Leading Light Energy

an energy blog by Terry M. Jarrett

February 27 News Round Up

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Happy Friday!!

In the news today…

Minerals:

  • Hoodline reports Senators across the aisle are teaming up to shore up America’s access to critical minerals.
  • Newsweek reports the United States is home to a wealth of natural resources, with certain states leading the way in producing some of the most valuable minerals essential for industry, technology and economic growth.
  • Politico Pro reports a major Nevada critical minerals project that closed a $1 billion loan in the waning days of the Biden administration has lost one of its joint venture partners.
  • E&E Greenwire reports President Donald Trump is days away from clinching a minerals-for-aid deal with Ukraine, but experts warn there’s limited proof the country’s store of raw critical minerals or rare earth elements can be dug up for the right price to generate the billions the president is hoping to secure.

Grid:

  • Canary Media reports that tech firms, utilities and power plant owners in the Midwest and beyond join an effort to ensure data centers provide assets to the power grid — including through cooling equipment, on-site generation and batteries — to reduce or shift power use during peak times.
  • Utility Dive reports that a national grid equipment manufacturers group predicts U.S. electricity demand will grow 2% annually over the next 25 years from data centers and other sectors, while the Inflation Reduction Act has helped decrease reliance on Chinese imports.

February 18 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Grid:

  • Canary Media reports that Indiana consumer and clean energy advocates call for a moratorium on data centers until further study is completed on the potential of rising power costs and the need for new gas plants and small nuclear reactors to meet data centers’ energy demand.
  • Canary Media reports that clean energy companies and advocates say a PJM plan to speed up the review of “dispatchable” generation projects, most likely gas plants, is unlikely to quickly add much needed supply and will distort market competition. However, PJM Inside Lines reports that the PJM Board Supports Action in Support of Urgent Grid Reliability Needs.
  • St. Louis Public Radio reports thatAmeren Missouri announces a five-year, $16 billion plan to invest in transmission as well as gas plants, solar, wind and battery storage to meet projected demand increases.

February 14 News Round Up

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

In the news today…

Minerals:

  • Politico Pro reports another bipartisan minerals bill from last Congress is back on the table as Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) reintroduced their Mining Regulatory Clarity Act.
  • Mining.com reports the strategic minerals partnership with the USA can be considered the most promising, it is a logical and necessary action to ensure the rapid development of new competencies of Ukraine in high-tech and innovative sectors of the economy.

Coal:

  • Washington Examiner reports the buildout of coal-fired power plants in China is at the highest level since 2015, with a substantial number coming online in the next couple of years, a new report by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air said.

Grid:

  • Utility Dive reports that Chicago-based utility Exelon’s pipeline of data center capacity and other large loads more than doubles to 17 gigawatts compared to a year ago as executives call for more involvement from states to ensure adequate supplies.

Have a great weekend!

February 13 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Energy:

  • Washington Examiner reports with inflation rising for the fourth month in a row in January, energy prices have also continued to increase.

Minerals:

  • Politico Pro reports two bipartisan critical minerals bills from last Congress are being reintroduced today in the Senate, including a proposal that would create a pilot Energy Department program to provide price support to domestic critical mineral processing projects struggling to compete against China.

Grid:

  • Utility Dive reports that Federal regulators approve PJM’s plan to fast-track interconnection reviews of shovel-ready generation projects to help address a forecasted supply shortage, over objections from renewable energy developers.
  • Utility Dive reports that a new report finds 38 states took policy action last year involving virtual power plants and distributed energy aggregations, while additional state and utility programs are expected this year, according to a new report.

February 12 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Energy:

  • Bloomberg reports the US should stop the closure of coal-fired power plants, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, adding the fuel source would be essential to the nation’s power system for decades to come.
  • Axios reports on comments from Energy Secretary Chris Wright on energy.

Minerals:

  • Politico Pro reports Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) is downplaying any immediate prospects on legislation to bolster U.S. development of critical minerals — arguing Trump’s ongoing climate spending freeze is undermining areas of potential bipartisan progress.

February 11 News Round Up

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In the news today…

Minerals:

  • Law 360 reports the federal government’s approval of an 18,000-acre open-pit lithium mine in northern Nevada is a violation of Indigenous’ rights, according to a recent report, which says at least six tribes have ties to the site where they’ve experienced violations against their religion, culture and ancestral lands.

Energy:

  • Argus reports coal-fired generation in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) rose from year-earlier levels for a second month in a row in January as generators cut natural gas generation.

Grid:

  • Canary Media reports that state regulators have approved Duke Energy’s gas plant buildout despite N.C. climate law. The utility is supposed to cut greenhouse gas emissions 70% by 2030, but North Carolina’s utility commission has approved its plan to build new fossil-gas power plants.

February 10 News Round Up

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Good Monday Morning!

In the news today and from the weekend…

Grid:

  • Columbia Missourian reports that the Grain Belt Express transmission line developer has filed more than 40 eminent domain petitions against Missouri property owners to finalize a route for the $7 billion project.
  • Utility Dive reports that an Ohio Congress member introduces legislation to give dispatchable generation resources priority in regional grid operators’ interconnection queue, a measure that has support from oil and gas groups.
  • Utility Dive reports that Xcel Energy officials say the utility will rely mostly on wind and solar for new generation projects amid growing demand, despite the Trump administration’s early efforts to pull federal clean energy funding.

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.