EIA: Nuclear outages jumped 50% this summer

Outages peaked in June, when almost 10% of the United States' nuclear capacity was offline.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2016

FERC oversight role at stake in DC Circuit hearing over ISO-NE power auction

Public Citizen sued the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, arguing rates set in a 2014 New England capacity auction should not have been allowed to take effect.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2016

After Aliso Canyon methane leak, California natural gas generation down 20%

The California Independent System Operator turned to hydro and other renewables, along with power imports, to meet demand during the dog days of summer.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2016

Eversource mulls pipeline funding options following Massachusetts court setback

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled electric utilities could not charge customers to develop the Northeast Access pipeline, but some of the project's backers are refusing to give up.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2016

Enbridge to buy Spectra Energy for $28B, creating energy infrastructure giant

The combined entity would be the largest energy infrastructure company in North America and would have an enterprise value of more than $127 billion.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2016

Despite sluggish demand growth, Duke Energy plans more solar, natural gas in IRP

After taking into account energy efficiency measures, Duke Energy Carolinas expects about 1% annual growth over the next 15 years, according to its recent IRP filed in North Carolina. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2016

Southern California Edison proposes $2.1B capex for DER integration

SCE did not provide forecast ranges for total capital expenditures through 2020, saying it has no prior experience with rate cases related to DER integration. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2016

Portland General Electric pushes to add 860 MW gas, 50 MW solar capacity to Carty plant

PGE and Oregon's other investor-owned utilities must hit 50% renewable energy and stop using coal-fired electricity by 2040. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2016

Northeast utilities prepare for threat from tropical storm Hermine

The storm was downgraded from a hurricane this weekend, but it's still about 140 miles off the coast of Nantucket and moving west. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2016

ERCOT: Texas grid has enough supply to serve 9.5% demand increase

Roughly 1 GW of new gas and wind power will aid the grid operator in meeting the boost in demand. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2016

DOE: Converting Colstrip coal plant to carbon capture would cost $1.2B

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock requested the analysis in hopes of saving the 2,094 MW plant, which is slated for retirement.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 2, 2016

Southern Co. finalizes 50% stake in Kinder Morgan pipeline system

Kinder Morgan will continue to operate the 7,600 mile Southern Natural Gas system.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 2, 2016

Winds of change: How the industry can continue wind power's boom into the 2020s

Better grid integration and lower tech costs will be key to continuing wind's record growth, but big market and policy obstacles are looming. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 1, 2016

Former NRC chair pushes against relicensing older plants, advocates new nuclear construction

According to former NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane, pressures from cheap gas mean nuclear plants may be doing the bare minimum to keep facilities running.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 1, 2016

NREL: Eastern Interconnect can handle 30% renewable energy

A new study says the Eastern U.S. grid could add another 400 GW of wind and solar power using existing technologies and grid management practices.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 1, 2016

Maryland fines NRG Energy $1M for nitrogen pollution from coal plants

NRG will also pay $1 million to support environmental restoration projects $10 million to upgrade the wastewater filtration systems at the two plants. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 31, 2016

Trump or Clinton: What the power sector's future could look like under the next president

While the president has limited direct influence over the trajectory of the utility industry, there are important policy levers for either candidate’s aims.  

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 31, 2016

Plant subsidies blocked, FirstEnergy floats $9B plan to support Ohio operations, grid

FirstEnergy isn't giving up on its campaign to win financial support for aging Ohio generation, but critics say its logic is getting more extreme. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2016

Decommissioning costs: A blind spot in the nuclear power debate

In nuclear policy debates, too little thought is given to the costs of storing radioactive waste on site, argues the University of Pennsylvania's Christina Simeone. 

By Christina Simeone • Aug. 30, 2016

As Massachusetts pushes faster carbon cuts, some RGGI members resist

Massachusetts wants to see the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative increase its emissions requirements, but some states say that could push them out of the program. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2016

National Coal Council pushes federal support for carbon capture in draft report

The report stems from a Department of Energy request for the council to look into how carbon markets in the oil recovery sector could help drive development of new CCS technology.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2016

Indiana regulators approve settlement for Duke's Edwardsport coal plant

Under the agreement, Duke Indiana ratepayers will bear a 2% rate increase, instead of a proposed 3.6% increase to cover the costs of the coal gasification plant. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 29, 2016

California solar project shot down after clearing federal environmental permits

A 287-MW solar project on the edge of the Mojave Desert won all federal permits, but was voted down by county supervisors over concerns about the impact to the bighorn sheep habitat. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 26, 2016

EIA: Monthly renewable generation beat levels from previous years

But other renewables, such as wind and solar, have exceeded hydro generation each month since February as the West recovers from a historic drought.  

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 26, 2016

Headwinds ahead: Solar companies trim deployment expectations ahead of possible slowdown

A glut of modules and the ITC extension could temper the solar sector's rapid growth. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 26, 2016