Posts from — March 2009
Wellinghoff Named Permanent Chair of FERC, Kelly Re-Nominated
Yesterday, the White House announced that President Obama named the current Acting Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”), Jon Wellinghoff, to the post permanently. Chairman Wellinghoff is widely seen as a proponent of the White House’s green energy policy.
In addition, the White House announced that President Obama re-nominated current Commissioner Suedeen Kelly for another term. Commissioner Kelly’s current term expires in June.
March 20, 2009 Comments Off
FERC and Department of Interior Agreement for Offshore Wind Projects
On Monday, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff agreed to principles that will allow the agencies to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) regarding each agency’s role in developing renewable energy on the Outer Continental Shelf (“OCS”). [Read more →]
March 20, 2009 Comments Off
FERC Requests Comments on Proposed Policy Statement on Smart Grid Development
On Thursday, FERC issued a proposed policy statement and action plan to develop a smarter grid for the U.S. electric transmission system. The Commission’s intent is to prioritize the development of key interoperability standards, provide guidance to the electric industry regarding the need for full cybersecurity for “Smart Grid” projects, and provide an interim rate policy under which jurisdictional public utilities may seek to recover the costs of Smart Grid deployments before relevant standards are adopted through a Commission rulemaking. [Read more →]
March 20, 2009 Comments Off
FERC Relicensing of Niagara Power Project Upheld by DC Circuit
On March 13, 2009 the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“DC Circuit”) upheld FERC’s decision to grant a new 50-year license to the New York Power Authority’s (“NYPA”) Robert Moses Niagara hydroelectric project (“Niagara Power Project”). [Read more →]
March 20, 2009 Comments Off
Texas Lawmakers Seek to Revamp the State’s Deregulated Power Markets
On March 9, 2009, Texas Representative Jim Keffer (R) and Senator Wendy Davis (D) filed several bills that would drastically alter the electricity market in Texas. Both lawmakers say the bills aim to cut wholesale electricity prices, but the bills met instantaneous opposition from state power companies, specifically NRG Energy Inc. (“NRG”) and Energy Future Holding’s Luminant (“Luminant”). [Read more →]
March 20, 2009 Comments Off