2011 saw rising gas prices in the UK. Between Q3 2010 and Q3
2011, domestic gas prices rose 9.2% and industrial gas
prices1 rose 17.9% in real terms.2 The US
became a net exporter of gas for the first time, and the UK
imported more gas for the first time.3 With energy demands high and
prices rising for a staple source of energy, this summary aims to
highlight some potential energy trends in the US and UK in
2012.
Growing Consumption and the Changing Energy
Mix: An overall trend which we expect to continue is the
growing demand for more energy. In the UK, for example, published
figures show that energy consumption in 2010 was 5% higher than in
2009 and total energy use has increased from 1970 by an overall
approximate figure of 4%....
Specific Questions relating to this article should be addressed directly to the author.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") issued a Notice of Inquiry on April 19th ("NOI") seeking comment on its policy regarding capacity priority rights and open access on developer-owned interconnection facilities that connect generation facilities to the integrated transmission grid ("Interconnection Facilities").
At FERC’s open meeting on April 19, 2012, FERC approved several orders addressing core aspects of Reliability Standards compliance, including cybersecurity Reliability Standards, compliance registration, and contingency planning issues.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"), on April 19, 2012, approved the eight modified Critical Infrastructure Protection ("CIP") Reliability Standards, CIP-002-4 through CIP-009-4 ("Version 4 CIP Standards"), which were developed and submitted for approval by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation ("NERC") ("Final Order").
On May 4, 2012, the US Bureau of Land Management ("BLM" or the "Bureau"), which is part of the Department of the Interior, released its proposed rule for regulating hydraulic fracturing on public and Indian lands. As expected, the proposal addresses public disclosure of fracturing fluid constituents, well-bore integrity, and wastewater management.
On April 20, 2012, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") issued an order accepting proposed revisions to the WSPP Agreement addressing sales of renewable energy certificates ("RECs") made pursuant to that agreement.
The U.S. lags behind Europe in the development of offshore wind (OSW) projects in part due to the lack of a mandatory national renewable energy standard and other tax incentives.
On April 27, 2012, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) proposed final regulations governing the eligibility of biomass energy for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for compliance with the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS).