California proposes 2.5 GW procurement, gas plants extensions to ensure reliability

More than 4 GW of gas plants in the state are expected to retire by 2021, but the CPUC wants to extend their environmental compliance dates until new resources are brought online.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 13, 2019

New England grid operator sees potential for year-round power constraints

Despite a tight supply-demand balance, ISO-NE said it expects to operate a reliable and affordable electric grid through transmission investments and a reliance on energy efficiency.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2019

Louisiana utilities to pay less for rooftop solar power under new net metering rules

The changes will also allow utilities to recover any lost revenues from the excess power provided by rooftop solar, "a pretty remarkable turn," says one opponent.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 13, 2019

Michigan urges MISO, PJM to improve regional reliability after Consumers compressor station fire

In a letter to the grid operators, the state's governor and head regulator called for quicker interconnection processes to improve regional resource diversity and a reexamination of demand response capabilities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 12, 2019

Renewables, storage poised to undercut natural gas prices, increase stranded assets: RMI

If all proposed gas plants are built, 70% of those investments will be rendered uneconomic by 2035, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 11, 2019

Pacifcorp sees 2 GW coal retirements, $599M savings by 2040 in latest planning scenarios

The utility continues to model coal retirement scenarios and has narrowed its preference to five options that include early coal shutdowns, new transmission, and wind and solar resources as part of its integrated resource plan.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

Carbon capture bill gets bipartisan push to include in must-pass defense legislation

Senate Armed Services Chairman Jim Inhofe included the bill, which would enable lower emissions in coal- and gas-fired generation, in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 11, 2019

Tri-State joins suite of new participants in Southwest, California energy imbalance markets

The California ISO and Southwest Power Pool each recently announced new members. SPP's Western Energy Imbalance Service market is expected to begin operations in 2021. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

As utilities scramble to manage explosive DER growth, is power grid autonomy a solution?

The U.S. electric grid could face hundreds of millions of distributed resource deployments in the near future. But optimizing these data points may exceed human ability.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 11, 2019

NERC finds first remote hacker interference on US grid from cyberattack

A March cyberattack resulted in a denial of service condition at a "low-impact" control center and multiple remote generation sites, according to newly released analysis.

By HJ Mai • Sept. 9, 2019

Connecticut 100% carbon-free plan is chance to move beyond ISO-NE gas focus: DEEP chief

State regulators plan to move toward the governor's aggressive goals through analyzing ancillary services as an alternative to the region's current reliance on natural gas buildouts.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 9, 2019

FirstEnergy Solutions asks Ohio Supreme Court to block proposed referendum on nuke bailout law

An anti-bailout group has been trying to get the referendum on the state's 2020 ballot.

By HJ Mai • Sept. 6, 2019

Duke updated IRP projects around 2.2 GW load growth, met with new natural gas

The utility plans to retire around 3.6 GW of coal by 2033, and plans to meet that capacity plus its projected load growth with gas as well as some solar and storage technologies.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 6, 2019

Cleco, SWEPCO shift coal plant use, target 2.8 GW renewables in latest resource plans

Southwestern Electric Power and Cleco Power, which co-own the Dolet Hills power plant, have adjusted the generator to seasonal dispatch in light of increasing costs for the fuel and other factors.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 6, 2019

Connecticut governor calls for 100% carbon-free power by 2040

The Lamont administration also committed to building out some natural gas infrastructure, frustrating some advocates.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 5, 2019

FERC chairman to Congress: 'Make energy policy boring again'

Neil Chatterjee says Congress, not regulatory agencies, should be making major energy policy decision and wants to see broad legislation, including an overhaul of PURPA.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 5, 2019

Tri-State subject to FERC regulation as it adds non co-op member

Tri-State has expressed concerns over growing calls for increased state oversight of its facilities and rates, noting there is political pressure for such a move in New Mexico and Colorado.

By Robert Walton • Updated Sept. 6, 2019

Former FERC adviser puts $5.7B price tag on PJM's clean energy market policy

Stakeholders expect a final order soon from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the wholesale market policy intended to reduce the influence of clean energy subsidies on PJM capacity prices.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 3, 2019

Nuclear technology innovation and regulatory transformation are essential to meeting climate goals

A key challenge for nuclear regulators is to adapt oversight practices to technologies that didn't exist when today's regulatory framework was developed, write three former heads of DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy.

By Warren F. Miller, Peter B. Lyons and John F. Kotek • Sept. 3, 2019

Delayed since 2016, Constitution Pipeline scores win on New York water permit

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week reversed a previous decision, breathing new life into the Williams Cos. project and leaving backers cautiously optimistic.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 3, 2019

North Carolina calls on Duke to examine coal retirement scenarios in next IRP

Duke officials say they are pleased with the decision and will provide regulators with "additional analysis as we continue this transition to even cleaner sources of energy."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2019

EPA proposes to roll back methane rules for oil, gas industry

The move is expected to save the multi-billion dollar industry up to $19 million annually.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2019

Rhode Island issues 10-year tax credit to draw offshore wind business

The state uses its Qualified Jobs Tax Credit program to attract companies to relocate or expand, and wind O&M companies have been approved for $2.8 million in credits over a decade.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 29, 2019

EIA data shows coal generation continues precipitous slide

New data from the U.S. Energy Information Agency illustrates the fuel's decline. EIA expects coal to make up less than a quarter of U.S. generation this year.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2019

Is PREPA ready for hurricane season?

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority has "a fragile system," according to the utility's director of project management, and "it still hasn't been elevated to the codes and standards for a Category 4" storm.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 29, 2019