POWER Magazine

Legal marijuana, cultivated indoors on a large scale, poses a growing threat to electrical safety and a booming new business demand for electric power. Legal marijuana cultivation is posing electrical problems in three of the four states where recreational cannabis use is now permitted. The problem is that indoor growing operations—long a production staple when […]The post Pot, Power, and Politics appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The cabinet of Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition has endorsed changes to the German electricity market, ensuring their passage into law. “This is the largest reform of the electricity market since the energy markets were liberalised in the 1990s, and it will make the electricity market fit for the 21st century,” said Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel. […]The post Germany Lays a New Foundation for Electricity Market appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The final session of the annual meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) in Austin ended on Nov. 11 on a “high note,” as outgoing president and Florida Commissioner Lisa Edgar had promised, with a panel titled “The Straight Dope on Energy & the Marijuana Industry.” The subtitle, “(Don’t laugh, it could […]The post Electricity Sector Problems and Opportunities Posed by Legalized Marijuana appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The world must have carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to address climate concerns, but commercializing CCS will require a level playing field, an industry advisory council appointed by the Department of Energy (DOE) underscores in a new white paper. The report released by the National Coal Council (NCC) on Nov. 10 responds to a […]The post Advisory Committee to DOE: U.S. Must Level Playing Field for Coal, Carbon Capture Technologies appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Certain types of coal-fired power plants are capable of meeting the 636 kg CO2/MWh emissions limit in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new source performance standards for new plants without relying on carbon capture and storage (CCS), but doing so will require leveraging cutting-edge technologies to improve efficiency, according to a new study from the Electric […]The post Coal Plants Without CCS Can Meet EPA Standards, EPRI Study Says appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Several experts, meeting in Washington on Nov. 6 for the White House Summit on Nuclear Energy, agreed that more nuclear power is needed if the world hopes to minimize the effects of climate change and limit the increase in average temperatures around the globe. The Two-Degree-C Scenario William D. Magwood IV, director-general of the Organisation […]The post Experts: Nuclear Power Must be Expanded to Limit Climate Change appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Falling power and gas prices will impact the operating cash flows of unregulated U.S. utilities in 2016, but regulated utilities will see a more stable outlook owing to a supportive regulatory environment, Moody’s Investors Service said in a new analysis of fundamental business conditions released on Nov. 6. Moody’s changed its 2016 industry outlook for […]The post Unregulated U.S. Utility Sector to See Downturn in 2016, Moody’s Warns appeared first on POWER Magazine.

As liquefied natural gas (LNG) continues to draw attention in the gas market, with the first new U.S. LNG export terminal in decades coming online next year, another liquefied gas—propane—is beginning to expand its share of the mix as propane power options continue to grow. While propane-powered engines and microturbines have been around for […]The post Propane Power Is Grabbing Growing Share of Gas-Fired Market appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Dominion subsidiary Dominion Virginia Power on Nov. 6 became the first U.S utility to notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its intent to file a second license renewal application for one of its nuclear plants. Dominion intends to seek a 20-year extension for the two-unit, 1,676-MW Surry Power Station in Virginia. The announcement […]The post Dominion to Seek New License Extension For Surry Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

One of the “flexibility” measures built into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) final Clean Power Plan (CPP) is the option for states to join multi-state emissions trading programs for carbon dioxide. Panelists in a session focused on this issue at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) annual meeting in Austin largely agreed on […]The post Regulators and Emissions Trading Experts Tackle Intricacies of Clean Power Plan Multi-State Solutions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Comments made at the annual meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) suggest that the regulatory group and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been in regular dialog throughout the process of developing the Clean Power Plan (CPP), arguably the most complex environmental regulation affecting the power generation sector and electric utilities. […]The post EPA’s Gina McCarthy Responds to Regulators’ Clean Power Plan Questions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In a Monday morning session at the annual meeting in Austin of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), panelists and commissioners traded comments on challenges and successes related to integrating increasing levels of renewables while ensuring reliable grid operation. David Boyd, VP of government and regulatory affairs for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator […]The post Regulators, System Operators, and Utilities Consider Reliability, Renewables, and EPA Regulations appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has passed two resolutions under a rarely invoked law to render the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) newly finalized carbon rules for new and existing power plants toothless. The joint resolutions introduced on Oct. 26 by Energy and Power Subcommittee Chair Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) under the […]The post House Energy Subcommittee Resolves to Bar EPA Carbon Rules appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Italian energy giant Ansaldo Energia says its acquisition of Alstom’s GT 26 and GT36 gas turbine assets and technology, as required by European regulators, will allow the company to increase its turnover twofold in the coming five years. The firm owned 44.8% by Italian state-owned holding company Fondo Strategico Italiano and 40% by Chinese equipment […]The post Acquisition of GE, Alstom Technology to Give Ansaldo Energia Major Market Boost appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Entergy Corp. said on Nov. 2 that it would retire the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Scriba, N.Y., at the end of its current fuel cycle due to the facility’s “continued deteriorating economics.” The plant—located in Oswego County on the southeast shore of Lake Ontario—is an 838-MW boiling water reactor commissioned in July […]The post Entergy Announces Closure of FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Following regulatory approval of a $10.6 billion transaction in over 20 countries and regions, GE’s acquisition of Alstom’s energy activities is now complete. GE and Alstom sealed the deal first proposed in early 2014 with the signing of a 1,500-page “master agreement.” GE had initially proposed buying Alstom’s lucrative business for €12.35 billion, but following […]The post GE’s Acquisition of Alstom’s Power and Grid Business Is Official appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Levelized Cost of ElectricityThe post THE BIG PICTURE: Levelized Cost of Electricity appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The nearly 4-GW, three-unit Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station remains the largest generator of electricity in the U.S. for the 23rd consecutive year, producing more than 30 million MWh in 2014, for the 10th time (the only plant in the U.S. to do so), all while using only treated wastewater for cooling. Palo Verde Nuclear […]The post TOP PLANTS: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Wintersburg, Arizona appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Largely dependent on imported fuel oil, many island systems must grapple with soaring electricity costs and reliability issues, in part because they are isolated and they don’t benefit from economies of scale. But some nations are seeking alternatives. It’s the same story all over the world. To fuel their economies and support growing populations, geographically […]The post Marooned: How Island Power Systems Keep the Lights On appeared first on POWER Magazine.

As many coal-fired power plants designed for baseload service are asked to cycle, unforeseen stresses have been introduced to boiler pressure parts. Understanding the effects and implementing mitigation strategies could prevent premature component failure and keep facilities operating reliably. On August 3, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the Clean Power Plan, which calls […]The post Load Cycling and Boiler Metals: How to Save Your Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

As the coal industry declines in many places around the world, can the mines it leaves behind be repurposed for cleaner energy projects that benefit multiple stakeholders, including local economies? Several existing and planned projects demonstrate that there may be multiple paths toward that transition. No question, the coal industry in Appalachia, the rest of […]The post Turning Brownfields into Greenfields: From Coal to Clean Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Coal dust combustion events injured employees and damaged equipment at Laramie River Station in May 2013. Any dust-filled facility could consider implementing some of the plant’s corrective actions to reduce the risk of experiencing a similar incident. When Laramie River Station (LRS), near Wheatland, Wyo., was built nearly 35 years ago, it was state-of-the-art. Constructed […]The post Minimizing Coal Dust Combustion Hazards: Lessons from Laramie River Station appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Generation III nuclear reactors have not shown much ability to overcome the weaknesses of conventional Gen-II light-water reactor technology, offering at best evolutionary approaches. Is there room for a more revolutionary approach? Many parties are exploring new technologies, but it’s impossible to tell which, if any, will succeed. Last August, Andy Revkin, The New York […]The post On the Nuclear Frontier: New Designs Aim to Replace LWRs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Some critters may be cute, but when jellyfish gum up power plant cooling systems; birds, rats, snakes, or squirrels cause electrical shorts; or invasive mollusk species obstruct hydropower plant pipes, losses can be steep. Here’s how some power plant operators are dealing with their critter troubles. There are countless cases of wildlife entering power plant […]The post Wildlife and Power Plants: New Solutions for Animal Problems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Creeped out and fatigued—that’s the state of many coal-fired boilers these days. Understanding failure mechanisms and suitable testing methods for identifying potential trouble can help you find problems before the problems find you. Even as the current regulatory environment pushes new power generation to utilize natural gas over other fuel sources, a significant amount of […]The post Ensuring Reliable Boiler Operation Through Proper Material Analysis appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Once again, a first-of-a-kind technology at a coal-fired power plant that is designed to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint has run into design, operational, and cost problems. This time, it’s Saskatchewan, Canada utility SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Carbon Capture project that’s facing scrutiny. (Earlier this week, an overdue precombustion carbon capture project, Mississippi Power’s Kemper County […]The post SaskPower Admits to Problems at First “Full-Scale” Carbon Capture Project at Boundary Dam Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The 400-MW coal-fired Sunbury Power Plant in Snyder County, Penn., retired in 2014, will be replaced with a three-unit, 1.1-GW combined cycle plant, private equity firm Panda Power Funds announced on Oct. 28. The four-unit Sunbury facility, which began operations in 1949, was shuttered last year after 65 years of operation. Originally built for Pennsylvania […]The post Coal-Fired Sunbury Power Plant Gives Way to Gas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Mississippi Power has revealed a new cost increase of $110 million for its Kemper County integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) facility. But, the company said that it has tested one of two gasification units—reaching what it says is the project's "most significant milestone yet"—and that it does not expect any new delays. Testing the gasifiers […]The post Kemper IGCC Celebrates Key Milestone, Suffers New Cost Increases appeared first on POWER Magazine.

There has been a major shake up in the contractors involved in both of the new AP1000 nuclear power plant projects under construction in the U.S. Westinghouse Electric Co. LLC, a group company of Toshiba Corp., announced on Oct. 27 that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire CB&I Stone & Webster Inc., the nuclear […]The post CB&I Out, Fluor In at Vogtle and V.C. Summer Nuclear Power Plant Construction Projects appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The U.S. Senate has approved the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA), controversial legislation intended to block the deluge of cyberattacks by opening up communication channels between the private sector and federal agencies. Senate Bill 754 introduced in March by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and co-sponsored by Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) passed the Senate by a […]The post Information-Sharing Cybersecurity Bill Clears Senate, On Track to Be Enacted appeared first on POWER Magazine.

It took only minutes for opponents to the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants to head for the courts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan became official, published in the Federal Register on Friday morning. The race to the courthouse was on. The first electric utility in […]The post Seminole G&T Challenges Clean Power Plan in Federal Court appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Will rooftop solar photovoltaics be the most economical way to deploy today’s hottest new generating technology, or will central utility solar PV systems be the best economic bet? Is there a third way? The answer appears to be “yes.” Solar photovoltaic (PV) power has emerged as the hottest new trend in renewable energy generation, primarily […]The post The Solar PV Economics Conundrum appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The ETH spin-off company Climeworks AG has announced plans to construct and operate an industrial scale CO2 capture plant to be operational by mid-2016. The Oct. 21 announcement said the plant in Hinwil (Canton of Zurich, Switzerland) “has the capacity to capture 900 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year.” For comparison, The Carbon […]The post Swiss Company Aims to Build Commercial Scale Direct Air Carbon Capture Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an operating license for a new nuclear power plant. The 40-year license was issued to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for the long-overdue Watts Bar Unit 2 reactor on Oct. 22. The Watts Bar plant is located about 10 miles […]The post NRC Issues Watts Bar 2 Nuclear Power Plant Operating License appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In a media briefing this morning on the Clean Power Plan, Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Air and Radiation made no announcement of major changes but did note that the final rule will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, Friday, October 23. That publication starts the […]The post Clean Power Plan in Federal Register Oct. 23, Clock Starts Ticking appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) authority to issue loan guarantees officially received a $1 billion boost, which will be split between its Advanced Fossil Energy Projects solicitation and Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Projects solicitation. The agency has finalized the additional loan guarantee authority that President Obama announced in August. It means that more loan […]The post DOE Finalizes $1B New Loan Guarantee Authority for Fossil Fuel, Renewables, and Energy Efficiency Projects appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Westinghouse Electric wants the UK to partner in the deployment of its small modular reactor (SMR) technology. The Toshiba Corp. group on Oct. 20 submitted an unsolicited proposal that outlines a ““shared design and development model” under which Westinghouse would contribute its small modular reactor conceptual design and then partner with UK government and industry [...]The post UK Could Jointly Develop SMRs with Westinghouse appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Entergy Corp.’s Palisades Power Plant returned to service on Oct. 19, following a month-long outage to implement upgrades, inspections, and safety enhancements. The Michigan plant was shut down on Sept. 16 to begin a planned refueling outage. The company spent $58 million for upgrades and plant inspections, and $63 million for new fuel. The outage [...]The post Palisades Nuclear Plant Returns to Service After Planned Refueling, Upgrades appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The second unit at Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Sendai nuclear facility in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, has restarted, and three more of the country’s 43 operable reactors may soon follow suit. Kyushu Electric restarted the 846-MW Sendai 2 nuclear facility on Oct. 15, with plans to connect to the grid on Oct. 21, and to achieve [...]The post Japan Restarts Second Nuclear Reactor appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Seven power producers have joined 74 other companies in signing on to the Obama administration’s American Business Act on Climate initiative, which is aimed at rallying U.S. companies behind the need for action on climate change ahead of international climate talks in Paris next month. The seven are Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE)—parent company of PacifiCorp, [...]The post Seven Power Companies Sign Obama’s Climate Pledge, Commitments Include Retiring Coal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Clean Power Plan could force the retirement of up to 4 GW of coal-fired capacity in the region served by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) starting as soon as 2022, an updated analysis suggests. The independent system operator that manages about 90% of Texas’ electric load acknowledged that fewer coal units are [...]The post New Wave of Coal Retirements Coming, ERCOT Warns appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Battery storage has emerged from the fringes of the power sector to challenge both industry conventions and traditional generation. Where it goes from here, however—the future of battery storage technology—is a matter of some debate. Both storage firms and energy storage experts at the Energy Storage North America (ESNA) conference in San Diego Oct. 13-15 [...]The post Scoping Out the Future of Battery Storage appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Integrating California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO’s) and PacifiCorp’s networks—the two largest high-voltage transmission grids in the West—could yield billions of dollars in shared cost reductions within the first 20 years alone through efficiencies, a new study says. The report commissioned by PacifiCorp stems from a memorandum of understanding signed by the independent system operator (ISO) [...]The post Study: CAISO-PacifiCorp Grid Integration Could Bolster Reliability, Environmental Goals appeared first on POWER Magazine.

OKG, owner and operator of the three-unit Oskarshamn nuclear power plant on Sweden’s east coast, announced on Oct. 14 that it would permanently shut down Units 1 and 2 at the facility, while continuing to operate the larger and newer Unit 3. OKG’s majority owner E.ON is driving the decision. The German-based company has been [...]The post Two Units Retiring Early at Swedish Nuclear Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Energy storage needs better energy storage policy. Speaking at the Energy Storage North America (ESNA) conference in San Diego on Oct. 12, Garrett Fitzgerald, senior associate with the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), was frank about the challenge facing energy storage technologies: They’re starting to get well ahead of the regulatory regimes that are needed to [...]The post Making the Case for Energy Storage Policy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Within the space of less than a week, four deals have been announced that will result in ownership changes at five power plants in the U.S. Northeast. Calpine Buys Another Gas Plant Calpine Corp. announced on Oct. 13 that it has agreed to acquire the Granite Ridge Energy Center, a 745-MW combined cycle gas-fired power [...]The post Five Power Plants to Change Hands in Four Separate Deals appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A federal court last week granted a motion barring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing the Clean Water Rule, which critics say is “exceptionally expansive.” A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on Oct. 9 granted the stay sought by 31 states [...]The post Federal Court Stays WOTUS Rule appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Entergy Corp. will permanently close its 680-MW Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth, Mass., by June 2019, owing to poor market conditions, reduced revenues, and increased operational costs, the company said today. The New Orleans–based company said it has notified grid operator ISO-New England (ISO-NE) that the reactor that began operations in 1972 would not [...]The post Entergy to Permanently Close Troubled Pilgrim Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Coal has been the dominant source of electricity in the U.S. power mix for more than a century, but that may be coming to an end sooner than expected. For only the second time ever, but also the second time this year, gas generated more electricity in the U.S. than coal. According to statistics from [...]The post U.S. Power Mix: Gas Replacing Coal Faster Than Expected appeared first on POWER Magazine.