FERC approves California reliability-must-run contracts

Calpine's Feather, Yuba and Metcalf gas plants are needed for local reliability, the California ISO determined.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2018

100-Hour storage? DOE launches $30M program to explore new technologies

The program is designed to address the needs of intermittent generation sources, such as wind and solar, by enabling a new set of applications that can provide long lasting backup power.  

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

EPA ozone designations raise concerns of political influence

EPA listed a number of counties as compliant with 2015 ozone standards that it previously recommended for non-attainment, including a Wisconsin county that's the site of a factory touted by President Trump.

By Gavin Bade • May 1, 2018

Dominion plans up to 3.6 GW gas, 4.7 GW solar in Virginia

The utility is counting on some form of carbon emissions regulation in the future as it laid out estimates of how much that might cost.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2018

Lithium-ion domination could block promising storage technologies, MIT finds

Li-ion batteries are good for transportation applications, less so for the grid. But their dominance is making it difficult for producers of alternative storage technologies to survive, much less innovate and scale up.

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

PJM launches fuel security initiative to counter gas reliance

The initiative seeks to value attributes like dual fuel capabilities and onsite fuel supply, but critics say it is too narrow and similar to existing capacity performance rules. 

By Gavin Bade • May 1, 2018

New York grid operator floats carbon pricing proposal

All suppliers inside the New York ISO market would be subject to carbon charges, under the initial proposal. NYISO is designing rules to ensure imports compete fairly, too.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2018

How big can New England's regional cap-and-trade program get?

The RGGI program has worked so well for its nine Northeastern member states that some say it's ready to go nationwide.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 1, 2018

NuScale receives first phase design approval for small modular reactor

There are five more phases in the process, but NuScale says the first is the most rigorous and now expects the NRC to complete certification by September 2020.

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

PJM: FirstEnergy nukes can retire without reliability threat

The grid operator says three plants subject to an emergency bailout request at the Department of Energy can retire without putting electricity service at risk.

By Gavin Bade • April 30, 2018

Supreme Court rejects Constitution Pipeline appeal over NY permit

The decision leaves the pipeline's developer one option: seeking help from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to keep the project on track.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2018

Illinois energy law revives renewables while aiding nuclear

The Future Energy Jobs Act is also expanding energy efficiency in the state, but the nuclear subsidies are being challenged in court.

By Peter Maloney • April 30, 2018

Michigan OKs $952M cost recovery for DTE gas plant

Opponents of the 1.1 GW facility say solar, wind, energy efficiency, demand response and storage would be cheaper and could save customers $300 million to $1.1 billion.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2018

DOE gives $60M for advanced nukes, but industry wants better regs

There is growing interest in small modular reactors, but the licensing process must modernize along with the technology, according to a new Nuclear Energy Institute report.

By Robert Walton • April 27, 2018

Pruitt: EPA will seek 'comprehensive rule' to alter New Source Review

The agency's recently announced proposal to limit scientific input to its rules could influence how it rewrites NSR, which governs emissions from new and modified sources.

By Gavin Bade • April 27, 2018

PwC: Power sector deals rose 60% in the first quarter

Two mega deals — Dominion-SCANA and Global Infrastructure Partners-Zephyr Renewables — along with activity in the renewable energy sector drove the increase.

By Peter Maloney • April 27, 2018

PJM generators, DR providers clash over seasonal resources at FERC

Demand response providers say rules barring seasonal resources from capacity contracts are little more than an effort to boost market revenues for generators.

By Gavin Bade • April 25, 2018

Hawaii Gov. Ige signs law mandating performance-based utility regulation

The law goes further than other performance-based efforts, directing the PUC to "break the direct link" between utility revenues and capital investments.

By Gavin Bade • April 25, 2018

Cutting loose generation lifts earnings for FirstEnergy

The company's prospects also were bolstered by an agreement with creditors in the bankruptcy proceeding of subsidiaries FirstEnergy Solutions and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating.

By Peter Maloney • April 25, 2018

Understanding grid resilience implications for market design: Beyond the NETL study

Researchers at Resources for the Future and the R Street Institute offer an alternative approach to the recent National Energy Technology Laboratory study.

By Karen Palmer, Devin Hartman and Daniel Shawhan • April 24, 2018

SCE&G rate hikes called 'unconstitutional' by South Carolina AG

The Attorney General's comments come as part of a case aimed at recovering the amount customers have paid for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project since its abandonment last year.   

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 23, 2018

California 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

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

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

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