Instead of making individual generators or states meet coming carbon emission limits, The Brattle Group proposed that regional transmission operators such as PJM build the limits into their markets. Brattle and Great River Energy, in Minnesota, have broached the idea, and Brattle is developing details of it, as the Environmental Protection Agency prepares to release carbon regulations expected by June.

EPA has been meeting with many stakeholders to come up with a proposal that is effective and can withstand legal challenges.

More: Great River Energy; The New York Times

Congress Eyes Stronger FERC Grid Security Role

Jolted by the armed attack on a Pacific Gas and Electric substation last April, members of Congress are considering making a stronger role for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in setting standards for protection of critical grid facilities. The current reliability regime, which governs FERC and the North American Electric Reliability Corp., allows the commission to act on standards submitted by NERC but not to rewrite them or initiate its own standards.

One proposal Congress is discussing would allow FERC to impose interim rules on grid defenses while allowing the industry the opportunity to influence permanent requirements.

More: Wall Street Journal 

Previous coverage: Substation Saboteurs ‘No Amateurs’

Nuke Closures Concern DOE

The Obama administration is worried that economic problems that may lead to additional nuclear plant closures will hurt the nation’s ability to reach carbon dioxide emission reduction goals. Assistant Energy Secretary Pete Lyons, a former member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said DOE is studying plant retirement scenarios and is “very, very concerned.” (See related story, Exelon Warns of Nuke Closings.)

More: Greenwire

Landrieu Goes to Energy; Wyden May Aid Wind

Environmentalists have mixed emotions about the shuffling of chairmanships in the Senate. Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat from oil- and gas-producing Louisiana, is set to chair the Energy and Natural Resources Committee as Oregon’s Ron Wyden moves to Finance to replace Sen. Max Baucus, the new ambassador to China.

Wyden’s move to Finance gives some wind power interests hope that he can win an extension of the production tax credit. Many Republicans want to address extensions as part of comprehensive tax reform; Wyden said he sees them as “a bridge” to comprehensive action.

More: The Times-Picayune; FierceEnergy; Bloomberg

DOE Issues New Standards for Device Chargers

The Department of Energy signed off on new energy conservation standards for external power supplies used to charge devices such as laptops and cellphones. The standards will save consumers up to $3.8 billion on top of $42.4 billion in savings estimated by 2032 from standards implemented in 2007, DOE said.

More: DOE

EPA to Update Radiation Standards for Nuke Plants

The Environmental Protection Agency intends to update and expand its regulations for radiation from nuclear power plants. In addition to addressing radiation emitted to the air, the new standards will cover ground water protection, radioactive waste disposal and decommissioning old plants, subjects that the current regulations do not address.

More: The Hill

FERC Uses Emergency Power To Order Propane Shipments

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the first time used its emergency authority under the Interstate Commerce Act to order priority propane shipments from Mont Belvieu, Texas, to the severely cold and propane-short Midwest and Northeast.

“We’re mindful of the emergency situation that has developed in parts of the country where bitter cold weather has created problems for consumers who need supplies of propane,” Acting FERC Chairman Cheryl LaFleur said. “The problem is acute enough that we feel it is important for us to take this step.”

More: FERC

ITC Bill Would Help Solar Projects Get Tax Credits

Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) have introduced a bill to change the qualification rules for the investment tax credit so that more projects can use it. The bill would allow the credit for projects that are under construction, instead of completed, by Dec. 21, 2016, a change that would aid the solar industry.

More: Solar Industry