In the news today…
Electric Grid:
- Utility Dive reports that a heat wave across parts of Texas forced the state’s grid operator (ERCOT) to call an emergency on Tuesday and sent electricity prices soaring past $9,000/MWh. ERCOT officials had forecast a tight supply-demand balance heading into the summer, and in March said there was a growing chance it would need to utilize emergency alerts during times of high demand. NRG CEO Mauricio Gutierrez had argued those forecasts were too optimistic.
Coal:
- San Antonio Express-News reports San Antonio’s Southwest Research Institute landed a $3 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to design a cutting-edge coal power plant that would emit almost no carbon dioxide.
- The Torrington Telegram reports the Department of Energy is set to review Wyoming’s clean coal research efforts later this month, including a carbon capture project.
- The Economist reports Wyoming’s coal industry has a grim outlook and the residents echo it.
- Argus reports opponents of a new Ohio law providing subsidies for nuclear and coal power plants had their referendum rejected but still hope to get the measure on the November 2020 ballot.
- E&E Energywire and Bloomberg report Texas saw massive spikes in prices as the electric grid struggled under a heat wave; thousands of megawatts of coal-fired generation have been taken offline and could not be brought in to shoulder the load.
- The Associated Press reports heavy metals from coal ash have seeped into groundwater at a Duke Energy complex in Florida.
ACE Rule:
- Politico Pro, The New York Times, The Hill and E&E Greenwire report 22 states and seven cities sued the Trump administration over the implementation of the ACE rule, which overrides the Clean Power Plan.
Minerals:
- S&P Global reports there are numerous developers trying to make alternatives to the lithium-ion battery.
- E&E News PM reports a nonprofit start-up aims to restore streams along the Alaska-Yukon border through renewed mining.
- Mining.com reports the Electric Vehicle sector will need 250 percent more copper by 2030 just for charging stations.
- Mining.com reports Anglo American Platinum Ltd. wants to develop a lithium battery using platinum-group metals for use in electric vehicles.
Supreme Court:
- E&E Greenwire reports lawyers from Maui County are arguing that a narrow reading of the Clean Water Act is what Congress intended.
Climate:
- E&E Energywire reports a new battery that works from mixing fresh and salty water could offer emissions-free power to coastal wastewater treatment plants.
- E&E Climatewire reports India, a leading emitter, is now considering a plan to cut coal imports by a third.