With new group, Pennsylvania nuclear critics look to 'get ahead' of subsidy proposal

Pennsylvania lawmakers have yet to draft a bill to subsidize the state's five nuclear plants, but generators and business groups are still organizing to stop them. 

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2017

'America's Greece' and its insolvent electric utility

Former Puerto Rico Sen. Ramón Luis Nieves calls for an energy revolution to transform the island's ailing utility.

By Ramón Luis Nieves • April 11, 2017

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Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

'Enabler of the smart city': CPS Energy's CEO on democratizing distributed energy

Electric utilities have a central role to play in spreading the energy technologies that make smart cities possible, Paula Gold-Williams, CEO of San Antonio's municipal utility, told Utility Dive. 

By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2017

Chicago to power city-owned buildings with 100% renewable energy

Chicago will purchase renewable energy credits, buy wind and solar from utilities and invest in on-site generation to offset power demand from 900 buildings. 

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2017

Higher gas prices add to ISO-NE power costs in February

Gas was almost 7% more expensive this February than last, pushing average wholesale power prices above $28/MWh.

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2017

Led by steep declines in coal, US energy sector emissions fell 1.7% last year

Emissions from coal plants fell more than 8%, but natural gas and transportation emissions both ticked upwards.

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2017

White House signals it will not defend Obama-era smog rules

The Trump administration asked the D.C. Circuit to postpone arguments on ozone standards as senators wrote to the White House asking for clarification on its strategy to unwind the Clean Power Plan.

By Robert Walton • April 11, 2017

Generators, business groups line up against Ohio nuclear bill

Arguments against a bill to support at-risk FirstEnergy nuclear plants are similar to those animating legal challenges against generation subsidies in other states. 

By Peter Maloney • April 11, 2017

California PUC approves doubling of SGIP funding, tilted toward storage

Utilities will allocate $83 million annually for three years to help fund customer-sited storage and renewable energy generation.

By Peter Maloney • April 10, 2017

New gas build, coal retirements could make PJM next market with distressed power prices

A flood of new, efficient gas-fired plants is set to put downward pressure on PJM power prices, Moody's says, pushing more coal plants to the brink.

By Peter Maloney • April 7, 2017

Virginia to require assessments before Dominion can deal with coal ash ponds

Dominion Virginia Power must provide additional details and options regarding 11 coal ash ponds the utility will close down.

By Robert Walton • April 7, 2017

State lawmakers push for Atlantic Coast Pipeline approval as greens vow appeal

Critics of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline proposal say it is unnecessary, while more than a dozen lawmakers are pressing federal regulators to approve the natural gas project.

By Robert Walton • April 7, 2017

Ohio lawmakers introduce bill to support FirstEnergy's nuclear plants

The Zero Emission Nuclear Resource program follows similar proposals in New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Connecticut.

By Peter Maloney • April 6, 2017

States, green groups urge DC Circuit to continue review of Clean Power Plan

The White House last week asked the D.C. Circuit Court to put the case on hold, a move critics say could freeze litigation indefinitely. 

By Robert Walton • April 6, 2017

Report: Connecticut nuclear support legislation would cost $300M a year

A report commissioned by a generator trade group argues the Millstone plant has been "highly profitable" and is not at risk of early retirement.

By Peter Maloney • April 6, 2017

PacifiCorp long-term plan includes 3 GW of renewable energy

The six-state, $3.5 billion plan also predicts efficiency will offset 88% of forecasted demand growth over the next decade.

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2017

Study: Coal plant pollution leads to lower birth weights for nearby residents

Researchers at Lehigh University say coal emissions can impact pregnant women up to 30 miles away from a power plant.

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2017

Westinghouse bankruptcy fallout continues as chairman replaced, Santee Cooper downgraded

Parent company Toshiba is also being forced to buy Engie's stake in a U.K. nuclear joint venture due to the bankruptcy filing. 

By Peter Maloney • April 5, 2017

Defying Trump, Supreme Court will continue with WOTUS case

President Trump's administration had asked the justices to put the case on hold as the Waters of the U.S. rule is reconsidered.

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2017

Generators, business group file federal court petitions to halt Illinois nuclear supports

EPSA and a group of local citizens and businesses say the zero-emission credits would intrude on FERC's jurisdiction over wholesale power markets and have “a disruptive effect on energy auctions."

By Peter Maloney • April 4, 2017

LA County study: Aliso Canyon gas storage facility not needed for reliability

The study argues California regulators have issued confusing and incomplete guidance on whether reopening the troubled gas storage facility is necessary for power and gas reliability. 

By Robert Walton • April 4, 2017

Primer: Technology, consumer sentiment push utilities to new business models

The move to a cleaner, more distributed energy system is pushing wholesale changes to how utilities make money and plan their power grids. 

By Robert Walton • April 3, 2017

How Connecticut's nuclear bill could open a new front in the plant subsidy debate

A bill to support the Millstone plant would include nuclear facilities in renewable energy solicitations in an attempt to skirt legal challenges facing similar efforts in New York and Illinois. 

By Peter Maloney • April 3, 2017

Westinghouse bankruptcy puts $8.3B in federal loan guarantees for Vogtle plant at risk

Federal money to finance the Southern Co. plant could be at risk if contractor Westinghouse Electric cannot follow through on its construction commitments. 

By Peter Maloney • April 3, 2017

Navajo Nation looks to federal subsidies to keep coal mine, plant open

The proposal would subsidize coal sales to the Navajo plant, allowing it to compete with cheaper natural gas generation.

By Peter Maloney • April 3, 2017