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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Ameren wants to build two gas power plants. Critics call them ‘a big concern.’
Ameren wants to build two gas power plants. Critics call them ‘a big concern.’ Sep 27, 2023 Regional electric utility Ameren said Tuesday that it aims to build two natural gas power plants over the next decade, a revelation that appears to conflict with corporate goals to slash carbon emissions…
NRC approves transfer of three Energy Harbor nuclear plants to Vistra
NRC approves transfer of three Energy Harbor nuclear plants to Vistra 10.3.2023 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the transfer of the operating licenses of Energy Harbor’s three nuclear plants to Vistra. In March 2023, Vistra reached an agreement to acquire Energy Harbor in a $3.4 billion deal, including debt.…
Constellation’s Carbon-Free Nuclear Fleet Ran at Near 100% Capacity During Hottest Summer on Record
Constellation’s Carbon-Free Nuclear Fleet Ran at Near 100% Capacity During Hottest Summer on Record Sept. 21, 2023 While wildfires, hurricanes and extreme heat battered Americans from coast to coast during the hottest summer in Earth’s recorded history, Constellation’s carbon-free nuclear units ran nearly 100% of the time, powering more than…
Xcel plans to replace Colorado power plant in Pueblo with renewable energy battery system
Xcel plans to replace Colorado power plant in Pueblo with renewable energy battery system SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 Xcel Energy recently announced its intent to construct a long duration energy storage system at the site of a coal-fired power plant in Pueblo. Once operational, the system in Colorado “will allow Xcel…
U.S. solar installations to set a record in 2023 despite tariff, supply chain, and funding uncertainties
U.S. solar installations to set a record in 2023 despite tariff, supply chain, and funding uncertainties Energize Weekly, September 27, 2023 Solar installations in the U.S. are poised to reach a record 32 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity in 2023, a 52 percent increase over last year, even as the…
Solar, battery storage on deck for WWTP
Solar, battery storage on deck for WWTP Sep 17, 2023 Solar panels and storage batteries could help Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant shave its peak power use. City commissioners last week approved a $257,892 contract with Jacobs, the company that operates the plant, to design and manage the rooftop…
Takahama No. 2 nuclear reactor restarted after 12-year halt
Takahama No. 2 nuclear reactor restarted after 12-year halt Sep 15, 2023 Kansai Electric Power on Friday rebooted its nearly 50-year-old No. 2 reactor at the Takahama nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture for the first time since 2011, marking the 12th unit to be restarted in the country since the…
Dominion to seek air permit for proposed Chesterfield gas plant
Dominion to seek air permit for proposed Chesterfield gas plant SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 Dominion Energy’s plans to build a new natural gas plant in Chesterfield will require a state permit for major new sources of emissions, state air quality regulators said Wednesday. Mike Dowd, the Department of Environmental Quality’s director…
California Legislature approves plan allowing the state to buy power
California Legislature approves plan allowing the state to buy power September 14, 2023 The California Legislature voted Thursday to give Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration permission to buy massive amounts of electricity, a move aimed at avoiding blackouts by shoring up the state’s power supply while jumpstarting the West Coast’s…
Solar is keeping the Texas grid running. Next month’s eclipse will be a new test.
Solar is keeping the Texas grid running. Next month’s eclipse will be a new test. Sept. 8, 2023 Texas quickly spiraled into a power emergency on Wednesday night, when record September demand and a drop in supply prompted appeals to consumers to conserve electricity to avoid blackouts. Hot, humid weather…
Indigenous tribes urge federal officials to deny loan request for Superior, WI natural gas plant
Indigenous tribes urge federal officials to deny loan request for Superior, WI natural gas plant September 11, 2023 Indigenous tribes in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin have asked federal officials to deny a utility’s request for a loan to help build a natural gas-fired power plant on the shores of Lake…
Bruce Power Unit 6 powers up
Bruce Power Unit 6 powers up Sep 08, 2023 A renewed Unit 6 at Bruce Power’s Tiverton nuclear generation station has been connected to Ontario’s electricity grid following a Major Component Replacement (MCR) outage. The Unit 6 MCR began in January 2020 and was completed ahead of schedule and on…
Losing member co-ops, Tri-State seeks to sell its electricity on the wholesale power market
Losing member co-ops, Tri-State seeks to sell its electricity on the wholesale power market Energize Weekly, September 13, 2023 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a wholesale power supplier for rural electric cooperatives, is seeking to sell excess power on the open market as it loses some of its biggest members.…
Eversource presents plans for electrical grid upgrades, without fossil fuels
Eversource presents plans for electrical grid upgrades, without fossil fuels Sep. 03, 2023 Eversource has announced its first draft of improvements it hopes to make to the state’s electrical grid, boosting clean energy production and reducing the use of fossil fuels. The final plan — which will meet company requirements…
West Virginia coal-fired power plant targeted for deactivation to be restarted for hydrogen use
West Virginia coal-fired power plant targeted for deactivation to be restarted for hydrogen use August 31, 2023 A West Virginia coal-fired power plant that had been targeted for deactivation was restarted Wednesday under a new owner that plans to retrofit the facility to use hydrogen to generate electricity, Gov. Jim…
