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

FirstEnergy subsidiaries want $7M rate increase for West Virginia coal plant upgrades

Mon Power and Potomac Edison asked West Virginia regulators to approve additional annual revenues to install upgrades, including mercury control systems. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2016

Rising natural gas costs boosted MISO power prices from June to July

Gas and wind continue to push coal generation down the dispatch stack, with coal plants on the margin more than 80% of the time.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 25, 2016

Indiana utility to propose closing 4 coal units

New regulations could cost the company $1 billion to keep operating the units, NIPSCO said. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2016

EIA: North Carolina top state for PURPA-qualified solar projects

North Carolina has the second most independent power producer (IPP) solar plants and the most PURPA solar plants, according to the EIA.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 24, 2016

National Grid, Eversource to pull out of Access Northeast gas pipeline project

The decision follows a ruling from the state's highest court last week that electric utilities may not charge customers for gas pipeline construction.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2016

Hearing delayed as Duke, North Carolina officials spar over Dan River coal ash penalties

Both sides are currently in negotiations over a proposed $6.6 million penalty for the 2014 spill.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2016

GTM: Germany's C&I energy storage market still lags behind residential

A GTM Research report highlights sharp divide between large and small energy storage systems in German, which can be a result from of the structure incentives and price signals specific to the German markets.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 23, 2016

Munis, co-ops to propose revamp of PJM's capacity market structure

American Municipal Power is calling for a "comprehensive and holistic assessment" of PJM Interconnection's Reliability Pricing Model.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2016

Global utility M&A up 105% in Q2 amid rush to renewables, regulated assets

Deal value hit $43 billion in the second quarter of 2016, with North American companies leading the way.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 23, 2016

Industrial customers could depart Wisconsin over high electrical rates

The state's Strategic Energy Assessment 2022 finds rates are rising for all customer classes, though generation is expected to be adequate.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2016

New Mexico utility threatens layoffs if rate increase request is reduced

Public Service Co. of New Mexico requested a rate increase of more than $123 million, but a hearing examiner's recommendation would cut that to a $41 million increase.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2016

Report: MISO, PJM to collaborate on plant retirement studies

More than 4 GW could be pulled offline by next summer, making it imperative for grid operators to coordinate their efforts.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 19, 2016

EIA: Energy-related CO2 emissions from natural gas will surpass coal in 2016

Natural gas is less carbon-intensive than coal, but federal officials say changing consumption patterns have flipped the script when it comes to emissions.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 19, 2016

NV Energy stays neutral on energy choice ballot measure

Voters in Nevada will decide this November whether to open the state's energy marketplace to competition. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 19, 2016

Massachusetts court bars electric utilities from charging ratepayers for gas pipeline construction

The decision by the Supreme Judicial Court puts Spectra Energy's Access Northeast pipeline at risk, as Eversource Energy and National Grid have both signed on to the project.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2016

NRC cites low-level violations, including radioactive leak, at Entergy's FitzPatrick nuke

Violations at the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant, slated to be sold to Exelon, went on for years, NRC said.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2016

After Hawaiian flub, NextEra's $18.4B bid for Oncor appears on steadier ground

After Hunt Consolidated tried to upend Oncor's business model, a more conventional merger proposal from a company with a presence in Texas and a strong balance sheet could be just what regulators want. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2016