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Energy Policy & Legislation

Modernizing PURPA

Should FERC rewrite rules or let states make reforms?

Idaho has a problem with PURPA. So does North Carolina, and other states in between. Utilities have complaints too. Consider industry groups like EEI, representing investor-owned companies, NRECA, representing co-ops, and even NARUC, representing state utility regulators. Each has proposed new rules to fix PURPA, a longtime favorite of enviros. And don’t forget Berkshire Hathaway.
Byline: 

Bruce Radford

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Active Grid

Where Smart Energy Meets Internet of Things

Imagine what could be achieved if the current modernized grid evolved to be even more dynamic, a complete solution encompassing electricity, gas and water.
Byline: 

Philip Mezey

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Frequency Control and ACE

Someone Else’s Problem Field

Thirty to forty percent renewable targets are inadequate to halt our steady descent into climate change and ocean acidification. It will require renewable levels of 80 to 90 percent, and international cooperation.
Byline: 

Charles Bayless

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Rethinking Rationale for Net Metering

Quantifying Subsidy from Non-Solar to Solar Customers

A thought-provoking call for fact- and principle-based policy on the controversial net metering matter. From three respected co-authors from diverse backgrounds.
Byline: 

Barbara Alexander, Ashley Brown, and Ahmad Faruqui

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Energy People: Adam Sieminski

We talked with Adam Sieminski, Administrator at the Energy Information Administration

Adam Sieminski became the eighth administrator of the EIA in 2012. While awaiting confirmation as EIA administrator, Sieminski served as senior director for energy and environment on the staff of the National Security Council.
Byline: 

Adam Sieminski, with Pat McMurray

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Energy People: Bill Hederman

We talked with Bill Hederman, who has just left government service as senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Energy.

Through early July, Bill Hederman was senior advisor to Dr. Ernie Moniz, U.S. Secretary of Energy, and counselor to the director of energy policy and systems analysis. Bill began his career as a systems integration engineer at Bell Labs in the directorate that later developed the cell phone system.
Byline: 

Bill Hederman, with Steve Mitnick

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Response to Borlick Re: Order 745

A response to the article by Robert Borlick in our July 2016 Issue

Bob Borlick took to task FERC, Charlie Cicchetti and the Supreme Court in the context of FERC Order 745. Bob’s key point is his view that “Order 745 overcompensates demand response.” Bob’s argument starts from an implicit but false premise.
Byline: 

Dr. Michael Rosenzweig

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Reshaping Energy

Transition to Renewables Minimizing Societal Cost

Implementation of renewables is much more complex than simply replacing fossil fuel plants with renewables. We must transition to renewables. But let's make sure we transition to the package that minimizes total societal cost.
Byline: 

Charles Bayless

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Estimating Benefits of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Social Cost of Carbon

In Paris at the end of 2015, the world’s governments decided to be more ambitious than ever on climate change. They set their sights on a goal of limiting the increase in average global temperature to well below two degrees Celsius. Countries committed to constrain their greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 to 15 years.
Byline: 

Steven Rose

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The Mobiles are FAST

Including mobile substations in Strategic Transformer Reserve Program

Both spare large power transformers, and emergency mobile substations, have critical roles in the U.S. Department of Energy's Strategic Transformer Reserve Program, STRP. An emergency mobile substation can literally roll onto the site on the bed of a truck, run connecting wires to the power lines, and bypass all of the damaged substation equipment, allowing electricity to flow again within hours.
Byline: 

Joseph Donovan

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