Generation: Page 8
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Colorado PUC delays 2.1 GW of Xcel wind and solar, citing cost concerns
While regulators approved the addition of 50% less wind capacity and 18% less solar capacity than Xcel proposed, they approved 58% more energy storage power capacity than the utility’s preferred portfolio.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 18, 2023 -
Rising peak demand, 83 GW of planned retirements create blackout risks for most of US: NERC
"Overly rigid" environmental regulations and energy policies can jeopardize “the orderly transition of the resource mix,” the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s 10-year reliability assessment warns.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 14, 2023 -
Trendline
Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive
The U.S. clean energy transition is expected to accelerate in 2024 but faces question around transmission, financing, federal elections and other issues.
By Utility Dive staff -
As NERC members risk missing weatherization standards deadline, board vows to act on its own
NERC faces a February deadline to revise cold weather standards, but proposed rules failed the most recent stakeholder vote.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 13, 2023 -
US electricity load growth forecast jumps 81% led by data centers, industry: Grid Strategies
Data from FERC Form 714 shows grid planners expect nationwide power demand to grow 4.7% over the next five years compared with a previous estimate of 2.6%.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 13, 2023 -
Arizona’s chief utility regulator bashes ESG, says it’s not a factor when weighing utility plans
Solar and wind resources may be cheaper, but the head of the Arizona Corporation Commission said fossil fuels “will continue to play a critical role in the delivery of reliable, affordable power.”
By Robert Walton • Dec. 12, 2023 -
Hawaii, 3 other states earn B microgrid grades. Most get Ds, per scorecard report.
With distributed resources flourishing, “there's a huge risk that we're leaving a lot of value on the table” by failing to coordinate them with microgrids, said Cameron Brooks, Think Microgrid executive director.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 6, 2023 -
Alliant, DTE, NextEra, others urge FERC to reject MISO’s proposed interconnection queue cap
The grid operator’s proposed interconnection study cap would create “an unworkable queue that undermines competition, raises rates, and threatens reliability,” renewable energy groups said Monday.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 5, 2023 -
Federal appeals court upholds FERC action on PJM capacity market rule, sets precedent
The decision by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals offers a “yardstick” for court reviews when FERC is deadlocked and can’t make a decision — a situation that could become more common, ClearView Energy Partners said.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 4, 2023 -
FERC rejects SPP winter resource adequacy proposal over lack of teeth
“Without an expected availability requirement for the winter season, there is a risk that capacity calculations could be inflated, giving a false impression of resource adequacy and grid resilience,” FERC said Thursday.
By Ethan Howland • Dec. 1, 2023 -
NARUC launches initiative to enhance gas-electric sector coordination, boost grid reliability
Electric generators are “more reliant than ever” on natural gas, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners has launched a 15-month effort to improve coordination between the sectors.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 28, 2023 -
Opinion
Redeveloping retired coal sites into nuclear plants could benefit the planet and the economy
In most regions, the retirement of coal plants will require replacing the power and grid services in some form to meet grid reliability and end-user needs.
By Caleb Tomlin • Nov. 27, 2023 -
Deep Dive
Can ERCOT show the way to faster and cheaper grid interconnection?
With the "connect and manage" process, which doesn’t require network upgrades, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas brought 14.2 GW online in the last two years, more than any other grid operator.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 27, 2023 -
NYISO to keep 4 NYC peakers running past planned 2025 retirement to maintain reliability
The Gowanus 2 & 3 and Narrows 1 & 2 barge-mounted generators will act as a two-year “temporary solution” for New York City’s reliability needs, the state’s grid operator said.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 21, 2023 -
Opinion
Wake up, America: 8 actions to boost advanced nuclear and enhance US energy security
Advanced nuclear reactors are no longer our grandparents’ nuclear technology, but the American nuclear permitting apparatus hasn’t caught up, Rep. Byron Donalds writes.
By Byron Donalds • Nov. 21, 2023 -
Fossil fuel makes up 1% of Colorado generation in 2040 under least-cost approach: state study
The study will be used as part of legislative talks next year on expanding Colorado’s clean energy goals beyond its 80% carbon emissions reduction target for 2030.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 21, 2023 -
ERCOT drops plans to add 3 GW for winter reliability after ‘zombie’ power plants fail to bid
Looking ahead, the grid operator said it believes there is “tremendous potential in expanding demand response capabilities” to help keep the Texas grid reliable.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2023 -
FERC projects 5% drop in winter power prices in PJM, New York and Southeast
Led by solar, installed U.S. capacity increased by 35 GW from a year ago to 1,223 GW, and battery storage is expected to surge to 10 GW from 4 GW in the same period, according to FERC’s winter assessment report.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 17, 2023 -
EPA’s power plant carbon rule relies on unproven tech, threatens grid reliability: House Republicans
The proposal “requires stringent and unproven” emissions controls for coal-fired plants "in unrealistic time frames,” said David Glatt, director of the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 15, 2023 -
EPA official says power plant carbon rule may need changes as groups stress reliability concerns
The EPA is meeting with the North American Electric Reliability Corp., grid operators and others as it refines its power plant proposal, an agency official said during a FERC reliability conference Thursday.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 10, 2023 -
FERC approves PJM’s Exelon-oriented $796M transmission plan over Maryland objections
FERC Commissioner Allison Clements urged PJM to consider more proactive transmission planning to address reliability needs.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 10, 2023 -
NuScale, UAMPS terminate small modular reactor project in Idaho
NuScale and the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems determined that the 462-MW project would likely not reach a sufficient subscription level to continue toward deployment.
By Larry Pearl • Nov. 9, 2023 -
Much of North America faces ‘elevated risk’ of blackouts in extreme winter conditions: NERC
Climate change, rising energy demand and natural gas dependence mean “a massive grid disruption is inevitable,” said Mark Spurr, legislative director at the International District Energy Association.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 9, 2023 -
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