Generation
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Up to 58 GW faces retirement in PJM by 2030 without replacement capacity in sight: market monitor
Nearly 60% of the generation that could shutter is deemed “uneconomic,” but capacity prices and other factors could change, potentially easing the risk, the grid operator’s market monitor said.
By Ethan Howland • March 18, 2024 -
3rd Circuit backs NRG, Constellation Energy, others in rejecting FERC move on PJM capacity auction
FERC allowed PJM to adopt a new rule to address anomalous high capacity prices in its latest capacity auction, but the federal appeals court said the change was illegal retroactive ratemaking.
By Ethan Howland • March 14, 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 -
US electricity prices outpace annual inflation
Analysts cited transmission costs and federal policies for the 3.6% increase the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday.
By Robert Walton • March 13, 2024 -
Opinion
Nuclear energy finance bans prevent the world from buying American
Securing financing for commercially-oriented nuclear energy projects is critical for American suppliers to compete against adversarial state-owned entities.
By Kenneth Petersen • March 12, 2024 -
Global small modular reactor pipeline hits 22 GW, with US leading the market: WoodMac
Growing interest from heavy industry and a 25-nation agreement to triple nuclear power globally by 2050 are tailwinds as the first commercial SMR comes online in China.
By Brian Martucci • March 12, 2024 -
DOE’s ARPA-E faces budget cut, FERC to explore AI and other highlights from Biden’s budget
DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, the Energy Information Administration and renewables research would see budget hikes, while nuclear energy research and development spending would be cut.
By Ethan Howland • March 12, 2024 -
Texas loan program for new gas plants would be open to private generators that also supply ERCOT
The Public Utility Commission of Texas could vote next week on rules governing the state’s new loan program for dispatchable power plant construction.
By Robert Walton • March 12, 2024 -
Texas slows development of annual $1B performance credit mechanism designed to boost grid
Implementation will need to occur alongside efforts to operate the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market more efficiently, potentially in 2027, regulators said.
By Robert Walton • March 8, 2024 -
NRC commissioners order changes to proposed licensing rules for advanced reactors
The revisions include removing several new and potentially burdensome regulatory requirements, according to Nuclear Innovation Alliance Research Director Patrick White.
By Brian Martucci • March 6, 2024 -
Geothermal developer Fervo Energy raises $244M as it builds 400-MW Utah project
Geothermal resources account for 4 GW of U.S. electric generating capacity but could scale up to 90 GW by 2050, experts say.
By Kavya Balaraman • March 5, 2024 -
Texas regulators explore how to attract advanced nuclear projects, structure SMR incentives
States could use 24/7 carbon-free energy credits to attract projects, potentially by stacking them with federal incentives, according to Nuclear Energy Institute officials.
By Robert Walton • March 5, 2024 -
Colorado PUC proposes rules for Xcel, Tri-State, Black Hills to join RTO, day-ahead markets
The proposal requires any organized wholesale market to allow Colorado utilities to maintain priority rights to their grid interconnections for resources needed to meet their loads.
By Ethan Howland • March 5, 2024 -
EPA pulls existing gas plants from proposed power plant carbon reduction rules
The agency plans to soon start a stakeholder process to develop greenhouse gas reduction standards for existing gas-fired power plants.
By Ethan Howland • March 4, 2024 -
FERC rejects $1.1B Bridgepoint-Energy Capital Partners private equity deal on competition concerns
London-based Bridgepoint said Monday it expects ECP will soon refile an application at FERC, with a closing on the deal expected in the second quarter.
By Ethan Howland • March 4, 2024 -
Nevada regulators set to approve NV Energy’s $2B IRP amendment, including new gas resources
Critics say the utility has used the integrated resource plan amendment process to advance projects with insufficient scrutiny.
By Robert Walton • March 1, 2024 -
Deep Dive
2024 PJM Outlook: Tough choices loom on capacity market, plant retirements, transmission planning
Ensuring that enough new generation comes online to replace retiring power plants is a key issue that threads through PJM’s expected focus this year, stakeholders and observers said.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 29, 2024 -
SPP proposes renewable, thermal resource accreditation reforms aimed at bolstering reliability
The Southwest Power Pool’s current accreditation for wind, solar and storage fails to account for their reliability value decreasing as more are added to the grid, according to the grid operator.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 27, 2024 -
Deep Dive
Congressional action on energy permitting remains stuck, but states, developers are finding solutions
States are resolving local objections to projects through community engagement while transmission developers are making innovative use of existing rights-of-way to bypass permitting logjams.
By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 27, 2024 -
New England capacity prices rise almost 40% in most recent auction
Clean energy resources made up 40% of the total capacity commitments, according to ISO New England, and no coal plant met the auction clearing price.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2024 -
PJM, 3 other RTOs propose steps to improve gas-electric sector coordination, boost reliability
Market enhancements, operational improvements and regulatory reforms are needed to improve gas-electric coordination, according to grid operators serving much of the U.S.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 22, 2024 -
5 takeaways from the investor-owned utility sector’s day on Wall Street
Utilities will likely issue equity this year to fund the energy transition’s record capital spending, Edison Electric Institute officials said.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 2024 -
With FERC approval in hand, Vistra poised to close on $6.3B Energy Harbor buy
Energy Harbor’s assets will be added to Vistra Vision, which will have 6.4 GW of nuclear generation, 5 million retail customers, and 2.4 GW of renewable energy and energy storage projects.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 20, 2024 -
Domestic uranium enrichment gets $2.7B boost from US Senate
The Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2024 funds conventional and advanced U.S. uranium enrichment capabilities, but the bill faces an uncertain future in the U.S. House of Representatives.
By Brian Martucci • Feb. 16, 2024 -
Salt River Project seeks 2.5 GW clean power, 1.2 GW peak capacity amid rapid Phoenix-area growth
The utility expects to add more than 2 GW of solar and 1 GW of battery storage by the mid 2020s, and by 2032 it plans to retire more than 1.3 GW of capacity at four coal plants.
By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2024 -
GETs could facilitate 6.6 GW of clean energy in five PJM states, saving $1B a year: RMI
Grid-enhancing technologies can be used to increase the capacity of the existing transmission system, providing a quick, low-cost pathway for bringing new generation online, RMI said in a report Thursday.
By Ethan Howland • Feb. 15, 2024