February 2014 – Global Power Law & Policy

Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) Issues Renewable Energy and Energy Storage RFP

Feb 25 2014

The Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) recently announced a Request for Proposals for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Projects. In the RFP, SCPPA seeks proposals for — in addition to customary renewable energy products — “Permanent Load Shifting (PLS), including energy storage and permanent load-shifting technologies” and “energy storage solutions (ESS) for both distribution and grid levels.” According to the announcement, respondents may propose (i) project ownership by SCPPA, (ii) a power purchase agreement (or, for storage, an “equivalent commercial agreement”) with an ownership option, or (iii) a power purchase agreement (or, for storage, an “equivalent commercial agreement”) without an ownership option.

California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) Proposes Transmission Tariff Changes

Feb 24 2014

On January 30, 2014, the California Independent System Operator Corporation (“CAISO”) submitted proposed tariff changes to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) in Docket No. ER14-1206-000 to implement policy and process enhancements to the project sponsor competitive selection process that takes place during the third stage of CAISO’s transmission planning process. The proposed tariff changes were developed by CAISO over the past several months as part of its Competitive Transmission Improvements stakeholder initiative, which began in September 2013. The proposed tariff changes address five issues:

Energy Leadership Changes in U.S. Senate

Feb 12 2014

Last week, the U.S. Senate approved the nomination of Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) as the next U.S. Ambassador to China by a 96-0 vote. Although Senator Baucus’ departure will certainly have an effect on foreign policy, it has also set off a chain reaction as Senators move into key leadership positions on tax and energy issues.

Senator Baucus’ departure vacates the Chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee, which has wide jurisdiction over all issues relating to tax, trade, and entitlement programs. In his place, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) will take the helm at the Finance Committee, leaving his current post as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) will replace Wyden as Chairman.

Farm Bill Includes Energy Title

Feb 05 2014

After years of negotiations, the United States House and Senate have passed a comprehensive Farm Bill which will be signed into law by President Obama on February 7 at Michigan State University, the alma mater of Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). On February 4, the Senate voted 68-32 to approve the five-year authorization bill, formally titled the Agriculture Act of 2014. The House passed the legislation last week.

While the bill predictably includes provisions which impact farm programs and also authorizes nutrition programs, in addition, it includes an Energy Title which provides support to many feedstock growers as well as traditional farmers who improve the energy efficiency of their operations.

Imperial Irrigation District Energy Storage RFQ

Feb 05 2014

The Imperial Irrigation District (IID), the third-largest public power utility in California, recently issued QR 123, the first step in a solicitation for 20 megawatts to 40 megawatts of “battery” storage. The solicitation seeks storage that can accommodate a very broad range of specified operational characteristics, and it may prove challenging for any given storage technology to meet all of those characteristics. The solicitation’s reference to “battery” storage implies that IID is not seeking flywheels or other energy storage technologies.

At this stage, QR 123 is in the nature of a request for vendors to supply their qualifications to “design, engineer, procure and construct a utility-scale energy storage project” that will have the desired operational characteristics. Responses are due February 11, 2014.

Information about QR 123 can be found here.

Collision of Cost of Safety and the Cost of Energy

Feb 05 2014

Last December, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) filed its cost of service and rate application for gas transportation and storage. This application was filed in the context of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) being under enormous pressure to increase its safety oversight of utilities, a $14.4 million fine imposed on PG&E for failing to notify regulators about incorrect records on a natural gas pipeline and a looming $2.2 billion fine for the 2010 San Bruno explosion. In this context, it is understandable that PG&E would be very sensitive to safety concerns and would seek to make capital expenditures to improve the safety of its gas transportation system. The catch, of course, is that when a utility spends money, rates go up. For PG&E, this is complicated even further by the risk that a $2.2 billion fine could increase PG&E’s cost of raising money to pay for the capital upgrades it wants to make. When rates go up, large consumers pay attention; and when rates go up a lot, everyone pays attention.

Dubai Government Launches Energy Initiative

Feb 04 2014

The other day I attended the launch of a new energy efficiency initiative in Dubai. The Government of Dubai has ambitions to achieve substantial savings in the consumption of energy and water over the next 15 years. It aims to encourage the retrofitting of some 30,000 government and private sector buildings and public areas with energy efficient appliances, equipment and materials covering lighting, cooling, water, industrial processes and building insulation. It is also targeting efficiencies in district cooling through regulation and greater system connectivity. To this end a new “ESCO” (Energy Service Company) industry is being created under the regulatory oversight of the Dubai Regulatory & Supervisory Bureau. As a catalyst for the evolution of this new market, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) has established Etihad ESCO, an ESCO that will help promote energy efficiency projects for government departments and agencies. Read More

Conclusions or Delusions? EU Aims To Set 2030 Renewable Energy Targets

Feb 03 2014

In an announcement awaited by industry, the European Commission has proposed the non-binding objective of increasing the share of renewable energy to 27% of the EU’s energy consumption in 2030. However, at the same time, an ambitious and binding target emerged: for the EU to reduce by 2030 domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below the 1990 level. An extraordinary target or a disappointment?

K&L Gates is Gold Sponsor of Annual Storage Week in Santa Clara

Feb 03 2014

K&L Gates will be a Gold Sponsor at Infocast’s 7th Annual Energy Storage Week in Santa Clara from February 11-13. This event will address the projected rapid rise in energy storage project development over the next 3-5 years. Early movers in this market are poised to capture larger than average advantages. Policy makers and senior executives at the forefront of energy storage deployment will be attending the summit to share up to date information on the policies, procedures and industry best practices into business plans and to gain access to key players and decision makers across the entire supply and utilization chains of storage services to further storage projects. K&L Gates attorneys Bill Holmes, Paul Lacourciere, Dirk Michels, Charlie Schwenck and Andrew Young will be attending Infocast’s Energy Storage Week. We look forward to seeing you there!

Archive:February 2014