Leading Light Energy

an energy blog by Terry M. Jarrett

February 7 News Round Up

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Happy Friday!!

In the news today…

Grid:

  • Ohio Capital Journal reports Ohio’s top energy regulator says the state should pursue new baseload generation, particularly gas plants, as coal plants come offline, demand rises, and Republican lawmakers aim to pass supporting legislation.
  • Utility Dive reports that a new U.S. Department of Energy order lays out similar priorities attacking net-zero policies and adding new baseload generation while providing support for transmission upgrades.

 

February 6 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Energy:

  • Axios reports that in his first memo to his department, new Energy Secretary Chris Wright tells the department he’s planning a comprehensive review of appliance efficiency standards and outlines other priorities.

Grid:

  • New York Times reports that utilities have extended the retirement dates of nearly one third of coal plants across the country, even as a study shows that it’s more expensive to run nearly every U.S. coal plant than to build renewable replacements.
    • Note: Of course, renewable energy resources do not have the same attributes as thermal energy resources–renewable energy resources are not dispatchable and operate intermittently, unlike thermal resources. Thus, renewable resources cannot “replace” thermal resources.

Climate:

  • Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that Iowa lawmakers advance a bill, backed by a GOP lawmaker and frequent critic of carbon pipelines, to prohibit state regulators from considering climate change when issuing a permit for carbon, oil and gas pipelines.

Minerals:

  • Mining.com reports China unveiled a series of retaliatory measures against the United States on Tuesday, including restrictions on the export of five critical metals used in defence, clean energy, and other industries.

February 5 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Grid:

  • Power Magazine reports that Georgia Power will keep its coal and gas power plants running longer than planned in response to rising electricity demand.
  • T&D World reports that South Dakota regulators approve permits for two utilities’ 100-mile transmission line meant to improve reliability and resilience and reduce congestion.

EPA:

  • Politico reports that the U.S. EPA tells agency officials to continue distributing Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law funds to some programs after a two-week-long pause.
  • E&E News reports that energy industry leaders and former U.S. EPA officials say EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin will have a much easier time revoking Biden-era emission rules if he doesn’t try to replace them.

 

February 3 News Round Up

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Good Monday Morning!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Energy:

  • E&E Energywire reports Georgia Power, one of the nation’s largest utilities, revealed its triennial plan for meeting a continuing surge in electricity demand by upgrading and extending the life of units at two large coal plants and adding new renewable energy, battery storage and transmission.
  • Argus reports coal and natural gas’ shares of US electric power generating capacity shrank in 2024 as generators continued to bring more renewable power options online and close or convert coal plants, government data show.

January 29 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Media Alert:

  • Thanks to the Frankfort State Journal (Ky.) and Press and News (Minn.) for publishing my new op-ed on why policymaking must preserve the dispatchable power generation that coal plants provide during a deep freeze.

Grid:

  • Argus reports US grid operator PJM Interconnection has revised its electricity demand forecast this coming decade substantially upward on projected load growth from planned data centers to run electricity-intensive artificial intelligence (AI) software.

Nuclear:

  • Inside Indiana Business reports that an Indiana utility will seek a $50 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to begin exploring the potential for a small modular reactor at a retiring coal plant.

 

January 27 News Round Up

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Good Monday morning!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Mining:

  • E&E Greenwire reports President Donald Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill are poised to reverse a host of Biden-era protections and expand domestic mining, from Alaska to Minnesota. And green groups are girding for a fight.

Energy:

  • Associated Press reports President Donald Trump’s promise to go all in on fossil fuels includes praise for coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that’s long been in decline.
  • E&E Energywire reports the president failed to boost coal in his first administration. Now he’s betting that surging energy demand will revive an industry in decline.
  • Argus reports President Donald Trump said he plans to give developers “very rapid approvals” to build data centers running artificial intelligence (AI) software, as well as off-grid electric generating facilities to power them.

Coal:

  • Washington Examiner reports coal-fired power production has soared due to several winter storms and cold snaps.

January 22 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Media Alert:

  • Thanks to the Bryan Times (Ohio) for publishing my new op-ed on why  policymaking must preserve the dispatchable power generation that coal plants provide during a deep freeze.

Minerals:

  • E&E Greenwire reports President Donald Trump with several strokes of his Sharpie on Monday elevated to the top levels of the government a focus on accelerating mining and processing of minerals — from rare earths to coal and uranium — drawing applause from Republicans and the mining sector.

Mining:

  • E&E Greenwire reports a detailed mandate to lift restrictions on Alaska’s oil and gas, mining and timber industries operating on federal lands made the cut for the swath of executive orders issued Monday by President Donald Trump.

Energy:

  • E&E Energywire reports David Wright, the new chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, inherits a pivotal moment for the nuclear industry, which is navigating an era of advanced reactor development and grappling with long-standing challenges like waste management.

January 14 News Round Up

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In the news today:

Media Alert:

Mining:

  • Montana Free Press reports Montana’s largest coal mine is set for an expansion that could increase its coal production by 19 million tons.
  • Argus reports the Virginia Maritime Association has corrected some of its data for coal exports out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, in October and November 2024.

World News:

  • Washington Examiner reports Canadian CEOs are being asked for feedback as Canada plans to levy a tranche of retaliatory tariffs against the United States if President-elect Donald Trump makes good on his threat to apply 25% tariffs against Ottawa.
  • Bloomberg reports the leader of Canada’s most populous province is pitching a “renewed strategic alliance” with the US on critical minerals, as President-elect Donald Trump threatens crippling tariffs on the northern nation.

Grid:

  • Utility Dive reports that utilities, renewable energy companies and ratepayer advocates say PJM’s proposal to require renewable and storage projects in the interconnection queue to participate in capacity market auctions was developed with inadequate input.
  • Ohio Capital Journal reports that an Ohio progressive watchdog group raises concerns about the proliferation of data centers in the state, including their potential to spike energy demand and prolong the use of fossil fuels.

January 13 News Round Up

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Good Monday morning!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Media Alert:

EPA:

  • Inside EPA reports a new analysis from economists and other researchers finds the Biden EPA’s power plant greenhouse gas standards would slash even more emissions than the agency projected and that the rule would provide a key backstop in the event high-emissions coal power generation increases, though the rule is unlikely to survive the incoming Trump EPA.

Grid:

  • Utility Dive reports that American Electric Power will sell a nearly 20% stake in two Midwest transmission subsidiaries for $2.82 billion to fund investments in transmission, distribution and generation projects.

January 10 News Round Up

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Happy Friday!

In the news today…

Grid:

  • Star Tribune reports that at least 10 large data centers planned in Minnesota could significantly grow the state’s power demand, though state and local officials welcome the projects’ potential to boost carbon-free power infrastructure and lower electricity bills for all ratepayers.
  • Columbus Dispatch reports that Google committed an initial $1 million to an Ohio fund that would incentivize energy efficiency and grid reliability technology as the tech giant increases its presence in the state.
  • Utility Dive reports that PJM’s proposal to fast-track shovel-ready generation projects in the interconnection queue draws mixed reactions in filings with federal regulators, with states supporting the move and opposition from renewable energy companies and advocates.
  • E&E News reports that a Dubai business tycoon’s plan to invest $20 billion to build data centers across the Midwest and Sunbelt ignores the likely investments needed to boost generation and grid capacity, experts say.

Coal:

  • WWNO reports surging electricity demand is keeping coal power alive.

Climate:

  • Carbon Brief reports despite coal-power output in the US falling to its lowest level in nearly 60 years, the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by just 0.2% in 2024, according to new research from the Rhodium Group.

January 9 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Grid:

  • E&E News and Canary Media report that the future of Biden administration initiatives to spur transmission construction is in question as Republicans take over Congress and the White House, though utilities, state regulators and private investors could use growing power demand to make a case for continued expansion.
  • Utility Dive report that industry experts expect electricity demand and prices to continue to surge this year as challenges loom related to transmission, renewables, and nuclear’s resurgence.

Coal:

  • Power Engineering reports that the owner of a 1,000 MW Indiana coal plant is nearing a long-term deal to sell a majority of the plant’s output to a data center operator.

January 7 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Minerals:

  • E&E News PM reports the Biden administration on Friday signed off on what could be the nation’s first mine to produce antimony, a mineral at the center of a national trade spat with China.

Grid:

  • E&E News (subscription) reports that residential electricity rates rose faster than inflation from 2019-2023 as utilities increased spending on grid infrastructure, a federal lab’s new report finds.
  • North Dakota Monitor reports that state fire officials say a wildfire that killed two people in October was caused by tree limbs falling on power lines.

Utilities:

  • Missouri Independent reports that state lawmakers are set to consider legislation that would allow gas utilities to base customer rates on projected expenses rather than actual costs, which critics say could increase bills.

January 6 News Round Up

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Good Monday morning!!

In the news today…

Grid:

  • Utility Dive reports that  National Grid and Con Edison urge FERC to adopt gas pipeline reliability requirements. To bolster the gas system during cold weather, the federal agency should set pipeline reporting requirements, adopt enforcement mechanisms and tighten the use of force majeure, the utilities said.

 

January 3 News Round Up

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Happy Friday!

In the news today…

Grid:

  • Utility Dive reports that the North American Electric Reliability Corp. calls on power producers and grid operators to “take all appropriate actions” to prepare for a major winter storm expected to soon sweep much of the eastern U.S.
  • E&E and others report on new warning from NERC that this weekend’s arctic blast poses a massive threat to the reliability of the grid.

Climate:

  • The Wall Street Journal reports that Morgan Stanley, Citi and Bank of America this week withdrew from an ambitious pandemic-era climate coalition designed to help drive a shift to reduce carbon emissions by businesses. That followed withdrawals over the past month by Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs from the United Nations-backed coalition, known as the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.

U.S. News:

  • EnergyLaw360 (Subscription) reports that President Joe Biden on Friday formally blocked the planned $14.9 billion merger between Japan’s Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel, making good on a prior pledge to keep the latter steelmaker U.S.-owned in one of his final flexes of executive power over cross-border deals.