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Energy and Utilities Law Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Energy and Utilities Law

Bargaining For Power: Resolving Open Questions From Nrg Power Marketing, Llc V. Maine Public Utilities Commission, Michael Keegan Apr 2017

Bargaining For Power: Resolving Open Questions From Nrg Power Marketing, Llc V. Maine Public Utilities Commission, Michael Keegan

Maine Law Review

Many industries are subject toregulation, whether by the federal government,the state, or both. Electric utilitycompanies’ retail rates are subject to regulationby the states, and their wholesale ratesharged among enterprises involved in providing the electric power to retail sellers are regulated by the federal government. Under the Federal Power Act of 1935 (“FPA”), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) is responsible for ensuring that rates for wholesale electric power sales and electric transmission are “just and reasonable.” The “classic scheme” of administrative rate setting called for rates to be established unilaterally by the regulated companies and set forth in rate schedules …


The Renewable Fuel Standard: Food Versus Fuel?, Brent J. Hartman Apr 2017

The Renewable Fuel Standard: Food Versus Fuel?, Brent J. Hartman

Maine Law Review

Created by the Energy Act of 2005 and substantially amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates an increasing amount of fuel from renewable sources that must be blended into the transportation fuel supply of the United States. Starting in 2008, RFS began with a mandated volume of nine billion gallons. By 2002, RFS requires blending 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel. Thus, in a little over a decade, RFS requires the amount of renewable fuel to quadruple. Meeting the targets of RFS would make substantial strides in energy security and independence, …


Allocating Power: Toward A New Federalism Balance For Electricity Transmission Siting, Kevin Decker Apr 2017

Allocating Power: Toward A New Federalism Balance For Electricity Transmission Siting, Kevin Decker

Maine Law Review

Expansion and improvement of the nation’s electricity transmission system are crucial for increasing the amount of electricity generated by renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and tidal, tend to be located far from population centers, and electricity transmission lines must bridge that gap. In addition to its importance for meeting renewable energy goals, a better connected and more robust transmission system also bolsters reliability because it can draw on many generation sources in the event that a generator or segment of the transmission network fails. And transmission facilitates generator competition by making it possible to transport lower-cost …


The Road Less Travelled: The Maine Energy Cost Reduction Act, Economic Federalism, And A Modern Approach To Preemption Analysis Under The Natural Gas Act Of 1938, Benjamin T. Mccall Jan 2017

The Road Less Travelled: The Maine Energy Cost Reduction Act, Economic Federalism, And A Modern Approach To Preemption Analysis Under The Natural Gas Act Of 1938, Benjamin T. Mccall

Maine Law Review

The saying “you can’t get there from here” is as authentically Maine as blueberries or lobster. Made famous in the mid-20th century by the storytelling troupe Bert and I, the colloquial phrase typifies the quirkiness and with that one often encounters north and east of the New Hampshire border. Despite the attempt at humor, the saying is apropos when one considers Maine’s position in both New England and the country. Being at the end of the line certainly has its advantages, among them being hundreds of square miles of untamed forest, and a bevy of natural resources that provide both …