Generation
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5 governors call for PJM capacity market rule changes to reduce ‘unnecessary’ consumer costs
LS Power has identified 4.4 GW in potential capacity and storage projects in PJM totaling $8 billion but said unstable market rules hinder investment decisions.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 28, 2024 -
Deep Dive
APS, Duke, other utilities pursue new climate resilience strategies as some await upcoming tools
APS and Duke, along with Central Hudson Gas & Electric, PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy, see different paths to reach resilience planning’s potential while awaiting EPRI metrics to address uncertainties.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 28, 2024 -
Trendline
Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive
The U.S. energy transition is facing challenges around grid interconnections, project permitting and power system reliability, but state, federal and other solutions are emerging.
By Utility Dive staff -
NRC removes ‘quantitative health objectives’ from proposed advanced reactor licensing rules
The change will “create a more flexible regulatory framework where applicants could show they meet the intent of complete evaluation of plant safety without having to use a specific set of tools,” an industry analyst said.
By Brian Martucci • Oct. 25, 2024 -
NextEra CEO ‘not bullish’ on SMRs as company assesses potential Duane Arnold restart
“There are only a few nuclear plants that can be recommissioned in an economic way,” and newer technologies like small modular reactors remain financially infeasible, CEO John Ketchum said.
By Emma Penrod • Oct. 24, 2024 -
Power plant owners back PJM capacity auction delay but warn of waning investor confidence
FirstEnergy told FERC it may be time to adopt policies that drive responsibility for developing dispatchable resources back to the states.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 23, 2024 -
AI, data center load could drive ‘extraordinary’ rise in US electricity bills: Bain analyst
Utility revenue requirements to serve growing data center electricity demand could increase customer bills by 1% annually through 2032, according to Bain & Company.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2024 -
Deep Dive
With Palisades and Three Mile Island units set to restart, could more retired reactors follow?
Much depends on the retired plants’ condition, decommissioning status and reactor technology, experts say.
By Brian Martucci • Oct. 22, 2024 -
PJM floats options for fast-track interconnection for shovel-ready projects
The plan may face challenges at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and in courts for giving a preference to certain generating projects, some PJM stakeholders said.
By Ethan Howland • Updated Oct. 21, 2024 -
FERC bars payments for ‘deadband’ reactive power, plus 4 other open meeting takeaways
Renewable energy trade groups, Public Service Enterprise Group and other generators opposed the agency’s decision on reactive power.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 18, 2024 -
DOE opens applications for up to $900M to support small modular reactor deployment
Interest in nuclear energy is resurgent, and DOE said it wants to establish “a credible and sustainable pathway” to deploying Gen III+ SMRs across the country.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2024 -
Supreme Court rejects calls to put a hold on EPA power plant carbon rule
Utilities asking the court to stay the rule included American Electric Power, Duke Energy, MidAmerican Energy, PacifiCorp and Southern Co.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 17, 2024 -
Amazon announces small modular reactor deals with Dominion, X-energy, Energy Northwest
The digital retail and web services company led a $500 million investment in X-energy and will support the development of more than 600 MW of SMR capacity in Washington and Virginia.
By Brian Martucci • Oct. 16, 2024 -
Dominion unveils plans to add 21 GW of clean energy, 5.9 GW of gas generation by 2039
The company plans to deploy about 3.4 GW of new offshore wind in addition to the 2.6 GW already in development, about 12 GW of new solar, and about 4.5 GW of new battery storage.
By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 16, 2024 -
Possible PJM market changes could lower near-term capacity prices: Morgan Stanley
A planned delay in the grid operator’s upcoming capacity auction could spark greater demand for behind-the-meter deals between data centers and nuclear power plants, Morgan Stanley analysts said.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 15, 2024 -
States can boost advanced nuclear business case with focus beyond electricity: report
A new report from NARUC and NASEO highlights Generation III+ and IV reactors’ potential to support industrial processes, mining, district heating and data center operations.
By Brian Martucci • Oct. 14, 2024 -
PJM plans to delay upcoming capacity auction by six months
The delay will give the PJM Interconnection time to craft potential market reforms sought by state utility regulators and others, the grid operator said.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 11, 2024 -
NiSource gets an A, 15 utilities get Fs as Sierra Club slams pace of coal plant closures
NiSource, NextEra Energy, Orlando Utilities Commission, PNM Resources, Puget Holdings, The AES Corp. and Xcel Energy are the top-ranked utilities in the Sierra Club’s latest clean energy scorecard.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 10, 2024 -
NRC updates streamlined environmental review proposal for new nuclear reactors
The new generic environmental impact statement could reduce applicant and NRC staff costs by up to $2 million per license application, the commission said Friday.
By Brian Martucci • Oct. 9, 2024 -
Omitting Talen Energy RMR units from PJM’s next capacity auction could cost $14.5B: OPSI
The Organization of PJM States Inc., which represents state utility regulators in the grid operator’s region, is backing a complaint at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over reliability must-run power plants.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 9, 2024 -
PJM aims to fast-track reliability projects in interconnection queue
The PJM Interconnection’s plan to allow a limited number of reliability-oriented generating projects to enter an interconnection study process early next year sparked concerns from some stakeholders, including Invenergy.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 9, 2024 -
DOE proposes serial development approach for nuclear reactors as load growth, IRA boost valuations
Emulating the demand-aggregation approach Boeing used for the 787 Dreamliner could create a “committed orderbook” of 5-10 new reactors of the same design and cut near-term deployment costs, DOE says.
By Larry Pearl • Oct. 8, 2024 -
DC Circuit upholds FERC order on NextEra Seabrook circuit breaker
The court decision on Friday likely resolves the last major hurdle for Avangrid’s $1.5 billion New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project, ClearView Energy Partners said.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 7, 2024 -
Natural gas producers prepare for a colder winter, warn of higher prices
Power generators could consume about 4% less natural gas this year as higher prices reduce price-related fuel switching, according to the Natural Gas Supply Association.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2024 -
US nuclear industry needs further policy, regulatory advances: NCEW panel
The ADVANCE Act was necessary but not sufficient to speed nuclear deployments to meet growing electricity demand and “win the AI race,” conference panelists said on Sept. 26.
By Brian Martucci • Oct. 3, 2024 -
Constellation, Calpine, others urge FERC to reject Exelon co-location tariff proposals
However, PJM’s market monitor supports the proposal, saying it would ensure co-located load pays for its share of grid and distribution services.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 3, 2024