The Policy Statement Provides Direction on Quantifying Storage Benefits that Straddle Traditional Utility Lines
Responses are due May 5 with selection to be made by June 30. The selected project is expected to commence operation on or before October 31, 2018.
Last month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NOPR”) aimed at overcoming market barriers faced by emerging energy storage technologies as well as new technologies that allow aggregation and coordinated dispatch of small distributed energy resources. While the NOPR is limited to ISO and RTO markets, energy market participants in the Pacific Northwest would nonetheless be well advised to pay attention to the NOPR. This is true because the Energy Imbalance Market is expanding into the Northwest, which will effectively expand the footprint of the California ISO into this region. In addition, regulators in this region are likely to look to FERC for guidance on these emerging issues even if not strictly applicable in non-RTO regions.
Microsoft is leading the charge against the traditional utility model, which, like many large high-tech companies, has adopted a corporate sustainability policy that mandates aggressive reductions in the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and, ultimately, use of 100% renewable energy. Microsoft’s sustainability policy has run head-long into the heavy dependence of its major electricity supplier, Puget Sound Energy, and the collision has produced cracks in Washington’s utility regulatory model that may presage a fundamental rethinking of Washington’s utility business model.
Yesterday a federal court in Texas issued a nationwide injunction blocking the Department of Labor’s “overtime rule” that was scheduled to go into effect on December 1.
This week the Urban Land Institute Northwest (ULI) hosted their annual “Emerging Trends in Real Estate” report review with an assemblage of experienced real estate leaders who provide commentary on polemic industry trends.
CH& Land Use attorney, Nancy Bainbridge Rogers, is honored to present three awards at NAIOP’s upcoming Night of the Stars Gala. The Night of the Stars recognizes outstanding real estate developments and activities in a variety of market types and the individuals who conceived of, took risk, sponsored, supported, and made the projects happen.
Seattle, Washington – Mackrell International Meeting 9/16 – 9/18