The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has formalized planning requirements for the state’s major natural gas utilities. The initiative stems from the 2021 gas price spike during Winter Storm Uri, which underscored the need for a comprehensive planning approach to safeguard consumers from price volatility. The process aims to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective utility service…...
The U.S. is projected to retire 5.2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generating capacity in 2024, according to a Feb. 20 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The expected retirement of power generating capacity this year is 62 percent lower than 2023 and is the lowest yearly decline since 2008. Coal and natural gas…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Feb. 16 announced the availability of $81 million in funding opportunities to support eligible air agencies in expanding and upgrading the nation’s air quality monitoring networks. This investment, supported by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, aims to address air pollution, enhance monitoring in and near communities, and…...
The U.S. is expected to add 62.8 gigawatts of new utility scale power generating capacity in 2024, up 55 percent compared to 2023, which saw capacity increase by 40.4 GW, according to a Feb. 15 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Solar and battery storage capacity are expected to account for 58 percent and…...
The New Mexico legislature on Feb. 13 approved legislation to implement a clean fuel standard aimed to lower the carbon intensity of transportation fuels used in the state by at least 30 percent by 2040, relative to 2018 levels. The bill now awaits Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signature. New Mexico is set to become the…...
U.S. natural gas prices during 2023 were relatively lower, due to increases in natural gas supply surpassing the rise in natural gas demand, according to a Feb. 12 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Domestic gas production and imports were robust during 2023, amid a backdrop of high U.S. natural gas storage levels. In…...
The U.S. liquefied natural gas industry experienced notable progress as three major projects commenced construction in 2023, as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Feb. 7. This advancement is fueled by the execution of sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) amounting to nearly 22 million metric tons per year of LNG, albeit reflecting a…...
Electricity usage related to U.S. cryptocurrency mining operations in the U.S. has increased significantly over the last few years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Early estimates from the agency report that yearly electricity consumption due to cryptocurrency mining represents from 0.6 percent to 2.3 percent of total U.S. electricity usage. The increase in…...
Houthi led militia attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea since November 2023 has led some vessels to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb checkpoint, which is the southern entrance to the Red Sea, according to a Feb. 1 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Commercial ships are opting to take the longer…...
The Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) operated by the California Independent System Operator Corp has so far generated over $5 billion in collective economic benefits for market participants since its inception in November 2014, according to the fourth quarter 2023 WEIM benefits report. As it stands, there are 22 market participants in the WEIM and…...
Battery, hybrid and plug-in electric vehicle sales as a whole increased across the U.S. during 2023 and accounted for 16.3 percent of total new light duty vehicle sales, according to a Jan. 31 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. During 2022 battery, hybrid and plug in vehicles accounted for 12.9 percent of total…...
The U.S. Energy Department on Jan. 26 announced a temporary pause on pending applications for the export of liquefied natural gas to non-Free Trade Agreement countries while it updates the criteria used to determine whether additional export authorizations are in the public interest. The U.S. is the global leader in LNG exports with 14 billion…...
