Facing serious protests from state utility regulators and consumer interests, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last Thursday (Nov. 21) approved a major rollback to its groundbreaking May order on regional electric transmission planning, financing, and construction. That order was given the title of Order No. 1920 to commemorate the 1920 founding of FERC’s predecessor, the … More FERC makes big changes to major transmission planning rule

Delegates to the global climate gabfest COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan on the first day (Nov. 11) agreed to establish a world-wide carbon emissions reductions trading market. It’s called “Article 6.” As reported by the Voice of America, the delegates adopted two related approaches for carbon trading. The first (Article 6.4) sets up a plan for … More COP29 launches carbon emissions trading regime

Speaking at the Edison Electric Institute’s annual financial conference in Hollywood, Fla., last week (Nov. 12), Southern Co. CEO Chris Womack said, “As we look at responding to demand growth, looking at coal operating longer is a consideration. Maybe those units get extended further into the next decade before they retire.” POWER magazine reported that … More Will Trump kindle a coal comeback?

Offshore wind in the U.S. finds itself in a difficult spot, with few projects underway and others facing major practical challenges. On top of those well-known existing hurdles, the election of Donald Trump has erected what could be a colossal obstacle. At a campaign rally last May, The Guardian reported, Trump called wind turbines “horrible” … More Offshore wind adds Trump to its obstacles

Incoming U.S. President Donald J. Trump says he wants to reduce “energy prices” (whatever that means and he seems to mean gasoline prices) by 50%. And if that bankrupts the companies that produce oil, refine it, and let you pump it into your ICE auto for money, so be it. At a late October campaign … More Commentary: “Drill baby, drill” an empty slogan

Meta’s plans for a hookup between a company AI data center and a nuclear power plant is generating a lot of buzz, according to London’s Financial Times. The source of the buzz, according to the FT, is a population of endangered bees. The paper reported, “The discovery of the rare bee species on a location … More Atomic transients: Meta, TEPCO, NuScale Power

With Donald Trump headed toward the reins of the federal government in January, it’s difficult to predict what he will do with power this time. He mostly squandered it in his first term, partly due to inexperience, partly due to ineptitude, and, in a major way, due to the Covid pandemic. During the 2024 campaign, … More Trump ascendant: what might it mean for energy and environment?

In a surprise order last Friday (Nov. 1), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected a plan advanced by the PJM Interconnection for an Amazon data center to co-locate next to Talen Energy’s 2,500-MW two-unit Susquehanna nuclear plant near Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Under the failed proposal, Amazon would take up to 480-MW of power directly from the … More FERC dumps PJM data center-nuclear plant co-location plan

Is financial trading of carbon dioxide offsets a smart way to reduce major greenhouse gas emissions or an opportunity for fraud and abuse? For years, many interests have seen carbon trading, also known as “carbon offsets” – conceptually similar to the U.S. emissions cap and trade projects that accompanied the reduction in sulfur dioxide power … More Carbon offsets, once trendy, now in big trouble

Merrimack Station in Bow, N.H., New England’s last coal-fired power plant, lives. The two-unit plant finally passed a particulates emissions test that will keep the plant running. The plant owner operators, Granite Shore Power, had been trying for over a year to pass the test. Nor was the event a complete success. According to New … More Around the world, coal still sits atop a wobbly throne