Carbon Pricing – August 2023 Update
U.S. carbon markets demonstrated robust participation in recent auctions including Washington’s two consecutive auctions that sold out of carbon permits and raised over $850 million under…Read the full report …...
U.S. Energy Department Announces $1.2 Billion for Two Direct Air Capture Hubs
The U.S. Energy Department on Aug. 11 announced up to $1.2 billion to develop two large-scale direct air capture, or DAC, plants in Louisiana and Texas. This represents the most substantial global investment in engineered carbon removal to date, according to the department. Each Hub is expected to eventually eliminate over 250 times the carbon…...
Capital Expenditure by Public U.S. Oil Companies Higher in Q1 2023: EIA
Data collected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that during the first quarter of 2023 capital expenditure for 40 publicly traded U.S. oil exploration and production companies increased compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. The data also shows that cash from operations declined during the first quarter of 2023, compared to the previous…...
Policy Primer: Carbon Pricing – August 2023 Update
U.S. carbon markets demonstrated robust participation in recent auctions including Washington’s two consecutive auctions that sold out of carbon permits and raised over $850 million under the state’s cap-and-invest program launched this year. However, carbon-trading programs continue to face opposition in some jurisdictions over concerns of higher ratepayer bills.
Solar Represents 35 Percent of U.S. Utility-Scale Power Generating Capacity Added in First Half of 2023: EIA
During the first half of 2023, developers added 16.8 gigawatts of new electricity generating capacity to the U.S. electricity grid, according to an Aug. 8 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Solar power represented the largest share of the new power generating capacity at 35 percent. Natural gas-fired generating capacity represented 34 percent and…...
Illinois Commission Launches Inquiry Into Ameren’s Cost-Benefit Analysis of Joining PJM
The Illinois Commerce Commission on Aug. 3 opened an inquiry into Ameren Illinois Company’s cost-benefit analysis of its continued membership in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) versus joining PJM Interconnection, which manages the grid in the northern part of the state. The study, released last month, concluded that MISO Zone 4 utilities joining PJM…...
Georgia’s New Nuclear Reactor Signifies Broad Implications for U.S. Energy Industry
The completion of a new reactor at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle is viewed as a significant milestone for the U.S. nuclear industry despite massive cost overruns and years of delays. The lessons learned are expected to inform best practices…Read the full report …...
Visual Primer: Georgia’s New Nuclear Reactor Signifies Broad Implications for U.S. Energy Industry
The completion of a new reactor at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle is viewed as a significant milestone for the U.S. nuclear industry despite massive cost overruns and years of delays. The lessons learned are expected to inform best practices for new projects even as a host of advanced technologies ranging from small modular reactors to microreactors are being developed. The development comes at a time when focus on decarbonization and energy security has elevated the importance of nuclear power as a critical technology to achieve national and state goals.
U.S. Interior Announces Central Atlantic Wind Energy Areas With Potential to Support Up To 8 Gigawatts
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on July 31 announced three final Wind Energy Areas with a total area of around 356,550 acres, situated offshore Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. These areas underwent meticulous development, with extensive engagement and feedback from states, Tribes, local residents, ocean users, federal government partners, and the broader public. Aligned with…...
First New Nuclear Reactor in Seven Years Begins Operations at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle: EIA
A new 1,114-megawatt reactor at Georgia’s Vogtle nuclear power plant has begun commercial operation, joining two existing reactors at the plant, which is jointly owned by Georgia Power and three other utility companies. This is the first new reactor to start up in the U.S. since the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Watts Bar 2 was commissioned…...