal of Science | Innovative zero-emissions power plant begins battery of tests

Where: Pennsylvania

Who: The Pennsylvania Conservative Energy Forum

What will be the position of the Pennsylvania Conservative Energy Forum? 

• provide a conservative voice in the state energy policy debate
• supporting common-sense, all-of-the-above energy solutions
• solutions that are good for the economy, grid and national security and the conservation of our state’s natural resources

Why? Conservatives “have led our country’s efforts to protect and preserve our natural resources”

Members of the forum’s leadership council:

• Chad Forcey, executive director, PENNCEF
• John Easoz, president of Solar PV Consulting and CEO of Direct Gain Consulting, LLC
• Tom Stevenson, partner, Green Roads Solar Energy & Iceburgh Associates
• Rev. Mitch Hescox, president & CEO, the Evangelical Environmental Network
• Ron Gdovic, president & CEO, WINDSTAX Inc
• Brian Kennedy, SVP for Operations and Government Affairs, Pittsburgh Technology Council
• David Jason, partner, Green Roads Solar Energy & Iceburgh Associates
• Mark DeSantis, CEO, RoadBotics, and
• Jim Seif, consultant and board member of BioChem Technology Inc.

Solar Power World | Pennsylvania conservatives launch organization for diverse energy policy

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy  Executive Order 28  requires revision of the Energy Master Plan, including:

• 100% clean energy by 2050
• 30 days for the Energy Master Plan Committee to convene
• 7 State Agencies will be represented on the Energy Master Plan Committee
• Create a comprehensive blueprint
• Specific targets for the next 10 years
• Must include:
  • offshore wind development goals (Executive ORder #8 | NJ | 2018)

  • community solar projects

New Jersey Governor signed the bill.

S2313 (2018 | NJ)  will:

• create a tariff imposed at a rate of $0.004 per kilowatt hour on retail distribution customers
• increase sales and use tax revenue by up to $20.0 million
• maintain nuclear power’s current 40% contribution to the state’s electrical needs in perpetuity

Utility Dive | New Jersey Gov. Murphy signs bills creating zero emission credits for nuclear

To address driver retention, LYft is dedicating $100M to build ride share driver hubs.

How do ride share hubs and EV fit together? 

• hubs will serve as infrastructure for EV charging in the future
• hubs will also serve as infrastructure for a fleet of autonomous vehicles in the future

Curbed | Lyft is spending $100M on new hubs for drivers

• Distributed grids that include cybersecurity from the outset of planning
• Grid Hardening to protect transmission from disaster by Mother Nature or a Mother of a Squirrel
• Prioiritizing Cyber Security as worker safety is prioritized
• Risk Mitigation plan for the most plausible event
• Grid Modernization led by California, Illinois & Texas
• Broadening the Utility Tent during an event by reaching out to vendors to secure issues

Michigan’s revised water contamination rules, expected to be finalized, will cost:

• $2.5 billion over decades
• costs to be paid by water customers

What will the new Michigan water contamination rules do?

• replacement of all 500,000 lead service pipes in Michigan despite
• “action level” for lead would drop from 15 parts per billion, the federal limit, to 12 ppb in 2025
  • That’s up from the 1st rules draft of 10 ppb
• By 2040 replacement of underground lead service lines connecting water mains to houses and other buildings
  • exception: construction plan requires more time
• prohibit the partial replacement of lead service pipes
  • exception: emergency repair
• require preliminary and final inventories of the lines and other components of a water supply by 2020 and 2025

What opposition is there?

• opposition from municipalities and utilities concerning replacement of lead pipes
• opposition concerning property rights violations while fixing lines to a privately owned uilding

Detroit News | Mich. close to finalizing stricter lead rules for water

• Oil and gas company wealth allows them to buy a leadership role in renewables
• Oil and gas geology experts can lead with the high copper requirements for EV manufacturing
• Oil ans gas has the momentum in their favor

The report details:  “Enter the Volt-Age: Electric vehicle disruption of the oil and gas industry”

Prepared by: Deloitte

Prepared for: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association conference

SBS News | A new report by Deloitte suggests oil and gas companies are among the least prepared for the electric car revolution.

Where is this happening? Oklahoma

What consumer protections does the OKlahoma State Attorney General want from a wind power project?

• The Company must commit to a cost cap on the facility 
• The Company must commit to a cost cap on operating & maintaining
• The Company must guarantee that the ratepayers will receive 100% of Federal Production Tax Credits
• A minimum net average capacity factor at the western us-bar minimum of 52.4% for 25 years
• A hold harmless agreement
• 100% of incremental off system energy sales margins will flow to ratepayers
• No cost recovery unless the company moves forward with commercial operation

Oklahoma Attorney General Filing 

Enid News & Eagle | Okla. AG asks for customer protection guarantees if Wind Catcher energy plan approved

The lawsuit: post-Harvey lawsuit against San Jacinto River Authority

Why? constituents with homes that were flooded 

Southeast Texas Record | River authority’s post-Harvey actions unleash flood of litigation

Colorado’s SB18-230 (2018 | CO)  is awaiting signature by the Govenror.

The bill will:

• adds 60 day notification mineral owners whose oil and gas are developed without their consent
• add liability when oil and gas are developed without owner consent
• nonconsenting mineral owners are immune from liability for costs related to any spills, damage or injury from the drilling on the unit

How does forced pooling and eminent domain analogy work?

• Forced pooling is like ” the use of eminent domain by governments to acquire easements for roads that otherwise might not be able to be built.” according to a bill sponsor
   

Bill supporters:

• oil and gas industry
• homeowners groups
• Colorado Municipal League
• state Department of Natural Resources

Daily Sentinel | Drilling forced-pooling bill awaits guv’s pen

Which state’s regualtors said, yes, utilities can own EV charging stations? Nevada 

On which program did NV  regulators rely?  Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program

Where can I find the legislation that created the Electic Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Project?   SB 145 (2017 | NV)

Are the EV charging stations included in the rate base? YES

Nevada Independent | Regulators approve rules for electric vehicle charging, despite criticism from consumer advocate. 

Where it is housed: at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Cybersecurity Center

How it helps the workforce: “training the next-generation of cybersecurity workforce and equipping them with knowledge of the technical, political, social and human factors needed to understand the mission-critical objectives of cybersecurity.”

The Center’s 3 prong approach: education, research, and outreach to Nevada businesses and agencies

Nevada Today | Cybersecurity Center works to protect Nevada industry, individuals from cyber threats

Connecticut legislature this week passed SB 9 (2018 | CT) that:

• implements the state’s energy plan, 2018 Comprehensive Energy Strategy
• increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 40%
• creates a statewide shared clean energy program for income-challenged customers
• successor programs for commercial, industrial and residential efforts to provide sustainable growth of renewables
• replaces net metering with buy-all-sell-all incentive
  • the buy all sell all incentive will have 2 options with rates set by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

How did people feel about the bill?

• “everyone was unhappy”
• environmental advocacy community & the state’s solar industry were split

Connecticut Mirror | After near derailment, energy bill heads to governor as fence-mending begins

In a week, where California regulators required all new homes, after 2020, to include solar panels, a comparison of solar studies reveals:

• Volume. In 2017, 28 valuation studies were proposed, pending or decided in 21 states and DC
• Disparity. 88% difference in these 2 studies:
  • ​March 29 study | Northwestern Energy in Montana shows BTM solar’s levelized 25-year value to be between $0.035/kWh and $0.046/kWh
  • April 10 draft study | Maryland’s Public Service Commission shows BTM solar’s 2019 value in the state’s investor-owned utility (IOU) territories to be between about $0.31/kWh and about $0.41/kWh
• Flaws. According to Former Texas utilities commissioner and Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Karl Rabago
  • “Montana study fails to accurately credit solar for its benefits
  • Maryland study is more accurate on solar’s costs and benefits, but fails to treat solar as a long-term generation resource”
• Legislative response. Montana’s HB 219 (2017 | MT)  wants supporting data for the solar value

Utility Dive | How two value-of-solar studies add up to no clear value of solar. 

What should groundwater regulations do?

• groundwater regulations should be based on loss in aquifer storage and not on artesian pressure
• if taking water from an aquifer, it’s not just about recharge, the correct analysis is the “size of the aquifer’s storage relative to the rate of recharge”
• think of water, like oil and gas, and mineral resources are considered

Texas A&M University | The Mosbacher Institute | Texas Groundwater: Dispelling Some Common Misconceptions

State: New York

What partnership is behind the EV on highways rollout in New York? Governor + New York State Thruway Authority + New York Power Authority

High Speed EV Charging Plan in New York:

• $4.2 million expansion plan
• along the New York State Thruway
• it’s part of Gov enror Cuomo’s Charge NY 2.0 EV initiative
• 2 years
• Goal is 10,000 charging stations by 2021
• It is an expansion of a trial program that brought fast chargers to four Mid-Hudson Valley service areas

NextGen Transportation News | New York Announces $4.2M EV Charging Expansion