Generation: Page 62


  • Xcel opts for gas suppliers with lower methane emissions in Colorado

    The utility announced a pilot for certified lower-emission gas, seeking to advance upstream practices of reducing methane leaks. Clean energy groups say the certifications are effectively the new "clean coal."

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 13, 2021
  • FERC deems Duke, Southern SEEM proposal 'deficient', sends utilities back to the drawing board

    Federal regulators asked utilities to clarify how exactly the proposal will improve existing energy transactions in the Southeast, and for greater transparency in how the market changes will work.

    By Catherine Morehouse • May 12, 2021
  • Service technicians work to install transmission towers. Explore the Trendline
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

    Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

    By Utility Dive staff
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    Duke 'optimistic' on seeing broad North Carolina energy bill in 2021 amid Democratic, NGO exclusions

    The utility's optimism is based on months of closed-door stakeholder negotiations with Republican leadership, industry groups and others, but ratepayer advocates and environmentalists have been excluded.

    By Catherine Morehouse • May 11, 2021
  • Google to power Virginia data centers with 24/7 clean energy from AES

    The partnership "lays a blueprint for other companies to decarbonize their own operations," Google said.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 4, 2021
  • Construction of Vogtle Nuclear Plant Unit 4
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    Courtesy of Bechtel
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    Vogtle Nuclear Construction Delays

    Bechtel reaches construction milestone at Southern Company's $25B Vogtle nuclear plant

    Bechtel last week set into place a passive containment cooling water tank, which the company says is the last major lift at the only two nuclear power plants under construction in the United States.

    By Kim Slowey • May 3, 2021
  • TVA to retire coal fleet by 2035, CEO says, with renewables, gas and nuclear on the table as replacements

    TVA's board of directors is reviewing coal plant replacement options and carbon reduction goals, with the utility expected to open up a new integrated resource plan process.

    By Jean Haggerty • April 30, 2021
  • Xcel takes nearly $1B fuel cost hit from February storms but still sees Q1 profit rise

    The majority of the $965 million incurred net costs came from the gas distribution and generation portions of its subsidiaries, according to the company's quarterly earnings report.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 30, 2021
  • PJM control room.
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    Permission granted by PJM Interconnection
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    PJM proposes to end FERC MOPR policy that raised prices for state-subsidized resources

    Under the grid operator's plan, the minimum offer price rule would no longer apply to state-subsidized resources in capacity auctions. But some competitive suppliers are calling for a replacement market design.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 29, 2021
  • President Joe Biden speaking about the American Jobs Plan
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    Retrieved from Twitter.
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    Deep Dive

    Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan meets power system needs but leaves room for political dealing

    The Biden infrastructure spend would rapidly transition the U.S. power sector in ways utilities like, but Congress is expected to seek changes.

    By April 28, 2021
  • States ask FERC to eliminate MOPR, grant more flexibility in pursuing alternatives to PJM capacity market

    New Jersey and Illinois are actively considering using the fixed resource requirement as a way to pursue clean energy outside the PJM Interconnection's capacity market.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 26, 2021
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    Getty
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    Deep Dive

    California's dilemma: How to control skyrocketing electric rates while building the grid of the future

    New ideas include income-based rates, publicly-funded infrastructure, utility entrepreneurship, and customer-funded wildfire insurance.

    By April 26, 2021
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    Drew Angerer via Getty Images
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    Power grid upgrades absent in Senate Republicans' $568B counter to Biden infrastructure proposal

    Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., told reporters that Republicans were open to discussion on including broader climate policy, and that spending on roads and highways could include funds for EV infrastructure.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 23, 2021
  • A high-voltage transmission line runs through barren woods.
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    Permission granted by Minnesota Power
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    Sen Wyden proposes bill ending fossil fuel tax breaks, boosting clean energy incentives

    The technology-neutral policy would create tax incentives for resources that emit zero or net-zero emissions.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 22, 2021
  • FERC overstepping its authority in move to lower demand response barriers, NARUC, utilities charge

    State regulators launched similar charges against federal regulators regarding FERC's order on energy storage, arguing the commission was illegally encroaching on state authority over the distribution system.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 21, 2021
  • Mississippi Power to retire 976 MW of fossil fuels by 2027

    The utility announced planned retirement dates after Mississippi regulators prompted it to reduce generation capacity amid evidence of "very little, if any, customer load growth."

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 20, 2021
  • Democrats tested over boosting transmission, not pipelines, as bill directs FERC to improve regional planning

    One political hurdle in transmission policy is how to heighten regulatory pressure on the pipeline sector while building electric transmission as efficiently as possible, said Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 20, 2021
  • GE Renewable Energy's wind turbine generator, Haliade-X
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    Courtesy of GE Renewable Energy
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    Clean energy jobs 'hit hard' by COVID-19 in 2020: report

    Research from Environment Entrepreneurs found the sector shed 307,000 jobs but rebounded in the second half of the year — and could be set for a major recovery in 2021.

    By April 20, 2021
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    Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by thinkreaction via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive // Vineyard Wind Project Permitting

    As Biden targets 100% clean electricity, strategies emerge to reliably integrate rising renewables

    A power system based on portfolios of increasingly cost-effective utility-scale and distributed renewables is emerging and driving new operational and market solutions to make it work reliably.

    By April 19, 2021
  • First Solar's Series 6 modules deployed in a project in Kern County, California
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    Permission granted by First Solar
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    Opinion

    Gas is failing California. It's time to move on.

    Even a state like California can waver in its progress towards clean energy if we let fear take over, the authors write.

    By Nina Robertson, Katherine Ramsey and Shana Lazerow • April 16, 2021
  • Aerial image of the H-POWER waste to energy incinerator in Honolulu, Hawaii
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    Permission granted by Honolulu Dept. of Environmental Services
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    Hawaii top regulator fears potential clean energy project delays could slow closure of HECO oil-fired plant

    Hawaiian Electric representatives, however, say the utility is trying to balance a variety of concerns, including from local communities. 

    By Kavya Balaraman • April 15, 2021
  • White House considers doubling Obama-era carbon reduction targets: BNEF

    President Joe Biden could also announce a plan next week to reduce economy-wide carbon dioxide emissions by 50% in the next decade, according to BNEF.

    By April 14, 2021
  • Glick: FERC should tackle MOPR if PJM can't agree on update by December capacity auction

    Commissioner James Danly introduced his own proposal for a state option to substitute preferred resources over those that clear in a capacity auction.

    By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 16, 2021
  • Utility Dive interview series
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    Yujin Kim/Utility Dive
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    Q&A

    Taking Charge: FERC Commissioner Christie on his 'across the board' respect for state authority

    "The state regulators know much more about their own states than I did as a Virginia regulator and that I will as a FERC commissioner," said Commissioner Mark Christie in a wide-ranging interview with Utility Dive.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 13, 2021
  • Vogtle Nuclear Construction Delays

    Former NRC chair questions economic feasibility of new nuclear in US

    Former NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane acknowledges the progress of small modular reactor designs from NuScale Power to achieve permitting while flagging supply chain issues for the broader industry.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 12, 2021
  • President Joe Biden speaking about the American Jobs Plan
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    Retrieved from Twitter.
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    Biden $1.5 trillion budget proposal includes 27% increase in overall clean energy spending

    The proposed budget would ramp up spending on new technologies, including advanced nuclear and hydrogen.

    By Catherine Morehouse • April 12, 2021