EUCI Blog

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Facing uncertainty and financial risks over the potential impact of tariffs on Canadian electricity imports, New England and New York grid operators are seeking permission from federal regulators to add a surcharge to cover import duties. ISO New England said in a filing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Declines in hydropower output, caused by low stream flows in the Pacific Northwest, are forcing the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to buy more wholesale power leading to a projected $44 million loss. The agency had set a target of $70 million in revenues – so the gap between the…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The Trump administration’s 25% tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum – set to begin March 12 – will challenge the utility sector, but in the short run should not undermine company finances, according to the credit rating service Morningstar DBS. Still, the tariffs may have a ripple…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Frosty New England may not seem the best region for full-scale home-heating electrification, but while such a move might double demand, it could reduce the combined cost of natural gas and electricity by 29%, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study. With its cold winters, significant rural…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The Trump administration executive order targeting offshore wind development is creating uncertainty and turmoil in the sector and has already led to one investor bailing from a project, according to financial and legal analyses. “The executive order is a significant setback for the industry, which has already been suffering…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer U.S. oil and gas upstream mergers and acquisitions reached $105 billion in 2024 – the third highest total in more than a decade – even as deals cratered in the second half of the year, according to Enverus Intelligence Research. In the fourth quarter of 2024, activity was $9.6…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer New York State is exploring how advanced nuclear power can be part of the state’s push to clean and dependable electricity and will develop a “master plan” for nuclear development, while exploring cost-sharing options with other states. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state will also support the plan by…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer U.S. utility sector investment in electric, gas, and water projects are projected to rise to more than $780 billion between 2025 and 2028, according to a research report by consultant and market analyst S&P Global. Total U.S utility energy investments are projected to set a record at $202 billion…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer A record-setting 8.6 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity was installed in the third quarter of 2024 – a 21% year-over-year increase – but a combination of manufacturing constraints and uncertainty about Trump administration energy policy may cool growth, according to an industry market report. Total solar deployment in 2024…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer A combination of demand for refined products and limited refining capacity will keep margins high through 2035 for the global refining industry, but a drop in demand for gasoline and the rise in biofuels will pressure the sector after 2040, according to consultant Rystad Energy. “Refining margins are expected…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Global energy project financing – with a few areas of risk such as aging wind farms, data centers, and trade impacts for solar – will be largely stable in 2025, according to report from the investment research company Morningstar. The Morningstar analysis covers its portfolio of wind, solar, river…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Natural gas inventories heading into the winter heating season are at their highest level since 2016, 6% above the five-year average, but electric reliability regulators remain concerned about the impact of freezing temperatures on deliveries to power plants. “While the natural gas industry is making progress on commercial practices…