The Quad Report

For decades, a governing business paradigm for electric utility companies has been the “duty to serve,” or “obligation to serve.” This, distilled, is a moral and legal requirement to make no distinction among customers seeking new electric services. Is it outdated? A 2008 paper by a Michigan Public Service Commission staffer described the dictum: “A… More Is “obligation to serve” an obstacle to fair electric markets?

A little-notice decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last month (Nov. 12) could potentially overturn how federal agencies make many decisions on environmental issues  under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It could also impact how incoming President Donald Trump attempts to assert White House power over government agencies. The… More Are presidential executive orders binding on federal agencies?

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission last month (Nov. 20) granted non-power construction permits to Kairos Power for the second of its two Hermes “advanced” small modular reactor projects. The construction permit for the two-reactor test project Hermes 2 came just 11 months after NRC granted a construction permit for an earlier single reactor test project,… More Hermes “advanced” SMR advances, but questions remain

To call the greenwashing gabfest at Baku, Azerbaijan a failure would be an understatement. It was an embarrassment. COP29 ended in oil-rich Azerbaijan with mutual recriminations. Shamefaced developing nations pledged to distribute $300 billion yearly in what amounts to reparations to the underdeveloped world by 3025. The money is supposed to pay for the damages… More COP29: Promise them a gold mine, give them the shaft

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last Wednesday (Nov. 20), on a straight party line vote, approved the Biden administration’s nominee for an open five-year seat on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The nomination of committee staffer Matthew Marzano now goes to the Senate floor, where it will likely be bundled with a “must-pass”… More Senate committee Oks Biden NRC nominee Marzano

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