Regulation & Policy: Page 2


  • FirstEnergy's 1,100-MW coal-fired Fort Martin power plant in Maidsville, West Virginia, along the Monongahela River.
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    BackyardProduction via Getty Images
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    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 Oct. 11, 2024
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    BJP7images via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    How clean energy legislation can incentivize US mineral production

    Both presidential candidates generally agree on the importance of supporting U.S. critical mineral projects given their role in securely supplying key industries, from defense manufacturers to automotive companies.

    By Gregory Wischer and Morgan Bazilian • Oct. 11, 2024
  • Solar and wind generation in the desert. Explore the Trendlineâž”
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    adamkaz via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    The Energy Transition to Renewables

    New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.

    By Utility Dive staff
  • Rooftop solar panels at the Soleil Lofts apartment complex in Herriman, Utah
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    Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
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    Opinion

    Unfinished business: The bipartisan appeal of distributed power plants

    Policymakers can best address the grid’s problems by leveraging existing regulatory authorizations to make better use of our assets and infrastructure, former FERC chairs Jon Wellinghoff and Neil Chatterjee write.

    By Jon Wellinghoff and Neil Chatterjee • Oct. 10, 2024
  • Transport trucks and cars drive down a highway with windmills in the background
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    David McNew via Getty Images
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    US energy transition path currently in line with 2.6 degrees Celsius temperature rise: BNEF

    The nation is currently on track to cut just 22% of its carbon emissions by 2030, compared with the 50% needed to reach its Paris Agreement goals.

    By Lamar Johnson • Oct. 10, 2024
  • Nuclear power plant and transmission lines
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    zhongguo via Getty Images
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    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
  • A power plant next to the coast.
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    Joesboy via Getty Images
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    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 Oct. 9, 2024
  • An industrial complex with three smokestacks in a rural setting.
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    Courtesy of GE Vernova
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    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 Oct. 9, 2024
  • Proposed design for TerraPower's Natrium reactor
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    Permission granted by TerraPower
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    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 Oct. 8, 2024
  • Aerial view of wind farm and solar farms on the island of Oahu in Hawaii Islands.
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    simonkr via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Hawai‘i’s electricity problems expose a failed energy transition strategy

    Hawai‘i, like several other states, is taking fossil fuel generation out of the system faster than it is bringing on alternative generation.

    By Jonathan Chanis • Oct. 8, 2024
  • Power lines crossing a green field.
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    KGB207 via Getty Images
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    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 Oct. 7, 2024
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    Bilanol via Getty Images
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    DOE selects 3-GW Pattern Energy transmission project linking ERCOT, Southeast for capacity buy

    Avangrid, Invenergy and Grid United were other winning developers in the department’s $1.5 billion solicitation to buy transmission capacity.

    By Oct. 4, 2024
  • Energy Harbor's Perry nuclear plant in North Perry, Ohio.
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    The image by Cards84664 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    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
  • A river runs in front of forests, fields and steam billowing from two cement cooling towers from a power plant.
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    The image by Jakec is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    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 Oct. 3, 2024
  • Transmission lines stretch across rolling green fields
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    SEYLUL06 via Getty Images
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    Pathways Initiative proposes regional organization to oversee Western power markets

    “This organization can evolve to offer the full range of [regional transmission organization] services,” Brian Turner, an Advanced Energy United director, said.

    By Oct. 2, 2024
  • Turbines in Altamont Pass Wind Farm near Livermore, California.
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    yhelfman via Getty Images
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    FERC approves CAISO interconnection reform plan

    The federal agency dismissed concerns from renewable energy trade groups and others that a provision in the new rules will allow utilities to discriminate against project developers.

    By Oct. 2, 2024
  • Electricity from solar panels, dams, and wind turbines. Environmentally-friendly renewable energy concept.
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    bombermoon via Getty Images
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    Utility conferences to watch in 2025

    Start planning for 2025’s biggest power sector events, which will cover the clean energy transition, the impact of the 2024 elections and more.

    By Larry Pearl, Ethan Howland, Robert Walton, Diana DiGangi • Oct. 1, 2024
  • Talen Energy coal-fired Brandon Shores power plant near Baltimore.
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    Stuby, James. Retrieved from Wikimedia.
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    PJM artificially inflates capacity prices by billions, complaint alleges

    The PJM Interconnection is artificially boosting its capacity prices by not accounting for reliability must-run power plants in its capacity market, the Sierra Club and other groups told FERC.

    By Sept. 30, 2024
  • High-voltage tower with electric power lines between green agricultural fields.
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    Bilanol via Getty Images
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    MISO advances $21.8B regional transmission portfolio, including 765-kV backbone

    The Midcontinent Independent System Operator expects the draft Tranche 2 proposal would produce $23.1 billion in net benefits over 20 years, partly by reducing the need for new generation.

    By Sept. 26, 2024
  • Energy thermal power station roof plant with white smoke cloud.
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    photovs via Getty Images
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    RTOs could fast-track power projects in interconnection queues under House bill

    American Electric Power and the Electric Power Supply Association support the bill introduced Sept. 25. It directs FERC to start a rulemaking process within 90 days of the bill becoming law.

    By Sept. 26, 2024
  • Solar power station and solar energy panels on the green field in Chester, New Jersey.
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    Alex Potemkin via Getty Images
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    PJM says ‘concerns are growing’ after less than 2 GW added this year

    “I can assure you … we very much want to bring our projects to completion and are working very diligently in doing so,” VC Renewables’ Jason Barker said.

    By Sept. 26, 2024
  • Scientists stand beside a new carbon capture test unit.
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    Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Results show carbon capture’s alleged promises are full of hot air

    The happy-talk DOE press information says nothing about the difficulties associated with building a first-of-its kind technology and hooking it up to a large-scale electric generator.

    By Dennis Wamsted • Sept. 25, 2024
  • Steam billows from a massive cement smokestack at a nuclear power plant at the edge of the water.
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    The image by Peretzp is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    PJM market design flaws add billions to latest capacity auction costs: market monitor

    A switch in how PJM measures power plant availability, one of several market issues flagged by Monitoring Analytics, increased capacity costs by $4.4 billion compared to its previous approach.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
  • Nuclear power plant and transmission lines
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    zhongguo via Getty Images
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    The bipartisan ADVANCE Act is boosting US nuclear. What does the industry want next?

    Nuclear executives and analysts reflect on the landmark law’s expected benefits while gaming out the next wave of policy support — and a future where it’s no longer necessary.

    By Brian Martucci • Sept. 24, 2024
  • Palisades nuclear power plant
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    Permission granted by Holtec International
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    Palisades nuclear plant restart on track for October 2025 despite NRC petition: Holtec International

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is requesting comments this month on a request from residents living near Palisades for a generic rulemaking process for nuclear reactor recommissioning.

    By Brian Martucci • Sept. 23, 2024
  • An aerial view of a nuclear power plant next to a river.
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    Retrieved from Marque1313.
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    A fast-track PJM interconnection review could speed Three Mile Island restart: Constellation CFO

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, D, urged the PJM Interconnection on Friday to adopt expedited interconnection studies for shovel-ready projects.

    By Sept. 23, 2024