Generation: Page 55
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Catherine Morehouse/Utility Dive
DOE targets end to US reliance on Russian nuclear fuel, revived domestic capability
The energy department seeks to create a uranium reserve and develop high-energy fuel rods needed for new and smaller commercial reactors, Sec. Dan Brouillette said.
By John Funk • July 20, 2020 -
FERC finalizes PURPA overhaul in move Glick says "discourages" small solar development
Changes include allowing states to set the rates paid to qualifying facilities at a variable wholesale rate rather than a fixed cost and reducing the size of a project that can qualify for PURPA rates from 20 MW to 5 MW.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 17, 2020 -
Trump finalizes rule 'slashing' environmental permitting reviews for wind, pipeline projects
Wind, coal and gas groups largely support the administration's "top-to-bottom overhaul" of the National Environmental Policy Act.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 16, 2020 -
Minnesota approves Xcel request to operate 2 coal plants seasonally
The Allen S. King plant and unit 2 of the Sherco facility will now sit idle six months out of the year.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 16, 2020 -
'Almost impossible' for FERC to address rehearing orders in 30 days, Glick says
Commissioner Richard Glick told a virtual conference that the most reasonable avenue for Congress to take would be extending the commission's timeline to respond to requests for rehearing to 90 days.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 15, 2020 -
TVA offers over $500M in additional incentives to quell talk of Memphis utility departure
Despite warnings from TVA leadership about billions in costs, MLGW staff recommended a request for proposals to explore power alternatives to its current supplier.
By Emma Penrod • Updated Aug. 21, 2020 -
Wyoming scrutinizes Pacificorp coal retirement plans in 'unheard of' IRP investigation
State regulators on Monday launched a week-long administrative trial for the utility's latest integrated resource plan, instead of a typical proceeding with written comments in response to the proposal.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 14, 2020 -
DC Circuit upholds landmark FERC storage order, rejecting claims it violates state authority
"I think 841 … [may be] one of the single most significant ... actions taken by a government agency to address carbon mitigation and the transition to a clean energy future," FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee told reporters.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 13, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Audit of Hawaiian Electric sends a postcard about the future of regulation
The utility's restructuring has supported and streamlined Hawaii's ongoing "transition to a 100% renewable future," the audit reported. But "costs and staffing levels have also increased," often without "a clear role or purpose."
By Herman K. Trabish • July 13, 2020 -
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Microscope image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/49535193876/in/album-72157713108522106/.
Duke, AEP, FirstEnergy tell FERC future COVID-19 uncertainty presents 'significant risk'
Although utilities have not yet seen substantive threats to their capital, they insist to federal regulators that potential future hurdles will require "adequate and timely" cost recovery from states.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 10, 2020 -
Deloitte: Intermittent renewables pass COVID-19 grid reliability test
Through mid-June this year, wind and solar energy made up 12% of the total U.S. generation average, up from 10% in 2019, while distributed energy resources and storage is one of the "primary areas" for building new capacity over the midterm.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 9, 2020 -
Natural gas pipeline developers aim to differentiate from Atlantic Coast and avoid its fate
The Constitution Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline have been abandoned within months of each other, and natural gas developers are working to establish differences between themselves and the unsuccessful projects.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 8, 2020 -
Coal retirements spur 8% drop in 2019 power sector carbon pollution after Duke, Vistra top 2018 emitters: Ceres
Vistra has already retired or announced the retirement of nine coal plants since 2018, a sign of how rapidly the power sector shifted last year
By Catherine Morehouse • July 8, 2020 -
DC Circuit pipeline ruling could prompt dramatic shift in FERC power sector actions, attorneys say
The ruling could have major consequences for stakeholders requesting a rehearing from the commission in the gas and electricity sectors.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 8, 2020 -
Yujin Kim/Utility Dive
ColumnTaking Charge: Wisconsin's newest utility commissioner on the state's 'utility-scale changeover'
Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Tyler Huebner spoke to Utility Dive about the state's transition from coal and toward a greener, more distributed grid.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 6, 2020 -
NERA counters broad opposition to FERC net metering petition, reveals utility-linked member
Attorneys for the New England Ratepayers Association have revealed one of its members — the president and founder of energy consulting firm Brant Energy, whose clients include National Grid, Eversource and DTE Energy.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 2, 2020 -
Florida's customer-sited solar reaches new heights as regulators oppose federal petition to upend net metering
The Florida Public Service Commission joined other states to oppose a national petition in support of state-led net metering policies.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 1, 2020 -
House Democrats release sweeping climate proposal calling for net-zero US emissions by 2050
The proposal does not eliminate natural gas fracking and leaves the door open for carbon capture technology.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 1, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Battery energy storage is getting cheaper, but how much deployment is too much?
As renewable penetrations rise, batteries are the answer to variability, but it is not clear when buying more storage stops increasing reliability.
By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2020 -
Consumer demand prompts aggressive shift toward renewables, storage at Tucson Electric Power
Solar, wind and energy storage systems will account for 70% of TEP's generation capacity by 2035, according to the utility.
By Emma Penrod • June 30, 2020 -
Comprehensive energy bill could see Senate floor as early as July: Murkowski chief counsel
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, "is absolutely 110% committed to this bill," Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chief Counsel Lucy Murfitt said. "She's gonna fight until there's just simply no path forward left for the bill."
By Catherine Morehouse • June 30, 2020 -
House Democrats unveil major clean energy bill as Senate GOP mulls timeline for economic stimulus
Democrats' clean energy push has not gained traction, but Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., says Republicans will come to the table eventually.
By Catherine Morehouse • Updated July 2, 2020 -
Late-stage changes to Vogtle nuclear construction activities are credit negative: Moody's
The ratings agency's decision comes as the Vogtle expansion grapples with a variety of unforeseen issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 29, 2020 -
Antennas. (2007). "Aerial view of the Robert Scherer power plant north of Macon, Georgia" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
FPL, JEA to retire 848 MW unit of largest US coal plant
Plant Scherer in Georgia will lose about one-quarter of its capacity when unit 4 closes Jan. 1, 2022.
By Matthew Bandyk • June 29, 2020 -
Deep Dive
A COVID-19 hit to public power? For some, it's not all bad
Municipal utilities and other public power entities have unique challenges, and some advantages, when dealing with the financial impacts of the pandemic and recession.
By Matthew Bandyk • June 25, 2020
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