Generation

Deep Dive

Election 2020: Trump's FERC may need to shift course on clean energy, though Biden's road will not be easy

No matter what happens Nov. 3, the agency will have no choice but to address the industry's transition, even if it means backing away from some of its more controversial policies under the Trump administration, analysts say.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 27, 2020

Deep Dive

Election 2020: Climate policy faces a tough road through Congress regardless of electoral outcomes

A Democratic Senate will attempt to pass Joe Biden's clean energy standard in the face of an expected Republican filibuster, while bipartisan support exists for more R&D spending on carbon-cutting technologies.

By Matthew Bandyk • Oct. 26, 2020

Deep Dive

As conflict rises over utility DER ownership, a Duke Florida program could offer a way forward

Regulators must decide how to separate regulated and private markets as both see ownership of rooftop and community solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 23, 2020

AVANGRID-PNM merger seen as step forward for New Mexico's untapped renewable potential

By purchasing New Mexico's largest utility, the Iberdrola subsidiary can bring its access to capital to bear to invest in renewables and transmission in the state and region.

By Matthew Bandyk • Oct. 23, 2020

FERC landmark DER rule leaves open questions on grid operator implementation

A key question is whether grid operators and utilities try to open up market participation to DERs as much as possible, or whether they just do the bare minimum, a storage executive said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 22, 2020

2019 US wholesale solar prices more than double wind, gas as renewables use reaches record levels: EIA

High prices in California, where roughly one-third of U.S. solar capacity is located, drove up the average wholesale price for solar energy to $83/MWh.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 20, 2020

EPA expands coal ash storage options for utilities in move NGOs say violates DC Circuit ruling

The power industry says the rule is based on a record EPA has built since 2015, and will apply to only a narrow subset of facilities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 20, 2020

DOE approves up to $1.4B to test 12-module NuScale reactor

The announcement is part of DOE's multibillion-dollar effort with industry to develop the next generation of reactors, and comes on the heels of $160 million in funding for two other projects.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 19, 2020

FERC PJM order muddies state subsidy definition under MOPR, potentially hinders renewables, Glick says

Commissioner Richard Glick said the order is further evidence that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is overreaching when it comes to state clean energy policies.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 16, 2020

FERC confirms carbon pricing jurisdiction in wholesale markets, Chatterjee 'encourages' proposals

"This commission encourages efforts to develop wholesale market rules that incorporate a state-determined carbon price in [wholesale] markets," Chairman Neil Chatterjee said. Commissioner James Danly called it "unnecessary."

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 16, 2020

Gas generators ask FERC to apply PJM MOPR logic to NYISO

Two gas generators claim current market rules do not address price suppression caused by state subsidies, and therefore disadvantage resources not receiving those payments.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 16, 2020

NYPA to consider swapping gas peakers for batteries in novel deal with environmental justice groups

The New York Power Authority will hire consultants, including technical experts, to represent the interests of local advocacy groups when analyzing the potential for energy storage to replace gas peaking facilities in New York City.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 14, 2020

Duke vows to triple renewables capacity, reach net-zero methane emissions by 2030

Environmentalists say Duke's plan signals the company will continue to rely on gas infrastructure for decades to come.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 12, 2020

MISO integrated utilities lost $492M from 2016-2019 via uneconomic coal dispatch: market monitor

"Basically all of … the not efficient, unprofitable decisions were made by integrated utilities," while merchant generators were largely profitable, the grid operator's independent market monitor told stakeholders Thursday.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 09, 2020

'Buyer beware': Report highlights challenges to new PJM gas plants

New analysis from the Applied Economics Clinic and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis concludes the challenges to new gas plants in the PJM Interconnection "are growing stronger and stronger."

By Robert Walton • Oct. 07, 2020

Opinion

A resolution to LCOE is not the metric you think it is

After one of the authors questioned the usefulness of the widely-used levelized cost of energy metric, two NREL analysts worked with him to find the metric is reliable — but only if used in real time.

By James Loewen, Pieter Gagnon, and Trieu Mai • Oct. 07, 2020

EIA raises forecast for coal generation bump in 2021, and more carbon emissions

Coal-generated electricity is on a long-term decline in the U.S., but the Energy Information Administration expects a 4% bump in its share of the nation's generation in the next year.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 07, 2020

National Grid sees hydrogen as a linchpin, joins utilities targeting net zero carbon by 2050

The company intends to continue studies and pilots to blend hydrogen into its existing gas network, viewing the renewable gas as a "lynchpin" between its networks, according to a spokesperson.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 05, 2020

Biden could pursue 'easy' climate solutions, elements of the Green New Deal if elected: experts

Renewable energy, storage and transmission projects will continue to face challenges even in "blue" states supportive of such development, according to speakers at the Society of Environmental Journalists' annual conference.

By Gloria Gonzalez • Oct. 02, 2020

Illinois regulators move to preserve retail net metering rate, order audit of Ameren's bid to end it

Ameren Illinois says customer solar generation is about to reach 5% of peak demand on its system, allowing it to end retail net metering under state law.

By John Funk • UPDATED: Oct. 2, 2020 at 9:57 a.m.

Virginia regulatory staff project $800 annual customer bill increase for Dominion to meet clean energy law

Plans proposed by the utility, ranging from around $44 billion to $84.3 billion, did not include a least-cost compliance option, according to staffers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 01, 2020

Vistra to retire 6.8 GW coal, blaming 'irreparably dysfunctional MISO market'

The company plans to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, will retire all its Midwest coal by 2027 or sooner, and add almost 1,000 MW of solar by the end of 2022.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 30, 2020

NextEra, Mountain Valley Pipeline developers receive 2-year extension from FERC

Regulators lifted a work-stop order on Friday on all but a 25-mile segment including a national forest. Developers were previously aiming to bring the pipeline in service by early next year.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: Oct. 13, 2020 at 9:58 a.m.

Ameren pledges net zero carbon by 2050, 3.1 GW new renewables by 2030, keeping coal into 2040s

Pending negotiations over securitization legislation in Missouri could encourage the utility to retire its coal assets faster, according to stakeholders.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 29, 2020

NYISO highlights case for carbon pricing days before highly-anticipated FERC conference

The grid operator hopes the Sept. 30 conference will convince federal regulators that the mechanism is the most efficient way for regulated markets to support state decarbonization goals.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 29, 2020