3rd Quarter 2005 Greenwire Articles and Archives
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9/23/05
Calif. agencies fail to resolve dispute over transmission planning
California
Energy Commission adopted a version of the Energy Action Plan II on Wednesday
that betrayed a continuing dispute over the jurisdiction over planning and siting
new electric transmission facilities. The adopted plan differs from one approved
by the state Public Utilities Commission last month, despite claims from CEC members
who touted EAP II as a "consensus document" that represents "a
single voice" for the two agencies on many policy
matters.
9/23/05
Public power moves erode California grid operator's control area
Despite
recent efforts to streamline operations and cut costs for its electric transmission
and market services, the California Independent System Operator faces the loss
of control over key portions of the Western grid later this year.
9/22/05
Communities quickly trump new state building efficiency rules
California
will implement a more stringent set of residential and commercial construction
standards Oct. 1, but at least two communities have already adopted local rules
that will exceed the latest Title 24 rules for new building efficiency.
The
California Energy Commission unanimously approved separate petitions Wednesday
from the city of Santa Monica and Marin County to allow local enforcement of requirements
for new construction that are expected to exceed energy savings from Title 24.
9/16/05 Californians
can cut water consumption 20 percent by 2030, report says
California
could reduce its total use of water by more than 20 percent over the next 25 years
through better education efforts, planning and the use of existing technologies,
according to a new report by the Pacific Institute. This think tank's forecast
stands in stark contrast to the State Water Plan currently being promoted by the
Department of Water Resources, which -- at best -- foresees near-constant water
consumption through the year 2030.
9/15/05
Legislature wraps up 'year of squandered opportunities'
In
the end, it was the passage of time that defeated dozens of proposed environmental
and energy laws in the California Legislature. As the 2005 session ended last
week, major vehicles for policy changes remained stuck in committees or lay dormant
on the floors of the House or Senate.
8/12/05
Arizona commission to up ante on renewables; California also considers RPS hike
Western
states are continuing to push utilities to invest in renewable energy resources,
as Arizona this week followed California, New Mexico and Texas in endorsing stricter
renewable portfolio standards. The Arizona Corporation Commission on Wednesday
endorsed a 15 percent renewable resources target for 2025 as part of proposed
changes to the state's RPS, which officials refer to as an "environmental
portfolio standard." Meanwhile, California, which earlier had accelerated
its RPS for regulated utilities to 20 percent by 2010, is now considering a 33
percent mandate by 2020, according to CPUC member Dian Grueneich.
8/8/05
Another delay for electric utility cyber security standards
Unable
to reach agreement on final wording for new rules meant to protect the nation's
electric power transmission and distribution systems from malicious hackers and
cyber attacks, members of the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC)
recently voted to extend interim standards for up to another year.
7/21/05
Regional transmission planning advances in Southwest
SANTA
FE, N.M. -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must empower regional planners
to build the next generation of electric transmission infrastructure, FERC Commissioner
Suedeen Kelly told an energy industry conference here recently.
Building that
infrastructure must involve "participation by all stakeholders about whether
projects are needed, where and how costs are allocated," said Kelly, a former
president of the New Mexico Public Service Commission. Regional transmission planning
is already a reality in the Southwest, as evidenced by interrelated efforts to
study and site grid expansion projects.
7/18/05 Yosemite struggles to manage visitor crunch, protect attractions Traffic through the Yosemite Valley slows to a crawl in the late afternoon. On a mid-summer day, as many as 15,000 daily visitors crowd the two-lane road that rings the valley, frequently stopping to catch a last glimpse of such world-famous landmarks as Half Dome, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. [click here to read the full story]
All articles are Copyright 2005 E&E Publishing, Inc.
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