On January 25, 2016 the Supreme Court decided the case FERC v. Electric Power Supply Association. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has authority under the Federal Power Act (FPA) to regulate the wholesale interstate transmission and sale of electricity. FERC enacted an order which attempted to incentivize a reduction in energy consumption by retail […]
Bills to Overturn Nuclear Moratorium Get Hearings
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 11:46am By Hamilton
AB 384, introduced by Rep. Ken Petersen (R-Waupaca) and SB 288, introduced by Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) would end the moratorium on nuclear power plants in the state of Wisconsin. The moratorium, 1983 Wisconsin Act 401, was put in place following the Three Mile Island plant accident in 1979. At public hearings for both […]
Marathon Petroleum Partners with Local Fire Department to Meet Regulatory Needs
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 11:01am By Hamilton
Leave it to MPC to turn a difficult situation – even a potential regulatory problem – into a model for industry collaboration and community benefit. Imagine you’re in charge of one of MPC’s dozens of terminals. Safety is your top priority as you conduct our day-to-day business, which is critical to so many people who […]
Legislation Introduced to Allow Purchase of Water & Sewer Utilities
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:38am By Hamilton
Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) have introduced Assembly Bill 554/Senate Bill 432, which creates a process for out-of-state utility companies to purchase or lease water or sewer utilities in Wisconsin. Under current law, if a municipality seeks to sell or lease any utility, the municipality must first pass a […]
Federal Government Publishes Controversial Clean Power Plan Rule
Date Thu, Oct. 29, 2015 - 3:08pm By Hamilton
A coalition of 24 states filed a lawsuit on Friday challenging the Obama Administration’s signature environmental regulation, the Clean Power Plan, in response to the regulation being published in the Federal Register last Friday, October 23. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading the litigation against the plan which he has called, “the single […]
EPA Releases Final Draft of Clean Power Plan Rule
Date Thu, Aug. 13, 2015 - 4:24pm By Hamilton
Last week the White House and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final version of the Clean Power Plan rule, which regulates carbon dioxide emissions, and various pollutants, by power plants in the United States. As widely expected, the final draft of the rule is stricter than the proposed regulation released last year. The compliance […]
Joint Hearing Held on EPA’s Proposed Rules for Power Plants
Date Thu, Jan. 29, 2015 - 4:05pm By Hamilton
On Wednesday, the Assembly and Senate energy committees held a joint informational hearing on EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan rule designed to lower carbon emissions from existing power plants. The committees heard testimony from the Department of Natural Resources, the Public Service Commission, Wisconsin utilities, Clean Wisconsin, and business groups. Much of the testimony and […]
Energy Office Awards $1 Million to Wisconsin Trucking Companies
Date Wed, Dec. 17, 2014 - 3:37pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin State Energy Office awarded nearly $1 million to 53 trucking companies to fund diesel truck idling reduction technologies. Truck idling reduction technology provides power to heat, cool, or provide electricity to the truck as an alternative to the main engine, thereby saving fuel and reducing diesel fuel pollutants. Grants provide reimbursements for up […]
Wisconsin Comments on EPA’s Carbon Rule
Date Thu, Dec. 4, 2014 - 10:59am By Hamilton
Governor Walker, legislators, state officials, and industry groups submitted comments on EPA’s proposed carbon regulation for existing power plants at the beginning of December. The Department of Natural Resources and Public Service Commission jointly filed a robust 119 pages of comments to EPA. The comments outline general concerns, building block comments, technical data corrections for […]
EPA Provides Clarification on Clean Power Plants and Proposes Indian Country Rules
Date Wed, Oct. 29, 2014 - 3:17pm By Hamilton
Stakeholders described potential challenges associated with achieving reductions required by as early as 2020, when the compliance period begins. Stakeholders generally proposed either the allowance of credit for early reductions, which provides flexibility to defer other emission reductions until later, or phasing in building block 2 over time similar to blocks 3 and 4. EPA […]