The MEEA Policy Insider summarizes the latest state policy activity and provides new resources to aid members in their outreach, education and advocacy initiatives.
In this issue:
- Upcoming Webinar: 2019 ACEEE Scorecard: The Midwest in Focus
- Federal Update
- State Updates: IL / IN / MI / MN / MO / NE / OH / WI
- New Resources & Blog Posts
Policy Webinar: 2019 ACEEE Scorecard: The Midwest in Focus
Friday, November 15 at 2 p.m. (CT)
Save the date: MEEA will host a webinar to break down the Midwest state rankings within ACEEE’s 2019 State Scorecard. The webinar will feature speakers from ACEEE and key states to provide context for their states’ rankings and to discuss policy issues, opportunities and successes. Register here.
In September, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Final Rule that eliminates standards that were set to take effect January 2020 and would apply to most light bulbs found in homes and businesses including certain General Service Incandescent Lamps (GSILs). This rule reverses a January 2017 rule that expanded the definition of light bulbs in accordance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that was signed into law by President George W. Bush.
In a Notice of Proposed Determination (NOPD), the DOE also initiated a draft rule to maintain the status quo for all light bulbs, stating their belief that the 2020 update of the standards should not be adopted on the grounds that the 2020 standard is not economically justified. This is effect would roll back standards for a significant portion of "A-lamp" bulbs.
Legal challenges to the rulemaking are likely, although nothing has been filed to-date.
Legislative
The General Assembly will hold its veto sessions on October 28-30 and November 12-14. It is very unlikely that the Clean Energy Jobs Act (H.B. 3624) will be considered during veto session, and likely will be pushed to 2020 for further consideration.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Illinois or to get more involved, contact Nick Hromalik.
The 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force has its next meeting scheduled for Oct. 31. Testimony from past meetings is available at the Task Force website.
Regulatory
Integrated resource planning is ongoing for Indiana utilities. Current deadlines for the next IRPs are:
- IPL: Dec 16, 2019
- NIPSCO: Nov 1, 2021
- Vectren: May 1, 2020
Utility stakeholder meetings will continue during the planning period and will be posted on the utility IRP page linked above. Updates from the commission on IRPs in Indiana will be posted to the IURC’s IRP page.
How to Get Involved
The task force and IRP meetings are all open to anyone interested in attending. If you have any questions about Indiana or want to get more involved, contact Greg Ehrendreich.
Executive
On October 17, 2019, Governor Whitmer announced the launch of MI Power Grid to guide Michigan through the transition to clean energy. According to the press release, “the initiative will serve as a centralized source for credible information and outreach, engage utility customers and other stakeholders to help integrate new clean energy technologies and optimize grid investments for reliable, affordable electricity service.” The three priority areas of the initiative include: 1) Customer engagement, 2) Integrating emerging technologies, and 3) Optimizing grid performance and investments.
Information and updates can be found at the MI Power Grid website.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Michigan or to get more involved, contact Nick Dreher.
Legislative
Lawmakers and Walz administration officials continue to discuss the Clean Energy First Act (CEFA; HF 1956), which would prioritize clean energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy prior to building new fossil fuel generation. CEFA was originally included in Governor Walz’s budget proposal, but most of the administration’s energy and environmental proposals were removed by the legislature in budget negotiations. Additional hearings on the bill may occur prior to session starting in February.
MEEA Activity
Policy Manager Nick Hromalik and Policy Associate Maddie Wazowicz traveled to St. Paul on September 26 to meet with Governor Walz’s energy policy advisor and Public Utilities Commission Chair Katie Sieben. Nick and Maddie introduced MEEA’s work to the Chair and discussed the many benefits of energy efficiency, clean energy jobs and diversity and inclusion.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Minnesota or to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.
Regulatory
In March 2019, Evergy’s (formerly KCP&L) Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA) cycle 2 plan was extended through December 31, 2019 as negotiations for its cycle 3 plan continued.
The case is now awaiting a decision from the Commission after Staff issued its Statement of Position, Initial Brief and Reply Brief to Evergy’s response on Staff’s arguments. The Staff recommended the Commission reject the cycle 3 application. Staff cites, among other arguments, their analysis that most programs are not cost-effective (total resource cost test), do not benefit those who do not participate in programs and they do not directly cause avoided or deferred investment in supply-side resources or transmission/distribution.
In the case where the commission approves cycle 3 with stipulation, Staff suggests a pared down plan, with recommended modifications provided in their Initial Brief.
- August 19: Rebuttal testimony
- September 16: Surrebuttal testimony
- September 17 by 5 PM: List of issues
- September 18 by 5 PM: Position statements
- September 23-24: Evidentiary hearing
- October 11: Initial briefs
- October 21: Reply Briefs
- Commission Order (No deadline provided)
How to Get Involved
For more information about Missouri or to get more involved, contact Samarth Medakkar.
Regulatory
On September 10, the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) met to discuss their next five-year plan to increase the effectiveness of their demand side management (DSM) programs. The board first commissioned a study of DSM potentiality in 2014, but OPPD did not meet the goals laid out in that plan. The board hired a consulting group last year to study and propose how future DSM programs can be more effective in achieving savings. The study outlined current DSM offerings and suggested altering the cost-effectiveness test to allow for additional future programs. The results of this study can be found here.
How to Get Involved
If you have questions about Iowa or want to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.
Legislative
The House Public Utilities Committee held hearings on October 9 and 23 to receive proponent and opponent testimony on H.B. 247, a bill that makes changes to energy infrastructure and markets. The bill changes the definition for “smart grid” and “customer-focused energy services or products” that utilities may implement and receive cost recovery for through an Electric Security Plan. The expanded definitions for energy services include energy efficiency or reduction, energy storage, energy management, lighting controls, energy control technologies, and EV charging stations, among others. The Committee has not yet announced future hearings for interested party testimony, amendments or votes.
A federal judge denied a request for additional time to collect signatures to qualify the H.B. 6 repeal referendum for the November 2020 ballot, instead referring the issue to the Ohio State Supreme Court for potential action. Pro-referendum groups had until October 21 to collect over 265,000 signatures. It is unclear how the state supreme court will rule or what other recourse the referendum support groups will choose. This litigation is in addition to a lawsuit filed by First Energy Solutions arguing that the surcharges created by H.B. 6 are a tax, and that because the Ohio Constitution prohibits referenda on tax-related state laws, the H.B. 6 repeal effort is unconstitutional.
On July 23, Governor DeWine signed H.B. 6 into law. H.B. 6 makes significant changes to both the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) that will have lasting impacts on the energy sector and Ohio’s economy. MEEA’s recent blog post answers common questions about H.B. 6 and looks at Ohio’s uncertain clean energy future.
Regulatory
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) granted an extension for energy efficiency plan filings. The utilities now have until December 2, 2019 to file their EE plans due to changes in H.B. 6.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Ohio or to get more involved, contact Nick Hromalik.
MEEA Activity
On October 22 Policy Manager Nick Hromalik, Building Policy Manager Ian Blanding and Policy Associate Maddie Wazowicz met with Public Service Commission Chair Rebecca Valcq to discuss energy efficiency activity in Wisconsin and the important role that buildings and energy codes can play in reducing energy use and emissions. The Chair invited Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and Secretary Dawn Crim of the Department of Safety and Professional Services to join the discussion.
How to Get Involved
For more information about Wisconsin or to get more involved, contact Nick Hromalik.
New Blogs
- 3 Big Questions about Energy Use in Legal Cannabis Cultivation
- 6 Things You Need to Know About Ohio’s Energy Efficiency Rollback