EPA grants 7 coal plants MATS compliance extensions

The compliance extensions follow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's cost-benefit analysis of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule, which it completed last week.

By Robert Walton • April 22, 2016

Florida court reverses governor's approval of FPL's 2 proposed nuclear units

The 3rd District Court of Appeals in Miami found Florida Power & Light’s plan to add capacity at its Turkey Point facility would have significant environmental impacts.

By Robert Walton • April 22, 2016

Declining prices, stable outlook drive utilities, large companies to wind power

Natural gas is the new power sector leader, but utilities are increasingly looking to renewables, especially wind, as a hedge against long-term gas price volatility and future environmental regulations.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 21, 2016

MISO: Exelon's Clinton nuclear facility to operate until 2017, but future is hazy

The Illinois nuclear facility will operate through May 31, 2017, but will then require "urgent action," officials said, in order to remain open.

By Robert Walton • April 21, 2016

Green groups sue Duke Energy for Clean Water Act violations from coal ash

The Roanoke River Basin Association and the Southern Environmental Law Center announced last Monday that they will sue Duke Energy for violations of the federal Clean Water Act at its Mayo Steam plant. 

By Shalina Chatlani • April 20, 2016

Georgia Power defends land purchase for potential new nuclear facility

Regulators, examining the company's 20-year integrated resource plan, questioned why they weren't informed before the utility purchased the land in Stewart County for a possible nuclear plant.

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2016

Minnesota judge urges higher carbon price to guide utility system planning

A Minnesota Administrative Law judge last week filed a report suggesting the state use higher, updated values for the cost of carbon emissions when determining how the state will get its electricity. 

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2016

Updated: Supreme Court rules in FERC's favor in Hughes v. Talen power case

Not all incentive programs supporting in-state generation are illegal, the court ruled, but Maryland's initiative stepped on FERC's exclusive jurisdiction over wholesale market rates.

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016

'Graceful transition': ISO-NE's CEO on how wholesale markets can ease decarbonization

A well-designed capacity market can help ensure reliability at high levels of renewable energy penetration, argues ISO-New England's Gordon van Welie.

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016

MISO: Capacity auction could see higher prices

The Midcontinent ISO’s planning resource auction produced higher clearing prices in several zones, the grid operator said last week. Cleared Planning Resources included more than 122,000 MW of generation.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016

EPA 'ties itself in knots' in CPP defense, opponents say

Opponents of the Clean Power Plan say the EPA "ties itself in knots" to explain how the emissions rules are both vitally important while not a significant change.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016

As EPA reaffirms MATS rule, coal interests promise more litigation

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court determined federal regulators should have completed a cost-benefit calculation before writing the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule. 

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016

ERCOT: Texas PUC mulling artificial inflation of power prices to boost grid reliability

Texas regulators are considering raising the reserve margin to 2,750 MW to incentivize future generation development, but some worry that will raise power prices. 

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2016

A rough day for coal: Midwest utilities retire 2,000 MW

Older coal plants are retiring with increasing frequency, but last week more than a dozen units were shut down in a single day.

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2016

Exelon maintains microgrid push with Hartford, CT fuel cell project

Exelon subsidiary Constellation is building fuel cell microgrid in Hartford in a partnership with the city and Bloom Energy.

By Peter Maloney • April 18, 2016

Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Gas cancel LNG import terminal agreement

Hawaiian Electric wants to import gas as a cheaper alternative to fuel oil, but critics call it a distraction from efforts to get to 100% renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2016

AEP CEO confirms generation is for sale, will accept bids from 'suitable' companies

AEP CEO Nick Akins confirmed that generation is for sale, but didn't confirm or deny Dynegy's claims that it was shut out of the bidding process. 

By Robert Walton • April 15, 2016

It's already happening: New EIA numbers show a utility sector in transformation

John Shenot of the Regulatory Assistance Project writes that “foundational, even tectonic shifts” in electricity generation are present to an even greater extent than most of us realize.

By John Shenot • April 14, 2016

Wind installed more capacity than any other generation source in 2015, industry says

Increasing buy-in from non-utility customers marked strong growth for the sector last year.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 14, 2016

Report: Without nuclear, US states face struggle to meet carbon goals

A new report sponsored by nuclear generators finds their plants account for almost two-thirds of the United States' carbon-free electricity.

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2016

Low gas prices continue to dent coal plant economics

It costs about $1,000/kW to build a new gas plant, but the assets are selling for half that amount or less thanks to cheap gas which usually sets the marginal cost of generation.

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2016

Utilities relieved as Canadian Pacific terminates rail merger that sparked coal shipping concerns

Canadian Pacific said the merger would create a "true end-to-end railroad," but coal shippers were concerned about the potential for cost increases and disruption of services. 

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2016

Federal regulators reject request for more frequent leak testing for Indian Point

It is another setback in Gov. Cuomo's bid to close Entergy's Indian Point nuclear facility, located within 50 miles of New York City.

By Robert Walton • April 13, 2016

Stakeholders debate expanding storage's role in MISO markets

Discussions under way at MISO could expand storage into the medium-term market.

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2016

Graphene: Energy storage's silver bullet or a promise stretched thin?

Graphene's remarkable properties could revolutionize energy storage, but commercial deplyment could be years off.

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2016