Kentucky PSC partly approves PPL’s $2.1B plan to retire coal, add gas, solar and storage

The commission approved a 125 MW/500 MWh battery energy storage facility, which it said will give LG&E/KU insight into operating and integrating large-scale storage to meet customer demand.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 8, 2023

Texas voters approve $10B energy fund, with most going to build gas-fired power plants

The fund will be administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, with $7.2 billion allocated for new construction or upgrades of dispatchable power generation. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2023

ISO New England proposes 1-year delay to 2025 forward capacity auction

The New England grid operator told regulators it must complete an analysis of the region’s constrained natural gas system in order to “accurately value the reliability contributions of all resources.”

By Robert Walton • Nov. 7, 2023

MISO capacity proposal draws mixed reviews at FERC. Mississippi PSC calls it ‘hokum.’

The Organization of MISO States backs the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s proposal to change its capacity auctions, but Entergy, Southern utility regulators and environmental groups oppose parts of the plan.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 6, 2023

Duke, others leverage new IRA rules to finance clean energy, but cost, complexity are hurdles

New tax credit provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act could more than triple the $20 billion annual tax equity market that today finances clean energy in the U.S., if various challenges can be overcome.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 6, 2023

Arizona Public Service, Tucson Electric expect to add 20 GW of mainly renewables, storage by 2038

Arizona’s investor-owned utilities expect to exit coal-fired generation by 2032, according to resource plans filed Wednesday with state regulators.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 2, 2023

Jury orders Xcel to pay Colorado co-op $26.5M for extended outages at Comanche 3 coal plant

“This verdict will at least partly compensate CORE for damages caused by the systemic failures of Xcel,” said CORE Electric Cooperative CEO Jeff Baudier.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2023

New Mexico approves early closure agreement for Xcel’s coal-fired Tolk power plant

Under the agreement approved by New Mexico regulators, Xcel will only run Tolk “when it is economically beneficial for customers,” the Sierra Club said.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 25, 2023

FERC directs NERC to draft reliability standards for wind, solar and storage

With inverter-based resources occasionally tripping offline, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Oct. 19 ordered that new reliability standards take effect by the end of the decade.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 20, 2023

Failing to expand the grid may be biggest threat to US energy transition: National Academies

A panel of experts urged FERC to “expeditiously” issue its pending transmission planning and cost allocation reforms and to make sure wholesale power markets can support a shift to 100% clean energy.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 19, 2023

PJM asks FERC to approve capacity market reforms in push to bolster grid reliability

The PJM Interconnection urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve its proposal by mid-December so changes could be put in place ahead of its upcoming capacity auction.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 17, 2023

FERC extends review of Vistra-Energy Harbor merger, delaying $6.3B deal’s potential close

The half-year extension announced Friday comes as the PJM Interconnection’s market monitor and others continue to raise concerns the deal would give Vistra the ability to unfairly influence power prices.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 16, 2023

Shining light on solar: Harnessing AI to measure its social impact

When we think of protests for new energy systems, our minds initially go to fossil fuels. Rarely do solar PV (Photovoltaic) arrays come to mind.

Oct. 16, 2023

Grid operators oppose FERC conference on valuing reliability benefits of batteries, generators

Supporters of a conference on capacity accreditation approaches for grid resources include Southern California Edison, Advanced Energy United and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission chair.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 3, 2023

PJM, 80 parties agree to trim Winter Storm Elliott penalties

The agreement resolves 15 complaints brought by Calpine, Energy Harbor, Talen Energy and others that could have become “mega-litigation” taking years to resolve, the parties said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 2, 2023

Texas PUC begins work to attract advanced nuclear reactors, in and out of ERCOT market

“We have vertically integrated utilities in some parts of the state and they have a very attractive opportunity to participate in this space as well,” Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty said.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2023

PJM board calls for capacity market changes to bolster grid reliability, resource adequacy

The PJM Interconnection plans in mid-October to ask the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve revisions to its capacity market in time for its next auction.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 28, 2023

Moody’s hikes Southern, Georgia Power outlook to ‘positive’ on Vogtle progress

Georgia Power also issued a request for information as it potentially seeks at least 3.7 GW in power supplies, including storage, storage+renewables and thermal generation.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 27, 2023

Xcel Colorado proposes $15B plan to double renewables, add gas and energy storage capacity

The plan includes about 5,400 MW of solar and wind resources, more than 1,000 MW of energy storage and almost 630 MW of new gas-fired capacity.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 26, 2023

FERC to hike scrutiny of JPMorgan power sector actions after finding link to private equity firm IIF

J.P. Morgan Investment can make “virtually every major decision” for IIF, which owns El Paso Electric, nearly 5 GW of gas-fired capacity and other energy assets, FERC said last week.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 26, 2023

Record 13% of Eastern Interconnect capacity failed in Winter Storm Elliott: FERC, NERC

FERC commissioners called on Congress Thursday to name an agency for gas reliability oversight as commission and NERC staff issued cold-weather recommendations.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 22, 2023

Maryland officials press FERC to reject PJM directive to Exelon for $785M in transmission upgrades

The PJM Interconnection failed to consider energy storage and other options to handle Talen Energy’s plan to retire its Brandon Shores power plant, according to Maryland officials.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 21, 2023

Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources: Xcel VP

Effective distribution system planning and merging analytic insights into comprehensive electricity planning both face barriers, analysts and stakeholders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2023

Decarbonizing 8 industrial sectors could require more than $1 trillion capital investment: DOE

An increasingly clean electric power sector could help drop industrial emissions 15% by 2030, according to a report from the Department of Energy.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2023

Vistra plans to sell nearly 400 MW in PJM to ease market power fears from Energy Harbor deal

The plan to sell generating units in Ohio will accelerate the merger review process, the companies told federal regulators Monday. They plan to close the $6.3 billion deal by the end of the year.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 19, 2023