Lawmakers across the U.S., including in Md., seek to curb utility spending on politics, ads and more

Lawmakers across the U.S., including in Md., seek to curb utility spending on politics, ads and more March 5, 2024 After a string of scandals and amid rising bills, lawmakers in statehouses across the country, including in Maryland, have been pushing legislation to curb utilities spending ratepayer money on lobbying,…

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Major oil companies atop a cash-flow wave reduce debt, increase shareholder payouts

Major oil companies atop a cash-flow wave reduce debt, increase shareholder payouts

Major oil companies atop a cash-flow wave reduce debt, increase shareholder payouts Energize Weekly, December 20, 2023 The world’s five largest oil companies, riding a wave of high energy prices, pulled in $613 billion in cash flow between January 2021 and September 2023, which they used to reduce debt and…

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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

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…

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White House threatens veto for Republican energy package

White House threatens veto for Republican energy package 03/27/23 The White House on Monday threatened a veto of a House Republicans’ energy package, known as H.R. 1, if it makes it to President Biden’s desk. “H.R. 1 would take us backward. Therefore, if presented to the President in its current…

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South Carolina lawmakers pass power grid protections after attacks

South Carolina lawmakers pass power grid protections after attacks March 20, 2023 South Carolina lawmakers are working to make sure electrical substations are better protected months after a substation shooting knocked out power for more than 34,000 people in North Carolina. Last week, South Carolina senators unanimously passed two bills…

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Biden Budget Proposes Elimination of Oil, Gas Tax Subsidies

Biden Budget Proposes Elimination of Oil, Gas Tax Subsidies March 14, 2023 U.S. President Joe Biden’s 2024 budget proposes to eliminate tax subsidies for oil and gas, a White House fact sheet has revealed.  “The president is committed to ending tens of billions of dollars of federal tax subsidies for…

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Number of oil and gas mergers and acquisitions hits a 17-year low in Q4 of 2022

Number of oil and gas mergers and acquisitions hits a 17-year low in Q4 of 2022

Number of oil and gas mergers and acquisitions hits a 17-year low in Q4 of 2022 Energize Weekly, February 1, 2023 The volume of oil and gas sector mergers and acquisitions fell to a 17-year low in the last quarter of 2022 as deal value for the quarter declined 13…

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PUC approves electric market redesign in ‘big step for ERCOT’

PUC approves electric market redesign in ‘big step for ERCOT’ Jan 19, 2023 The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Thursday approved a redesign of the state’s electric market, recommending a new model they said will improve grid reliability, but critics said could pass more costs onto the consumer. The…

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Winter Storm Elliott stressed regional electric grids across the U.S. in different ways

Winter Storm Elliott stressed regional electric grids across the U.S. in different ways

Winter Storm Elliott stressed regional electric grids across the U.S. in different ways Energize Weekly, January 18, 2023 Winter Storm Elliott, the bomb cyclone with freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions that swept across the U.S. east of the Rockies, sparked a wave of outages with its impacts varying from regional…

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Colorado co-ops say Xcel Energy mismanaged natural gas supplies during 2021 storm

Colorado co-ops say Xcel Energy mismanaged natural gas supplies during 2021 storm

Colorado co-ops say Xcel Energy mismanaged natural gas supplies during 2021 storm Energize Weekly, January 11, 2023 The fallout from the soaring natural gas prices created by Winter Storm Uri in 2021 continues as four rural Colorado electric cooperatives have filed a complaint with federal regulators saying they were overcharged…

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Entergy Louisiana files proposed 10-year Entergy Future Ready resilience plan

Entergy Louisiana files proposed 10-year Entergy Future Ready resilience plan 12/19/2022 Today, Entergy Louisiana filed its proposed Phase I Entergy Future Ready resilience plan with the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Phase I seeks approval of the first five years of a 10-year resilience plan that would aim to accelerate the…

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Holtec to reapply for funding to restart Palisades

Holtec to reapply for funding to restart Palisades 20 December 2022 Holtec agreed in 2018 to purchase the plant for decommissioning from operator Entergy, completing the acquisition in June. In July, Holtec – with the support of Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer – submitted an application for funding under the…

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US FERC to act on backstop transmission siting, long-running gas pipeline disputes

US FERC to act on backstop transmission siting, long-running gas pipeline disputes 12 Dec 2022 The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is poised to act on transmission siting, key pipeline rate disputes, and two important natural gas pipeline certificates at its last meeting of the year Dec. 15, potentially Democrat…

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Wholesale on-peak electricity rates set to jump this winter by as much as 60 percent, EIA says

Wholesale on-peak electricity rates set to jump this winter by as much as 60 percent, EIA says

Wholesale on-peak electricity rates set to jump this winter by as much as 60 percent, EIA says Energize Weekly, December 14, 2022 On-peak wholesale and retail electricity prices are set to rise across the country this winter, with some regional wholesale rates jumping as much as 60 percent compared to…

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U.S. grid faces “unprecedented” risk of electricity shortfalls this winter, NERC warns

U.S. grid faces “unprecedented” risk of electricity shortfalls this winter, NERC warns

U.S. grid faces “unprecedented” risk of electricity shortfalls this winter, NERC warns Energize Weekly, November 23, 2022 A large swatch of the U.S. electricity grid – in Texas, the Midwest, Southeast and New England – is at risk of being unable to provide adequate power in the face of extreme…

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FirstEnergy cuts off its ‘dark money’ spigot in Ohio, disclosures show

FirstEnergy cuts off its ‘dark money’ spigot in Ohio, disclosures show Oct. 24, 2022 Akron-based utility FirstEnergy has stopped using “dark money” in Ohio after agreeing to disclose future contributions, temporarily abandoning a controversial political spending tactic that was a critical cog in the largest bribery scandal in state history.…

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Old coal-fired power plants could gain a second life as sites for nuclear units, DOE says

Old coal-fired power plants could gain a second life as sites for nuclear units, DOE says

Old coal-fired power plants could gain a second life as sites for nuclear units, DOE says Energize Weekly, September 21, 2022 Old coal-fired power plants could have an economical, second life as sites for a new generation of nuclear power projects, according to a study by the U.S. Department of…

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Xcel property in Becker eyed for another big data center project

Xcel property in Becker eyed for another big data center project Sep 9, 2022 Xcel Energy Inc. plans to sell 348 acres of land at its Sherco location in Becker to an unknown company that could build a $1 billion data center project there. The utility said the new center…

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What the climate bill does for the nuclear industry

What the climate bill does for the nuclear industry AUG 22 2022 The sweeping Inflation Reduction Act that President Joe Biden signed last week includes $369 billion in funding to help combat climate change. As part of that, the law includes significant help for the nuclear energy industry. Overall, the…

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MISO Approves 18 Transmission Projects in US Midwest, Integrating More Renewable Energy

MISO Approves 18 Transmission Projects in US Midwest, Integrating More Renewable Energy July 26, 2022 In a move it says will integrate more renewable energy into North American power grids, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator has approved its largest portfolio of regional transmission projects in recent history. Read more

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North American power grid faced extreme weather and cyberattack risks in 2021

North American power grid faced extreme weather and cyberattack risks in 2021

North American power grid faced extreme weather and cyberattack risks in 2021 Energize Weekly, July 27, 2022 The North American electric grid faced unprecedented challenges from severe weather, cyberattacks and problems with natural gas supplies in 2021, but with except one exception – in Texas – utilities and grid operators…

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Waterloo becomes fourth city in the country to adopt carbon-free plan

Waterloo becomes fourth city in the country to adopt carbon-free plan Jul 18, 2022 The city of Waterloo has vowed to run on carbon-free electricity by 2035, making it the fourth city in the U.S. to adopt the pledge. The City Council voted unanimously to adopt a carbon-free electricity goal…

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Biden administration unveils new funding for domestic solar manufacturing

Biden administration unveils new funding for domestic solar manufacturing July 14, 2022 The Biden administration on Thursday said it would pour $56 million into programs aimed at spurring domestic manufacturing of solar energy products as the U.S. seeks to move its clean energy sector away from a dependence on Chinese-made…

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DOE: Here’s what’s happened to EV, renewable, fossil jobs

DOE: Here’s what’s happened to EV, renewable, fossil jobs 06/28/2022 Much of the fossil fuel industry continued to hemorrhage jobs last year, even as employment in the electric car sector increased dramatically, according to a report today from the Department of Energy. Released this morning, the 2022 U.S. Energy and…

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New York grid operator sees generating margins shrinking, increased reliability risks

New York grid operator sees generating margins shrinking, increased reliability risks

New York grid operator sees generating margins shrinking, increased reliability risks Energize Weekly, June 22, 2022 The buffer of extra generating capacity – the reserve or reliability margin – is shrinking in New York State as fossil-fuel plants retire faster than renewable sources are being added, according to an assessment…

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U.S. LNG exports soar as Europe scrambles to fill gap left by Russian cutback

U.S. LNG exports soar as Europe scrambles to fill gap left by Russian cutback

U.S. LNG exports soar as Europe scrambles to fill gap left by Russian cutback Energize Weekly, June 15, 2022 Exports of U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) to Europe soared in the first four months of 2022 and are poised to grow even more as the European Union (EU) scrambles to…

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State Capitol stalemate could risk federal infrastructure dollars

State Capitol stalemate could risk federal infrastructure dollars MAY 30, 2022 Minnesota leaders have been anticipating an infusion of federal cash to bolster the state’s infrastructure — from bridges and roads to cybersecurity and drinking water pipes — on a scale not seen since the New Deal. But some of…

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Nuclear plant owner Talen Energy Supply files for bankruptcy

Nuclear plant owner Talen Energy Supply files for bankruptcy May 11, 2022 Talen Energy Supply, the owner of the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Salem Twp., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Woodlands, Texas-based company, a unit of Talen Energy Corp. which runs 18 power generation facilities, filed for…

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Power demand to grow in Tennessee Valley as economy electrifies, TVA CEO says

Power demand to grow in Tennessee Valley as economy electrifies, TVA CEO says April 28, 2022 Tennessee will soon become the No. 1 state for electric vehicle production as part of a power shift that could nearly double electricity demand in the Tennessee Valley over the next three decades, the…

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Biden to require infrastructure projects be made with U.S. iron, steel

Biden to require infrastructure projects be made with U.S. iron, steel April 18, 2022 The Biden administration is directing federal agencies to ensure that new construction projects funded by the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package are made with U.S.-made materials. Read more

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US EPA’s plan for interstate smog might force even more early coal retirements

US EPA’s plan for interstate smog might force even more early coal retirements 18 Apr, 2022 With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s climate authority over the nation’s power sector in legal limbo, the Biden administration unveiled a plan in March for addressing interstate smog pollution that is projected to drive…

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California utility to pay $55 million for massive wildfires

California utility to pay $55 million for massive wildfires April 11, 2022 Pacific Gas & Electric, the nation’s largest utility, has agreed to pay more than $55 million to avoid criminal prosecution for two major wildfires sparked by its aging Northern California power lines and submit to five years of…

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California issued wildfire safety certifications to utilities despite ‘serious deficiencies’: audit

California issued wildfire safety certifications to utilities despite ‘serious deficiencies’: audit March 28, 2022 California’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety awarded the state’s utilities wildfire-related safety certifications for 2020 despite “serious deficiencies” in their fire mitigation plans, according to a report from the state’s auditor. Read more

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War in Ukraine scrambles world oil markets, offers a spur to U.S. production

War in Ukraine scrambles world oil markets, offers a spur to U.S. production

War in Ukraine scrambles world oil markets, offers a spur to U.S. production Energize Weekly, March 30, 2022 The war in Ukraine is leading to a pinch in Russian oil – through operational problems and sanctions – that could lead to a restructuring of world oil markets and a boost…

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The SEC wants companies to disclose how climate change is affecting them

The SEC wants companies to disclose how climate change is affecting them March 21, 2022 Every year, public companies in the U.S. are required to provide investors and regulators with detailed data about their financial performance and the risks they face. Soon, they may also have to disclose information about…

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SEC plans to force public companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions

SEC plans to force public companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions March 15, 2022 The Securities and Exchange Commission plans to require all publicly traded companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and the climate risks their businesses face, part of the Biden administration’s broader push to force the private…

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NYC’s First Net Zero Community Brings Housing to Storm-Ravaged Neighborhood

NYC’s First Net Zero Community Brings Housing to Storm-Ravaged Neighborhood March 4, 2022 Along 116 acres of vacant oceanfront land, development has begun on what could become New York City’s first and largest community to reach a goal of net zero carbon emissions. Read more

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Russian invasion of Ukraine and West’s economic sanctions roil global energy markets

Russian invasion of Ukraine and West’s economic sanctions roil global energy markets

Russian invasion of Ukraine and West’s economic sanctions roil global energy markets Energize Weekly, March 9, 2022 The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the broad sanctions by western nations in its wake are roiling energy markets from Europe to Asia and may lead to structural changes in regional and global…

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What the Russia crisis means for U.S. electricity mix

What the Russia crisis means for U.S. electricity mix 03/01/2022 Gasoline prices have spiked in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the effects of the conflict are also spilling into the U.S. electricity sector, with implications for greenhouse gas emissions and energy policy. Although the crisis isn’t expected…

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Florida Infrastructure: Critical strategies the Sunshine State can implement to manage the state’s anticipated growth

Florida Infrastructure: Critical strategies the Sunshine State can implement to manage the state’s anticipated growth 3/1/2022 The pandemic has been accompanied by an influx into Florida of people from California, Illinois, New York and other states. Tops on the list of motivations for the moves: Taxes, quality of life, business-friendly…

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Former Ohio regulator linked to $4M payoff directed agency to limit response to FirstEnergy corruption

Former Ohio regulator linked to $4M payoff directed agency to limit response to FirstEnergy corruption February 15, 2022 Newly produced documents show that Sam Randazzo, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, came up with the idea to let FirstEnergy show it didn’t use ratepayer money for House Bill…

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Smaller Cities, Poorer Regions Could Be Infrastructure Losers

Smaller Cities, Poorer Regions Could Be Infrastructure Losers Jan. 11, 2022 Is Joe Biden legislating for an America that doesn’t exist? Experts like Bruce Katz of Drexel University, with a long experience in observing and participating in local policymaking, fear that many of the fruits of the recently passed infrastructure bill will…

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After two years of belt tightening, shale drillers’ capital budgets are set to rise in 2022

After two years of belt tightening, shale drillers’ capital budgets are set to rise in 2022

After two years of belt tightening, shale drillers’ capital budgets are set to rise in 2022 Energize Weekly, December 29, 2021 The shale oil sector’s recent financial recipe of generating cash flow and tamping down capital expenditures may change in 2022 as drilling budgets increase due to factors ranging from…

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Cyber Pirates Could Hold The Renewable Revolution For Ransom

Cyber Pirates Could Hold The Renewable Revolution For Ransom Dec 19, 2021 Cybersecurity risks to critical infrastructure came to the forefront this year when hackers took over the Colonial Pipeline. The renewable revolution is especially vulnerable to cyber attacks, as well. Wind and solar energy infrastructure are in desperate need…

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Operator warns New England power system at ‘heightened risk’ heading into winter

Operator warns New England power system at ‘heightened risk’ heading into winter Dec 11, 2021 New England’s electric grid operator warned Monday that power outages are possible if an extended cold snap this winter grips the region and fuel supplies are pinched as demand spikes. ISO-New England said natural gas…

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U.S. set to become the world’s largest LNG exporter with Asia and Europe as its biggest customers

U.S. set to become the world’s largest LNG exporter with Asia and Europe as its biggest customers

U.S. set to become the world’s largest LNG exporter with Asia and Europe as its biggest customers Energize Weekly, December 15, 2021 The U.S. is poised to become the world’s largest liquified natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2022 with the addition of two new liquefaction units coming online along the…

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