On February 10, 2025, Pluvia LLC (“Pluvia”) filed a petition for a declaratory order, asking FERC to clarify its jurisdiction to issue a preliminary permit for the construction, operation, and maintenance of transmission lines and other facilities to develop wholesale interstate transmission of electricity between Puerto Rico and the mainland United States. In its petition, Pluvia proposes to purchase electricity from the interstate transmission system on the U.S. mainland, store energy in Storage As Transmission-Only Assets (“SATOA”) or other storage devices, and ship the stored energy as sea cargo to Puerto Rico. Pluvia explains that, if approved by FERC, its proposal would establish an alternative to undersea cables as a basis for FERC’s Federal Power Act (“FPA”) jurisdiction in Puerto Rico.
Battery/Storage
Growing the Solar and Storage Landscape With Mike Hall, Anza Renewables
Battery + Storage Podcast
In this episode, host Bill Derasmo welcomes Mike Hall, CEO of Anza Renewables. With more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry, Hall shares insights into the founding and growth of Anza in 2022. The discussion covers the importance of technology platforms, vendor relationships…
Charging Ahead: Legal, Regulatory, and Operational Considerations for EV Infrastructure Development
The rapid growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales in the United States has created an urgent demand for robust EV charging infrastructure. The demand for EV charging infrastructure is driven by the need to ensure the benefits of EVs are fully realized. The EV industry has reached a critical tipping…
Driving Change: Scaling Up EVs in the U.S.
We are pleased to publish our latest white paper, entitled “Driving Change: Scaling Up EVs in the U.S.” The report highlights the challenges of expanding electric vehicles (EVs) and EV battery manufacturing in the U.S. Outdated infrastructure and divergent state and federal environmental regulatory structures are identified as key hurdles.
Capacity Crunch Series: Reliability Issues, Decarbonization, and Tax Opportunities
The capacity crunch ushers in a multitude of challenges, notably for utilities, developers, and other stakeholders in the energy market. In this three-part video series, our energy attorneys explore the critical issues and opportunities arising from this pivotal moment.
FERC Finds Dominion LNG Back-up Fuel Project Satisfies Hinshaw Exemption Under the NGA
On November 16, 2023, FERC granted Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia’s (“Dominion”) petition requesting the Commission declare that Dominion’s planned liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) production, storage, and regasification facility (“Back-up Fuel Project” or “Project”) in Greensville County, Virginia would be exempt from the Commission’s jurisdiction under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (“NGA”). In so doing, FERC determined the Project satisfied the “Hinshaw Exemption” under NGA section 1(c).
FERC Accepts ISO-NE’s Proposal to Treat Electric Storage Facilities as Transmission-Only Assets
On October 19, 2023, FERC accepted ISO New England Inc.’s (“ISO-NE”) proposal to allow electric storage facilities to be planned and operated as transmission-only assets (“SATOAs”) to address system needs identified in the regional system planning process. FERC determined that the ISO-NE’s proposal established a just and reasonable framework for electric storage resources to be considered a transmission asset for regional planning purposes and thus be eligible for cost-based rate recovery.
FERC Approves SPP Proposal for Energy Storage to Be Considered Transmission-Only Assets
On May 26, 2023, the Commission accepted Southwest Power Pool, Inc.’s (“SPP”) proposed revisions to its Tariff to establish the “framework under which an electric storage resource may be considered a transmission asset.”
Taking Charge: Inside the U.S. Battery Boom
In response to the transformational Inflation Reduction Act, Troutman Pepper has launched Taking Charge: Inside the U.S. Battery Boom, an in-depth report examining the accelerated growth in the U.S. battery storage sector.
We look at how the legislation is creating both opportunity and complexity, as businesses develop and adapt their…
FERC Partially Accepts ISO-NE Order No. 2222 Compliance Filing, but Expresses Concern that Proposal Could Create Undue Barrier to DERs
On March 1, 2023, FERC partially approved ISO New England’s (“ISO-NE”) proposed tariff revisions in compliance with Order No. 2222, which removed barriers to the participation of distributed energy resource (“DER”) aggregations in the capacity, energy, and ancillary services markets operated by Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators (“RTO/ISO”). In the order, FERC directed ISO-NE to revise its proposal regarding small utility opt-in requirements, capacity market participation, information and data requirements, and metering and telemetry system requirements. Commissioner Christie dissented from the order arguing that ISO-NE’s proposed metering and telemetry requirements for DER aggregations are reasonable and should be encouraging RTO/ISOs to adopt rigorous measurement and verification (“M&V”) measures, not undercutting them. Commissioner Danly concurred with a separate statement, expressing how this decision underscores his original concerns with Order No. 2222, namely that FERC is interfering in managing RTO activities that, in his view, should be under state jurisdiction. Commissioner Clements also concurred with a separate statement urging ISO-NE to make its proposal open to all DERs, such as behind-the-meter DERs.