Hundreds of gas plants could escape EPA climate rules 05/03/2023 About 1,000 natural gas-fired power plants that provide energy at periods of peak demand could be excluded from the toughest standards under EPA’s upcoming carbon rules. These plants are often located in urban areas, raising concern among some environmental advocates that the agency’s climate rules…
Westinghouse unveils “game-changing” AP300 small modular reactor MAY 8, 2023 Cranberry Township-based Westinghouse Electric Company announced Thursday it had launched a “game-changing” nuclear technology advancement – a new small modular reactor. The AP 300 reactor is a 300-MWe single-loop pressurized water reactor, the company said, based on the scaled design of its advanced AP1000 reactor.…
Initiative to create a consumer-owned electric utility and replace CMP and Versant will appear on Maine 2023 ballot May 9, 2023 An initiative to create a municipal consumer-owned electric transmission and distribution utility, replacing Central Maine Power and Versant Power, will be on the Maine ballot on Nov. 7, 2023. The campaign supporting the initiative,…
Oil and gas M&A deals down 50 percent to $14.8 billion quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2023 Energize Weekly, May 10, 2023 Oil and gas industry mergers and acquisitions (M&A) flagged in the first quarter of 2023 with a 35 percent drop in deals to 74 and the value halved to $14.8 billion compared to the last…
EPA Takes First-Ever Federal Clean Water Act Enforcement Action To Address PFAS Discharges At Washington Works Facility Near Parkersburg, W. Va. April 26, 2023 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the Chemours Company to take corrective measures to address pollution from per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in stormwater and effluent discharges from the Washington Works…
Standard Chartered Dubs Latest USA EIA Data Highly Bullish May 02, 2023 In a new report sent to Rigzone on April 28, analysts at Standard Chartered said the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly data was “highly bullish” according to the company’s U.S. oil data bull-bear index, which they said rose 47.7 week on week…
Cybersecurity goes undercover to protect electric grid data 2-May-2023 Inspired by one of the mysteries of human perception, an ORNL researcher invented a new way to hide sensitive electric grid information from cyberattack: Within a constantly-changing color palette. Peter Fuhr, who heads the Grid Communications and Security group at ORNL, was intrigued by synesthesia. This…
Utilities Seize Control of the Coming Boom in Transmission Lines April 26, 2023 Just about everyone involved agrees that the grid needs an upgrade, including a plan for a new transmission line that would run south of Chicago, across northern Indiana and into Michigan. What they don’t agree on is whether local utilities should have…
Years past deadline, Georgia will submit plan to close loophole in pollution regulations May 1, 2023 Under pressure from the federal government, Georgia is rewriting a rule governing industrial air pollution limits to end a loophole that currently exposes communities near coal plants and other facilities to harmful pollutants. Federal rules strictly govern the amount…
Feds extend Diablo Canyon Power Plant license through 2030 04/29/2023 Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the continued operation of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant through 2030 while the agency considers its license renewal application. The plant was set to close in 2025. Newsom said, “As we experienced during the…
Duke Energy’s Impact Report details progress toward ESG, business goals May 01, 2023 Duke Energy released a report that outlines its approach to sustainability and its progress on strategic business priorities and goals. Among the key points in Duke’s Impact Report, the company said its planned investment of $145 billion over the next 10 years…
Federal agency opens Gulf of Maine for wind development as state tries to balance interests Energize Weekly, May 3, 2023 The Biden administration has opened a 10-million-acre tract in the Gulf of Maine for offshore wind (OSW) development proposals, as the state is trying to balance promoting wind and protecting fisheries. “This represents an early…