Generation

By 2030, Portland General sees distributed resources meeting up to 25% of peak demand

The utility said it will need up to 2 GW of clean or renewable resources and 800 MW of non-emitting dispatchable capacity resources to decarbonize its system by 2040.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 18, 2021

Southern, Duke SEEM proposal takes effect as FERC deadlocks on market plan

Federal regulators split on whether the Southeast Energy Exchange Market proposal is legal, clearing the way for the trading platform to begin operating in 12 states next year.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 14, 2021

PJM market monitor calls for penalties on generators to spur grid flexibility

Market incentives would be a better way to make the grid more nimble, power plant operators argued to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 13, 2021

DOE commits $20M to create clean hydrogen from nuclear power with Palo Verde project

The goal is to learn more about "integrating nuclear energy with hydrogen production technologies," which will help with deploying "future clean hydrogen production deployments at scale," DOE said.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Oct. 12, 2021

Opinion

Electric co-ops must heed the lessons of Kodak and others in pushing to overhaul today's G&Ts

It must have been painful to throw away the still-working Walkman, film camera or eight-track tape player (and the car it came in), but the world moved on, United Power's CEO writes.

By Mark A. Gabriel • Oct. 12, 2021

Extending Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant a 'critical' part of path to zero carbon, Connecticut finds

Connecticut's new Integrated Resources Plan finds the state's decarbonization goals are achievable.  But it will require the expanded use of energy storage and demand management and continued reliance on nuclear energy.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2021

The pace of Biden's clean energy standard is a 'tall order' for utilities, says Sen. King

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, questioned whether utilities can add renewable power sources quickly enough to meet the proposed clean energy standard.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Oct. 07, 2021

PJM, Exelon, Calpine, others urge FERC to revise decision on capacity offer caps

The companies, along with Vistra and other power suppliers, contend FERC-mandated rules unfairly limit their capacity bids, leading to "over-mitigation."

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 06, 2021

North Carolina passes bill expected to give Duke timely cost recovery, implement clean energy plan

Gov. Roy Cooper, D, is expected to sign the bill, though opponents say it could drive up electric rates by 50%.

By Ethan Howland • UPDATED: Oct. 8, 2021 at 9:13 a.m.

MISO, ISO-NE execs stress need for new power supply planning framework at FERC reliability meeting

Increasing wildfires, heat domes and deep freezes require a new paradigm for resource adequacy planning, experts from grid operators told FERC.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 01, 2021

Deep Dive

As California's solar net metering battle goes to regulators, a focus on reliability may be the best answer

The reliability value of solar plus storage in ensuring resource adequacy might be the key to solar's future, according to Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies Executive Director V. John White.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 01, 2021

PJM's 'focused' MOPR takes effect, boosting renewables and nuclear as FERC commissioners deadlock

The action is a victory for state clean energy policies, but power generators are eyeing avenues to fight PJM’s plan to lift bidding limits on subsidized resources.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 30, 2021

Deep Dive

State, federal actions show growing push for a nuclear role in reaching net zero emissions

Former critics of nuclear power agree, financial support may be justified for firm power options to tackle climate change and get over the net zero emissions finish line.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2021

FERC Chair Glick wants mandatory winterization standards for power plants following Texas grid failure

Chairman Richard Glick said FERC would not permit the weakening of the recent recommendations, which one expert said could lead to $1 million per-day penalties for power plants that fail to prepare for climate change.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 24, 2021

New technology needed to meet utility decarbonization goals, EEI, others warn

The last 20% of the energy sector will depend on further development of green hydrogen, long-duration energy storage, advanced nuclear and other technologies, said the chair of the Edison Electric Institute.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Sept. 22, 2021

US can meet Paris climate commitments but will need to rely heavily on electric utilities: report

A new analysis outlines approaches for the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 52% below 2005 levels by 2030. Meeting that target depends on the power sector contributing more than half the total reductions.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2021

Deep Dive

Advancing the energy transition requires an honest discussion of costs, outages and land, analysts say

Customers will tolerate the power system transformation's problems and challenges if they understand stakeholders will be "careful about the transition," one analyst said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2021

New Orleans council chief calls for investigation into Entergy's Hurricane Ida response

Councilmember Helena Moreno plans to introduce a resolution calling for an investigation into Entergy’s storm response and related issues at the City Council’s Sept. 22 meeting.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Sept. 17, 2021

'We're obviously in the middle of a dramatic transformation,' FERC's Glick says amid market reform talks

A series of technical conferences is examining how the changing electricity resource mix requires wholesale market operators to reconsider the products and services being offered, and how they are valued.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 16, 2021

Landmark Illinois climate bill resolves standoff over Exelon nuclear plants

The legislation also provides a road map for sunsetting the state’s coal-fired plants while setting a target of 40% renewable power for the state’s power sector by 2030.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Sept. 15, 2021

House committee to vote on expanded EV and clean energy tax credits, including storage, hydrogen

The funding plan for Democrats' $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation would extend clean energy tax credits and create new incentives for domestic production and union labor.  

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 14, 2021

House committee approves $150B Clean Electricity Performance Program

The program is the centerpiece of Democrats' climate platform and is included in a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package now being crafted.

By Jason Plautz • UPDATED: Sept. 15, 2021 at 10:26 a.m.

Connecticut falls behind state's GHG goals: 'We told you so,' says Acadia Center

Despite the rise in emissions, the electric sector "shows encouraging results," the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said. Proposed new gas projects are a step in the wrong direction, though, advocates warn.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2021

California lawmakers pass bill laying the groundwork for West Coast offshore wind development

Assembly Bill 525, now headed to the governor’s desk, instructs regulators to create 2030 and 2045 goals for offshore wind, as well as a broader strategic plan for developing the resource.

By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 13, 2021

Opinion

Our approach to expanding electricity infrastructure isn't working. It's time for a different conversation.

We do not have the necessary mechanisms to identify, prioritize and build the network of interstate, high-capacity transmission lines needed in the next 30 years, the authors write.

By Armond Cohen and Liza Reed • Sept. 10, 2021