The following is a letter written by former Chairman of FERC and member of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid Jim Hoecker to the Wall Street Journal in response to an article called “The Wind Power Tax.” The letter was published in the WSJ and is cross-posted here. February 21st, 2013 Your editorial “The Wind
Call the CDC: Anti-Renewable Fever has the Wall Street Journal Opposing Competitive Markets
Anti-Renewable Fever has the Wall Street Journal Opposing Competitive Markets by Bill White, February 19, 2013 It’s been a difficult flu season, but even the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) did not see this coming: an anti-renewable energy fever so severe that the editors of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) are now opposing policies that
Clean Energy Transmission: The Missing Link
I recently wrote an article for Sustainable Business Oregon that you might be interested in reading. In it, I discuss the need for additional transmission lines to link renewable energy sources from the point of generation (which is usually located far from American cities) to the homes and businesses that use the electricity. New transmission
Cyber Security: How the GRID Act Keeps Us Safe
Jeff Stein works with David Gardiner & Associates in Washington, DC. Recent threats to our electric grid, along with numerous studies, have highlighted the possibility of attacks on our electric grid infrastructure and the need for stronger grid defense. Just as the balkanization of transmission policies, specifically siting and cost allocation, inhibit our potential to
Update from Capitol Hill: Draft Transmission Bill from Rep. Sensenbrenner
Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin) recently released a discussion draft of a bill to amend the Federal Power Act to require regional transmission plans. A brief summary of the highlights follows. FERC, in consultation with electric reliability organizations, transmission operators, transmission owners and states, must designate one or more regions in both the
Senators Kerry and Lieberman Announce Draft Climate Bill
Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) announced a draft climate and energy bill today titled “The American Power Act.” The draft, which initially targets utilities only, puts limits on global warming pollution that aim to cut national greenhouse gas pollution levels 17 percent by 2020, and 83 percent by 2050. You can read
Why is Federal Transmission Legislation Needed?
Bill White is Senior Vice President at David Gardiner and Associates Meeting steep carbon reduction goals will require profound and rapid changes in the ways we generate, distribute, and consume electricity. Energy efficiency, distributed generation, demand response, smart grid upgrades, and utility-scale renewable resources will all be needed at unprecedented levels. Enormous amounts of high
Coalition Urges Congress to Eliminate Transmission Barriers
Leading labor unions joined environmental groups, renewable energy developers, electric utilities and other stakeholders recently in asking Senate leaders to strengthen authorities in S.1462, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act, to enable the construction of new power lines to bring renewable energy resources to market. New electric transmission is critical to developing America’s vast domestic