DOE taps two new nuclear reactor designs for development funding

The federal government tapped X-energy and Southern Company Services to develop new types of nuclear reactors as a way to meet aggressive carbon reduction goals.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 19, 2016

Sumitomo begins operation of 6 MW, 2 MWh battery for PJM frequency regulation

The new project in Ohio is the first to come online operated by the Japanese corporation.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 19, 2016

Virginia water board approves Dominion plan to drain treated coal ash water into rivers

Virginia's State Water Control Board voted last week to allow millions of gallons of treated water to be dumped into the James River and Quantico Creek.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 19, 2016

Global investment in renewables hit record $328.9B in 2015 as new markets opened

Opportunity in renewables kept investors away from cheap fossil fuels, Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2016

Study: Utilities could face billion-dollar liabilities for most polluting power plants

Critics of the study, however, say legal precedent sets a high bar for any party looking to sue over a utility's carbon footprint.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2016

New York Gov. Cuomo calls for closing all coal plants in state by 2020

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) this week announced a plan for the state to cease burning coal in power plants by 2020. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2016

MISO: Clean Power Plan compliance to 2025 achievable with existing, planned plants

Redisptaching existing and already-planned generation will likely be enough to allow the Midwest grid operator to be compliant through 2025.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2016

Duke execs knew of coal ash violations for years, unsealed court documents assert

Internal company documents show Duke Energy officials knew of the coal ash violations, argues a recently-unsealed excerpt from a shareholder lawsuit. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2016

EIA: Residential sales will dip, coal retirements stabilize in 2016

The EIA's Short Term Energy Outlook predicts residential power consumption will be almost 6% lower this quarter, thanks to a mild winter compared to 2015.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2016

Obama touts clean energy growth, promises fossil fuel extraction reform in State of the Union

The president took on climate change doubters in his final State of the Union address Tuesday night and promised to reform policies allowing for the extraction of fossil fuels on federal lands. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 13, 2016

How a new business model could get the Puerto Rico public utility out of debt

The only way PREPA can save itself is to find a path to lower cost electricity, but any restructuring deal is bound up in the politics of both the island and Capitol Hill.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

Dynegy offers natural gas alternative to FirstEnergy, AEP plant subsidy proposals

Dynegy has joined Exelon in attempting to undermine proposals from FirstEnergy and AEP to guarantee income at struggling coal and nuclear plants. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2016

Arch Coal bankruptcy not expected to harm Minnesota utilities

Despite confidence in their coal supply and stores, at least one analyst says Minnesota utilities need to prepare for a future when coal deliveries are uncertain.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2016

Oncor CEO, former Texas Gov. express concerns over Hunt plan to restructure utility

As regulators consider the proposed acquisition of Oncor Electric Delivery by Hunt Consolidated for an estimated $18 billion, lobbying is still going on in the pages of The Dallas Morning News.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2016

Dominion Virginia Power commits $700M to solar in long-term resource plan

Virginia regulators use regulatory process to push the utility toward a bigger resource mix. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

EIA: Gas drives wholesale power prices lower, but coal likely retains generation lead

Increased use of natural gas for electricity generation pushed wholesale power prices significantly lower across the U.S. in 2015, but EIA says it likely hasn't yet eclipsed coal's leading role in the American fuel mix.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2016

West Virginia utilities mull divergent approaches to power mixes in IRPs

Four West Virginia utilities have filed integrated resource plans, making public for the first time their plans for the state's power production. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2016

Oregon utility developing microgrids to bid into ISO markets, enhance reliability

The Oregon Department of Energy awarded Eugene Water & Electric Board almost $300,000 for a pilot project designed to show the benefits of microgrids and energy storage. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2016

Solar moves ahead of wind, hydro in California fuel mix, toward 10% of state's power

Huge growth in the sector, along with a hydro-hampering drought, means that solar now accounts for more generation than any other reneawble resource in California. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 12, 2016

Alabama officials bet on judicial stay, delay Clean Power Plan compliance

An Alabama official told Bloomberg BNA that the state believes the law's implementation will be blocked and it has delayed work on a compliance plan.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2016

Wisconsin lawmakers set to vote on bill lifting nuclear plant moratorium

A measure to loosen restrictions on building new nuclear capacity has been placed on the Wisconsin Assembly's legislative calendar for Tuesday.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 11, 2016

Vermont regulators approve new line to bring Canadian renewables to New England

The New England Clean Power Link will carry 1,000 MW of capacity under Lake Champlain.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 11, 2016

Critics question Nebraska public power model as study predicts climbing prices

Cheap gas has meant Nebraska gets less revenue for sales to other states, and environmental regulations are expected to raise prices in the future.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 11, 2016

Solar and wind comprise 61% of 2015 capacity additions, gas contributes 35%

A combination of wind, gas and solar generation made up 96% of new capacity added last year, according to SNL.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 11, 2016

California muni ditches San Juan plant ownership to be coal free by the end of 2017

California municipal utility Silicon Valley Power is divesting 51 MW of coal generation in favor of natural gas and renewables to meet the state's 50%-by-2030 renewables mandate. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 2016