Nuclear power is making its way into clean energy policies as more states embark on ambitious emissions reduction plans. The need to build up carbon-free energy resources in the fight against global warming is driving a number of policymakers to put nuclear power on equal footing with renewable resources.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation certified the California Independent System Operator Corporation’s reliability coordinator service, named RC West, according to a June 3 press release. The RC will offer services for 16 balancing authorities and transmission operators in California, including one in northern Mexico from July 1. The grid operator expects RC West to…
The U.S. Energy Department authorized Freeport LNG Expansion L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction 4 LLC to export liquefied natural gas equivalent to up to 0.72 billion cubic feet per day from a fourth liquefaction train to be built at the Freeport Terminal on Quintana Island, Texas, according to a May 28 press release. The authorization allows…
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems and Magnum Development on May 30 announced plans to build the world’s largest storage project in central Utah. The project will incorporate 100 percent clean energy storage, deploying utility-scale technologies, which include renewable hydrogen, compressed air energy storage, large-scale flow batteries, and solid oxide fuel cells. Mitsubishi said it has developed…
Duke Energy plans to decommission its already retired Crystal River Nuclear Plant in Florida by 2027, 50 years before originally scheduled, according to a May 30 press release. The plan for early decommissioning is still subject to the approval of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Florida Public Service Commission. Duke had previously announced its decision to…
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will examine opportunities to boost the deployment of grid-scale energy storage, according to the committee’s calendar. The discussion will include remarks from Andrew Ott, the outgoing CEO and President of PJM Interconnection LLC., Ben Fowke, Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer of Xcel Energy Inc., Mitch Davidson, CEO…
The Commission on Catastrophic Wildfire Cost and Recovery published a draft report on May 29 with recommendations on equitable distribution of costs among affected parties of the catastrophic California wildfires. According to the report, the trend of growing fire activity related to increasing global temperatures coupled with population incursions into high fire risk areas means that…
Democratic Governor Jared Polis on May 30 signed a slate of bills that will transform the state’s energy and environmental landscape, and unveiled a roadmap for the state to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2040. Among the measures, House Bill 19-1261, the centerpiece of the state’s climate policy, sets a goal of achieving emission…
The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission approved a 20-year agreement under which National Grid plc will purchase 400 megawatts of electricity from the Revolution Wind Farm that is being developed by Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind and Eversource Energy, according to a May 28 press release. National Grid will pay $98.425 per megawatt-hour as part of…
The California Public Utilities Commission on May 30 approved wildfire mitigation plans for the state’s electric utilities in response to legislation enacted last year that directed electric corporations to file annual plans describing measures to prevent, combat, and respond to wildfires in their service areas. The commission also made enhancements to communication and notification guidelines…
The Ohio House on May 29 passed legislation that would require electric customers to pay monthly charges from 2020 through 2026 to ultimately raise about $198 million per year, most of which would be passed on in the form of “clean air credits” to rescue FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.’s ailing nuclear plants. Simultaneously, the bill seeks…
The total wholesale cost of electricity in the ISO New England Inc.’s markets was $12.1 billion in 2018, about 32 percent higher than the previous year, according to the grid operator’s annual market report released on May 23. The report said that the overall performance of the region’s capacity, energy, and ancillary service markets was…
