By Yoel Guzansky and Henry Sokolski Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has built his rule on two central pillars: security and prosperity. At the core is the simple concept that a modernized Saudi Arabia would also be a safer and more prosperous one. However, that promise is now under unprecedented strain. Repeated missile … More Guest commentary: Saudi nuclear program could outlive its government, plan accordingly

By Kennedy Maize Local Virginia opposition to the $67 billion merger of Richmond-based Dominion Energy and Florida’s NextEra Energy is coalescing as the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), the Old Dominion’s utility regulator, nears a Nov. 5 “public comment session” on the deal. The SCC has scheduled a Nov. 17 “evidentiary hearing.” Perhaps most significant, … More Dominion, NextEra merger generates heated opposition in the Old Dominion

By Kennedy Maize Michigan’s Consumers Energy and Detroit Edison have won a $383 million judgment against Toshiba in a long-running dispute over botched repairs to the 57-year-old, 2,292-MW, six water turbine Ludington Pumped Storage project on the banks of Lake Michigan. The massive generating project cost $327 million (in 1973 dollars) and four years to … More Michigan utilities win $383 million in pumped storage legal wrangle

By Kennedy Maize   Four-hour battery storage is now kicking gas off the worldwide market for peaking power, according to a new study by the Wood Mackenzie international energy consulting firm. “This economic shift is decisive and widening,” said WoodMac principal analyst Ahmed Jameel Abdullah. “Gas turbine shortages and rising fuel volatility are driving up … More Battery revolution is humbling natural gas worldwide

By Kennedy Maize The end game may be emerging in the enormous and controversial proposed merger of Virginia-based Dominion Energy and Florida’s Next Era Energy. Announced in mid-May, the companies bill it as creating “the world’s largest regulated electric utility business.” The deal is valued at some $67 billion. The combined company would feature some … More Dominion-Next Era merger’s trials and tribulations

By Henry Sokolski Earlier this month, the House introduced a resolution of disapproval to the U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperative agreement. The resolution might fail but it’s likely only the opening round of a longer fight. Next year, the House and Senate may condition the deal’s implementation. This requires legislation, but the legislative door is largely open. Under … More Guest Commentary: Defanging the Saudi Nuclear Deal the Saudi

By Kennedy Maize Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has responded to Donald Trump’s declared trade war with its northern neighbor with terms Trump can understand: iron, steel, oil, exports, and money. On Oct. 1 Carney announced the Canadian government will fast track a long-proposed crude oil pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia. Formerly known as … More Canada strikes back in Trump’s trade war with energy

By Kennedy Maize The federal government-owned Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest publicly owned electric generation and transmission enterprise, has been releasing a flurry of announcements about deals to put new, smaller nuclear plants on its generating menu. The deals involve potentially multi-billions of dollars in investments. The announcements include action by the U.S. Nuclear … More Is TVA serious about new, small nukes…or is it just flirting?

By Kennedy Maize The annual United Nations sponsored gigantic gabfest on global warming is peeking above the horizon. The 31st “Conference of the Parties” to the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, aka COP31, is scheduled to kick off in Antalya, Turkey, on November 9 and run through November 20. Ministerial-level pre-COP meetings start today … More The next UN climate change conference is on the way

By Kennedy Maize New controversies have added to the swirl surrounding the nation’s oldest and largest regional independent operator of the high-voltage electric transmission system, the PJM Interconnection. PJM controls high-voltage electric transmission in 13 largely mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia, a total of about 67 million customers. The RTO’s most recent capacity … More FERC slams PJM emergency auction; PJM committee shuts out states