Updated: Supreme Court rules in FERC's favor in Hughes v. Talen power case

Not all incentive programs supporting in-state generation are illegal, the court ruled, but Maryland's initiative stepped on FERC's exclusive jurisdiction over wholesale market rates.

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016

'Graceful transition': ISO-NE's CEO on how wholesale markets can ease decarbonization

A well-designed capacity market can help ensure reliability at high levels of renewable energy penetration, argues ISO-New England's Gordon van Welie.

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016

MISO: Capacity auction could see higher prices

The Midcontinent ISO’s planning resource auction produced higher clearing prices in several zones, the grid operator said last week. Cleared Planning Resources included more than 122,000 MW of generation.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016

EPA 'ties itself in knots' in CPP defense, opponents say

Opponents of the Clean Power Plan say the EPA "ties itself in knots" to explain how the emissions rules are both vitally important while not a significant change.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016

As EPA reaffirms MATS rule, coal interests promise more litigation

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court determined federal regulators should have completed a cost-benefit calculation before writing the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule. 

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016

ERCOT: Texas PUC mulling artificial inflation of power prices to boost grid reliability

Texas regulators are considering raising the reserve margin to 2,750 MW to incentivize future generation development, but some worry that will raise power prices. 

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2016

A rough day for coal: Midwest utilities retire 2,000 MW

Older coal plants are retiring with increasing frequency, but last week more than a dozen units were shut down in a single day.

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2016

Exelon maintains microgrid push with Hartford, CT fuel cell project

Exelon subsidiary Constellation is building fuel cell microgrid in Hartford in a partnership with the city and Bloom Energy.

By Peter Maloney • April 18, 2016

Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Gas cancel LNG import terminal agreement

Hawaiian Electric wants to import gas as a cheaper alternative to fuel oil, but critics call it a distraction from efforts to get to 100% renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2016

AEP CEO confirms generation is for sale, will accept bids from 'suitable' companies

AEP CEO Nick Akins confirmed that generation is for sale, but didn't confirm or deny Dynegy's claims that it was shut out of the bidding process. 

By Robert Walton • April 15, 2016

It's already happening: New EIA numbers show a utility sector in transformation

John Shenot of the Regulatory Assistance Project writes that “foundational, even tectonic shifts” in electricity generation are present to an even greater extent than most of us realize.

By John Shenot • April 14, 2016

Wind installed more capacity than any other generation source in 2015, industry says

Increasing buy-in from non-utility customers marked strong growth for the sector last year.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 14, 2016

Report: Without nuclear, US states face struggle to meet carbon goals

A new report sponsored by nuclear generators finds their plants account for almost two-thirds of the United States' carbon-free electricity.

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2016

Low gas prices continue to dent coal plant economics

It costs about $1,000/kW to build a new gas plant, but the assets are selling for half that amount or less thanks to cheap gas which usually sets the marginal cost of generation.

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2016

Utilities relieved as Canadian Pacific terminates rail merger that sparked coal shipping concerns

Canadian Pacific said the merger would create a "true end-to-end railroad," but coal shippers were concerned about the potential for cost increases and disruption of services. 

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2016

Federal regulators reject request for more frequent leak testing for Indian Point

It is another setback in Gov. Cuomo's bid to close Entergy's Indian Point nuclear facility, located within 50 miles of New York City.

By Robert Walton • April 13, 2016

Stakeholders debate expanding storage's role in MISO markets

Discussions under way at MISO could expand storage into the medium-term market.

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2016

Graphene: Energy storage's silver bullet or a promise stretched thin?

Graphene's remarkable properties could revolutionize energy storage, but commercial deplyment could be years off.

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2016

TVA eyes Tennessee site for small modular nuclear reactor test facility

The Tennessee Valley Authority is pursuing its proposal to build small modular nuclear reactors, with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff set to issue an outline for proceedings for an early site permit for the project. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 12, 2016

Civil Rights Commission eyes North Carolina coal ash in environmental justice probe

The Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was at a hearing in North Carolina last week focused on the impacts of coal ash on predominantly low-income, minority communities. 

By Shalina Chatlani • April 12, 2016

'Straight uphill': Power sector reforms face tough path in gridlocked Illinois legislature

Three utility-backed bills to support, nuclear generation, renewables and efficiency did not pass in the last session of the General Assembly. Stakeholders are now trying to role them into a single law.

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2016

Aquion battery to meet overnight needs of Puerto Rican solar farm

An Aquion battery is being deployed at a 16 MW Puerto Rican solar farm to meet overnight needs.

By Peter Maloney • April 11, 2016

EIA: Waste-to-energy plants concentrated in Florida, Northeast

The United States has about 2.3 GW of waste-to-energy capacity, with most of that concentrated in Florida and the Northeast.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2016

Moody's: Cheap gas could pressure coal, nuclear plants into retirement

In a new report, the rating's agency said lower natural gas prices have "devastated" the merchant power sector.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2016

SolarCity closes $150M securitization for commercial solar+storage

SolarCity continued a string of securitizations with a $150-million financing from Credit Suisse.

By Peter Maloney • April 8, 2016