Nuclear industry darkened by delays, cost overruns at Vogtle & Summer facilities

Boosts to the industry could come from Energy Department loan guarantees and Clean Power Plan compliance credit. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 24, 2015

Why can't utilities innovate like startups?

A new paper produced by a utility-private sector working group outlines how utilities can be set free to innovate.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2015

How wind's record low prices are driving a 'big build cycle'

“This year will be big. Next year will be similarly big. What happens after 2016 is anybody’s guess because of concerns about the federal production tax credit.”

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 20, 2015

How regional compliance can help states meet EPA emissions targets faster and cheaper

SPP study concurs with MISO and PJM studies: States can meet emissions targets faster and cheaper by sharing generation and transmission resources.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 19, 2015

In SolarCity's 'new paradigm' for distribution planning, DERs come first

Top solar installer calls for new distribution system planning with priority on distributed resources.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 18, 2015

Opponents file lawsuit to void contract for first U.S. offshore wind project

The high price of the nation’s first ocean wind installation is being challenged as building proceeds.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 18, 2015

TVA seeks to license the first U.S. nuclear reactor of this century

Watts Bar unit 2 will also be the first U.S. reactor with post-Fukushima FLEX protections.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 18, 2015

15 states launch legal battle against EPA's Clean Power Plan

The state filed a request for an emergency stay. 

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 17, 2015

Mississippi Power wins rate relief for troubled Kemper 'clean coal' plant

Without the rate increase, Mississippi Power would "stand on the brink of bankruptcy."

By Randy Lilleston • Aug. 17, 2015

California weighs 'off-the-shelf' gas plant in case of reliability issues

The plan comes as Southern California looks to replace lost capacity from the San Onofre closure and the expected retirement of once-through cooling units.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 17, 2015

Conservative solar leader plans to fight Florida utilities' 'early cost recovery' privilege

Tea Party leader calls out utility allies for backing bill charges that give customers "the shaft."

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 15, 2015

Report: Southeast utilities stand to benefit from $50B compliance with EPA rules

With the regulations now final, analysts are trying to make sense of how limiting greenhouse gases will impact energy company performance.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2015

Exelon's Constellation triples down on Bloom fuel cells with 40 MW deal

The announcement that Exelon Corp.'s Constellation will develop 40 MW of Bloom fuel cells, expanding on the 21 MW it invested in last year.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2015

Texas Governor calls for energy reductions during heat wave

While the electricity system has set multiple new demand peaks, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has brought demand response into the mainstream conversation—without calling it as such.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2015

Wholesale power prices, demand fall during mild New England summer

Wholesale power and has prices in the region are among the lowest in more than a decade.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2015

IPPs oppose utility ownership of large-scale renewables in New York

Independent producers and energy groups in New York say a proposal to allow utility ownership of large-scale rewnewables would threaten customers' low rates.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2015

Prices in Texas' deregulated markets improving, but still lag regulated areas

Despite improvements, customers in Texas' deregulated ares are still paying more than those in the state's deregulated markets.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2015

17 states sue EPA over emissions rules for plant startups, shutdowns

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's office called the federal government's rejection of state implementation plans a "clear violation of state's rights."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2015

Duke Energy: Combined cycle gas units cheaper than expected

Installed capacity costs for combined cycle gas facilities are now commonly below $1,000/kW.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2015

Texas grid sets new electricity demand record

For the first time in the history of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, hourly demand soared above 69,000 MW.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2015

PJM: Power plant retirements under draft carbon rules could threaten reliability

Analysis by PJM Interconnection, albeit based on the draft rules, shows compliance with the Clean Power Plan could threaten grid reliability under some scenarios.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2015

EPA plans to fix MATS rule by spring 2016

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected portions of the EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, but the agency said it can show a cost-benefit analysis that justifies the rule by mid-April.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2015

Texas heat pushes ERCOT to break electricity demand records

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas set three demand records in two days last week, in the midst of a lengthy heat wave last week.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 10, 2015

Energy Future Holdings taps Hunt consortium to buy Oncor

A consortium of investors headed by Hunt Consolidated will purchase Oncor out of bankruptcy in a deal expected to be upwards of $18 billion. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 10, 2015

Filings reveal Hawaiian Electric hired NextEra as fuels consultant on controversial LNG project

An acquisition agreement filed with regulators in Hawaii shows HECO must confer with NextEra, which is purchasing the utility for more than $4 billion, on a range of issues.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 10, 2015