Natural gas pipelines completed during 2024 increased U.S. takeaway capacity by around 6.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), according to a March 17 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Takeaway capacity refers to the maximum amount of gas a pipeline can transport away from a production area or storage facility on a…...
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on March 18 denied a request from Puget Sound Energy to reconsider increasing utility rates by $215 million over two years. The company asserted that the rate increase was required to maintain good cash flow and credit ratings. The commission reconsidered and approved the utility’s voluntary electrification pilot project,…...
Natural gas fired electricity production came close to record highs for both hourly and daily production during the February 19-22 cold snap, according to a March 18 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Power demand in Texas historically follows a seasonal trend, peaking in the summer amid heat waves and in the winter…...
The U.S. Energy Department on March 18 announced the second loan disbursement, which released over $56.7 million of the $1.52 billion loan guarantee for the 800-megawatt Holtec Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan. The nuclear site will be the first recommissioning of a commercial nuclear reactor that had previously stopped operations. Holtec will use the funding,…
U.S. President Donald Trump on March 15 signed a joint resolution disapproving the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) rule named “Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources.”, in order to boost offshore energy development initiatives. This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the BOEM and published under the previous administration in September 2024. The…...
The Bureau of Land Management on March 14 approved gen-tie transmission line and facilities for EDF Renewables’ Sapphire Solar project covering approximately 40 acres of land in Riverside County. The authorization allows EDF to develop the transmission line and infrastructure to connect the solar farm to the electric grid. Once operational, the solar power and…...
The U.S. Interior Department on March 13 announced the approval of a federal mining plan modification by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) for the Spring Creek Mine in Big Horn County, Montana. The approval extends the mine’s operational capability by 16 years and allows the production of around 39.9 million tons…...
U.S. propane exports averaged 1.8 million barrels per day (b/d), a record high during 2024, according to an March 13 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The U.S. is a net exporter of propane and as a result, exports can impact wholesale propane prices, since higher exports reduce domestic supply and generally lead…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on March 13 established new safety standards for the operation and maintenance of battery energy storage facilities. The commission modified General Order 167, which provides the framework to implement maintenance and operation standards for electric generating facilities to include new safety standards for energy storage facilities. The new rules require…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on March 12 announced 31 actions to reconsider Biden-era environmental regulations and implement President Trump’s agenda. President Trump has issued a series of executive actions including requiring a review of all agency actions that potentially burden the development of domestic energy resources. Regulations that the agency will reconsider include the…...
Cumulative utility-scale battery storage capacity in the U.S. surpassed 26 gigawatts (GW) during 2024, according to a March 12 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Operators increased battery storage capacity by 10.4 GW during 2024, the second largest generation capacity addition, after solar. Despite the significant increase in battery storage capacity during 2024,…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on March 10 announced that it has cancelled over 400 grants, worth a combined $1.7 billion in its fourth and largest round of grant cancellations for programs considered unnecessary. In February, the agency stated that it had partnered with the Department of Government Efficiency to review and scrap funding awarded…...
