Generation


  • FirstEnergy's 1,100-MW coal-fired Fort Martin power plant in Maidsville, West Virginia, along the Monongahela River.
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    BackyardProduction via Getty Images
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    PJM plans to delay upcoming capacity auction by six months

    The delay will give the PJM Interconnection time to craft potential market reforms sought by state utility regulators and others, the grid operator said.

    By Oct. 11, 2024
  • Grazing sheep at Enel Green Power Aurora Creek solar project
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    Permission granted by Enel Green Power
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    NiSource gets an A, 15 utilities get Fs as Sierra Club slams pace of coal plant closures

    NiSource, NextEra Energy, Orlando Utilities Commission, PNM Resources, Puget Holdings, The AES Corp. and Xcel Energy are the top-ranked utilities in the Sierra Club’s latest clean energy scorecard.

    By Oct. 10, 2024
  • Rural lane meanders among modern windmill technology and steel electrical pylons. Laramie, Wyoming, 2009 Explore the Trendlineâž”
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    Chuck Schug Photography via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

    The U.S. energy transition is facing challenges around grid interconnections, project permitting and power system reliability, but state, federal and other solutions are emerging.

    By Utility Dive staff
  • Nuclear power plant and transmission lines
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    zhongguo via Getty Images
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    NRC updates streamlined environmental review proposal for new nuclear reactors

    The new generic environmental impact statement could reduce applicant and NRC staff costs by up to $2 million per license application, the commission said Friday.

    By Brian Martucci • Oct. 9, 2024
  • A power plant next to the coast.
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    Joesboy via Getty Images
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    Omitting Talen Energy RMR units from PJM’s next capacity auction could cost $14.5B: OPSI

    The Organization of PJM States Inc., which represents state utility regulators in the grid operator’s region, is backing a complaint at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over reliability must-run power plants.

    By Oct. 9, 2024
  • An industrial complex with three smokestacks in a rural setting.
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    Courtesy of GE Vernova
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    PJM aims to fast-track reliability projects in interconnection queue

    The PJM Interconnection’s plan to allow a limited number of reliability-oriented generating projects to enter an interconnection study process early next year sparked concerns from some stakeholders, including Invenergy.

    By Oct. 9, 2024
  • Proposed design for TerraPower's Natrium reactor
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    Permission granted by TerraPower
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    DOE proposes serial development approach for nuclear reactors as load growth, IRA boost valuations

    Emulating the demand-aggregation approach Boeing used for the 787 Dreamliner could create a “committed orderbook” of 5-10 new reactors of the same design and cut near-term deployment costs, DOE says.

    By Oct. 8, 2024
  • Power lines crossing a green field.
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    KGB207 via Getty Images
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    DC Circuit upholds FERC order on NextEra Seabrook circuit breaker

    The court decision on Friday likely resolves the last major hurdle for Avangrid’s $1.5 billion New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project, ClearView Energy Partners said.

    By Oct. 7, 2024
  • Gas pipeline with multiple valves.
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    insagostudio via Getty Images
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    Natural gas producers prepare for a colder winter, warn of higher prices

    Power generators could consume about 4% less natural gas this year as higher prices reduce price-related fuel switching, according to the Natural Gas Supply Association.

    By Oct. 4, 2024
  • Energy Harbor's Perry nuclear plant in North Perry, Ohio.
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    The image by Cards84664 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    US nuclear industry needs further policy, regulatory advances: NCEW panel

    The ADVANCE Act was necessary but not sufficient to speed nuclear deployments to meet growing electricity demand and “win the AI race,” conference panelists said on Sept. 26.

    By Brian Martucci • Oct. 3, 2024
  • A river runs in front of forests, fields and steam billowing from two cement cooling towers from a power plant.
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    The image by Jakec is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Constellation, Calpine, others urge FERC to reject Exelon co-location tariff proposals

    However, PJM’s market monitor supports the proposal, saying it would ensure co-located load pays for its share of grid and distribution services.

    By Oct. 3, 2024
  • Transmission lines stretch across rolling green fields
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    SEYLUL06 via Getty Images
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    Pathways Initiative proposes regional organization to oversee Western power markets

    “This organization can evolve to offer the full range of [regional transmission organization] services,” Brian Turner, an Advanced Energy United director, said.

    By Oct. 2, 2024
  • Turbines in Altamont Pass Wind Farm near Livermore, California.
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    yhelfman via Getty Images
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    FERC approves CAISO interconnection reform plan

    The federal agency dismissed concerns from renewable energy trade groups and others that a provision in the new rules will allow utilities to discriminate against project developers.

    By Oct. 2, 2024
  • Palisades nuclear power plant
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    Permission granted by Holtec International
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    DOE, USDA announce over $2.8B for Palisades nuclear plant restart

    A $1.5 billion loan guarantee and $1.3 billion in awards will support site work and power purchase agreements for the 800-MW Michigan plant, the Biden-Harris administration said Monday.

    By Brian Martucci • Oct. 1, 2024
  • Electricity from solar panels, dams, and wind turbines. Environmentally-friendly renewable energy concept.
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    bombermoon via Getty Images
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    Utility conferences to watch in 2025

    Start planning for 2025’s biggest power sector events, which will cover the clean energy transition, the impact of the 2024 elections and more.

    By Larry Pearl, Ethan Howland, Robert Walton, Diana DiGangi • Oct. 1, 2024
  • Talen Energy coal-fired Brandon Shores power plant near Baltimore.
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    Stuby, James. Retrieved from Wikimedia.
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    PJM artificially inflates capacity prices by billions, complaint alleges

    The PJM Interconnection is artificially boosting its capacity prices by not accounting for reliability must-run power plants in its capacity market, the Sierra Club and other groups told FERC.

    By Sept. 30, 2024
  • Energy thermal power station roof plant with white smoke cloud.
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    photovs via Getty Images
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    RTOs could fast-track power projects in interconnection queues under House bill

    American Electric Power and the Electric Power Supply Association support the bill introduced Sept. 25. It directs FERC to start a rulemaking process within 90 days of the bill becoming law.

    By Sept. 26, 2024
  • Solar power station and solar energy panels on the green field in Chester, New Jersey.
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    Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
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    PJM says ‘concerns are growing’ after less than 2 GW added this year

    “I can assure you … we very much want to bring our projects to completion and are working very diligently in doing so,” VC Renewables’ Jason Barker said.

    By Sept. 26, 2024
  • Six executives from green banks in localities across the country announce the creation of the Green Bank 50 coalition.
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    Lamar Johnson/Utility Dive
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    Banks endorse goal of tripling nuclear capacity as Climate Week NYC begins

    Some 14 financial institutions, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, announced their support for the declaration made by 25 countries at COP28 last year.

    By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 25, 2024
  • Scientists stand beside a new carbon capture test unit.
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    Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Results show carbon capture’s alleged promises are full of hot air

    The happy-talk DOE press information says nothing about the difficulties associated with building a first-of-its kind technology and hooking it up to a large-scale electric generator.

    By Dennis Wamsted • Sept. 25, 2024
  • Steam billows from a massive cement smokestack at a nuclear power plant at the edge of the water.
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    The image by Peretzp is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    PJM market design flaws add billions to latest capacity auction costs: market monitor

    A switch in how PJM measures power plant availability, one of several market issues flagged by Monitoring Analytics, increased capacity costs by $4.4 billion compared to its previous approach.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
  • Nuclear power plant and transmission lines
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    zhongguo via Getty Images
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    The bipartisan ADVANCE Act is boosting US nuclear. What does the industry want next?

    Nuclear executives and analysts reflect on the landmark law’s expected benefits while gaming out the next wave of policy support — and a future where it’s no longer necessary.

    By Brian Martucci • Sept. 24, 2024
  • Palisades nuclear power plant
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    Permission granted by Holtec International
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    Palisades nuclear plant restart on track for October 2025 despite NRC petition: Holtec International

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is requesting comments this month on a request from residents living near Palisades for a generic rulemaking process for nuclear reactor recommissioning.

    By Brian Martucci • Sept. 23, 2024
  • An aerial view of a nuclear power plant next to a river.
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    Retrieved from Marque1313.
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    A fast-track PJM interconnection review could speed Three Mile Island restart: Constellation CFO

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, D, urged the PJM Interconnection on Friday to adopt expedited interconnection studies for shovel-ready projects.

    By Sept. 23, 2024
  • A power plant with smoke stacks at the edge of a river.
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    The image by Acroterion is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    PJM rejects call to include RMR plants in capacity auctions to lower prices

    However, the grid operator said it plans to soon propose an expedited framework to fast-track certain generation interconnection projects.

    By Sept. 23, 2024
  • climate change effect, hurricane and moderan weather forecast monitor
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    stock.adobe.com/jiratip

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    Sponsored by EPRI

    Identifying data gaps in climate information can help power companies prepare for system risks

    Climate change is expected to affect every aspect of the power sector, from generation, transmission, and distribution to electricity demand, with both chronic and acute impacts.

    Sept. 23, 2024