Policy Alerts & Press Releases

USCHPA POLICY ALERTS ARCHIVE

| 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |2001 | 1999-2000 |

2006

February 10, 2006

USCHPA Policy Alert: New FERC Policies in Response to EPAct Amendments of PURPA
INTRODUCTION
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued two major decisions in the last three weeks that respond to provisions in last summer's Energy Policy Act of 2005 ("EPAct"). These provisions amended the cogeneration and small-power-production provisions of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ("PURPA"). This policy alert summarizes what FERC has decided and proposed, and offers some thoughts for members to consider as USCHPA participates in further steps in the process.
PURPA's cogeneration and small power provisions (Section 210) were the fundamental basis for the dramatic expansion of independent cogeneration facilities in the U.S. The competitive entry into electricity market that emerged led to the further liberalizations in the Energy Policy Act of 1992. But there was an anti-cogeneration backlash from electric utilities arguing that they were forced to enter arrangements against their interests. Now the implementation of the amendments to PURPA in EPAct, supposedly adopting a compromise between competitive and utility interests, have the potential to fundamentally change the regulatory structure under which much CHP has been installed.

Entire Policy Alert

2005

May 25, 2005
Thanks to all who responded as the energy bill went into mark-up in the Senate Energy Committee two weeks ago. We experienced a partial success. The legislation being sent to the Senate floor by the Energy Committee will include the same language passed in the Buyer-Boucher amendment in the House on interconnection, the CHP study provision from Section 106 of Senator Alexander's bill, S. 726, and the PURPA compromise language protecting the buy-sell rights of existing cogenerators. It will not, however, include the other provisions of Section 106, which were cut in committee. Our most important single pending proposal is, however, yet to be passed on in Committee. That is the 10% CHP Tax Credit proposal pending before the Senate Finance Committee, which will be going into mark-up on its part of the energy bill next week. NOW is the time to communicate with the members of that Committee.

May 9, 2005
Now is the time! The Senate Energy Committee is planning to "mark up" its version of comprehensive energy legislation. Pro-CHP provisions will be included in or excluded from the bill reported to the Senate floor largely as a function of whether the Senators on the Committee hear LOUDLY and NOW from the CHP industry that we care about these provisions.
Supporting Materials (May 10, 2005):
Updated Contact Info. and Sample Fax Letter
Helpful Policy One-Pagers

April 9, 2005
Congressmen Steve Buyer (R, Indiana) and Rich Boucher (D, Virginia) are cosponsoring an amendment developed by USCHPA to require all states to consider and potentially revise their small generator interconnection policies to bring them in line with IEEE 1547 technical standards and the best practices that other states employ. Now is the time for USCHPA members to support this effort.
View language of the amendment.

April 7, 2005
A near-term opportunity to win favorable legislation in the State of Connecticut
View letter as submitted by USCHPA.

March 1, 2005
Comments requested on EPA draft rule promising output-based standards of performance for stationary combustion turbines
UPDATE: USCHPA Comments as submitted on April 19, 2005

2004

April 6, 2004
Preferred CHP Investment Tax Credit Included in Senate Bill Scheduled for Floor Action

February 2004
CHP Investment Tax Credit in trimmed down Energy Bill, S.2095.

2003

July 28, 2003
Energy Bill, CHP Tax Credit to Enter Debate in the Senate

May 19, 2003
Support Needed on CHP Tax Credit in Energy Bill

March 20, 2003
Legislative Update: USCHPA ACHIEVES MAJOR VICTORY ON PURPA AMENDMENT AND EXCELLENT "SCORE" ON TAX CREDIT AMENDMENT

March 17, 2003
MEMBER ALERT: Needed – Congressional Champions for an Improved CHP Tax Credit Bill

March 13, 2003
MEMBER ALERT: CHP Tax Legislation Surfaces in Senate

March 10, 2003
Members Alert: Energy Legislation May Move Rapidly
CHP FEATURED IN HOUSE BILL; USCHPA AND OTHERS SEEK TO PRESERVE CHP MARKET ACCESS PENDING COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY MARKETS

January 7, 2003
ISSUE ALERT: EPA Issuing Proposed New Hazardous Pollutant Emission Standards for Certain Internal Combustion Engines and Turbines

2002

August 21, 2002
News Bulletin to Members: Update on FERC, Clear Skies, and Congress

June 18, 2002
Contact your Senators and Representative to Support CHP in Energy Bill Conference
> USCHPA Energy Bill Conference Recommendations

April 25, 2002
CHP WINS TWO SIGNIFICANT VICTORIES IN THE U.S. SENATE AND BEFORE THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
> SENATE VOTES ON THE CARPER-COLLINS AMENDMENT
> AMENDMENT LANGUAGE (pdf) (html)
> BACKGROUND INFO ON AMENDMENT (pdf) (html)

January 18, 2002
Policy Alert: USCHPA Urges FERC to Adopt Small Generator Interconnection Standards
> Attachment 1. Interconnection Procedures

January 11 , 2002
USCHPA Policy Alert: Senate Considering Tax Legislation--Contact Your Senator to Support 10% CHP Tax Credit

2001

December 6, 2001
USCHPA Policy Update: CHP in Senate Energy Policy Act

September 19, 2001
Policy Alert: Senate Energy Committee to Meet Soon--Contact Your Senator on Interconnection Legislation
>Status of Senate Interconnection Legislation (background) (Sept. 18, 2001)
>The Consensus Interconnect Language

August 10, 2001
Policy Update: CHP on National Legislative Agenda

July 18, 2001
Investment Tax Credit, H.R. 2511, introduced in the House

June 26, 2001
Policy Update: CHP on National Legislative Agenda

April 16, 2001
CHP on National Legislative Agenda

1999-2000

November 10, 2000
FERC Approves Sweeping Changes to California's Power Markets

August 13, 1999
Congressman Pallone of New Jersey Introduces the Fair Energy Competition Act of 1999

August 12, 1999
Senate Introduces the Clean Energy Act

June 23, 1999
White House Orders Agencies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions -- Provides Opportunities for Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

June 11, 1999
Largent/Markey Restructuring Proposal Takes Initial Steps to Eliminate Barriers for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) (pdf)

April 19, 1999
Administration Restructuring Proposal Attempts to Eliminate Barriers for Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

March 21, 1999
EPA Recommends Energy Efficiency Set-Asides for Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

March 19, 1999
Letters to Northeast-Midwest Co-Chairs Regarding CHP Legislation

PRESS RELEASES

August 15, 2003
CHP--Part of Electric Reliability Solution

November 8, 2001
USCHPA Cites New ACEEE reports in Calling on Congress to Adopt CHP Tax Incentives

October 15, 2001
USCHPA applauds new EPA CHP Partnership Program

June 27, 2001
USCHPA forms Energy Solutions Alliance with AGCC and DPCA

May 22, 2001
Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition on CHP Advancement Act of 2001

May 18, 2001
USCHPA Response to the Bush-Cheney National Energy Plan

October 13, 2000
New USCHPA Executive Director Announced at National Workshop in Baltimore

November 8, 1999
Energy Secretary Richardson Dedicates New Cogeneration System at Textile Plant

April 19, 1999
Administration Restructuring Proposal is First Step to Eliminate Barriers for Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

February 8, 1999
U.S. CHPA Agrees to Lead DOE CHP Vision



USCHPA POLICY ALERTS ARCHIVE \| 2006 \| 2005 \| 2004 \| 2003 \| 2002 \|2001 \| 1999-2000 \| 2006 February 10, 2006 USCHPA Policy Alert: New FERC Policies in Response to EPAct Amendments of PURPA INTRODUCTION The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued two major decisions in the last three weeks that respond to provisions in last summer's Energy Policy Act of 2005 ("EPAct"). These provisions amended the cogeneration and small-power-production provisions of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 ("PURPA"). This policy alert summarizes what FERC has decided and proposed, and offers some thoughts for members to consider as USCHPA participates in further steps in the process. PURPA's cogeneration and small power provisions (Section 210) were the fundamental basis for the dramatic expansion of independent cogeneration facilities in the U.S. The competitive entry into electricity market that emerged led to the further liberalizations in the Energy Policy Act of 1992. But there was an anti-cogeneration backlash from electric utilities arguing that they were forced to enter arrangements against their interests. Now the implementation of the amendments to PURPA in EPAct, supposedly adopting a compromise between competitive and utility interests, have the potential to fundamentally change the regulatory structure under which much CHP has been installed. Entire Policy Alert 2005 May 25, 2005 Thanks to all who responded as the energy bill went into mark-up in the Senate Energy Committee two weeks ago. We experienced a partial success. The legislation being sent to the Senate floor by the Energy Committee will include the same language passed in the Buyer-Boucher amendment in the House on interconnection, the CHP study provision from Section 106 of Senator Alexander's bill, S. 726, and the PURPA compromise language protecting the buy-sell rights of existing cogenerators. It will not, however, include the other provisions of Section 106, which were cut in committee. Our most important single pending proposal is, however, yet to be passed on in Committee. That is the 10% CHP Tax Credit proposal pending before the Senate Finance Committee, which will be going into mark-up on its part of the energy bill next week. NOW is the time to communicate with the members of that Committee. May 9, 2005 Now is the time! The Senate Energy Committee is planning to "mark up" its version of comprehensive energy legislation. Pro-CHP provisions will be included in or excluded from the bill reported to the Senate floor largely as a function of whether the Senators on the Committee hear LOUDLY and NOW from the CHP industry that we care about these provisions. Supporting Materials (May 10, 2005): Updated Contact Info. and Sample Fax Letter Helpful Policy One-Pagers April 9, 2005 Congressmen Steve Buyer (R, Indiana) and Rich Boucher (D, Virginia) are cosponsoring an amendment developed by USCHPA to require all states to consider and potentially revise their small generator interconnection policies to bring them in line with IEEE 1547 technical standards and the best practices that other states employ. Now is the time for USCHPA members to support this effort. View language of the amendment. April 7, 2005 A near-term opportunity to win favorable legislation in the State of Connecticut View letter as submitted by USCHPA. March 1, 2005 Comments requested on EPA draft rule promising output-based standards of performance for stationary combustion turbines UPDATE: USCHPA Comments as submitted on April 19, 2005 2004 April 6, 2004 Preferred CHP Investment Tax Credit Included in Senate Bill Scheduled for Floor Action February 2004 CHP Investment Tax Credit in trimmed down Energy Bill, S.2095. 2003 July 28, 2003 Energy Bill, CHP Tax Credit to Enter Debate in the Senate May 19, 2003 Support Needed on CHP Tax Credit in Energy Bill March 20, 2003 Legislative Update: USCHPA ACHIEVES MAJOR VICTORY ON PURPA AMENDMENT AND EXCELLENT "SCORE" ON TAX CREDIT AMENDMENT March 17, 2003 MEMBER ALERT: Needed – Congressional Champions for an Improved CHP Tax Credit Bill March 13, 2003 MEMBER ALERT: CHP Tax Legislation Surfaces in Senate March 10, 2003 Members Alert: Energy Legislation May Move Rapidly CHP FEATURED IN HOUSE BILL; USCHPA AND OTHERS SEEK TO PRESERVE CHP MARKET ACCESS PENDING COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY MARKETS January 7, 2003 ISSUE ALERT: EPA Issuing Proposed New Hazardous Pollutant Emission Standards for Certain Internal Combustion Engines and Turbines 2002 August 21, 2002 News Bulletin to Members: Update on FERC, Clear Skies, and Congress June 18, 2002 Contact your Senators and Representative to Support CHP in Energy Bill Conference > USCHPA Energy Bill Conference Recommendations April 25, 2002 CHP WINS TWO SIGNIFICANT VICTORIES IN THE U.S. SENATE AND BEFORE THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION > SENATE VOTES ON THE CARPER-COLLINS AMENDMENT > AMENDMENT LANGUAGE (pdf) (html) > BACKGROUND INFO ON AMENDMENT (pdf) (html) January 18, 2002 Policy Alert: USCHPA Urges FERC to Adopt Small Generator Interconnection Standards > Attachment 1. Interconnection Procedures January 11 , 2002 USCHPA Policy Alert: Senate Considering Tax Legislation--Contact Your Senator to Support 10% CHP Tax Credit 2001 December 6, 2001 USCHPA Policy Update: CHP in Senate Energy Policy Act September 19, 2001 Policy Alert: Senate Energy Committee to Meet Soon--Contact Your Senator on Interconnection Legislation >Status of Senate Interconnection Legislation (background) (Sept. 18, 2001) >The Consensus Interconnect Language August 10, 2001 Policy Update: CHP on National Legislative Agenda July 18, 2001 Investment Tax Credit, H.R. 2511, introduced in the House June 26, 2001 Policy Update: CHP on National Legislative Agenda April 16, 2001 CHP on National Legislative Agenda 1999-2000 November 10, 2000 FERC Approves Sweeping Changes to California's Power Markets August 13, 1999 Congressman Pallone of New Jersey Introduces the Fair Energy Competition Act of 1999 August 12, 1999 Senate Introduces the Clean Energy Act June 23, 1999 White House Orders Agencies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions -- Provides Opportunities for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) June 11, 1999 Largent/Markey Restructuring Proposal Takes Initial Steps to Eliminate Barriers for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) (pdf) April 19, 1999 Administration Restructuring Proposal Attempts to Eliminate Barriers for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) March 21, 1999 EPA Recommends Energy Efficiency Set-Asides for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) March 19, 1999 Letters to Northeast-Midwest Co-Chairs Regarding CHP Legislation			PRESS RELEASES August 15, 2003 CHP--Part of Electric Reliability Solution November 8, 2001 USCHPA Cites New ACEEE reports in Calling on Congress to Adopt CHP Tax Incentives October 15, 2001 USCHPA applauds new EPA CHP Partnership Program June 27, 2001 USCHPA forms Energy Solutions Alliance with AGCC and DPCA May 22, 2001 Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition on CHP Advancement Act of 2001 May 18, 2001 USCHPA Response to the Bush-Cheney National Energy Plan October 13, 2000 New USCHPA Executive Director Announced at National Workshop in Baltimore November 8, 1999 Energy Secretary Richardson Dedicates New Cogeneration System at Textile Plant April 19, 1999 Administration Restructuring Proposal is First Step to Eliminate Barriers for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) February 8, 1999 U.S. CHPA Agrees to Lead DOE CHP Vision