The Florida Public Service Commission on May 21 approved settlement agreements allowing Duke Energy Florida LLC and Tampa Electric Company to use the savings from the 2017 federal tax reforms to cover the costs of restoring power after recent storms. The agreements also establish standardized processes for future storm restoration activities. Duke Energy will use $484…
Xcel Energy Inc. plans to retire its last two coal power plants in Minnesota by 2030, a decade earlier than scheduled, while extending operations of its Monticello nuclear plant until at least 2040, according to a May 20 announcement. The closures are part of the company’s integrated resource plan, which will be filed with the…
The New Hampshire legislature approved a bill on May 16 aimed to expand the state’s net metering cap to 5 megawatts from the current level of one megawatt. The legislation also includes a provision to prevent reselling of net-metered electricity into the New England wholesale market. (HB 365) The bill passed the legislature by a…
The Ohio Power Siting Board on May 16 authorized the construction of Hecate Energy Highland LLC’s 300-megawatt solar project, as well as Hardin Solar Energy II LLC’s 170-megawatt facility paired with a 60-megawatt battery. Hecate’s project will occupy nearly 2,000 acres within a 3,400-acre project area in Highland County. The developer plans to begin construction…
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved Texas Freeport LNG’s Train 4 expansion, the commission’s fourth approval of a liquified natural gas project this year, highlighting the nation’s commitment to exporting the super-chilled gas, according to a May 16 press release. The expansion of LNG terminal, located in eastern Texas, includes an extra liquefaction unit as…
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has determined that Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history, was caused by electrical transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric, according to a May 15 press release. The Camp Fire started in Butte County on the morning of November 8,…
National Grid’s President John Bruckner, issued a statement on May 17 saying the company has stopped processing all applications for new or expanded gas service in Brooklyn, Queens and on Long Island following the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s decision on Wednesday to deny “without prejudice” a water permit for Williams’ Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which…
The South Dakota Public Utilities approved a settlement requiring MidAmerican Energy Co. to return about $4.2 million to the utility’s electric and natural gas customers, reflecting savings from the federal tax cut law, bringing the total refunds of the state’s investor-owned utilities to about $29 million, according to a May 15 press release. The tax…
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on May 16 declined a request to allow state regulatory authorities to decide whether or not behind-the-meter and distribution-connected storage resources may participate in the wholesale power markets. The agency acknowledged that states have the authority to dictate the terms of their own retail programs, allowing resources to choose between…
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission granted a permit for Deuel Harvest Wind Energy LLC’s proposal to build a 310-megawatt wind energy farm in Duel County, according to a May 15 news release. The proposed project includes up to 112 wind turbines and a 345-kilovolt transmission line with an associated 345-kV interconnection substation located in…
The U.S. is expected to add 12.7 gigawatts of wind capacity this year, the largest since the 2012 high of 13.3 gigawatts, according to a May 15 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The growth is largely driven by the scheduled phase-out of the federal production tax credit, which provides a credit for each…
The Texas renewable energy credit, or REC, program currently has a registered capacity of nearly 28.7 gigawatts, including 2.2 gigawatts derived from non-wind technologies, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc.’s annual report released on May 15. Offset generation accounts have a registered capacity of nearly 290 megawatts. The total amount of energy…