Generation
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State utility regulators grapple with load growth, reliability and permitting amid energy transition
“There are so many priorities that we need to balance,” Michigan PSC Commissioner Katherine Peretick said at a Cleanpower Expo panel.
By Brian Martucci • May 17, 2024 -
Geopolitics, decarbonization driving ascendant nuclear power industry: NEI CEO
Anticipated load growth from data centers, AI and new manufacturing hubs is the latest tailwind for conventional and advanced nuclear, NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick said Tuesday.
By Brian Martucci • May 15, 2024 -
Trendline
Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive
The U.S. clean energy transition is expected to accelerate in 2024 but faces question around transmission, financing, federal elections and other issues.
By Utility Dive staff -
Electric co-ops ask court to stay EPA power plant rule, citing multibillion compliance costs
EPA says generators can achieve compliance with carbon capture and sequestration, but that technology “has not been proven at a commercial scale,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.
By Robert Walton • May 15, 2024 -
Small modular reactor startups Oklo and Nano Nuclear Energy make US stock market debut
The advanced fission companies, both of which are designing very small modular reactors for remote or mobile heat and power applications, completed their initial public offerings and began trading on U.S. exchanges last week.
By Brian Martucci • May 13, 2024 -
California PUC rejects PG&E plan to spin off 5.6 GW in non-nuclear assets
PG&E failed to show the proposed transaction meets “even the minimal public interest standard,” the PUC said in its decision.
By Ethan Howland • May 10, 2024 -
23 states, rural co-ops sue EPA over ‘unlawful, unreasonable’ power plant rules
“This rule intentionally sets impossible standards to destroy the coal industry,” North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Thursday.
By Robert Walton • May 9, 2024 -
Clean energy, gas generation in PJM may take longer to come online than expected: report
“Absent significant reforms or market innovations, most projects entering PJM’s queue today are unlikely to come online before 2030,” the report’s authors said.
By Ethan Howland • May 9, 2024 -
BWX Technologies sees durable demand for large nuclear components and SMRs: CEO
On a Monday earnings call, the nuclear components supplier provided updates on a planned manufacturing plant expansion, longer-term demand for small modular reactors and more.
By Brian Martucci • May 8, 2024 -
Congress passes Russian uranium import ban, unlocking $2.7B to expand US nuclear fuel production
The money includes funding for high-assay low-enriched uranium, which is needed for certain advanced nuclear reactor designs.
By Brian Martucci • May 6, 2024 -
VPPs could boost utilities’ credit profiles, but it’s ‘premature’ to consider impact: Morningstar DBRS
Though obstacles are impeding virtual power plants in the short term, the technology will be a plus for utilities and for reliability in the long run, the credit rating company predicts.
By Brian Martucci • May 6, 2024 -
Replacing a Talen Energy coal-fired power plant with battery storage is infeasible: PJM
A Sierra Club proposal that aims to avoid a reliability must-run contract for the 1,280-MW Brandon Shores plant in Maryland is unworkable, the PJM Interconnection found.
By Ethan Howland • Updated May 6, 2024 -
GE Vernova to remain “highly selective” of offshore wind orders amid uncertainty: CEO
In its first quarterly earnings report since becoming an independent company, the power equipment manufacturer contrasted recent wind challenges with near-term optimism for its gas power and electrification business lines.
By Brian Martucci • May 1, 2024 -
PSEG in talks to sell nuclear power to data centers: CEO LaRossa
“Our New Jersey nuclear units could provide access to a highly reliable, carbon-free source of baseload power,” PSEG CEO Ralph LaRossa said Tuesday.
By Ethan Howland • May 1, 2024 -
AEP faces 15 GW of new load, driven by Amazon, Google, other data centers: interim CEO Fowke
Load growth in Ohio is sparking talk of letting the state’s utilities own power plants again, Ben Fowke, AEP interim CEO, said Tuesday.
By Ethan Howland • May 1, 2024 -
International, domestic energy policies should embrace gas as transition fuel: EFI report
Natural gas exports from the United States help to support energy security, equity and sustainability around the globe, said EFI Foundation CEO Ernest Moniz, who served as U.S. Secretary of Energy under President Obama.
By Robert Walton • May 1, 2024 -
SPP Markets+ Western market plan sparks support, protest and concerns
Arizona Public Service, Public Service Co. of Colorado, Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power and a public power trade group urged FERC to approve the day-ahead market.
By Ethan Howland • April 30, 2024 -
Coal-to-nuclear transition would benefit dozens of US regions: NASEO-NARUC report
The authors cited data from the Energy Department, the Bipartisan Policy Center and other sources showing the economic and operational benefits, including up to 35% lower construction costs for small modular reactors.
By Brian Martucci • April 29, 2024 -
MISO capacity prices triple for next summer, spring, partly on power plant retirements
Prices for Ameren Missouri and Columbia, Missouri’s municipal utility jumped to nearly $720/MW-day for the upcoming fall and spring seasons due to expected power supply shortages.
By Ethan Howland • April 26, 2024 -
NRC proposes streamlined environmental reviews for new reactor license applications
If finalized, the proposed rule would apply to any future fission reactor application and could reduce environmental review costs by up to 45%, Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff found.
By Brian Martucci • April 25, 2024 -
EPA finalizes power plant emission rules, but utilities balk at expected need for carbon capture
Electric utilities called the power plant rules “disappointing” and “unlawful” and say the rules will create reliability and affordability challenges.
By Robert Walton • April 25, 2024 -
PG&E highlights 100% emissions-free power in 2023 as generation spin-off hits snag
California regulators could vote in May on a proposal to reject Pacific Gas & Electric’s plan to create a separate company with 5.6 GW in non-nuclear generating assets as part of an effort to raise capital.
By Ethan Howland • April 24, 2024 -
ERCOT launches new planning efforts as 2030 load growth projections soar 40 GW in a year
The growth is being fueled by a range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, data centers, industrial electrification, hydrogen and electric vehicles, said ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas.
By Robert Walton • April 24, 2024 -
Energy storage for grid reliability can increase carbon emissions: University of Michigan study
Energy storage is often pitched as a way to make renewables more reliable and reduce the use of planet-warming fuels, but researchers at the University of Michigan found that it can encourage the use of coal over gas.
By Patrick Cooley • April 23, 2024 -
APS, others plan 1-year delay in fines for Western Resource Adequacy Program capacity shortfalls
Supply chain problems, unexpected load growth and extreme weather are challenging efforts to ensure adequate power supplies in the West, according to Avista, Calpine and other program participants.
By Ethan Howland • April 23, 2024 -
Fusion will beat advanced fission to the grid: Type One Energy CEO
“This is coming sooner than you think,” said Commonwealth Fusion Systems Chief Commercial Officer Rick Needham, who spoke alongside Type One CEO Chris Mowry at the BNEF Summit in New York last week.
By Brian Martucci • April 22, 2024