[CU 1528 / January 30, 2012]

Delegation Rallies for ER Settlement; IPPs Push Back at FERC

BPA got a big boost last week from a large group of the region's Congress members, who said FERC overstepped its authority in its Dec. 7 order on Bonneville's Environmental Redispatch policy. The group called on FERC to withhold further action until BPA-mediated settlement talks are completed. Critics of the ER policy say the settlement group is not as diverse or open as legislators seem to think and advised FERC to reject recently filed rehearing requests in the ER docket. They also say BPA should comply with FERC's order to file an "entire" tariff.

I-937 Bills Would Add Biomass, Local Hydro, 20-Percent Mandate

Companion bills proposing changes to Washington's renewable and conservation portfolio standards were aired in legislative committees last week, but lawmakers now have only until Feb. 3 to move them on to the floor. The bills' provisions include a no-load-growth option for RPS compliance, expanding allowable biomass feedstocks, counting old biomass and limited amounts of hydrogeneration as eligible renewables, conservation banking, and a 20-percent renewables mandate starting in 2020 for utilities with load growth. Also included are a one-year delay in compliance deadlines and separation of carbon-destruction attributes from RECs.

Bellingham Group Pitching Ordinance Against Coal Trains

A Bellingham group has launched a petition drive for an ordinance that would make it illegal to transport coal through the city limits. No Coal released the ordinance Jan. 26 and hopes to get enough signatures to put it on the city's November 2012 ballot. The ordinance would make it unlawful for any corporation to transport coal through Bellingham, by road or railway.

BPA Closes Out Policy on Energy Efficiency 'Overspend'

Grappling with its energy-efficiency program, BPA did what it does best last week--make decisions guaranteed to leave nearly everyone unhappy. The agency decided to further reduce customers' FY 2013-2014 energy efficiency allocations to make up for $47 million in 2011 overspending. The pill is more bitter, as the dilemma was BPA's own creation. But there's a silver lining: Bonneville acquired more conservation in 2011 for much less cost than anticipated. The funding reductions will be based in part on an average of utility spending in 2010 and 2011, an imperfect solution BPA says achieves the best balance. But the agency resisted pressure to increase overall EE funding.

Also In Clearing Up This Week . . .

• Ocean Researchers Make Their Case for More BPA Funding
• Moeller Advocates FERC Leadership " in Power/Gas Reliability
• Oregon Volcano to Host Enhanced Geothermal Systems Pilot
• POTOMAC: Obama Lays Down Clean Energy Gauntlet in State of the Union

       ...And Much More!

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