FERC's Tony Clark won't seek reappointment, warns of CPP challenges

EnergyWire reports that Tony Clark, the lone Republican FERC commissioner, will not seek reappointment when his term expires at the end of June.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2016

Two competing carbon control bills on tap for Oregon legislature

One bill aims to set emissions caps and encourage trading, while the other would phase out coal-fired generation and set ambitious reneawble energy goals. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2016

As hearings conclude, FirstEnergy subsidy proposal remains in doubt

FirstEnergy reached a 16-party settlement last year in the plant subsidy case, but a pair of offers from rival generators say the plan would upend regional electric markets and have offered alternative power supply proposals. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2016

Report: 2016 capacity additions will net 45 GW to US grid

The United States electricity grid will add 55 GW of net capacity this year, predominantly composed of wind, gas and solar power.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2016

Can utilities learn to love distributed solar like central station arrays?

Utility-scale solar has become mainstream among U.S. power providers, but persisting questions around cost and valuation are masking further opportunties in the distributed generation space, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 21, 2016

NEI: Nuclear power industry likely set new capacity factor record in 2015

The results are still preliminary, but according to the Nuclear Energy Institute, plants around the country hit a record average capacity factor of 91.95% in 2015. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 21, 2016

Southern California Edison signs 500 MW of utility-scale solar PPAs with First Solar

The California utility renews its push for renewables in response to state’s new mandate requireing 50% renewables by 2030. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 21, 2016

REV in 2016: The year that could transform utility business models in New York

While utilities probably won’t shift to new revenue and business models under REV this year, just how they plan to meet the goals of the groundbreaking reform initiative could become much clearer in the coming months.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 20, 2016

In AEP-Sierra Club coal plant deal, cost of additional renewables remains unknown

American Electric Power (AEP) reached a settlement last month that calls for development of 900 MW of renewable energy, but so far no one knows what it will cost.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 2016

Southwest Power Pool study shows it can reliably manage 60% wind penetration

The grid operator needs new wires and tools to add 4,700 MW of wind by 2017, a new report shows.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 20, 2016

Entergy sues New York over Gov. Cuomo's push to close Indian Point nuclear plant

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) wants to close the plant because of its proximity to New York City, and Entergy believes that is the reason the state denied a necessary water permit.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 2016

ERCOT: Wind energy provided record 45% of electricity on Dec. 20

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas maintained reliability with over 10 GW of wind energy on that day.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2016

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