Generation: Page 56
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Opinion
The truth about the future of gas: We don't need to build anymore
"Let’s clear away the myths about gas, renewables and the grid," writes UC Berkeley professor David Wooley, co-author of a recent report that said a 90% clean electricity system is feasible in the U.S. by 2035.
By David Wooley • June 22, 2020 -
Corporate carbon reduction targets get boost with new EEI, WRI utility emission rate tool
The database, now containing information from about half of the Edison Electric Institute's members, helps customers calculate more easily the emissions related to their energy use.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 22, 2020 -
Pilgrim decommissioning deal surpasses federal requirements, requires cybersecurity plan
Massachusetts and Holtec have agreed on financial guarantees, cleanup standards, interim spent fuel storage and other requirements for dismantling the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth.
By Guy Burdick • June 19, 2020 -
Divided FERC approves New England ISO short-term fuel security plan despite cost concerns
The program would compensate resources that help ensure winter reliability, but Commissioner Richard Glick warned the $300 million price tag would be an unnecessary "windfall" for some generators.
By Robert Walton • June 19, 2020 -
FERC schedules technical conferences on carbon pricing, offshore wind integration challenges
The meetings will examine whether the regulatory body has the legal authority to implement carbon pricing, as well as how grid operators can better address transmission concerns for offshore wind.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 19, 2020 -
Cleantech incubator Greentown Labs expands to Houston
The incubator will offer testing space to early stage, climate-focused companies in an effort to make Houston the "energy transition capital of the world."
By Chris Teale • June 17, 2020 -
Vectren bucks Indiana legislature with plan to reduce coal mix 78% to 12% by 2025
The utility will add up to 1,000 MW of solar + storage, among other renewable resources, bringing its energy mix to 64% renewable energy plus demand response in the next five years.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2020 -
FERC accepts Tri-State exit fee methodology as jurisdiction battle looms with Colorado
Tri-State and its member cooperatives looking to leave its service territory are at odds over whether federal or state regulators should have the final say on exit fees. Observers say the battle will likely reach the courts.
By Robert Walton • June 16, 2020 -
Utilities remain mute on FERC net metering petition, leave filing to face overwhelming opposition
Pacific Gas and Electric, Xcel Energy, Duke Energy and others filed motions to intervene, but ultimately elected not to comment, while bipartisan federal and state political leaders, regulators and others expressed strong opposition.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 16, 2020 -
Permission granted by Minnesota Power
Minnesota Power to reach 50% renewables in 2021 with Canadian hydropower
The utility energized a $700 million 224-mile transmission line last week that will bring 250 MW of hydropower from Manitoba to Minnesota.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 15, 2020 -
California regulators establish SCE, PG&E as central procurement buyers, to the dismay of CCAs
Despite the growth of community choice aggregators, regulators feared allowing numerous entities to buy small amounts of local resource adequacy would create market concerns.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 15, 2020 -
Disbanded EPA science panel blasts lack of action on particulate matter in order to inform future litigation
The EPA found that more review was needed to determine the full health impacts of particulate matter, created by burning coal or other industrial processes.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 12, 2020 -
US weighs end to foreign nuclear power finance ban, potentially boosting advanced reactors
Opening up international financing could allow the U.S. to become more competitive with countries like Russia and China in providing carbon-free power to developing nations, advocates said.
By Emma Penrod • June 12, 2020 -
Utility-scale solar to soar in 2020, despite COVID, while coal decline accelerates, SEIA, EIA project
Solar growth is projected to be largely driven by utility-scale projects as residential installations take a larger hit due to the coronavirus pandemic.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 12, 2020 -
"Empire State Building & Con Ed East River Station @ Stuyvesant, Manhattan, NYC" by Axel Taferner is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
New York's economy is slowly reopening, but electricity demand remains clipped due to COVID-19
The grid operator for New York anticipates annual electricity consumption for 2020 will be 6% to 7% lower than previously forecast, due to the coronavirus pandemic — with increasing amounts supplied by carbon-free resources.
By Robert Walton • June 11, 2020 -
Alabama regulators greenlight nearly 2 GW of gas for Southern, punt on solar+storage
Regulators said 400 MW in solar and storage facilities should be considered in a separate docket, but did approve 200 MW in demand side management programs.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 10, 2020 -
Indiana regulators decline to scrutinize IPL coal practices but continue Duke review
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission's order said Sierra Club's testimony didn't adequately account for non-economic factors that utilities need to consider when self-committing coal.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 9, 2020 -
Deep Dive
California plans for future of gas system amid 'patchwork' of electrification policies
The California Public Utilities Commission has opened a rulemaking to "manage" a transition away from natural gas. But questions remain on what that transition will look like.
By Kavya Balaraman • June 9, 2020 -
Trump permitting order benefits fossil fuels and renewables, but NGOs vow to challenge
A former Environmental Protection Agency attorney says the order is on shaky legal ground and will likely be challenged in court.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 8, 2020 -
Opinion
Renewables' potential depends on transparent and fair policies, not special interest giveaways
FirstEnergy spinoff Energy Harbor is receiving a $1 billion taxpayer bailout while also enriching its shareholders with an $800 million stock buyback. This is crony capitalism at its worst, the author writes.
By Michael K. Dorsey • June 5, 2020 -
PJM: MOPR compliance plan aims to avoid FERC's 'immense' and 'unreasonable' burden
FERC clarified in April that default capacity auctions are a state subsidy under the Minimum Offer Price Rule. But PJM warns too expansive a definition could "paralyze" the voluntary markets.
By Catherine Morehouse • June 4, 2020 -
Deep Dive
The 3 key challenges to expanding the West's real-time energy market to day-ahead trading
Driven by new Western state renewables and zero emissions mandates, the 11 active participants and nine new applicants in the Energy Imbalance Market are pushing to expand it to day-ahead trading.
By Herman K. Trabish • June 3, 2020 -
Permission granted by Ways2H
OpinionNew waste-to-hydrogen processes could contribute to a carbon negative future
With the rise in production and sales of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and power generators, the technology is entering a new maturation point that could encompass both mobile and stationary storage options, the author writes.
By Jean-Louis Kindler • June 3, 2020 -
Opinion
Outdated NEPA needs modernizing. Just ask Warren Buffett
As the U.S. economy prepares to recover from the current crisis, important job and revenue-creating proposals like the 1,000 mile Gateway West transmission project don’t need to languish in a regulatory morass, the author writes.
By Paul Griffin • June 3, 2020 -
Massachusetts hopes 'localized approach' to GHG inventory can spread
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council rolled out tools for local communities to collect and track emissions data, something officials believe could be replicated in other regions.
By Chris Teale • June 2, 2020
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