Blog - Regulatory Assistance Project

Oct 30 2015

October 30, 2015

Emissions Trading in RGGI: What Does it Mean for China?

By David Farnsworth, Wang Xuan, Max Dupuy

China launched seven pilot emissions trading systems (ETS) in 2013, as testing grounds for a national ETS. With the Joint Presidential Statement on Climate Change, China confirmed its plan to launch a national ETS in 2017, and work has already begun to develop the necessary legislation. RAP led a team of international experts in assessing the Guangdong and Sha... Read More

Oct 22 2015

October 22, 2015

New Renewable Energy Integration Pilots Explore Options to Reduce Curtailment of Clean Energy

By Max Dupuy, Helen He, Wang Xuan

In a statement dated October 8 (that first appeared online on October 19), China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) launched pilots for renewable energy policy reform in Gansu province and Inner Mongolia. These provinces have substantial wind and solar resources and rapidly growing renewable generation capacity, but they have suffered from seve... Read More

Oct 05 2015

October 5, 2015

Finding the Sweet Spot for Natural Gas Investment

By Carl Linvill

Natural gas is an important part of our low-carbon future, but finding the “sweet spot” for gas investment is not easy. Too much investment in gas pipeline infrastructure and gas generation is risky. Gas pipeline and generation investments are long lived—30 to 50 years, or even more—so when we invest in gas, we are making a long-term bet that our investme... Read More

Oct 01 2015

October 1, 2015

Skate Where the Puck Is Going to Be

By John Shenot

Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky once said, “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” Strangely enough, when I think about what lies ahead for electric utilities and state regulators, I think about Gretzky’s greatness. And then I think about the amusement of watching 6-year-olds on the ice, ... Read More

Sep 25 2015

September 25, 2015

Obama-Xi Joint Presidential Statement on Climate Change Promises Much-Needed Reform of Generator Dispatch in China

By Max Dupuy

In China, generator dispatch—which largely determines how the vast fleet of power plants are used on an hour-by-hour basis—has long been inefficient and a major obstacle to meeting China’s air quality and clean energy goals. In addition to the curtailment of wind, solar, and hydro energy, inefficient dispatch means that relatively dirty coal-fired power pla... Read More

Sep 02 2015

September 2, 2015

New Chinese Air Law Integrates Energy and Environmental Policy

By Christopher James

The National People’s Congress (NPC) adopted revisions to China’s air law on August 29th that will go into effect on January 1, 2016. Last revised in 2000, the new law is intended to respond to and reduce the severe air pollution that has plagued many Chinese cities and regions in the last several years. Though details are still being sorted out, and an Engli... Read More

Aug 06 2015

August 6, 2015

Deepening Power Sector Reform in China: The Essential Role of Power Sector Planning

By Max Dupuy

The Power Sector Reform guidance issued in March recognizes the need for a major revamp of power sector planning, and official announcements indicate that the 13th Five-Year Plan is taking up the task. This will be very important for reaching the Chinese government’s goals for the power sector—including goals for emissions reduction—at reasonable cost. ... Read More

Aug 03 2015

August 3, 2015

Hit the Ground Running on EPA’s Clean Power Plan: 12 Steps for Effective, Least-Cost Compliance

By John Shenot, Ken Colburn

EPA is expected to finalize its Clean Power Plan (also known as its “111(d) rule”) today. Once published in the Federal Register, states may have only one year (or in some cases, two years) to develop initial compliance plans, so the pressure to move quickly will be extraordinary. A game plan will help officials responsible for a state’s compliance plan str... Read More

Jul 24 2015

July 24, 2015