News Roundup

Federal Regulators End Minimum Price Rule in New England

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a measure by New England’s grid operator to end a controversial program set minimum prices for generators by 2025. New England states and clean energy advocates had criticized the New England Independent System Operator (ISO-NE) for its Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR), which disadvantaged state-subsidized clean energy in regional capacity auctions.

ISO-NE has stated that its MOPR was necessary to shield fossil fuel and nuclear-fired power plants, which it says are needed to maintain grid reliability. However, under intense pressure it has agreed to end the MOPR in 2025. FERC Chair Richard Glick said that if he had the option, he would end the MOPR now, but accepted that New England states have agreed to the 2025 sunset date.

News coverage: FERC shakes up Northeast renewables with grid rule phaseout (E&E News)

Massachusetts Utilities File Plans to Procure Offshore Wind

Massachusetts utilities have filed long-term plans that include procurement of power from two large offshore wind projects totaling 1.6 gigawatts. National Grid, Until, and Eversource Energy intend to contract with the Commonwealth Wind and Mayflower Wind projects, both of which are planned for Long Island Sound off Massachusetts’ South Coast. Including these projects, Massachusetts utilities have signed contracts with 3.2 gigawatts of offshore wind.

When complete, both projects are planned to be much larger than the capacities that the utilities have contracted for; Commonwealth Wind is 1.232 gigawatts, and Mayflower Wind is 2.400 gigawatts. Avangrid is developing Commonwealth Wind, and Shell, EDP Renewables and Engie own Mayflower Wind. The prices are also lower than previous U.S. offshore wind contracts, with the Mayflower Wind project coming in at $77 per megawatt-hour (MWh) and the Commonwealth Wind at $72/MWh.

News coverage: Mass. advances two major offshore wind projects (E&E NEws)

Transportation Dept. Sets Standards for National EV Charging

On 9 June, the U.S. Department of Transportation rolled out standards for a national EV charging network that include standardized plugs, U.S.-made chargers, minimum uptimes and minimum power ratings. These guidelines will determine how states spend the $5 billion that was made available in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for EV charging.

Among the requirements is that federally funded EV charging stations maintain hardware and software to be operational at least 97% of the time. This responds to the complaints by many EV drivers of off-line or malfunctioning stations. It is not clear how this requirement will be enforced. The requirement of standardized plugs also addresses the custom plug/charger combination that Tesla uses for its vehicles and its Supercharger network. The Supercharger network is currently by far the largest electric vehicle charging network in the nation.   Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Key Step Forward in Building a National Network of User-Friendly, Reliable, and Accessible Electric Vehicle Chargers (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)

Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Key Step Forward in Building a National Network of User-Friendly, Reliable, and Accessible Electric Vehicle Chargers (U.S. Dept. of Transportation)