U.S. electric power sector emissions totaled 1,744 million metric tons in 2017, the lowest since 1987, according to an Oct. 29 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Energy-related emissions in the power sector fell by 28 percent since 2005 compared to 5 percent in all other energy sectors. The agency attributed the drop in…
The Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board on Oct. 30 approved recommendations to revise to regulations governing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric power plants in the state. The Department of Environmental Quality proposed a more stringent base budget of 28 million tons in 2020 resulting in additional emissions reductions of 5 million tons…
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on October 26 issued an order approving Enbridge Inc.’s proposed $7-Billion Line 3 replacement project, following a favorable vote in June. The formal ruling, which comes after much deliberation over replacing a 1960s-era line versus limiting environmental risks, opens the door for appealing the decision. Environmental groups like Sierra Club…
The U.S. Energy Department is conducting exercises with the private sector to enhance the energy industry’s ability to withstand cyber attacks in keeping with the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month dedicated to protecting critical infrastructure, according to an Oct. 26 press release. The agency’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, launched in February, engaged…
The Montana Public Service Commission voiced support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Affordable Clean Energy Rule,” a proposal to replace an Obama-era measure to regulate carbon emissions from power plants, according to an Oct. 26 press release. The commission said it “takes a keen interest” in the proposed rule in view of the state’s…
The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut ruled on Oct. 25 that Connecticut’s transfer of ratepayer funds collected for energy conservation programs to the general fund is not illegal. The court said that state law has not promised ratepayers that their money would not be transferred to the general fund for other purposes,…
Dominion Energy Inc. on Oct. 24 announced a request for proposals for up to 500 megawatts of wind and solar in Virginia under a plan to add 3 gigawatts of renewables in the state by 2022. The company said it will issue annual RFPs to meet the goal. The solicitation is open to onshore projects…
Exxon Mobil Corp. was the target of a lawsuit by New York’s top legal representative which alleges that oil and gas giant deceived investors over its management of the risks posed to the business by climate change regulation, according to an Oct. 24 filing. The suit further alleges that Exxon assured investors it had adequately…
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Oct. 18 approved reliability standards to address supply chain risks in industrial control system hardware, software, and computing and networking services. The rule, developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation builds on existing critical infrastructure protection standards to allay cyber security risks associated with the supply chain for…
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Oct. 17 authorized National Grid LNG LLC to add natural gas liquefaction facilities at the company’s existing Fields Point facility in Providence, Rhode Island. National Grid proposed the project, which seeks to add a 20 million standard cubic feet per day capacity, at the request of its customers Narragansett…
Mexican state oil company Pemex placed a bond of $2 billion in the international debt markets in line with operating and marketing measures unveiled in September to lower the company’s budget deficit for this year by about 38 percent, according to the company’s Oct. 16 news release. The bond, with a 10-year maturity period, yields…
NV Energy Inc. issued a request for proposals for projects of at least 20 megawatts to add 350 megawatts or more renewable energy capacity in Nevada, according to the company’s Oct. 16 press release. The solicitation is open to solar, geothermal, wind, biomass and biogas technologies that comply with the state’s renewable portfolio standards. The…
