Report: Trump declined to levy 2-year coal plant retirement moratorium

Coal mining company Murray Energy had lobbied the White House to use a provision of the Federal Power Act allowing federal intervention into power markets during times of emergency.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2017

MISO reports higher power prices during July

The grid operator attributed the higher prices to heavier loads and weaker wind generation during the period.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 22, 2017

West Virginia officials find more water violations along Rover Pipeline project route

Energy Transfer Partners has once again run into water issues along the route of its 700-mile Rover Pipeline in the state.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2017

US Court of Appeals upholds New York rejection of Constitution pipeline permit

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was "within its statutory authority" to reject Constitution Pipeline's bid for a key water permit last year, the court wrote. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2017

TVA takes coal ash cleanup case to federal court

The move comes after a federal judge earlier this month determined the utility cannot leave coal ash in place at its Gallatin facility.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2017

CAISO: Alternatives to Puentes gas plant could cost up to $1.1B

A new California ISO study modeled three scenarios to see how alternative energy sources could replace lost capacity from retiring a 573 MW natural gas facility.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2017

ERCOT determines Gibbons Creek coal plant not necessary for reliability

The Texas Municipal Power Agency plans to operate the 470 MW coal-fired Gibbons Creek power plant for only five months of the year when energy prices are highest.   

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2017

Federal court rejects Allco's rehearing request in challenge to Connecticut's renewable RFP

The Allco case was closely watched by both sides in recent court battles involving states’ legal rights to craft policies aimed at fostering clean energy goals.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 21, 2017

How rural co-ops are shifting to a cleaner power mix

Driven by wind credits, low gas prices and consumer demand, rural co-ops are finding new ways to boost renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2017

Berkshire Hathaway Energy scraps plan for Salton Sea geothermal plant

The Black Rock geothermal power plant would have been located on the Salton Sea, a saline lake in California's Imperial Valley.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2017

Sempra swoops in with $9.5B Oncor bid after Buffett's Berkshire loses out

Energy Future Holdings abandoned a bid from Berkshire Hathaway after its main creditor criticized Warren Buffett for undervaluing the company's prized asset. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Aug. 21, 2017

Energy Capital Partners to acquire Calpine for $5.6B

ECP will acquire the merchant generator for $15.25/share in cash and is expected to close the deal in the first quarter of 2018. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Aug. 18, 2017

Midcontinent ISO to study renewable energy integration

The technical impact assessment will look for "integration inflection points" for carbon-free energy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2017

Grid modernization efforts heat up in Q2, but more are on the way

The latest quarterly report from the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center sheds light on policy debates surrounding efforts to boost grid reliability and new technologies. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 18, 2017

Shift towards renewables behind decline in California gas demand

Gas flows in the northern part of California are down as much as 16% this summer compared to the same period last year.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2017

ComEd files tariff changes to enable community solar

Development of community solar projects is a result of Illinois' Future Energy Jobs Act, passed last year primarily to keep two nuclear plants afloat.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2017

Bloom claims largest fuel cell data center deployment with Equinix

The deal, which is between Southern Co., Equinix and Bloom Energy, will provide 37 MW of power through a phased installation that begins this year and stretches through 2019. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2017

Trump rolls out executive order to speed infrastructure permitting, approval

President Donald Trump's executive order fulfills campaign promises to streamline permitting and approval processes for major infrastructure projects.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2017

Ohio regulators reject challenge to FirstEnergy subsidy

Last year, state regulators allowed FirstEnergy to collect an additional $204 million annually for grid modernization efforts. Opponents say the extra monies will go toward keeping struggling coal and nuclear plants afloat.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2017

EPA may rewrite limits on coal plant discharges

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt told an appellate court the agency is considering revising limits on toxic heavy metals discharged into lakes and rivers from coal-fired power plants.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2017

Georgia regulators signal support to continue Vogtle nuke project despite financial hurdles

The Public Service Commission directed Georgia Power to develop new cost estimates to complete the project and a timeline of when the two new units could come online.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2017

Arizona regulators approve new rates, solar settlement for Arizona Public Service

The Arizona Corporation Commission voted 4-1 in favor of APS' proposal, but Commissioner Bob Burns voiced concerns that the rate increase was unnecessary. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2017

The electric industry is prepared for next week's eclipse. But what about the one in 2024?

Utilities most impacted by the total eclipse say they have lined up alternate power supplies for when solar goes dark.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2017

Chatterjee: Coal plants should be 'properly compensated' for grid value

The incoming interim FERC Chair said the U.S. should "ensure that coal, along with gas and renewables, continues to be part of our diverse fuel mix" on the agency's podcast. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 15, 2017

Acquire the holy grail: increase grid reliability while adding distributed energy resources

Grid-outage recovery is only as fast and reliable as the technology supporting it. For many utilities, this is a growing infrastructure challenge.

Aug. 15, 2017