Generation
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Reuse of coal plants can cut small modular nuclear reactor development costs by 35%: report
Re-using coal plant sites could have labor force advantages, with 77% of jobs transferable to nuclear plants with no new workforce licensing requirements, the report said.
By Stephen Singer • March 27, 2023 -
Retrieved from Xcel Energy.
Xcel Energy powers down Minnesota nuclear plant after finding 2nd leak of radioactive water
The new leak will not materially increase the amount of tritium Xcel is working to recover, Xcel said.
By Stephen Singer • March 27, 2023 -
Explore the Trendline➔
bombermoon via Getty Images
TrendlineThe Utility Dive Outlook on 2023
2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
Retrieved from GE Hitachi.
TVA, GE Hitachi, 2 others commit to $400M international small modular reactor project
“We’ve got to be on schedule, on budget and it’s got to be a competitive cost,” said Jay Wileman, CEO of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy.
By Stephen Singer • March 24, 2023 -
Petmal via Getty Images
Spearmint Energy acquires 900 MW/2,000 MWh battery storage portfolio in Texas
The acquisition makes Spearmint one of the largest battery energy storage developers in Texas, it said.
By Stephen Singer • March 22, 2023 -
Permission granted by NuScale Power, LLC
OpinionNuScale Power, the canary in the small modular reactor market
SMRs are being marketed as a solution to the climate crisis, but they're already far more expensive and take much longer to build than renewable and storage resources — technologies we already have.
By David Schlissel • March 21, 2023 -
Backyard Production via Getty Images
World hurtling toward critical global warming benchmark, but IPCC report highlights clean energy potential
For the electric sector, demand-side management technologies could play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by the IPCC.
By Robert Walton • March 21, 2023 -
Ron Jenkins via Getty Images
Texas court rules for Vistra, says PUC exceeded authority with Winter Storm Uri $9,000/MWh pricing order
The decision to hold prices at the system-wide cap added $16 billion to consumer costs, according to Texas energy market monitor Potomac Economics.
By Robert Walton • March 20, 2023 -
Permission granted by Raptor Maps Inc.
Sponsored by Raptor Maps Inc.Drone-in-a-box: the future of solar operations and maintenance
Drone-in-a-box technology is going to completely change the face of solar O&M within the next couple of years. Learn how utilities and other solar asset owners can take advantage of this new technology.
By Don Nista, Head of Knowledge, Raptor Maps • March 20, 2023 -
Permission granted by NuScale Power
NuScale must triple subscription level for small modular reactor in Idaho by early 2024, company says
Asked by an analyst if NuScale will seek to increase subscriptions from members, power producers yet to join the consortium or others, Colbert said, “all of the above.”
By Stephen Singer • March 17, 2023 -
Pixabay.com/seagul
Deep DiveTreasury Department guidance urgently needed to tap IRA’s clean energy ‘gold mine,’ analysts say
Clarifications defining Inflation Reduction Act provisions on labor, domestic content, energy community, and clean hydrogen are urgently needed to put the “boldest action” by Congress to work, they say.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2023 -
Aaron Yoder via Getty Images
Power plant owners in 22 states face tighter NOx requirements under EPA’s final Good Neighbor rule
The rule released Wednesday includes flexibility for power plant owners to help maintain grid reliability, according to EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
By Ethan Howland • March 15, 2023 -
Courtesy of Bechtel
NRC chair defends reactor licensing changes: “We are in the middle of the rulemaking process, not at the end.”
Christopher Hanson’s upbeat message comes as nuclear energy enjoys rising support as an energy source that can help states and the federal government meet increasingly stringent greenhouse gas emissions limits.
By Stephen Singer • March 14, 2023 -
Retrieved from Google Maps on March 14, 2023
Confidential PJM meetings hinder state energy policy, oversight: West Virginia PSC, Maryland lawmaker
Efforts are underway to increase transparency at the largest U.S. grid operator, with Exelon and FirstEnergy opposing a bill to require annual voting reports of PJM meetings.
By Ethan Howland • March 14, 2023 -
onurdongel via Getty Images
Lower gas prices to drive 35%-45% ‘plunge’ in 2023 peak power prices across most of US: Moody’s
California is the exception, where peak prices are expected to fall “only around 9%,” according to the ratings and financial research agency.
By Robert Walton • March 14, 2023 -
Trong Nguyen via Getty Images
‘Welcome to ERCOT.’ Regulators approve city of Lubbock, Texas, shift to retail competition
The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Thursday authorized the move after a last-minute agreement was struck regarding the allocation of termination fee proceeds.
By Robert Walton • March 10, 2023 -
Ron and Patty Thomas via Getty Images
California regulators set to launch proceeding to investigate natural gas price spikes this winter
With natural-gas fired generators producing about half of the state's electricity, the CPUC is looking at how high gas prices have affected California's power markets.
By Kavya Balaraman • March 10, 2023 -
Permission granted by NuScale Power
NRC hammers out new licensing rules to adapt to advanced nuclear plants and small modular reactors
Sen. John Barrasso, then chairman of the Senate environment committee, said in 2019 a new law mandating updated reactor licensing rules is “critical if we are going to reduce carbon emissions in a meaningful way.”
By Stephen Singer • March 8, 2023 -
Aaron Yoder via Getty Images
EPA proposes stricter wastewater discharge limits for coal-fired power plants
“We have attempted with this rule, and with some other rules, to align our rulemaking schedule, so that the power sector can be thoughtful about the investments that they have to make,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said.
By Ethan Howland • March 8, 2023 -
Dave Logan via Getty Images
Vistra moves more deeply into nuclear power with planned $3.43B acquisition of Energy Harbor
Vistra President and CEO Jim Burke cited the federal nuclear production tax credit that “now has down-side protection against lower power prices” as a benefit of the deal.
By Stephen Singer • March 7, 2023 -
Laurent Fady via Getty Images
FERC reverses its approval of SPP’s capacity accreditation plan for wind, solar resources
FERC Commissioner Allison Clements urged the Southwest Power Pool to develop an accreditation process that doesn’t discriminate between types of generating sources.
By Ethan Howland • March 7, 2023 -
Kent Raney via Getty Images
DC Circuit dismisses utility-backed challenge to EPA cross-state ozone rule
The Midwest Ozone Group, with Ameren, Duke Energy and FirstEnergy among its members, failed to show the EPA’s rule was arbitrary or capricious, the federal appeals court said Friday.
By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2023 -
"Diablo Canyon Family Open House" by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
NRC grants exemption for PG&E to operate Diablo Canyon nuclear plant during license renewal review
An environmental advocate said the NRC decision was “politically motivated and reckless” and ignored public safety concerns.
By Stephen Singer • March 3, 2023 -
Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
DOE expands reactors eligible for $1.2B second round of Civil Nuclear Credit Program
DOE issued guidance saying power plants that halted operations after Nov. 15, 2021, can apply for support.
By Stephen Singer • March 2, 2023 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Performance credit mechanism could cost Texas energy consumers $5.7B annually, broad coalition warns
Energy producers and industrial consumers modeled a dispatchable reliability reserve service and found it would incentivize new generation for less than $1 billion in net annual costs.
By Robert Walton • March 2, 2023 -
"Diablo Canyon Family Open House" by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
California regulators find Diablo Canyon nuclear plant needed through 2030 to support grid reliability
The California Energy Commission on Tuesday approved a staff analysis recommending the state pursue extending the operation of the plant, citing potential energy shortfalls during extreme weather.
By Stephen Singer • March 1, 2023
