Generation

Texas regulators defer to legislature on utility ownership of energy storage

The state's market for energy storage is in limbo since regulators dismissed a request by AEP Texas last year to install two battery storage projects.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 18, 2019

All Texas coal plants report toxic ash contamination as federal rules in flux

High levels of arsenic, boron, cobalt, lithium and other contaminants were found in groundwater surrounding the Lone Star State's 16 coal plants.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 18, 2019

Greens, consumer advocates split as Louisiana approves $1B Cleco plant deal

The Sierra Club touted a renewable energy and coal phaseout deal it struck with the utility as part of the acquisition, but the Alliance for Affordable Energy is concerned Cleco will move the fossil plants into cost recovery.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 18, 2019

Southern CEO: Georgia Power to consider resilience in IRP for first time

"Maybe you take coal plants out of service but you keep them alive in the event that you have a resiliency emergency," Tom Fanning told a Washington audience Thursday.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 18, 2019

Trump signs bill streamlining advanced nuclear regs as Senate considers R&D funding

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee grilled nuclear scientists about the impact of advanced nuclear reactors and the need to fund research for new manufacturing opportunities.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 17, 2019

Opinion

The Supreme Court should reject requests for a do-over on state clean energy programs

Ruling against zero emission credit programs for nuclear plants could jeopardize renewable energy credits, too, and threaten to overturn policies in nearly thirty states, according to Harvard's Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe

EPA won't freeze fuel economy standards as Wheeler faces confirmation vote

News of EPA's policy shift came during a testy nomination hearing where the acting administrator faced pressure from activists and Democrat senators on climate change. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 16, 2019

Maryland scales back EV charger program nearly 80%

The Maryland Public Service Commission approved the deployment of 5,000 EV chargers, a significant drop from the 24,000 envisioned in the original proposal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 16, 2019

New York Gov Cuomo moves to double solar, triple offshore wind capacity targets

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a slew of new goals on Tuesday as part of New York's "Green New Deal," which aims to move the state to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2019

SCANA deliberately misled regulators overseeing nuclear project, South Carolina PSC concludes

The new finding will not impact Dominion's acquisition of SCANA, but could signal greater scrutiny down the line.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2019

PUC order keeps Minnesota ahead of the curve on performance-based rates

The order, the culmination of a process that began in September 2017, establishes procedures and goals for developing metrics for performance-based rates by the fall.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 11, 2019

2019 US renewable generation additions expected to far outpace gas: EIA

The agency also reported around 8 GW of nuclear, gas and coal capacity are planned for retirement this year.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 11, 2019

Kentucky governor asks TVA to keep coal unit open as more utilities seek alternative generation

Republican Matt Bevin's letter echoes the national debate over the resource's role in an evolving and increasingly clean grid.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 10, 2019

Colorado could save $2.5B through 2040 by replacing coal with clean energy: report

The study from Vibrant Clean Energy also found coal plant owners could recover up to $1.5 billion in undepreciated asset value if they facilitate a voluntary phased retirement of their facilities.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2019

Fossil generators ask Supreme Court to review state nuclear subsidies

After losing in two federal district courts, independent generators are hoping the Supreme Court will throw out nuclear subsidy programs in New York and Illinois that have spread to other states. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 09, 2019

Pennsylvania commits to 26% GHG reductions amid federal inaction, US emissions increase

Gov. Tom Wolf also pledged that state agencies would reduce overall energy consumption 21% by 2025, relative to 2017 levels.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 09, 2019

ERCOT reserve margin declines further as municipality pulls Texas coal peaker

The Texas Municipal Power Agency will mothball its 470 MW Gibbons Creek coal plant for the summer at a time when the state's power reserves have fallen below its targets.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 09, 2019

As advanced US reactors move closer to reality, DOE seeks fuel to power them

The DOE announced plans Monday to spend $115 million to help move the U.S. forward on developing the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors, including producing higher energy HALEU fuel.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 09, 2019

AEP seeks 1.2 GW of wind proposals, nearly six months after canceling $4.5B Wind Catcher

AEP subsidiary Southwestern Electric Power Company launched the request Tuesday to take advantage of the federal Production Tax Credit by December 2021.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 09, 2019

McNamee won't recuse himself from resilience debates unless they 'closely resemble' coal bailout

FERC ethics officials said McNamee's past work on a coal and nuclear bailout does not indicate an "unalterably closed mind" on resilience, he told Senate Democrats in a Monday letter.

By Gavin Bade • UPDATED: Jan. 9, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.

US power sector carbon emissions jump as gas boom outpaces coal decline

The new Rhodium Group report represents a worrying reversal for the electric utility industry, raising questions about whether its recent formula for emissions reductions has outlived its usefulness.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 08, 2019