Generation
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Deep DiveCalifornia customer choice advocates, IOUs face off on departing load charge
As customers leave IOUs for new providers, commissioners must balance costs. Will they choose a new approach or a really new approach?
By Herman K. Trabish • April 23, 2018
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FERC issues NOI seeking comments on gas pipeline evaluations
The NOI seeks comment on how FERC evaluates the need for pipelines, its use of eminent domain, the environmental impact of pipeline projects and the efficiency of FERC's permitting process.
By Gavin Bade • April 20, 2018
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DOE's Walker: National security assessment broader than grid reliability
The agency's interpretation of a national security risk will be central to its evaluation of coal and nuclear bailout proposals from FirstEnergy and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).
By Gavin Bade • April 20, 2018
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Chatterjee opposes MOPR as 'standard solution' for state policies
The announcement makes clear a majority of FERC regulators oppose the "standard solution" provision likely to impact the evaluation of PJM's capacity market proposals.
By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2018
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Line fault again plunges Puerto Rico into blackout
While nearly all the island's generation is back online after Hurricane Maria, the grid that supports it remains fragile and PREPA lacks sufficient reserves to resist minor disruptions.
By Gavin Bade • April 18, 2018
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New Hampshire governor's energy plan leans on nuclear, gas
The new plan by Gov. Sununu aims to diminish the cost impacts of renewable energy procurement by neighboring states, assuming those contracts will be above market rates.
By Peter Maloney • April 18, 2018
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FERC chair takes up coal lobby line on plant retirements
Chairman Kevin McIntyre told House lawmakers he is concerned entire resource categories could "go the way of the dodo bird." It's a line common among the coal and nuclear lobbies, and few others.
By Gavin Bade • April 17, 2018
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Deep DiveState-federal concerns could dim FERC's landmark storage order
Wider access to a variety of markets has been hailed as the basis for energy storage growth, but jurisdictional issues could thwart an overarching solution.
By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018
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Exelon, FE nuke closures would reverse PJM wind, solar benefits: Brattle report
Closing four plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania would harm the environment and raise electricity costs for consumers, a recent analysis finds.
By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018
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FERC rejects CAISO's proposals to modify capacity procurement
The grid operator proposed tariff revisions to its risk of retirement capacity procurement mechanism, including how compensation for the at-risk resources is determined.
By Robert Walton • April 16, 2018
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Most MISO zones clear capacity auction at $10/MW-day
Zone 1, covering Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, cleared at $1/MW-day.
By Robert Walton • April 16, 2018
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EPSA rails against FirstEnergy emergency request, New Jersey nuke subsidies
The trade group for independent power plant owners argues both requests amount to unnecessary bailouts for failing power plants.
By Gavin Bade • April 16, 2018
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NGOs challenge New Orleans regulatory plan, Entergy peaker
The New Orleans City Council approved Entergy's proposed gas plant earlier this year, but environmental advocates say the City Council failed to examine "more benign" alternatives, like renewable energy.
By Peter Maloney • April 16, 2018
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Santee Cooper petitions to intervene in Dominion-SCANA merger
Observers suspect Santee Cooper may be preparing to oppose part or all of the proposed deal in an effort to protect itself against the VC Summer nuclear fallout, media reports say.
By Robert Walton • April 13, 2018
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NRC seeks more detail on Entergy plan to sell Vermont Yankee nuclear facility
Entergy's plan to sell the facility aims to significantly speed the site cleanup and restoration. But the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is not convinced the financial assurances are sufficient.
By Robert Walton • April 13, 2018
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New Jersey passes bills for nuke subsidies, 50% RPS, 2 GW storage target
Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is expected to sign the measures, but proposed reforms to PJM's capacity market make the nuclear subsides' impact on wholesale power prices unclear.
By Gavin Bade • April 13, 2018
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Senate confirms coal lobbyist Wheeler as EPA No. 2
Andrew Wheeler was present for preliminary meetings last year that led to the crafting of the Department of Energy's controversial plan to bail out coal and nuclear plants.
By Gavin Bade • April 13, 2018
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Perry: Emergency order for coal, nukes is 'exactly what has to happen'
The Secretary of Energy told a House committee Thursday emergency action to save coal and nuclear plants is necessary, though he stopped short of committing to a particular action.
By Gavin Bade • April 12, 2018
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Deep DiveHow much are tariffs holding solar back?
Solar is maturing into a least-cost, best-fit resource for utilities and customers while facing down challenges with plunging costs and new grid services.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 12, 2018
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Mitsubishi subsidiary seeks permits for $1.5B gas plant to send power to NYC
Diamond Generating is proposing a 1,200 MW plant in New Jersey's Meadowlands — an area close to major markets for electricity, but also environmentally sensitive.
By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2018
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Utilities, DER providers face off over market access at FERC meeting
Grid operators and utilities want to ensure that new distributed resources do not threaten reliability, while DER providers are wary they will use the argument as an excuse to stifle competition.
By Gavin Bade • April 12, 2018
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MISO states push for authority over DER in electricity markets at FERC meeting
The states want to be able to choose whether they allow distributed resource aggregations to play in both retail and wholesale markets.
By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2018
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Deep DiveUpdated: Whitehouse unveils bill directing study, pilot program for natural gas demand response
In the electric sector, demand response programs help reduce peak load and prices. New legislation would direct federal regulators to study its potential for gas markets.
By Robert Walton • April 10, 2018
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PJM files competing capacity market reforms at FERC
Stakeholder consternation over the two plans led the grid operator's leadership to punt the decision to federal regulators.
By Gavin Bade • April 10, 2018
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As market pressures mount for IPPs, Vistra, Dynegy complete $1.74B merger
The combined company owns approximately 40,000 MW of installed generation capacity.
By Robert Walton • April 09, 2018