George Sullivan

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I’m excited to see a real solution to the mounting generation retirement dilema in PJM move forward. PJM has acknowledged that new entry of resources has not kept pace with the amount of MWs lost due to rapid retirements. What the Stakeholder Coalition is trying to accomplish is at least “maintain the same level of resource adequacy” and MWs in critical locations historically relied on to undergird the system so that we continue to have a reliable and operable system and market. And beyond the technical and system need, there is the human need and element here. Elevate and other Coalition members are trying to keep generating facilities operating so that jobs aren’t lost and the economic tax base remain in these cities and locales where retiring power plants sit. Transferring Capacity Interconnection Rights (CIRs) from an existing generator to a replacement resource in an expedited interconnection review process of 9 months or less is more efficient and timely and allows for a deactivating unit to deenergize and its replacement resource (any technology type) to energize at around the same time frame to avoid mass closures and impacts to energy communities that have already paid for the network upgrades and existing infrastructure. We have a true reliability need in PJM and this Stakeholder Coalition proposal is one tool in the tool kit that can address the need and was closely designed based on 9 previous generator replacement processes already approved by the FERC. We look for continued member support at the MRC.

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"DoD continues to tout publicly its “flexibility in negotiation of terms” and “less Government oversight” associated with OTs, which it hopes will encourage participation by businesses that are otherwise “unwilling to forfeit intellectual property rights or adhere to some of the procurement regulations... 𝗜𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗧 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲." Could this be, in part, solved by equipping the workforce with high-quality education and information? "The flexibility and speed of OTs, when used correctly, present an opportunity to meet critical defense needs in ways that would otherwise be difficult or impossible." Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition

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BEYOND UTILITY PROCUREMENT: What URA's forensic utility bill review can do for your company. Most medium to large businesses have a really good grasp on their energy procurement getting the best prices on electric and natural gas. Great! However this alone falls short from ensuring your utility bills are optimized. In fact, it's far from it. Even with the cheapest rates locked in, we've found that 72% of commercial businesses are still overcharged on their complex monthly invoices by 16% to 23%. Having qualified billing experts analyze your bills, like URA's team, you'll quickly uncover where & how much your utility companies are overbilling you. We increase profitability by reducing your costs; and best of all it's a fast turnaround, at no risk, zero out of pocket cost, no vendor changes, and minimal effort from your team. We sit on your side of the table as you and are only incentivized by saving you money, not by selling you new vendors, products and services. Nothing to lose and a whole lot to save! Reach out to me if you'd like to learn more.

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This article discussion flies in the face of the market PJM has created. A market that only supports short term assets like wind and solar backed up by gas or batteries. In short it confirms the market flaws that have been claimed by utilities over many years, and should encourage support for creating market signals to create long lived assets like baseload generation plants.

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Check out the August Energy & Sustainability Washington Update from ML Strategies, LLC to learn about new permitting reform legislation, funding opportunities, and some exciting developments for AI in the energy sector.

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UNBUNDLING OF SMALL-CUSTOMER GAS SERVICES: NEW CHALLENGES FOR STATE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONS Energy Law Journal, Volume 18, No. 1. 1997 Kenneth W. Costello J. Rodney Lemon https://lnkd.in/eRRBtZwR The evolution of competition in the U.S. natural gas industry has followed a predictable course. Wellhead deregulation stimulated pipeline restructuring, which in turn has provoked a debate over gas-service restructuring at the retail level. Over the last several years, almost all local gas distribution companies (LDCs) in the U.S. have established stand-alone transportation service allowing industrial customers to purchase gas supplies in the open market. By all accounts, service unbundling to large retail customers has achieved significant cost savings to these customers. #BrankoTerzic #energy #regulations #experience #research #future #opportunity #strategy #management #people #electricity #power #utilities #renewables

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This proposed rule would expand the use of the small-business Rule of Two in multiple-award contracting and make other regulatory revisions to encourage the use of small businesses when creating new multiple-award contracts. In issuing this proposed rule, SBA implements recommendations of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) in its memorandum titled “Increasing Small Business Participation on Multiple-Award Contracts, dated January 25, 2024”. #dod #smallbusiness

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On May 13, 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued two orders designed to facilitate expansion of the interstate transmission grid. We provide a summary here: https://okt.to/ik5Knl #FERC #Transmission #Energy

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Congress passed the ADVANCE Act 88-2. This bill includes several reasonable and appropriate provisions to modernize regulation and more. It is the result of a substantial effort by many stakeholders. One key provision is aligning the NRC mission with the already in place Atomic Energy Act and Energy Reorganization Act. It reminds the NRC that the mission includes considering the benefits of nuclear energy technology to society, while still maintaining public safety and protecting the environment.

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In the US, Renewable Energy resources such as Solar and Wind are increasingly becoming major players in the quest to provide clean, reliable and sustainable energy that powers our lives! To ensure compliance, we must stay abreast of all new NERC Requirements that impact them. Here is a look at what’s coming down the pike! Great reference sheet to save!

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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued its Order on rehearing on Order 1920-A on "Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation." It is interesting to see the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Statement issued last Thursday. It says "we appreciate that it appears several of the substantive matters raised by NARUC have been addressed" and "they look forward to continuing the dialogue with our federal colleagues through opportunities such as the ongoing FERC-NARUC Federal-State Current Issues Collaborative." I love diving into FERC orders. This one is over 800 pages! They address each issued raised. It does appear the states/state commissions made some headway. Nevertheless, there appears to not be express recognition of state jurisdiction in this arena that some states and some state Commissions had urged. (There is debate as to what state role there is in the Federal Power Act on transmission). I like reading Commissioner Christie's statement. He said that the original Order 1920 "failed to fulfill the promise of a necessary and appropriate role for the states." He says that the Order 1920-A requires: submission of a state-agreed alternative, pre-amendment state consultation, cost allocation flexibility, state input on factors, state input on baseline scenarios, removal of corporate power preferences, and cost shifting, and has new transparency. "Collectively, these changes give the states a much bigger toolbox, containing far more effective tools they can use to protect their consumers and the interests of their states. I urge state regulators to use them aggressively."

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FERC commissioners approved by Senate to protect quorum The U.S. Senate approved three nominees for empty seats on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shortly after GPA Midstream and 17 other energy and related trade associations urged quick approval in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The move restores the essential agency to its full complement of five commissioners. The new commissioners include Judy Chang, managing principal at the Boston-based Analysis Group and former undersecretary of energy and climate solutions in Massachusetts, David Rosner, a FERC energy industry analyst who was on loan to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee the last two years, and Lindsay See, the West Virginia solicitor general. The trio join FERC Chair Willie Phillips and Commissioner Mark Christie at the agency. The agency will be led by three Democrats and two Republicans. FERC plays a key decision-making role in energy infrastructure and markets, and will weigh a number of issues as the agency seeks to ensure the U.S. has a reliable, affordable, sustainable, and secure grid. The agency was in danger of losing its quorum in early 2025. Failing to maintain a quorum would have eliminated the agency’s ability to oversee the power grid, wholesale electricity markets, interstate natural gas pipelines, or siting and construction of LNG facilities. Loss of these functions would have significant economic consequences that would have grown over time. The letter to Schumer and McConnell was sent June 10, and the Senate approved all the nominees on June 13.

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