Solar Incentive Program in Massachusetts Updated 2017 On January 31, 2017 Massachusetts released plans for the redesign of the program to incentivize solar energy construction in the state. The DOER slideshow is here. Massachusetts commitment to support solar energy production remains but is reshaped – to target the projects deemed optimal and to reduce rewards for putting solar farms in undeveloped green… Read More
Law constricts DPU power to order fatter gas pipe pacts by electric distributors, Court rules Builders won’t build new natural gas pipes to New England unless they have “long term contracts”. Electric generators use gas intermittently – on the coldest days – when it is very expensive. For electric generators to sign those long term contracts, rate payers would be on the hook. The Department of Public Utilities issued an… Read More
State Energy Innovations Liable to get Zapped by FERC Preemption State energy regulators have to design their rules respecting the chance that Federal preemption will vaporize their viability. Some States want energy rules to push their policy choices, on things like global warming and renewables. But State rules on energy can’t cross in to the areas regulated exclusively by the Federal Government. A recent unanimous… Read More
Demand Response Survives Supreme Challenge Energy disputes have it all – States v Feds, markets v regulators, environment v economy – with liberals, conservatives and rabid partisans in each camp. The FERC v EPSA (2016) US Supreme Court lawsuit was a flat out challenge to Federal Energy regulators right to make market rules. The agency acted (to authorize payments to… Read More