March 6, 2024

With two major energy conferences in D.C. last week, it’s no surprise that policy news dominated NetZero Insider’s coverage.

K Kaufmann came back from ACORE’s Policy Forum with two stories on how the Inflation Reduction Act may fare if Republicans win Congress or the White House in November. In a keynote speech, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse told the group the best defense for IRA is building more projects. At another session, panelists said that while the IRA likely is safe, the Department of Energy’s staff could be decimated in a second term for Donald Trump.

James Downing covered the NARUC Winter Policy Summit, where utility executives told state regulators that natural gas and nuclear power will be part of the electric mix for decades as the industry decarbonizes. Another panel focused on the power industry’s increasingly delicate balancing act as policies drive some generators to retirement, while major new loads are popping up and making planning more difficult.

James also covered talks by FERC Chair Willie Phillips and Sen. Joe Manchin, who want to pass policies this year that speed up the roll out of transmission.

EPA had a busy week. In addition to preparing to publish new emissions regulations for the crude oil and natural gas industries, it delayed new emissions restrictions for existing natural gas-fired power plants and offered $3 billion in IRA funds to reduce air pollution from diesel-powered trucks, trains and other equipment at the nation’s ports.

The Department of Energy, meanwhile, announced $366 million for rural and tribal clean energy projects, including funding to help 300 off-grid homes in the Hopi and Navajo nations to obtain electricity from solar and storage systems.

DOE’s “anchor tenant” program had a setback as National Grid announced it was pulling out of the Twin States Clean Energy Link Project between Canada and New England, despite DOE’s promise to purchase capacity on the line.

And John Cropley reports that global CO2 emissions hit a new high in 2023 — and would have climbed even higher without the rapid adoption of clean technology.

We also had several stories from the states:

• Utilities Facing Increased Scrutiny over Political Activities

• Bill to Link Wash. Cap-and-trade with Calif.-Quebec Passes Both Houses

• NJ Panel Backs Bill to Increase Distribution Capacity for Renewables

• Sunrise Wind, Empire Wind Tapped for New OSW Contracts

• Groups Ask Montana PSC to Consider Climate Impacts in Rulemakings

• Sides Forming in Fight Over Michigan Renewable Siting Law

• Md. Cross-over Bills Aim to Remove Barriers to Clean Tech Deployment