Morgan Meguire News

A large group of NEPPA members came to Washington, DC, last week, as part of APPA's Legislative Rally.  NEPPA members met with members of their six-state Congressional delegation to deliver key messages on the following issues, among others:Increase Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) Accountability;Encourage FERC to mandate Joint ...

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) is getting ready to introduce a bill that would extend and modify the Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREB) program, which provides an incentive for governmental entities and rural electric cooperatives to invest in renewable generation.  McDermott's "Clean Renewable Energy for Public Power Act" ...

On March 8, the House of Representatives voted to support the creation of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) 15 Member Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming by a 269 to 150 vote.  The vote, which included 44 Republicans, is a victory for the Speaker, who was criticized by some colleagues for the idea when she initially ...

In April, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) will introduce his economy wide, "climate change" legislation soon, but said that he wants the White House to become more involved with the issue.  Bingaman is confident that the bill will propose reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ...

Even if a climate change cynic were to win the White House in 2008 or if Republicans were to win back control of Congress, the Edison Electric Institute - the national trade association for the investor-owned utilities -  will continue to advocate a stronger U.S. policy on global warming.  EEI said that, in order for the U.S. to remain ...

On March 13, APPA's Legislative and Resolutions Committee approved a new climate policy, which advocates an economy-wide system that applies to all industry sectors.  The ten-point plan does not call for any deadlines or specific emissions cuts, but supports Congress in its effort to credit industries that cut their GHG emissions before ...

Several tax incentives, including a 1.9 cent-per-kilowatt-hour credit, are set to expire at the end of 2008.  Solar tax credits for business and residential investment also will expire then, as does the CREB program.  As a result, there is significant discussion about how and when to extend those ...

On March 15, Governor Martin O'Malley appointed FERC Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Lawrence Brenner to the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC).  Chairman of FERC, Joseph Kelliher commented that Brenner is "a seasoned administrative jurist who has served the Commission well.  His deep expertise in energy law will ...