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Opponents of EPA’s power plant rule launch another attack lawsuit
Coal-dependent states have launched another suit against U.S. EPA aimed at killing its proposed greenhouse gas rule for existing power plants, but environmentalists say the challenge is more likely to earn them press coverage than a legal result. West Virginia’s Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) filed the petition in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Friday with the backing of 11 other states. In it, the states took aim at a settlement agreement reached in December 2010 between EPA and state and environmental plaintiffs in which EPA agreed to propose rules for new and existing power plants by July 26, 2011, and finalize them by May 26, 2012. [ read more … ]
$600M transmission project splits Texas power industry
When it comes to the Houston Import Project, there are a lot of plotlines to keep straight. CenterPoint Energy Inc., a regulated utility, contends that it should oversee all of a new transmission line that would send electricity to the Houston area, not just some of it. Calpine Corp. and NRG Energy Inc., independent power producers, say the state’s main grid operator acted improperly in endorsing the development in the first place. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the grid operator, defends its actions in backing the proposal and designating a division of construction work. [ read more … ]
Xcel plans for multistate power lines
Xcel Energy Inc. announced Thursday the creation of two subsidiaries to pursue multistate transmission projects that would serve multiple utilities. Chief Executive Ben Fowke said Xcel Energy Transmission Development Co. will focus on the Midwest and that Xcel Energy Southwest Transmission Co. will pursue Southwest projects. [ read more … ]
House Testimony: Renewable Electricity Standards are Delivering Significant Economic Benefits Across the United States
Last week, I was invited to testify at the U.S. House of Representative’s Energy and Commerce Committee, Energy and Power Subcommittee’s hearing on “Laboratories of Democracy: The Economic Impacts of State Energy Policies.” My remarks focused on the tremendous success story of state renewable electricity standards (RES) and the important economic benefits they are delivering to state and local economies, as described in more detail in this 2013 UCS report. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.