Generation
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Deep DiveDisputed ground: The future of landfill gas-to-energy
Gas capture at landfills creates electricity and revenue, but also has economic and environmental disadvantages.
By Max Witynski • July 15, 2019 -
New Mexico regulators attempt to bypass San Juan securitization, to PNM's surprise
The Public Regulation Commission on Wednesday moved to open the utility's abandonment case on its 847 MW coal plant, which stakeholders say is an attempt to bypass the state's Energy Transition Act.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 12, 2019 -
Coal could be just 11% of US generation by 2030: Moody's
Slowing demand for coal in the United State's power generation sector will lead to increased exports and Wyoming and Montana's Powder River Basin will be the hardest-hit coal mining region.
By Robert Walton • July 11, 2019 -
Democratic AGs press for PJM CEO focused on climate, states' rights
Maryland, Delaware and D.C.'s attorneys general want the grid operator to have a president who won't treat state clean energy preferences as "out-of-market distortions."
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 11, 2019 -
'Opportunities everywhere': NREL study shows mass potential for storage to provide peaking capacity
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory found four-hour storage could meet peaking capacity across the country, with the potential to exceed 50 GW.
By HJ Mai • July 10, 2019 -
Sen Cassidy presses DOE to move natural gas beyond the 'stepchild treatment' for carbon capture
Senators are proposing a DOE program focused on carbon capture solutions for natural gas, as fuel-switching continues and coal retirements increase.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 10, 2019 -
US renewable energy transition to move faster than anticipated by 2022: FERC report
Federal regulators forecast less fossil fuel and nuclear generation additions over the next three years compared to utility-scale wind, solar and hydropower combined.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 09, 2019 -
Wisconsin PSC declines to consider climate impacts of proposed 500 MW gas plant
Minnesota regulators have already approved the Nemadji Trail Energy Center, but since it's not funded by ratepayers, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission said it will not review the plant's climate impacts.
By Robert Walton • July 09, 2019 -
Deep DiveSolar + wind + storage developers 'gearing up' as hybrid projects edge to market
A "wave" of new projects is coming to use wind, solar and battery storage in ways that will stabilize grids, increase efficiencies and lower power costs.
By Herman K. Trabish • July 09, 2019 -
Rural co-op transition to renewables impeded by coal financing obligations, NGOs find
Rural electric cooperatives face financial challenges for a clean energy transition due to their outstanding debt for coal plants, the Center for Rural Affairs and other groups concluded.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 08, 2019 -
EPA finds no need for coal ash liability assurances
Environmentalists oppose the ruling, saying that financial assurances set aside for potential coal ash disasters provide incentives for utilities to clean up the waste safely and quickly.
By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: July 8, 2019 at 11:42 a.m. -
Deep DiveThe new kid on the block: CCAs face credit, other challenges to lead California's renewable energy growth
Community Choice Aggregators say they will use resource diversity, distributed energy resources and load management to lead California beyond its 2030 renewables goals.
By Herman K. Trabish • July 08, 2019 -
PNM proposes gas, solar+storage mix as cheapest option to replace San Juan coal plant
The utility also modeled fossil fuel-free scenarios, but is not interested in making the large investment in battery technology that would be required.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 03, 2019 -
Xcel Minnesota plans to retire 2.4 GW of coal, critics say natural gas has too big a role in IRP
The utility's preferred plan also includes more than 700 GWh of annual energy efficiency savings, but environmental advocates say it will never fully decarbonize if it is "taking one step back for every two steps forward.”
By Robert Walton • July 03, 2019 -
New Hampshire boosts solar mandates in its RPS, but advocates fear another Sununu veto
In June, the governor vetoed a solar bill that would have increased the state's net metering cap from 1 MW to 5 MW.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 03, 2019 -
Ohio legislators wrangle over nuke subsidy bill as FES misses fuel supply target
Senate leaders have questioned the validity of a June 30 deadline for ordering nuclear fuel rod assemblies, which FES said was necessary to refuel the Davis-Besse nuclear plant next year.
By John Funk • July 02, 2019 -
Los Angeles solicits record solar + storage deal at 1.997/1.3-cents kWh
8Minute Energy beat its record for U.S. solar contracts, previously held by the 2.376 cents per kWh project being developed for NV Energy.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 02, 2019 -
Deep DiveDiversifying the Northeast power mix: Is offshore wind + storage key to the region's reliability?
As more New England states roll out offshore wind mandates, bringing the technology to scale is a portfolio priority.
By Herman K. Trabish • July 02, 2019 -
OpinionComparing America's grid operators on clean energy progress: PJM is headed for a climate disaster
The nation's largest grid operator is fueling a continued gas boom, despite growing data that such generation is perilous for the climate and unnecessary to serve customers, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
By Miles Farmer and Amanda Levin • July 02, 2019 -
TVA 20-year plan includes up to 14 GW new solar, 5.3 GW storage
The utility's integrated resource plan also includes up to 18 GW of gas-fired generation, which a consumer advocate group says highlights the need to focus on efficiency.
By Robert Walton • July 01, 2019 -
Virginia regulators approve revised Dominion IRP, but warn about understated costs
Customer advocates called the State Corporation Commission's decision "unconscionable." The utility says warnings of higher bills tell "only part of the story."
By Robert Walton • June 28, 2019 -
Ohio Senate nuke subsidy bill drops clean air pretense, but keeps diminished renewable standard
The Energy and Public Utilities Committee of the Ohio Senate will hold a rare Saturday morning hearing this weekend, but has not yet announced when it will vote on its rewrite of House Bill 6.
By John Funk • June 28, 2019 -
Nuclear power industry heading toward smaller, cheaper, faster build designs: ClearPath
Advanced small modular reactors could be a game changer that helps the nuclear industry survive in the 21st century, according to the clean energy non-profit.
By HJ Mai • June 28, 2019 -
Transitioning US to 100% renewables by 2030 will cost $4.5 trillion: Wood Mackenzie
Including existing nuclear plants would reduce the price by almost $500 billion, while other savings are possible with a longer time frame to allow for technological advancements, the consulting firm said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: July 1, 2019 at 7:34 a.m. -
Massachusetts regulators approve state's largest clean energy procurement
The Department of Public Utilities approved long-term contracts for more than 9.5 million MWh of annual hydropower from Quebec.
By Robert Walton • June 27, 2019
