Utility-scale solar booms as costs drop, challenging gas on price

Utility-scale solar is on the verge of edging out gas on price, and it offers cost benefits that fossil fuel plants lack.  

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 8, 2015

Idaho Power's IRP: Coal plant retirements, 400 MW of demand response, and community solar

The public comment period has closed on Idaho Power's long term plan, which predicts average load growth to climb 1.2% each year until 2034 and proposes a community solar project to increase renewable energy in its portfolio mix. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2015

PNM defends data used in developing San Juan plant proposal

The New Mexico attorney general is also defending the utility against claims by a clean energy group that PNM manipulated baseline data to continue operating its San Juan coal fired plant.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2015

Settlement could spell early retirement for Utah coal plant

Deseret Electric Power Cooperative has agreed to pollution controls and reduced coal burn at its power plant in Uintah County, but said the costs of retrofitting the plant will pass on to ratepayers. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2015

Mass. regulators approve electric utilities to contract for gas supply

The decision last week opens the door for electric utilities in gas-constrained Massachusetts to enter long-term contracts for their fuel, in spite of worries that customers could be subsidizing gas pipeline infrastructure costs. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 7, 2015

Generators ask PJM to reconsider capacity performance rules

A group of generators asked PJM Interconnection to consider easing some of its reliability rules as well as altering force majeure scenarios.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 7, 2015

Updated: Exelon, DC Mayor Bowser announce settlement deal on Pepco merger

Exelon and District of Columbia mayor Muriel Bowser (D) recently announced they had reached a settlement on the proposed Exelon-Pepco Holdings merger, increasing Exelon's proposed investment in DC to $78 million. 

By Gavin Bade and Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 6, 2015

Regulators approve CAISO's grid reliability, backstop auction requests

FERC last week approved the California ISO's request to develop a backstop capacity auction in order to deal with unexpected shortages and reliability issues.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2015

North Dakota, Wyoming will push for additional CPP compliance time

Governors of those states say they were blindsided by large increases in emissions cuts between the proposed and final rule, and call for more time to ensure compliance while planning to file legal challenges to the rule. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2015

Xcel to shutter controversial Minnesota coal units

The company will retire two units at the Sherburne County Generating Plant (Sherco), and is targeting 35% renewables by 2030.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2015

Southern CEO: New nuke builds confined to large utilities in regulated markets

Only large companies in regulated markets have the resources to develop new nuclear plants, according to Southern Co. CEO Tom Fanning.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 5, 2015

Black Hills proposes rate-based gas production investments in 5 states

Black Hills Corp. has asked regulators in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming for authority to recover the costs investments in gas wells or reserves, the latest in a growing list of utilities to do so. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 5, 2015

Updated: Exelon, DC mayor reach settlement on Pepco merger

The deal would still need to be approved by the D.C. Public Service Commission, which rejected the initial merger proposal in August.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 2, 2015

New EPA rule targets toxic discharges from coal-fired steam plants

The agency estimates about 12% of the nation's 1,080 steam electric power plants will need to make improvements to comply with the new rules.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2015

EPA to issue finalized regulations on ozone emissions

The new 70 parts per million limit on ozone pollution pleases neither public health experts nor industry groups. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 1, 2015

To ITC or not to ITC: What happens if solar's federal tax incentives aren't extended

Without the ITC, the loss of potential solar capacity is equal to the total amount currently installed in the U.S., a new report finds.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2015

What's at stake in the FirstEnergy and AEP Ohio power plant subsidy hearings

The marathon regulatory sessions could have far-reaching consequences for the region's fuel mix and electricity market structure.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 1, 2015

GE unveils Digital Power Plant software to make generation more efficient, responsive

Cloud-based capabilities can add $230 million in value to new gas plants and $100 million to wind projects, the company says.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2015

If Kemper plant delays continue, Southern will need to return $234M in tax credits

If Southern Company can't get its Kemper coal facility up and running by April 19, the company will need to return $234 million to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 1, 2015

Ohio lawmakers, governor at odds over renewables and efficiency freeze

A legislative committee has recommended extending the state's temporary freeze on renewables and efficiency mandates indefinitely, a proposal Gov. John Kaisich (R) calls "unacceptable."

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 30, 2015

Is this the end for Boulder's municipal utility plan?

Colorado regulators will rule today on a recommendation to dismiss the city of Boulder's plan to form a municipal utility.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2015

FirstEnergy Solutions will let some Peco Energy contracts expire

After expanding its Pennsylvania presence several years ago, FirstEnergy Solutions is reducing its exposure to the competitive market.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2015

Talen Energy proposes third option to divest 1,300 MW

The newly-formed generator, now one of the largest in the country with 15,000 MW of capacity, is working to configure a package of assets to sell in order to satisfy federal regulators.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2015

Duke settles North Carolina coal ash case for $7M

Environmentalists say regulators capitulated to the utility's demands, and Duke says the penalty doesn't amount to a fine.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 29, 2015

EPA files with appeals court to fix MATS, states request its elimination

The D.C.Circuit Court will decide whether June's Supreme Court decision means the EPA can merely fix MATS, or whether the rule must be thrown out entirely.

By Gavin Bade and Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2015