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Updated 2025-10-12 22:15
Carbon Engineering Launches Novel Carbon Capture Pilot Project in Canada
Alberta-based Carbon Engineering is inaugurating a pilot project today in Squamish, British Columbia, that will capture carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere. The company, funded by private investors, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates and oil sands financier Murray Edwards, has developed technology based on research conducted by Harvard University–based Professor David Keith’s research groups [...]The post Carbon Engineering Launches Novel Carbon Capture Pilot Project in Canada appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Moeller To Step Down By October-End
Philip Moeller, a Bush-nominated commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and outspoken critic of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Power Plan for its cost and reliability implications, will step down at the end of this month. Moeller, a Republican, joined FERC in 2006, nominated by President George W. Bush. Obama re-nominated him [...]The post Moeller To Step Down By October-End appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Coal-Dependent India Announces Lofty, Costly Climate Action Goals
India and 73 other countries submitted their carbon emission reduction targets for 2025 and 2030—or Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)—ahead of the deadline last week, with just two months remaining until talks to confront climate change are due to begin in Paris. The United Nations (UN) has so far received 120 separate pledges covering 147 [...]The post Coal-Dependent India Announces Lofty, Costly Climate Action Goals appeared first on POWER Magazine.
GE Hitachi’s ESBWR Nuclear Reactor Gains Some Industry Support
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and DTE Energy announced plans to explore advancing the detailed design of the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). According to GEH, the ESBWR is the world’s safest approved nuclear reactor design based on core damage frequency. The reactor has advanced passive safety systems, and is designed to cool itself [...]The post GE Hitachi’s ESBWR Nuclear Reactor Gains Some Industry Support appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Behind-the-Meter Batteries Can Provide the Greatest Value, Study Says
Battery energy storage has exploded in deployment over the past several years, but the majority of it by capacity, especially in North America, is deployed at grid scale. That may be a problem, because a new study from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) suggests the greatest value to the system lies with behind-the-meter batteries—distributing battery [...]The post Behind-the-Meter Batteries Can Provide the Greatest Value, Study Says appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Xcel to Retire Two Units at Its Largest Coal-Fired Plant
Xcel Energy said on Oct. 2 that the company would accelerate its transition from coal power to cleaner energy sources by retiring two units at its Sherburne County Generating Plant (Sherco) in Becker, Minn. The decision is part of the company’s strategy to cut carbon emissions 60% by 2030. The Sherco plant is Xcel’s largest [...]The post Xcel to Retire Two Units at Its Largest Coal-Fired Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.
EPA Issues Final NAAQS Ozone Rule at 70 ppb [UPDATED]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Oct. 1 released the final version of new National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, cutting the current limit of 75 ppb to 70 ppb. The move sets the stage for a battle with Congress, the states, and a range of industries that have warned the new ozone [...]The post EPA Issues Final NAAQS Ozone Rule at 70 ppb [UPDATED] appeared first on POWER Magazine.
THE BIG PICTURE: Clean Power Plan Targets for Better and Worse
The post THE BIG PICTURE: Clean Power Plan Targets for Better and Worse appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Geothermal Energy: Is New Technology Resetting the Agenda?
After years of stressing the conventional virtues of geothermal power production—reliable, baseload renewable energy from geological sources—the geothermal industry and the U.S. government are looking at ways technology can change the hot rocks game and give a boost to an often-overlooked resource. Legendary venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who made a pile of money in information [...]The post Geothermal Energy: Is New Technology Resetting the Agenda? appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Europeans Praise the Clean Power Plan While Yawning in Reaction
By now, power industry watchers are familiar with how U.S. interests are reacting to the Environmental Protection Agency’s final release on August 3 of the Clean Power Plan. But what about the rest of the world—especially Europe, which has long been seen as taking a stronger stand on greenhouse gas emissions? Some key European officials [...]The post Europeans Praise the Clean Power Plan While Yawning in Reaction appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Ludington Pumped Storage Plant Increases Efficiency to Provide Greater Grid Support
Utility-scale energy storage in the form of pumped water storage has a long history. One of the oldest U.S. plants found itself in need of an upgrade after 40 years of service. Having the right equipment for the job is proving to be essential. With the current power market challenges and increasing amounts of variable [...]The post Ludington Pumped Storage Plant Increases Efficiency to Provide Greater Grid Support appeared first on POWER Magazine.
The Shifting Fates of Coal Markets, Coal Mining, and Coal Power
Despite media headlines and coal industry hand-wringing, reports of coal’s death have been greatly exaggerated, to adapt Mark Twain’s famous (but misquoted) comment. What’s more, some of the coal sector’s current suffering is the consequence of self-inflicted wounds. Throughout the dog days of summer, the financial pages in dozens of U.S. newspapers have run headlines [...]The post The Shifting Fates of Coal Markets, Coal Mining, and Coal Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Hydropower Innovations Make Some Noise
Hydropower is booming, but unless you live in China, Latin America, or Africa, you may have missed it. Global installed capacity of hydroelectric generation has grown by more than 25% over the past decadeThe post Hydropower Innovations Make Some Noise appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Diesel Gensets Aim at the Future
Though newer distributed generation options like microturbines, solar, and batteries have grabbed the headlines, diesel remains the go-to option because of its established technology and reliability. But growing competition and new regulations are threatening its traditional role. Here’s what diesel is doing to stay relevant. If you pay attention to nothing but the headlines in [...]The post Diesel Gensets Aim at the Future appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Gas-Fired DG Showdown: Microturbines, Fuel Cells, or Reciprocating Engines?
If you’re looking to generate distributed power with gas, your options are broader than ever, with a range of efficient, clean-burning technologies to chose from. Knowing which option is the right one depends on a balance of site constraints, fuel supplies, and environmental oversight. When California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), a 14,000-student university north [...]The post Gas-Fired DG Showdown: Microturbines, Fuel Cells, or Reciprocating Engines? appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Outside-the-Box Renewable Energy Microturbines
Rooftops with arrays of tiny wind-powered microturbines and hydro microturbines generating power as water flows through municipal drinking water systems or the outflow of municipal sewage treatment systems? They’re real. For many in the electric power business, the term “microturbine” conjures up images of small, gas-fired machines, a fad a decade ago that never caught [...]The post Outside-the-Box Renewable Energy Microturbines appeared first on POWER Magazine.
TOP PLANT: Columbia Energy Center, Portage, Wisconsin
Alliant Energy and its co-owners are investing $900 million to modernize the Columbia Energy Center with a new suite of air quality control equipment and plant improvements that will increase its output and efficiency while reducing emissions. The plant makeover ensures its continued operation for decades to come. In 2009, Wisconsin Power and Light Co., [...]The post TOP PLANT: Columbia Energy Center, Portage, Wisconsin appeared first on POWER Magazine.
EPA Finalizes Steam Electric Power Plant Effluent Guidelines
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized revisions to technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards, setting the first federal limits on the levels of toxic metals in wastewater discharges from steam electric power plants. The new rule sets stringent new requirements for the discharge of arsenic, mercury, selenium, and nitrogen in wastewater streams from flue [...]The post EPA Finalizes Steam Electric Power Plant Effluent Guidelines appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Georgia Power to Close All Coal Ash Ponds in Response to EPA CCR Rule
Georgia Power plans to close all 29 of its coal ash ponds to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) December 2014–finalized rule and forthcoming guidelines governing effluent limitations. The Southern Co. subsidiary will consult with state regulators, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Georgia Public Service Commission, to develop and finalize the plan within [...]The post Georgia Power to Close All Coal Ash Ponds in Response to EPA CCR Rule appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Senators Cite Conflicting Polls and Studies During Environmental Hearing
An old saying often attributed to Mark Twain is, “Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.” Listening to the conflicting information presented by a variety of senators during a hearing on Capitol Hill Sept. 29, one has to wonder if Twain was covering a Senate hearing when he penned the phrase. The only witness at the [...]The post Senators Cite Conflicting Polls and Studies During Environmental Hearing appeared first on POWER Magazine.
GE Announces Digital Power Plant as Component of the Industrial Internet
Before the official start of its Minds + Machines event in San Francisco this week, GE announced the launch of its “Digital Power Plant” during a briefing for the trade press. A formal announcement was to follow in the afternoon. Dick Ayres, general manager of software solutions, explained that the company’s Predix platform launches today [...]The post GE Announces Digital Power Plant as Component of the Industrial Internet appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Duke Reaches Final Settlement with North Carolina on Coal Ash
Duke Energy announced on Sept. 29 that it had agreed to pay a $7 million fine to resolve all groundwater issues with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) relating to its 14 facilities in the state. The settlement comes after Duke appealed a proposed $25.1 million fine the NCDEQ levied in March. The [...]The post Duke Reaches Final Settlement with North Carolina on Coal Ash appeared first on POWER Magazine.
U.S. Nuclear Plants Are Operating Better than Ever
The nation’s nuclear fleet has performed impressively through the first eight months of 2015. Plant outages averaged less than 3% of total U.S. nuclear capacity during the all-important peak summer season this year—from June through August. The result is far better than even the lowest range of data from any of the past five years. [...]The post U.S. Nuclear Plants Are Operating Better than Ever appeared first on POWER Magazine.
China to Limit Support for High-Carbon Projects, Begin Nationwide Carbon Cap-and-Trade by 2017
In its latest effort to ram down carbon emissions and address air pollution, China will strictly limit public financing to coal and other high-carbon projects and begin a national program in 2017 to cap and trade greenhouse gas emissions. The country’s emission trading system will cover power generation, steel, cement, and other key sectors. China [...]The post China to Limit Support for High-Carbon Projects, Begin Nationwide Carbon Cap-and-Trade by 2017 appeared first on POWER Magazine.
ISOs, RTOs Outline Winterization Efforts
In presentations to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the nation’s regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) on Sept. 17 outlined measures they are taking to prevent issues if faced with extreme weather this winter. The measures are to prevent widespread generation outages as occurred during the Jan. 6–7, 2014, polar vortex. [...]The post ISOs, RTOs Outline Winterization Efforts appeared first on POWER Magazine.
NRC Investigates Control Valve Failures at Callaway Nuclear Plant
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced on Sept. 21 that it has begun a special inspection at the Callaway nuclear plant in Fulton, Mo., to investigate the failure of three of four control valves that regulate water flow to the plant’s steam generators. The review follows a reactor trip that occurred on August 11. According [...]The post NRC Investigates Control Valve Failures at Callaway Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Another Kentucky Coal Plant Shutting Down
Another coal plant in the heart of coal country is shutting down after Owensboro Municipal Utilities, Kentucky’s largest municipal electric retailer, said it would retire Unit 1 of the Elmer Smith Power Plant in Owensboro some time between 2019 and 2020. The 163-MW Unit 1 opened in 1964. The larger 282-MW Unit 2, which came [...]The post Another Kentucky Coal Plant Shutting Down appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Duke Energy Settles with Groups Over Edwardsport Operating Costs
Duke Energy Indiana reached a settlement agreement with some of the state’s key consumer groups related to operating costs at its Edwardsport integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) coal power plant. The deal was submitted to state regulators on Sept. 18 and is subject to Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approval. If approved, it would resolve [...]The post Duke Energy Settles with Groups Over Edwardsport Operating Costs appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Cybersecurity Rating Firm Finds Energy and Utilities Industry Performance Concerning
Researchers looking at “quantifiable differences in security performance” across industries from August 1, 2014, to August 1, 2015, found “challenging performance trends” in the critical energy and utilities sector. The third annual BitSight Insights Industry Benchmark report analyzed security ratings of nearly 10,000 organizations in six industries: finance, federal government, retail, energy and utilities, healthcare, [...]The post Cybersecurity Rating Firm Finds Energy and Utilities Industry Performance Concerning appeared first on POWER Magazine.
NRG Energy to Reorganize, Seeds New Renewables Company
NRG Energy has embarked on a “reset” that will see a separation of its core distributed generation and fossil fuel businesses. The company, headquartered in Princeton, N.J., wants to “simplify” NRG Group to cut down expenses and debt. In a transition that will begin now and be fully effective on Jan. 1, 2016, it will separate [...]The post NRG Energy to Reorganize, Seeds New Renewables Company appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Storage Is Key to CSP’s Future, CEOs Say
The global concentrating solar power (CSP) sector, criticized by some observers for high costs and uncertain technology, is poised for significant growth and a key role in the power mix—provided markets are structured to properly value their ability to store and dispatch renewable energy, three senior CSP executives said on Sept. 16. Speaking at the [...]The post Storage Is Key to CSP’s Future, CEOs Say appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Threats to Electric Power Grid Could Result in “Black Sky Days”
The societal impact of a “Black Sky Day”—a term used by electric infrastructure security experts when discussing a collapse of the North American power grid—would be devastating, according to Dr. Daniel Baker, distinguished professor of Planetary and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Baker testified before two subcommittees of the U.S. House of [...]The post Threats to Electric Power Grid Could Result in “Black Sky Days” appeared first on POWER Magazine.
“Keep It Going!” Biden Tells Solar Industry
Speaking at the Solar Power International (SPI) conference in Anaheim, Calif., on Sept. 16, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden hailed the nation’s progress in expanding its solar generation capacity and announced several new investments in solar power technology as part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Sunshot Initiative. In an enthusiastic and animated address to [...]The post “Keep It Going!” Biden Tells Solar Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Calpine’s Geothermal Facilities Devastated in California Blaze
Parts of Calpine Corp.’s The Geysers geothermal power complex have been severely damaged by a wildfire that has incinerated swathes of California. One of the world’s largest geothermal facilities, the 725-MW Geysers complex sits on 45 square miles of land along the border of Sonoma and Lake Counties in Northern California. Calpine said at least [...]The post Calpine’s Geothermal Facilities Devastated in California Blaze appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Entergy’s FitzPatrick Reactor May Be Next Nuclear Casualty
Entergy’s 850-MW James A. FitzPatrick nuclear plant located near Oswego, N.Y., may be the next reactor doomed to close on profitability woes. Entergy’s CEO Leo Denault told attendees at the Barclays CEO EnergyPower Conference on Sept. 10 that the company will need to decide by the end of this year whether to go forward with [...]The post Entergy’s FitzPatrick Reactor May Be Next Nuclear Casualty appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Exelon’s Nukes Get a Reprieve
Exelon Corp.’s embattled nuclear fleet got some good news on Sept. 10 when the company announced that it was deferring a decision on whether to retire its Quad Cities and Byron plants by at least a year. Both plants cleared PJM’s capacity auctions this summer despite concerns about their profitability. As a result, Exelon is [...]The post Exelon’s Nukes Get a Reprieve appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Duke Energy to Shutter Three Coal Units, Resolve Drawn-Out Clean Air Act Lawsuit
Duke Energy has settled a 15-year-old lawsuit for allegedly violating the Clean Air Act when it made modifications at 13 coal-fired power units in North Carolina. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) original case filed in 2000 focused on 25 Duke Energy coal units. As it has in more than [...]The post Duke Energy to Shutter Three Coal Units, Resolve Drawn-Out Clean Air Act Lawsuit appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Emergency Stay of EPA’s Clean Power Plan Denied by Federal Court
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Wednesday rejected a request by 15 U.S. states to stay the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Power Plan. In a one-page order, the three-judge panel dismissed the request filed on Aug. 13 by a coal company and the coalition of states led by West Virginia’s [...]The post Emergency Stay of EPA’s Clean Power Plan Denied by Federal Court appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Lawmakers Press for Smaller, More Efficient NRC
Some members of the U.S. House of Representatives feel the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) needs to appropriately align its budget and staffing levels with the organization’s workload. That message was delivered to the agency’s commissioners during the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy joint oversight hearing held on [...]The post Lawmakers Press for Smaller, More Efficient NRC appeared first on POWER Magazine.
NRC Scraps Study to Determine Cancer Risks in Populations Living Near Nuclear Plants
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has dropped a study begun in 2010 to determine cancer risks in populations near U.S. nuclear power facilities. Continuing the work was “impractical, given the significant amount of time and resources needed and the agency’s current budget constraints,” the regulatory body said. The study that was being conducted by the [...]The post NRC Scraps Study to Determine Cancer Risks in Populations Living Near Nuclear Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.
India Approves National Offshore Wind Energy Policy
A new policy approved by India’s cabinet will simplify its foray into offshore wind power, says a key stakeholder. The National Offshore Wind Energy Policy approved by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Union Cabinet on Sept. 9 designates the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) as the nodal ministry for use of offshore areas [...]The post India Approves National Offshore Wind Energy Policy appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Nuclear Power’s Future Is Still Bright, According to IAEA Report
A study released today by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggests that the world’s nuclear power generating capacity will continue growing through at least 2030. The projected growth varies widely due to uncertainty surrounding energy policy, license renewals, permanent retirements, and future construction, but even the “low case” sees nuclear capacity increasing 2.4% by [...]The post Nuclear Power’s Future Is Still Bright, According to IAEA Report appeared first on POWER Magazine.
GE Clears Final Hurdles for Acquisition of Alstom
European Union (EU) officials have approved General Electric’s (GE’s) $9.5 billion acquisition of Alstom’s power business, but conditions to which the two companies agreed to cement the deal will drastically reshape the world’s heavy-duty gas turbine market. The European Commission, the 28-country union’s executive body, granted its approval to the much-watched proposed merger, but only [...]The post GE Clears Final Hurdles for Acquisition of Alstom appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Pilgrim’s Woes Continue as NRC Increases Oversight
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said on Sept. 2 that it was increasing its oversight of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant as a result of an inspection finding stemming from an unplanned shutdown in January. The action moves the plant into the Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone Column, indicating multiple problems in meeting one of the NRC’s [...]The post Pilgrim’s Woes Continue as NRC Increases Oversight appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Nuclear Is Still the Lowest Cost Option, says IEA/NEA Report
Nuclear costs aren’t on the rise globally as has been widely thought, says a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) surveying the levelized cost of generating electricity (LCOE). The eighth edition of the report, “Projected Costs of Generating Electricity” compiles data for 181 plants in 19 OECD and [...]The post Nuclear Is Still the Lowest Cost Option, says IEA/NEA Report appeared first on POWER Magazine.
NV Energy: Warren Buffett’s Plan for a Structural Power Shift
Warren Buffett bought Nevada’s NV Energy two years ago, a move widely seen as a play for solar and renewable generation. That’s working out. But as the company transitions away from legacy coal and high-priced renewable contracts signed years ago, large customers are rebelling, and the company faces a challenge to keep its big dog [...]The post NV Energy: Warren Buffett’s Plan for a Structural Power Shift appeared first on POWER Magazine.
THE BIG PICTURE: Powering China and India
The post THE BIG PICTURE: Powering China and India appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Leveraging Fuel Flexibility for Coal Power Plant Survival
While having lunch at a downtown café with my friend the biology professor, the subject of animal extinction arose. “When it comes down to it, we really don’t know exactly why most prehistoric speciesThe post Leveraging Fuel Flexibility for Coal Power Plant Survival appeared first on POWER Magazine.
TOP PLANTS: Qurayyah Combined Cycle Power Plant, Qurayyah, Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is facing major population growth over the next several decades and, with it, rapidly growing electricity demand. In 2013, the country generated 292.2 TWh of electricity, whichThe post TOP PLANTS: Qurayyah Combined Cycle Power Plant, Qurayyah, Saudi Arabia appeared first on POWER Magazine.
Four Stealthy Cyber Attacks Targeting Energy Companies
It’s certainly no secret that for many years, the power industry has been a top target for hackers around the world. However, whereas in the past, many of these attacks were relatively easy to block usingThe post Four Stealthy Cyber Attacks Targeting Energy Companies appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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