Generation

California Senate appropriations committee takes up ISO regionalization bill

State policymakers have been pushing hard for a regional market that would encompass all the western states for years, but opponents have been pushing just as hard to kill the bill.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 15, 2018

PJM asks FERC to delay 2019 capacity market auction

If FERC cannot deliver a final decision on market reforms before January, the grid operator said it will need to delay its capacity auction from May to August of next year. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 15, 2018

Indiana consumer advocate urges regulators to reject $900M Vectren generation plan

The state's Office of Utility Consumer Counselor says the utility didn't consider all alternatives to its plan to retire four of its five coal plants.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 15, 2018

Federal oversight board orders changes to PREPA budget

Puerto Rico's utility has until Wednesday to issue revised plans or risk the federal board imposing its budget.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 14, 2018

MISO plans storage market roles in response to FERC Order 841

Proposed rules would have two metrics for measuring energy storage capacity to help the resources participate in wholesale electricity markets. 

3.9M more EVs will not strain California's grid, Next 10 says

The presence of EV ride-sharing cars is likely to promote more daytime charging, the think tank forecasts, leading to lower renewable energy curtailment. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 13, 2018

Hawaii approves 18-cent/kWh solar+storage deal to power Molokai

The 4.8 MW solar facility and 15 MWh battery will provide power in the early evening to avoid competing with the island's rooftop solar systems. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 13, 2018

Nevada pushes distributed resource planning regulations ahead of ballot initiative

The Public Utility Commission proposed a rule to implement new state provisions for filing integrated resources plans, as support builds for front-of and behind-the-meter clean energy technologies.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 13, 2018

NRC says manufacturing flaws 'negligible,' plant shutdowns not necessary

Defects in reactor components shut nuclear plants in France. A petition by Beyond Nuclear alleges reactors at the plants named in the petition rely on potentially defective components and potentially falsified quality assurance documentation.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 10, 2018

Wisconsin brings energy pricing transparency into strategic assessment

After stakeholders challenged the Public Service Commission's lack of transparency regarding the state's electricity costs, the updated assessment includes more data and insight. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 10, 2018

Aussie apartments use blockchain energy trading to shield residents from price spikes

A housing developer in Australia has teamed up with tech company Power Ledger to offer blockchain for peer-to-peer solar power sales.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 09, 2018

Breaking into the US energy market, offshore wind developers strive to please all

Companies building regulatory and project management experience in creating offshore wind farms in the U.S. hint at a future snowball effect of projects once new channels are established and economies of scale can be reached.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 09, 2018

Report: FERC working with White House, NSC on coal and nuclear bailout

FERC's chief of staff said the agency is working to identify plants "critical" to the grid, E&E reports, the first step in a bailout plan detailed in a leaked NSC memo this spring. 

By Gavin Bade • UPDATED: Aug. 9, 2018 at 4:18 p.m.

Report: Trump to nominate DOE policy head McNamee to FERC

Bernard McNamee helped roll out the Department of Energy's ill-fated plan to save coal and nuclear plants, which FERC rejected unanimously in January.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 08, 2018

Southern increases Vogtle nuke price tag by $1.1 billion

The plant will now cost $27 billion, more than twice the company's original estimate when it was approved in 2008.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 08, 2018

CAISO could lose 28 gas plants and keep the lights on: UCS

The plants are "dead weight" on the California system, researchers said, and could easily be replaced by other resources with no impact on reliability. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 08, 2018

Solar growth continues in US, though EIA trims its 2019 forecast 45%

A change in methodology has led the Energy Information Administration to cut its forecast of solar power capacity additions.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 08, 2018

NY regulators leave 680 MW gas plant without an air permit

The combined-cycle plant is a key part of the state's plan to replace capacity from the retiring Indian Point nuclear plant, which will go offline in 2021. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 07, 2018

Report: DOE, DHS planning new grid cybersecurity exercise this fall

The Liberty Eclipse exercise will focus on blackstart capabilities and the intersection of the natural gas and electric power sectors, E&E News reports. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 07, 2018

Minnesota co-op breaks ground on first major storage projects in state

The 10 MW of solar joined with 30 MWh of batteries will be the largest combined facility owned by a U.S. co-op and is expected to save Connexus Energy $4 million a year through peak shaving. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 07, 2018

FERC halts construction of Mountain Valley Pipeline after court ruling

The decision is the biggest victory yet for opponents of the 300-mile natural gas pipeline, which FERC approved last October. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 06, 2018