Data centers driving Oklo’s nuclear project pipeline 8.15.2024 Advanced nuclear company Oklo now has non-binding letters of intent for about 1,350 MW of microreactor capacity, a 93% increase from its 700 MW project pipeline in July 2023, the company told investors in its Q2 earnings call this week. Of the…
Market problems, poor planning causing price hikes in nation’s largest electric market, critics say
Market problems, poor planning causing price hikes in nation’s largest electric market, critics say August 20, 2024 After years of climbing electric prices nationwide, customers in the United States’ largest power market are about to get squeezed harder. Last month, PJM, which coordinates the flow of electricity for an area…
Renewable energy projects are facing increased delays, cancellations, and big losses
Renewable energy projects are facing increased delays, cancellations, and big losses Energize Weekly, August 21, 2024 Wind and solar projects across the U.S. are facing increased local and state opposition, leading to delays, cancellations, and millions of dollars in lost investments, according to university and national laboratory analyses. A Lawrence…
Texas grid’s first geothermal deal will put clean-energy battery on coal facility land
Texas grid’s first geothermal deal will put clean-energy battery on coal facility land 08/13/24 Early next year, the Texas grid will get its first dose of clean power from underground — by means of a “battery” buried in the rock. On Tuesday, the San Miguel Electric Cooperative announced a deal…
AES plans $1.1B investment to convert Petersburg units from coal to gas
AES plans $1.1B investment to convert Petersburg units from coal to gas August 13, 2024 AES Indiana, Pike County government officials and community leaders Thursday celebrated the announcement of approximately $1.1 billion in investments over the next two years to convert Petersburg Generating Station Units 3 and 4 from coal…
Controversy growing as Three Mile Island revival talks gain traction
Controversy growing as Three Mile Island revival talks gain traction Aug 12, 2024 Discussions of possibly reopening the Three Mile Island nuclear generators are ramping up, with some government power players showing their excitement, while others their nervousness. It has been 45 years since Three Mile Island became ground zero…
US utilities poised to ride data center demand wave in second half
US utilities poised to ride data center demand wave in second half August 13, 2024 U.S. electric utilities sounded bullish on demand from data centers powering the artificial intelligence boom after striking several supply deals during the second quarter, reinforcing market expectations of sales growth through the year. Top utilities,…
Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant turns 50 with plans to continue operations
Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant turns 50 with plans to continue operations August 6, 2024 Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Athens, Ala., the Tennessee Valley Authority’s largest electricity generating asset, is celebrating 50 years of service this month. The United States’ third largest nuclear power producer had the first units in…
US coal stockpiles hit highest levels since 2020
US coal stockpiles hit highest levels since 2020 8.5.2024 Coal stockpiles at U.S. electric power plants totaled 138 million short tons at the end of May, the most since the first half of 2020 when the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced electricity demand and coal consumption, according to analysis…
SRP Sets New Record for Amount of Energy Delivered to Customers
SRP Sets New Record for Amount of Energy Delivered to Customers August 6, 2024 Arizona public power utility Salt River Project recently set a new record for the amount of energy delivered to its retail customers. On Sunday, Aug. 4, between 5 and 6 p.m., SRP delivered its highest system…
More mega-battery sites heading to Coachella Valley as California boosts power grid
More mega-battery sites heading to Coachella Valley as California boosts power grid July 29, 2024 A battery storage facility under construction near Palm Springs International Airport is just one part of a concerted effort by California to increase energy flexibility throughout the state. The state has recently instituted regulatory reforms…
NextEra considers restarting Iowa nuclear plant amid rising demand for carbon-free energy
NextEra considers restarting Iowa nuclear plant amid rising demand for carbon-free energy Jul 24 2024 NextEra Energy is considering restarting a nuclear plant in Iowa as demand for carbon-free energy grows amid a historic surge in electricity consumption. The Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo, Iowa ceased operations in 2020…
Maine regulators will map out the next decade’s demands on the power grid
Maine regulators will map out the next decade’s demands on the power grid July 29, 2024 An initial 10-year plan by the state for guiding Maine’s electric utilities includes goals of improving the reliability and resilience of the power grid system in the face of climate change — while also…
U.S. electricity demand to rise spurred by the growth of data centers and electric vehicles
U.S. electricity demand to rise spurred by the growth of data centers and electric vehicles Energize Weekly, July 31, 2024 After remaining relatively flat for the last 20 years, U.S. electricity demand is projected to grow 13 percent by 2030, boosted by demands from data centers, electric vehicles (EVs) and…
Largest US Offshore Wind Farm Begins Construction
Largest US Offshore Wind Farm Begins Construction July 22, 2024 Governor Hochul recently announced the start of construction on New York’s largest offshore wind project, Sunrise Wind, a 924-megawatt project developed by Ørsted. Once completed, the project will provide enough clean energy to power approximately 600,000 New York homes, according…
DC Circuit rejects bids to put hold on EPA power plant carbon rule
DC Circuit rejects bids to put hold on EPA power plant carbon rule Jul 22, 2024 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday rejected requests to put a hold on an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants while litigation…
Before key hearings in North Carolina, Duke Energy makes tiny concessions to big gas ambitions
Before key hearings in North Carolina, Duke Energy makes tiny concessions to big gas ambitions July 18, 2024 Before pivotal hearings that begin Monday, Duke Energy has made a few small concessions to its plans for a giant fossil fuel buildout in North Carolina, winning over the once-skeptical state-sanctioned ratepayer…
Manchin, Barrasso announce permitting reform deal, breaking lengthy impasse
Manchin, Barrasso announce permitting reform deal, breaking lengthy impasse 07/22/24 Sens. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) have reached an agreement on a bill to speed up the nation’s energy and infrastructure projects after about two years of trying to reach a deal. The bill takes on a suite…
Power plant coal shipments dropped 8 percent in 2023 but will see a slight rebound in 2024
Power plant coal shipments dropped 8 percent in 2023 but will see a slight rebound in 2024 Energize Weekly, July 24, 2024 Coal shipments in the U.S. decreased 8 percent in 2023, continuing a two-decade trend as more coal-fired power plants are retired, although deliveries could see a bump this…
Dominion, Virginia move forward in pursuing small modular reactor goals
Dominion, Virginia move forward in pursuing small modular reactor goals July 12, 2024 Virginia’s pursuit of nuclear power technology, though ambitious and not without resistance, continues to prove more than empty rhetoric, as representatives from Dominion Energy and the Youngkin administration gathered Wednesday at a company power station to share…
With electricity demand predicted to double, Dominion Energy looks to add “peaker plants”
With electricity demand predicted to double, Dominion Energy looks to add “peaker plants” July 16, 2024 In 2020, Virginia became the first southern state to lay out a legal mandate for a carbon-free electrical grid. That’s why it was a surprise to many when Dominion Energy announced plans to build…
Seattle City Light to increase rates due to higher demand, rising energy costs
Seattle City Light to increase rates due to higher demand, rising energy costs July 15, 2024 The Seattle City Light Department recently announced a plan to increase rates for customers amid a growing energy demand and heightened labor costs. Customers could see a 5.4% rate increase in 2025 and 2026,…
Federally proposed bill promotes Energy Dept.’s use of AI in energy, national security, science
Federally proposed bill promotes Energy Dept.’s use of AI in energy, national security, science 7/15/2024 A newly introduced bill on Capitol Hill aims to advance America’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) by establishing a program at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that would promote the department’s use of the…
U.S. offshore wind development falters in 2023 but is projected catch up in the next 10 years
U.S. offshore wind development falters in 2023 but is projected catch up in the next 10 years Energize Weekly, July 17, 2024 Offshore wind development in the U.S. suffered setbacks in 2023 with projects being cancelled and less than half of the 30-gigawatt (GW) target set by the Biden administration…
Hurricane Beryl Ravages Texas Coast, Leaving Widespread Damage and Power Outages
Hurricane Beryl Ravages Texas Coast, Leaving Widespread Damage and Power Outages July 8, 2024 Tropical Storm Beryl has unleashed heavy rains and powerful winds along the Texas coast, leading to widespread power outages affecting nearly 3 million homes and businesses. Streets are inundated with rapidly rising waters, prompting urgent rescue…
Oglethorpe Power acquires 465 MW natural gas-fired plant
Oglethorpe Power acquires 465 MW natural gas-fired plant 7.8.2024 Oglethorpe Power announced the acquisition of Walton County Power, a 465 MW, three-unit combustion turbine generation facility in Monroe, Georgia. The facility was purchased from Mackinaw Power Holdings, an affiliate of the global investment firm, The Carlyle Group. Walton County Power…
New nuclear power plant eyed in Florida
New nuclear power plant eyed in Florida July 8, 2024 After the issue was tucked into a wide-ranging energy bill approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature, state regulators in the coming months will study the feasibility of adding more nuclear power. The Florida Public Service Commission has scheduled…
Arizona voters will vote on going green fast or keeping fossil-fuel choices in the mix
Arizona voters will vote on going green fast or keeping fossil-fuel choices in the mix July 8, 2024 Three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission are up for grabs in the coming primary and general elections, and the results of these votes will help set the state’s water and power…
New rates approved for Duke Energy Carolinas customers in South Carolina
New rates approved for Duke Energy Carolinas customers in South Carolina Jul 08, 2024 The Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) has approved new customer rates based on a settlement agreement with almost all parties in the Duke Energy Carolinas rate review request filed with the commission in January…
FBI warns of increased cyber threats to expanding US renewable energy sector
FBI warns of increased cyber threats to expanding US renewable energy sector JULY 02, 2024 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) published Monday a Private Industry Notification (PIN) emphasizing how malicious cyber actors may seek to disrupt power-generating operations, steal intellectual property, or ransom information critical for normal functionality to…
Arizona utility SRP seeks proposals for emerging storage technologies
Arizona utility SRP seeks proposals for emerging storage technologies Jul 02, 2024 Arizona utility Salt River Project (SRP) has launched a request for proposals (RFP) for non-lithium-ion, long-duration energy storage (LDES) demonstration projects, aiming to back its goal for a sustainable power system. The company said it is targeting both…
NextEra CEO says he’d ‘consider’ restarting Duane Arnold nuclear power plant
NextEra CEO says he’d ‘consider’ restarting Duane Arnold nuclear power plant Jun. 27, 2024 The owner of Iowa’s only nuclear power plant — which started the decommissioning process in 2020 — would consider restarting the plant to meet the demand of data centers and other customers, according to its chief…
Texas to double $5 billion state fund aimed at expanding the power grid
Texas to double $5 billion state fund aimed at expanding the power grid JULY 1, 2024 The state of Texas plans to double a state fund aimed at expanding the power grid as demand for electricity is expected to nearly double over the next six years. The state will look…
How Chevron’s fall could remake the energy sector
How Chevron’s fall could remake the energy sector 07/01/2024 The Supreme Court’s decision Friday to give judges more authority over federal agencies creates new hurdles for the Biden administration as it seeks to promote low-carbon energy and address climate change. Forty years after the justices first decided Chevron v. NRDC,…
Despite bad weather and forced power plant outages the nation’s grid was reliable in 2023
Despite bad weather and forced power plant outages the nation’s grid was reliable in 2023 Energize Weekly, July 3, 2024 Even in the face of extreme weather events and higher rates of forced outages at generating facilities, the U.S.-Canadian electric grid remained “reliable and secure” in 2023, according to the…
NYSERDA reaches MOU for Witmer Road Landfill solar project
NYSERDA reaches MOU for Witmer Road Landfill solar project 6/25/24 The former Witmer Road landfill in the Town of Wheatfield is a step closer to potentially housing a solar farm. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority announced recently it has reached a memorandum of understanding on the…
Major coal CCS project hits delays, cost spikes
Major coal CCS project hits delays, cost spikes 06/25/2024 The lead developer of one of the world’s largest carbon capture proposals is delaying a final decision on construction, citing challenges such as “uncertainty” created by EPA’s final power plant rule. Developers of Project Tundra — which envisions capturing up to…
US up to 15 years behind China in nuclear power, report says
US up to 15 years behind China in nuclear power, report says 6.20.2024 The United States is at least a decade and up to 15 years behind China in nuclear power, specifically rolling out next generation reactors, according to a report from the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a…
N.C.’s ratepayer advocate: Duke Energy ‘failed’ to consider incentives that would cut costs & enable more clean energy
N.C.’s ratepayer advocate: Duke Energy ‘failed’ to consider incentives that would cut costs & enable more clean energy June 25, 2024 Duke Energy’s plan to zero out its carbon pollution all but ignores a federal loan program that could save ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars and enable more clean…
Record temperatures will increase electricity demand, but not natural gas or coal prices
Record temperatures will increase electricity demand, but not natural gas or coal prices Energize Weekly, June 26, 2024 Record temperatures are set to increase electricity demand this summer, but analyses find that a combination of ample gas storage and more renewable generation will help prevent a spike in natural gas…
Ontario’s new energy minister says natural gas plants must stay ‘to help fuel our economy’
Ontario’s new energy minister says natural gas plants must stay ‘to help fuel our economy’ June 13, 2024 Ontario’s new energy minister says the fast-growing province can’t afford an “ideological” push to wean its electricity system off fossil fuels even as concerns about climate change mount. “I cannot underscore this…
DOE floats $900M to build advanced reactors
DOE floats $900M to build advanced reactors 06/18/2024 The Department of Energy announced plans Monday to inject $900 million into developing small nuclear reactors — a shot in the arm for the industry as the Senate prepares to vote on a bill to boost the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s capacity to…
Clean energy mandate for Vt. utilities becomes law after Democrats override veto
Clean energy mandate for Vt. utilities becomes law after Democrats override veto June 17, 2024 The biggest energy policy to come out of Montpelier this year is hitting home in concrete ways for two Vermont mothers who showed up to the Statehouse on Monday. The legislation requires all Vermont utilities…
Big energy projects moving fast, face $150 billion a year in cost overruns, Bain & Co. says
Big energy projects moving fast, face $150 billion a year in cost overruns, Bain & Co. says Energize Weekly, June 19, 2024 The scale and speed of the energy transition risks project delays and setbacks leading to cost overruns of 15 percent to 20 percent, equal to $150 billion a…
U.S. Solar Sector Shows Record-Setting Growth
U.S. Solar Sector Shows Record-Setting Growth Jun 6, 2024 A new report from two leading energy industry groups said a record 11 GW of new solar power module manufacturing capacity entered service during the first three months of this year, representing the largest quarter of solar manufacturing growth in U.S.…
NRG Applies to the Texas Energy Fund to Bring Essential Dispatchable Power to ERCOT
NRG Applies to the Texas Energy Fund to Bring Essential Dispatchable Power to ERCOT Jun 10, 2024 Today, NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG) submitted the first of three loan applications to the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) to develop the previously announced 1,600 megawatts (MW) (1.6 Gigawatts) of new quick-start natural…
Bill Gates is breaking ground on a nuclear power plant in Wyoming
Bill Gates is breaking ground on a nuclear power plant in Wyoming Jun 10, 2024 Bill Gates and his energy company are starting construction at their Wyoming site for a next-generation nuclear power plant he believes will “revolutionize” how power is generated. Gates was in the tiny community of Kemmerer…
City council rejects Power San Diego proposal
City council rejects Power San Diego proposal Jun 10, 2024 The push by a voter initiative to assume control of the power responsibilities of San Diego Gas & Electric collected over 30,000 signatures. This compelled the city council to deliberate on whether San Diego voters would have the opportunity to…
Babcock & Wilcox to proceed with coal-to-biomass plant conversion
Babcock & Wilcox to proceed with coal-to-biomass plant conversion JUN 4, 2024 Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) has been granted a limited notice to proceed (LNTP) by NorthStar Clean Energy to begin work on a Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) conversion of a former coal-fired power plant in Filer…
US Energy Secretary calls for more nuclear power while celebrating $35 billion Georgia reactors
US Energy Secretary calls for more nuclear power while celebrating $35 billion Georgia reactors May 31, 2024 U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Friday called for more nuclear reactors to be built in the United States and worldwide. But the CEO of the Georgia utility that just finished the first…
