Clashes brew over Diablo Canyon extension plan as 40% of expected renewables fail to come online

The debate around the future of Diablo Canyon comes as California faces a combination of threats to grid reliability, including the planned retirement of a suite of natural gas plants and projected increases in electricity demand. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 29, 2022

Court places Tampa Electric on probation, orders $500K fine for fatal 2017 coal furnace accident

The utility will serve 36 months probation and implement a safety compliance plan designed by an independent third party auditor, in addition to the fine.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 29, 2022

Missouri PSC lets Algonquin Power utility securitize $290M in coal retirement, Winter Storm Uri costs

The first decision under Missouri’s new securitization law is expected to save ratepayers $65.6 million.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 25, 2022

There is a place for natural gas on a zero-carbon grid: EPRI

Carbon capture technologies could help cut the cost of decarbonization by $300 billion over the next 15 years, according to a new analysis, but critics warn the resources are expensive and unproven.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2022

US gas-fired generation set 3 daily records last month, says EIA

However, an easing of supply chain issues, growth in renewables and passage of the Inflation Reduction Act “will keep gas generation in check,” Institute for Energy Economics and Finance analyst Dennis Wamsted said.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2022

Ameren Missouri to delay retiring 1,195-MW Rush Island coal plant under MISO reliability contract

The St. Louis-based utility would delay the Rush Island power plant’s retirement from Sept. 1 to roughly mid-2025, according to an agreement filed Friday at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 22, 2022

DOE to attack CO2 emissions with billions in funding from inflation reduction, infrastructure laws

The Energy Department wants big R&D spending to have CO2 reduction tools ready by 2030, but clean energy advocates see it delivering wealth and prolonged life to fossil fuels and slowing renewables deployment.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 22, 2022

$60/MWh for advanced nuclear electricity is achievable, says GE Hitachi executive

At that price, there would be demand for about 90 GW of emerging small reactors in the U.S. by 2050, according to a recent Nuclear Energy Institute survey.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2022

Emerging small reactors projected to provide 90 GW of nuclear power to the US grid by 2050: NEI survey

Making these smaller nuclear units cost effective, and getting financial commitments from utilities, are key challenges.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • Aug. 18, 2022

New ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas must address soaring energy costs, market observers say

Vegas, currently executive vice president of NiSource, will take over leadership of the Texas grid as efforts to ensure reliability are driving customer bills higher.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2022

Xcel Energy seeks FERC approval to buy 120 MW of Minnesota wind from Allete in $216M deal

The cost for the two projects has increased under commodity price and supply chain pressures, according to Xcel.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 16, 2022

Utility leaders hail clean energy tax incentives as House sends historic climate bill to Biden’s desk

The bill's 15% minimum corporate tax could ding some investor-owned utilities, however.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 15, 2022

FERC commissioners press financial giant Vanguard over possible efforts to influence utility power portfolios

“Should a company like Vanguard seek to influence the management and operation of utilities’ generation portfolio, for example, this could have a significant impact on the rates consumers pay for electrical service,” the commissioners said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 12, 2022

US generating capacity additions expected to double in H2 to 29.4 GW, led by solar and wind: EIA

While solar leads the projected utility-scale additions for 2022 at 17.8 GW, that number is down 3.7 GW since the beginning of the year due to supply chain disruptions, an ongoing tariff investigation and other factors.

By Larry Pearl • Aug. 9, 2022

NRC authorizes Southern Nuclear to begin operation of Vogtle Unit 3

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s decision follows it issuing the first design certification for a small modular reactor and comes as Congress considers billions of dollars in financial incentives for existing nuclear plants.

By Larry Pearl • Aug. 4, 2022

NextEra’s ‘game-changing’ Real Zero emissions goal spurs questions about hydrogen, demand-side management

NextEra, the world’s biggest IOU by market cap, wants a “real” reduction of all carbon emissions by FPL, its regulated subsidiary, with solar, batteries and green hydrogen, but it will go without much help from the demand side.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 3, 2022

Reserve margin may need to rise to 300% by 2040 as more renewables added to grid: ISO New England

A scenario where reliability criteria are met using only solar, wind and storage would challenge the transmission system and require “an outsized amount of land or offshore areas” for wind and solar farms, ISO-NE found.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2022

FERC, NERC urge North American Energy Standards Board to help boost gas-electric coordination

NAESB announced plans last year to support improved coordination between the natural gas and electricity markets, but that initiative has made little progress.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2022

NRC to certify NuScale small modular reactor design for use in the US

The first small modular nuclear reactor design to be approved in the U.S. is expected to go online at an Energy Department laboratory in Idaho in 2029.

By Larry Pearl • Aug. 1, 2022

‘The clock is ticking’: PG&E exploring possibility of keeping Diablo Canyo open to boost reliability: CEO

State regulators in 2018 approved a settlement to close the plant, but some experts are now questioning whether it should be shut down.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2022

RNG producer Vanguard Renewables CEO on $700M sale to BlackRock, digester expansion

Neil Smith, who joined Vanguard after leading an energy company during a similar period of expansion, breaks down what the sale means for the company’s efforts to launch dozens of RNG-producing facilities.

By Cole Rosengren • July 27, 2022

Western RTO could add up to $79.2 billion to regional economy, report finds

The report, commissioned by Advanced Energy Economy, found that every individual Western state, as well as the region as a whole, would see economic benefits from an RTO.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 27, 2022

NextEra plan for 200 MW solar, 75 MW storage at shuttered nuclear plant approved by Iowa regulators

An Alliant Energy utility plans to buy the project and recently increased a proposed cost cap for it by 23% because of supply chain and solar market disruptions.

By Ethan Howland • July 27, 2022

US becomes world's largest LNG exporter amid Ukraine war-driven demand, rising gas and power prices

The growth in U.S. liquefied natural gas exports has raised some concern that it may be driving up domestic gas and electricity prices.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2022

Massachusetts passes 'landmark' climate bill to decarbonize multiple sectors, add 5.6 GW offshore wind

The wide-ranging bill supports the decarbonization of the state’s building and transportation sectors, scrapping language that would have blocked residential retail energy choice.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 22, 2022