Xcel details plans to shut 660 MW coal, build 1.8 GW renewables in Colorado

The plan would raise the renewable share of the company's Colorado generating portfolio to 55% and reduce the coal share from 44% to 24%, all by 2026.

By Robert Walton • June 7, 2018

NRC Chair: Nuclear safety regulatory process not to blame for plant retirements

The process has constantly adapted for efficiencies, although it has not significantly impacted the economic basis of early plant retirement, said Kristine Svinicki at a joint FERC-NRC hearing.  

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 7, 2018

Palo Verde nuke can remain open with 50% Arizona RPS, NRDC report finds

Arizona voters in November could consider a proposal to raise the state's renewable portfolio standard to 50%. Arizona Public Service says that would force the closure of the nation's largest nuclear power plant.

By Robert Walton • June 6, 2018

Exelon CEO endorses nuke bailout, punts on leaked DOE memo

Chris Crane said there is "not enough information to pass judgment" on the DOE plan — a day after he told Utility Dive that grid conditions do not justify it. 

By Gavin Bade • June 6, 2018

California shift from annual to hourly GHG emissions tracking to focus reductions

Environmental groups cheered the updated methodology, but one NGO fears demand response programs will not be properly credited.

By Robert Walton • June 6, 2018

Exelon CEO: No grid emergency to justify DOE coal, nuke bailout

The head of the nation's largest nuclear generator says he would rather work with FERC and the nation's grid operators to devise long-term solutions to grid resilience.

By Gavin Bade • June 5, 2018

McIntyre says FERC could be kept out of DOE effort to save at-risk generators

FERC Chairman Kevin McIntyre said he trusts Energy Secretary Rick Perry to decide whether or not to invoke emergency powers to save coal and nuclear plants from retirement.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 5, 2018

FERC splits again on affiliates, climate in Florida pipeline approval

Both the owner and offtaker of the Florida Lateral Project are owned by NextEra Energy, raising questions from one regulator about whether the pipeline is needed. 

By Gavin Bade • June 5, 2018

Zinke presses to keep Navajo Generating Station online

The largest coal plant in the Western U.S. is slated to close at the end of 2019. But stakeholders are fighting to keep it online, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is looking to a 1968 law for help.

By Robert Walton • June 5, 2018

How Trump's 'Soviet-style' coal directive would upend power markets

A federal order to keep coal and nuclear plants from retiring could reshape the government's relationship with the power sector, regulators and analysts say.

By Gavin Bade • June 4, 2018

Will FERC uphold state support for clean energy?

Some are celebrating FERC's apparent defense of state environmental policies, but that reaction is premature, write Danny Cullenward and Shelley Welton.

By Danny Cullenward and Shelley Welton • June 4, 2018

Trump orders Perry to stop coal, nuclear retirements

The president’s directive to the Department of Energy comes the same day as the release of a memo advocating DOE use its emergency powers and a Cold War-era law to bail out at-risk plants.

By Gavin Bade • June 1, 2018

Trump administration preparing 2-year coal, nuke bailout

The federal government would purchase power from at-risk plants using its emergency authority and a Cold War-era nationalization law, according to a memo released Friday.

By Gavin Bade • June 1, 2018

DOE cybersecurity report reveals 7 'gaps' in power sector defense capabilities

The assessment warns restoration following a cyberattack "could be more challenging than previously experienced," in part due to the unprecedented nature of such an incident.

By Robert Walton • June 1, 2018

NET Power demo plant takes key step toward emissions-free gas generation

The company says it is the only industrial-scale supercritical carbon dioxide-based power plant and CO2 cycle test facility. It's aiming to deploy a 300 MWe commercial-scale version by 2021.

By Robert Walton • June 1, 2018

US doubles solar manufacturing, but not jobs (yet)

Job creation is not guaranteed in the sector despite an increase in domestic solar panel manufacturing, according to analysts.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 31, 2018

Will batteries do for wind what they're doing for solar?

Experts say wind-plus-storage could become viable with longer-duration batteries. 

By Herman K. Trabish • May 31, 2018

New wind project would move MidAmerican within reach of 100% renewables goal

The utility wants to generate enough electricity from wind to equal its customer demand for a year, though other assets will likely remain on the system. 

By Gavin Bade • May 31, 2018

Why natural gas' reign may come to a quick end

Turbulent markets and disruptive technology will require every fuel source — even those that are currently winning on low costs — to become even more efficient, writes Uptake's Michael Donohue.

By Michael Donohue • May 31, 2018

NERC: Texas, California will face tight markets this summer

Texas is facing a generation shortfall, due in part to plant retirements, and California is facing a limit on natural gas output due to Aliso Canyon storage facility constraints.

By Robert Walton • May 31, 2018

FERC, DOJ support Illinois nuclear subsidies in court filing

The controversial nuclear payments do not interfere with FERC's jurisdiction over wholesale power markets, the agencies argued.

By Gavin Bade • May 30, 2018

Xcel to add 1.2 GW of wind to Texas, New Mexico mix, as PUC gives formal OK

The utility's plan nearly doubles the amount of wind capacity in that service area through two wind farms and a power purchase agreement from wind farms developed by NextEra.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 30, 2018

EPA proposes to maintain Obama-era standards for sulfur oxides

The agency is also seeking comment on whether there are "appropriate alternative approaches" for half of the measures used in determining air quality.

By Robert Walton • May 29, 2018

N.J. sets 'aggressive' 2 GW storage target by 2030

Part of a broader recently-enacted law, the policy makes New Jersey the fifth state to set an energy storage goal.

By Peter Maloney • May 29, 2018

Congress, DOE continue carbon capture push, but utilities wary

Despite Trump administration support for coal and a newly extended tax incentive for carbon capture, the technology to reduce carbon emissions is too expensive for most utilities.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 25, 2018