Brian Turner

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (Commission) today revised its decision regarding Xcel’s entry into SPP’s Markets+ to require greater scrutiny of Xcel’s future market-related decision-making amid growing concerns over rising costs, market seams, and governance.  

In an episode of NewsData’s People in Power Podcast, United’s Brian Turner discusses the recent passage of California Assembly Bill (AB) 825, and the path forward for an independently governed energy market in the West.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission decision on the Just Transition Solicitation moves the state closer to a carbon-free future, sequencing critical energy and transmission projects that will keep costs affordable for ratepayers.

In an opinion piece for Utility Dive, United’s Brian Turner explains what comes next after the passage of California’s AB 825, a bill allowing the state’s utilities to join electricity markets governed by a new, independent West-wide organization. The new organization will let states opt into services a la carte, with more to come. This uniquely Western model will lower costs, improve reliability, and respect each state’s policy goals.

Canary Media reports on the passage of AB 825, the Pathways bill, which was signed into law as part of a major climate-and-energy legislative package. AB 825 will allow California to join with the West in creating a regional day-ahead energy market. The article quotes United’s Brian Turner, who called the bill a “starting gun” for a Western energy market that will lower costs, strengthen the grid, and protect California’s authority.

The Denver Post reports on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s approval of Xcel Energy’s plan to join SPP’s Markets+, despite concerns from consumer and environmental advocates. United’s Brian Turner criticized the decision and warned that it could delay progress toward a fully organized wholesale market, undermine Colorado’s clean energy goals, and urged the state to look into joining other markets in the region that offer greater renewable energy access and long-term cost savings.

The Colorado Sun reports on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s approval of Xcel Energy’s $30 million plan to join SPP’s Markets+. United’s Brian Turner said the decision will balkanize the Western grid, increase energy costs, and delay progress in clean energy development.

E&E News discusses the potential consequences of a bifurcated regional grid between the West’s two electricity market options—California’s Extended Day-Ahead Market and the Southwest Power Pool’s Markets+. United’s Brian Turner warned that dividing the region between two systems could limit efficiencies, increase electricity costs, and reduce emissions benefits.

E&E News reports that Bonneville Power Administration has issued a draft decision to join Southwest Power Pool’s Markets+. This move could cement a bifurcated electricity market in the West. United’s Brian Turner expressed concerns that a split market would create inefficiencies, increase costs, and limit the ability to share clean energy resources across the region. Studies indicate that a split market will result in seams that will create economic and operation friction.

The Nevada Independent reports on NV Energy’s decision to convert the North Valmy Generating Station from coal to natural gas instead of retiring it as originally promised. United’s Brian Turner criticized this decision, saying that NV Energy missed an opportunity to transition to renewable energy, and warned that this move will keep Nevada dependent on fossil fuels and burden ratepayers with the costs for decades.

POLITICO reports on the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative (WWGPI)’s new proposal to regionalize the Western power grid, which is expected to gain broad bipartisan support despite potential challenges from a Trump-appointed FERC leadership. The article quotes United’s Brian Turner, a member of the WWGPI Launch Committee, discussing how this move will strengthen regional cooperation. 

Utility Dive reports on the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative (WWGPI) draft Step 2 proposal that would create an independent organization to oversee the Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) and pending Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM), which are run by the California Independent System Operator. The article quotes United’s Brian Turner, a member of the WWGPI Launch Committee, saying that this independent organization could evolve to offer a full range of regional transmission organization services.