Refunds on horizon for Colorado solar customers facing utility delays, after thousands waited months to connect to the power grid this year DECEMBER 1, 2023 In a state known for its sunshine, Colorado homeowners have been struggling to go solar this year. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission found the utility…
Ford and Xcel Energy will build 30,000 EV charging ports for fleet businesses
Ford and Xcel Energy will build 30,000 EV charging ports for fleet businesses Dec 5, 2023 Ford may be dialing back some of its larger EV investments, but it’s still operating under the assumption that a lot of businesses will be interested in electrifying their fleets eventually. The company is…
What Wyoming shows about going ‘carbon negative’ in coal country
What Wyoming shows about going ‘carbon negative’ in coal country 12/05/2023 Wyoming is highlighting a question at the center of the nation’s electricity mix: Can a coal state go “carbon negative”? Republican Gov. Mark Gordon’s stated goal for the nation’s top-producing coal state is to suck more carbon out of…
Palisades owner plans for two more reactors at shuttered nuclear plant on Lake Michigan
Palisades owner plans for two more reactors at shuttered nuclear plant on Lake Michigan Dec. 4. 2023 A nuclear power company seeking to restart the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in southwest Michigan has plans to build two additional small reactors to nearly double the capacity of the site. Holtec International…
Eversource announces new discount rate to begin Friday in Connecticut
Eversource announces new discount rate to begin Friday in Connecticut Nov 30, 2023 Eversource’s new discount rate for low-income households in Connecticut will start Friday, according to an announcement Thursday from the energy company. The rate is for customers defined as having “financial hardship.” Depending on a household’s income, the…
IEA takes aim at oil and gas sector at COP28, industry offers an agreement to cut methane
IEA takes aim at oil and gas sector at COP28, industry offers an agreement to cut methane Energize Weekly, December 6, 2023 As the climate conference – COP28 – opened in Dubai, the International Energy Agency (IEA) fired a shot across the bow of the oil industry with an analysis…
Offshore Wind’s Power Grid Costs in States Add to Industry Woes
Offshore Wind’s Power Grid Costs in States Add to Industry Woes Nov. 28, 2023 Atlantic Coast states and energy regulators are working to avoid the looming cost of plugging offshore wind into the nation’s power grid as the industry confronts rising inflation and project cancellations. The push to improve regional…
NYISO says “peaker plants” should remain open longer than expected to meet demand
NYISO says “peaker plants” should remain open longer than expected to meet demand November 28, 2023 In its Short-Term Reliability Process Report, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) said plants scheduled for retirement in May of 2025 may have to stay in service longer temporarily to keep the grid…
As Arkansas bows out of Entergy fight over Grand Gulf, Louisiana regulators dig in
As Arkansas bows out of Entergy fight over Grand Gulf, Louisiana regulators dig in Nov 26, 2023 Utility regulators in Mississippi and Arkansas have both settled a contentious fight over Entergy’s alleged mismanagement of its massive Grand Gulf nuclear plant, after Arkansas abruptly accepted an offer it had rejected a…
NARUC establishes new gas-electric working group to tackle grid-related reliability
NARUC establishes new gas-electric working group to tackle grid-related reliability November 28, 2023 At its annual meeting and education conference last week, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) launched a new 15-month gas electric working group to improve reliability for both the gas and electric industries. “The safety…
Clean energy jobs growth worldwide surpasses fossil-fuel sector jobs which saw a decline
Clean energy jobs growth worldwide surpasses fossil-fuel sector jobs which saw a decline Energize Weekly, November 29, 2023 Clean energy employment is growing more rapidly than fossil-fuel jobs across the globe and accounted for the majority of the 67 million jobs in the energy sector in 2022, according to an…
ERCOT cancels additional capacity request for winter, CEO says Texas grid is ‘adequately’ prepared
ERCOT cancels additional capacity request for winter, CEO says Texas grid is ‘adequately’ prepared November 19, 2023 The state’s power grid won’t add any additional capacity this winter, according to an ERCOT statement. ERCOT said it made this decision after weighing various factors and accounting for a limited market response.…
Entergy’s nuclear plant north of Baton Rouge was forced into temporary emergency shutdown
Entergy’s nuclear plant north of Baton Rouge was forced into temporary emergency shutdown November 21, 2023 Entergy’s River Bend nuclear power plant near St. Francisville was forced into a temporary emergency shutdown over the weekend due to a technical issue, but was brought back online the following day, officials said.…
Giant batteries drain economics of gas power plants
Giant batteries drain economics of gas power plants November 21, 2023 Giant batteries that ensure stable power supply by offsetting intermittent renewable supplies are becoming cheap enough to make developers abandon scores of projects for gas-fired generation world-wide. The long-term economics of gas-fired plants, used in Europe and some parts…
PG&E bills to soar next year after regulators approve 13% rate increase Thursday
PG&E bills to soar next year after regulators approve 13% rate increase Thursday Nov 16, 2023 Monthly bills for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers will climb even higher next year after California regulators on Thursday unanimously approved allowing the utility giant to increase its rates for electricity and natural…
My Top 10 Takeaways from the EUCI Leadership Conference for Women in Energy
My Top 10 Takeaways from the EUCI Leadership Conference for Women in Energy November 15, 2023 Last week, I stepped into the EUCI Leadership Conference for Women in Energy and discovered a sisterhood of ambitious, barrier-breaking female leaders in the energy industry. Thanks to them, I returned to the PCI…
Kansas county bans commercial wind, some solar projects
Kansas county bans commercial wind, some solar projects Nov 14, 2023 The Harvey County Commission approved regulation updates at its meeting Tuesday that will ban commercial wind and utility-scale solar renewable energy projects in the county. The vote was unanimous, according to a media release. The regulations will take effect…
Security researchers raise concerns regarding electric vehicle chargers
Security researchers raise concerns regarding electric vehicle chargers November 13, 2023 Security researchers have found voltage vulnerabilities while putting home electric vehicle chargers to the test. Consumer Adviser Clark Howard delves into why they want more regulation for manufacturers to keep the power grid safe. Read more
Duke Energy says cancellation of first commercial small nuclear project won’t affect its NC plans
Duke Energy says cancellation of first commercial small nuclear project won’t affect its NC plans November 13, 2023 The recent cancellation of a next-generation nuclear reactor project in Idaho has prompted concern about the technology’s future. But Duke Energy says the setback won’t affect its plans in North Carolina. Oregon-based…
PacifiCorp now wants protection from fire victims
PacifiCorp now wants protection from fire victims November 10, 2023 Oregon’s second-largest electricity provider wants state regulators to protect it from the costs of future lawsuits seeking reimbursement from destructive wildfires. The Oregonian reported that PacifiCorp’s request to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) was made just months after the utility…
Georgia Power says economic growth reason for updated plan to generate more electricity
Georgia Power says economic growth reason for updated plan to generate more electricity Nov. 13, 2023 Georgia Power recently filed an updated Integrated Resource Plan with the Georgia Public Service Commission, citing the need to support recent economic growth. But an environmental group opposed a portion of the proposed update…
Fossil-fuel producing countries set to blow past climate targets for oil, natural gas, and coal
Fossil-fuel producing countries set to blow past climate targets for oil, natural gas, and coal Energize Weekly, November 15, 2023 Fossil-fuel producing countries are set to turn out double the amount of coal, oil, and natural gas between now and 2050 needed to keep the increase in global warming to…
Xcel Energy proposes 175-mile transmission line routes to connect renewable energy for southwest Minnesota
Xcel Energy proposes 175-mile transmission line routes to connect renewable energy for southwest Minnesota November 03, 2023 Xcel Energy turned in two proposed routes for its approximately 175-mile long Minnesota Energy Connection transmission line to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and Minnesota Department of Commerce this week. Either route would…
Last nuclear power plant in California may run for another 20 years. Here’s what changed
Last nuclear power plant in California may run for another 20 years. Here’s what changed NOVEMBER 07, 2023 PG&E has filed its relicensing application to keep California’s last nuclear power plant running 20 years beyond its scheduled closure date. The application was submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on…
Partial owner of Xcel’s newest and last coal plant awarded judgement over year-long power outage
Partial owner of Xcel’s newest and last coal plant awarded judgement over year-long power outage NOVEMBER 4, 2023 A Denver District Court jury recently awarded an electricity distributor $26.45 million after the distributor sued Xcel Energy over what it called mismanagement of a power plant. CORE Electric Cooperative sued Xcel…
Duke Energy says sale of commercial solar and wind businesses signals a ‘new era’
Duke Energy says sale of commercial solar and wind businesses signals a ‘new era’ November 2, 2023 Duke Energy executives say the company is now in a “new era” after it sold off its two unregulated commercial renewable energy businesses last month. That leaves Charlotte-based Duke as a fully regulated…
Clean power installations set a Q3 record even as the sector faces headwinds
Clean power installations set a Q3 record even as the sector faces headwinds Energize Weekly, November 8, 2023 New clean power utility-scale installations set a record in the third quarter of 2023, bringing online 5.6 gigawatts (GW) of generation and storage capacity, even as the sector was coping with troubling…
Biden administration moves toward more wind energy in Gulf of Mexico
Biden administration moves toward more wind energy in Gulf of Mexico 10/27/23 The Biden administration took a step Friday to advance the development of more wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico. The Interior Department finalized four new “wind energy areas” where it can auction off the right to set…
US energy department announces $1.3bn transmission buildout
US energy department announces $1.3bn transmission buildout Oct 31, 2023 The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to a $1.3 billion commitment in three transmission lines crossing six states, advancing projects aimed at adding 3.5GW of additional grid capacity throughout the United States. To ensure that transmission buildout is…
Fukushima water released without technical concerns, IAEA says
Fukushima water released without technical concerns, IAEA says Oct 28, 2023 Japan’s release of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant into the sea is “progressing as planned and without any technical concerns,” the U.N. nuclear watchdog has said. The International Atomic Energy Agency wrapped up…
Three Rivers Energy dedicates new $1.3 billion power plant near Morris
Three Rivers Energy dedicates new $1.3 billion power plant near Morris October 26, 2023 The new $1.3 billion Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) Three Rivers Energy plant started over eight years ago is finally up and running, and Three Rivers Energy celebrated with a dedication and groundbreaking on Wednesday. CPV Three…
Bills could protect Wyoming residents from future utility rate hikes
Bills could protect Wyoming residents from future utility rate hikes October 31, 2023 Three of seven bills reviewed by state lawmakers Friday morning aim to protect consumers from inflated utility rates while holding companies accountable for reliable energy. The Legislature’s Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee meeting happened to…
AI threats are here. Are Biden and the energy industry ready?
AI threats are here. Are Biden and the energy industry ready? 10/30/2023 The White House launched a new strategy Monday to protect American privacy — and critical infrastructure like the electric grid — from artificial intelligence gone wrong. But as AI creeps into the energy sector, experts say much more…
Xcel Energy seeks to grow wind energy in southwest Minnesota
Xcel Energy seeks to grow wind energy in southwest Minnesota October 19, 2023 Xcel Energy is seeking a major expansion of wind energy in southwestern Minnesota. The Minneapolis-based utility is asking for proposals for about 1,200 megawatts of new wind projects. That’s enough to power more than 485,000 homes in…
Global oil, coal, and gas demand to peak by 2030: IEA
Global oil, coal, and gas demand to peak by 2030: IEA October 24, 2023 Many countries have mandated that automobiles, businesses, and more employ clean energy initiatives, aimed at reducing their carbon footprint. The rate of production and adoption of things like electric cars and the use of solar energy…
OPG’s Small Modular Reactors will generate jobs and lasting economic benefits for Ontario
OPG’s Small Modular Reactors will generate jobs and lasting economic benefits for Ontario 20 Oct, 2023 The construction of four Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) at its Darlington Nuclear site will have a substantial positive impact on the Ontario and Canadian economies, according to the Conference…
20 States That Have The Cheapest Electricity In The US
20 States That Have The Cheapest Electricity In The US October 23, 2023 In this article, we’ll list states with the most affordable electricity prices and explain their power grid. If you want to skip why certain regions pay less for energy than others, read 5 States That Have The…
U.S. DOE awards $3.5 billion for 58 projects to make electric grids safer and more resilient
U.S. DOE awards $3.5 billion for 58 projects to make electric grids safer and more resilient Energize Weekly, October 25, 2023 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has made $3.5 billion in grants to utilities in 44 states to improve grid reliability and to take measures to meet the risks…
Global electricity grid must be upgraded urgently to hit climate goals, says IEA
Global electricity grid must be upgraded urgently to hit climate goals, says IEA 17 Oct 2023 Ministers have been urged to “open their eyes” to the need to build a vast network of new electricity grids to allow countries to hit climate goals, the chief of the world’s energy watchdog…
1,000 additional workers to help out during Cook plant refueling outage
1,000 additional workers to help out during Cook plant refueling outage October 12, 2023 A refueling outage is about to begin at the Cook nuclear power plant. Plant spokesperson Bill Downey tells us Unit 1 will be taken offline at 3 a.m. on Saturday for both refueling and maintenance. The…
U.S. natural-gas fired plant additions to increase again in 2023, EIA says
U.S. natural-gas fired plant additions to increase again in 2023, EIA says 10.16.2023 New U.S. natural gas-fired capacity additions are expected to total 8.6 GW in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 16 natural gas-fired plants are expected to come online this year, EIA said in its…
Seattle City Light to raise rates after it burns through cash reserves
Seattle City Light to raise rates after it burns through cash reserves Oct. 12, 2023 Seattle City Light will raise rates in January to recoup millions of dollars it lost during a particularly poor year of hydropower production, mostly attributed to dry, warm weather and a wildfire that disrupted dam…
A look inside Cheyenne’s new hydroelectric facility
A look inside Cheyenne’s new hydroelectric facility Oct 10, 2023 On Saturday, the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) opened the doors of its new hydroelectric generation facility to the public. It’s located at the R.L. Sherard Water Treatment Plant where it provides more than enough energy to power the…
U.S. Hit Second Highest Hourly Peak Demand This Summer, EIA Reports
U.S. Hit Second Highest Hourly Peak Demand This Summer, EIA Reports October 6, 2023 This summer, the United States hit the second highest peak electricity demand since the Energy Information Administration began collecting data in 2016, the agency said. Peak hourly electricity demand in the continental United States reached 741,815…
Xcel Energy plans new $500M transmission line in western Wisconsin
Xcel Energy plans new $500M transmission line in western Wisconsin October 9, 2023 Xcel Energy plans to build a new $500 million transmission line through parts of western Wisconsin. The company says it’s needed to maintain grid reliability as the utility transitions away from coal-fired power plants and brings in…
Vogtle Unit 4 startup date pushed back after motor fault discovered in reactor coolant pump
Vogtle Unit 4 startup date pushed back after motor fault discovered in reactor coolant pump 10.9.2023 The in-service date for Plant Vogtle Unit 4 is being pushed back to 2024 due to a motor fault in one of four reactor coolant pumps, Georgia Power said in a filing to the…
The problem with making green hydrogen to fuel power plants
The problem with making green hydrogen to fuel power plants 10 October 2023 Today, utility Florida Power & Light will begin operations at its Cavendish NextGen Hydrogen Hub, one of the country’s first green hydrogen facilities. The 25-megawatt project will use solar power to split water into oxygen and hydrogen…
PG&E to Pay $45 Million for Second-Largest California Fire
PG&E to Pay $45 Million for Second-Largest California Fire October 9, 2023 PG&E Corp. will pay a $45 million penalty for its role in starting the second-largest wildfire in California history under a settlement proposal issued by state regulators. The California utility giant agreed to the shareholder-funded penalty proposed by…
EVs could capture 80 percent of new car sales in China, Europe, and the U.S. by 2030
EVs could capture 80 percent of new car sales in China, Europe, and the U.S. by 2030 Energize Weekly, October 11, 2023 While it took six years for electric vehicles (EVs) to climb to from 1 percent to 10 percent of the passenger car market, in another seven, they could…
In the shadow of a nuclear plant, Prairie Island celebrates steps toward a green future
In the shadow of a nuclear plant, Prairie Island celebrates steps toward a green future October 3, 2023 Standing in the same former bean field he played in as a child, Prairie Island Indian Community President Johnny Johnson recently led a crowd of project partners and community members in celebrating…
