http://www.powermag.com POWER Mag en-us 2012 Wed, 8 Feb 2012 16:24:39 EST The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule for power plants has critics’ tempers flaring. Not surprisingly, a number of electric power representatives, industry groups, and elected officials oppose the rule, which was released on Dec. 21, 2011.... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/4326.html Wed, 1 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST In discussing implementation by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) of California’s new renewable energy law, CPUC Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon urged consideration of the economic, technical, and political consequences of the... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/4254.html Sun, 1 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST Energy professionals and the general population are both acutely aware of the explosion of a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) natural gas pipeline in San Bruno, Calif., that led to the death of eight people and the total destruction of 38 homes in September 2010. The tragic accident garnered immediate national attention, thrusting the natural gas industry into the spotlight. The California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Independent Review Panel neatly encapsulated the sentiment surrounding the event: “The fact that a large segment of pipe literally blew out of the ground in an urban neighborhood and the residents were generally unaware of the proximity of a high-pressure natural gas transmission system to their homes—raises significant public safety concerns.”... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/4187.html Thu, 1 Dec 2011 0:00:00 EST Water has long been energy production’s silent partner. In the past, we Americans seemed to take it for granted that plentiful water supplies would be available for a variety of energy needs ranging from the operations of coal-fired power plants to natural gas production activities.... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/4106.html Tue, 1 Nov 2011 0:00:00 EDT As last winter’s abundant snowfall in the Pacific Northwest melted, rivers swelled and hydroelectric operators enjoyed substantial increases in generation. That bountiful clean and cheap power generation was a blessing, but it also triggered a host of legal issues.... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/4042.html Sat, 1 Oct 2011 0:00:00 EDT Quin Shea, vice president, environment for the Edison Electric Institute, comments on the Utility MACT rule that is expected to be finalized in November.... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/4052.html Sat, 1 Oct 2011 0:00:00 EDT From the East Coast to the Lone Star State, a number of elected officials and power industry representatives are bashing the new aggressive regulation aimed at controlling specific power plant emissions. Complying with a federal court mandate, the U.S... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/3966.html Thu, 1 Sep 2011 0:00:00 EDT It is time for the renewable integration discussion to move beyond simply identifying the challenges of ensuring reliability in a nation increasingly served by intermittent renewable resources and toward developing real-world solutions to these challenges.... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/3881.html Mon, 1 Aug 2011 0:00:00 EDT In April, California Governor Jerry Brown (D) signed Senate Bill 2 (SB2) into law. When it becomes effective later this year, SB2 will be the primary legislation governing implementation of the California Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) program.... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/3790.html Fri, 1 Jul 2011 0:00:00 EDT Even though Texas is again basking in warm weather, federal regulators are still investigating the rolling blackouts that hit the Lone Star state during a record-breaking cold snap in early February.... http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/legal_and_regulatory/3720.html Wed, 1 Jun 2011 0:00:00 EDT