On June 18, 2009, FERC released a national assessment detailing demand response potential with a state-by-state analysis. The report estimates that demand response potential can reduce peak electricity demand by 4% to 20%, which translates to between 38 gigawatts (“GW”) and 188 GW, by 2019.

On Wednesday, President Obama announced his intention to nominate John R. Norris as Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”). Currently, Mr. Norris is Chief of Staff for Secretary Tom Vilsack at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), a position he has held since January of…

On June 3, 2009, Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, sent a letter to FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff requesting “information on the level and focus of transmission investments in response to FERC’s transmission incentive policy.”

On June 4, 2009, FERC and Washington State signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to coordinate their review of projects that use emerging hydrokinetic technologies in Washington’s waters. Hydrokinetic facilities generate electricity from waves or directly from the flow of water in ocean currents, tides, or rivers.

On Monday, Department of Energy (“DOE”) Secretary Steven Chu announced plans to provide $256 million to support energy efficiency improvements in major industrial sectors across the American economy. The funding is authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is targeted at reducing energy consumption in manufacturing and information technology industries (“IT”), while creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.