POWER Magazine

Community choice aggregation (CCA) is only allowed in seven states currently, but recent developments in California have investor-owned utilities there worried. They fear losing up to 80% of their retail loadThe post Should Investor-Owned Utilities Be Worried About Community Choice Aggregation? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

New York’s electricity system and markets face a blizzard of changes, driven by policy, politics, and economic forces. The New York Independent System Operator and the New York State Energy Research andThe post New York’s Ambitious Transitions: Who Wins? Who Loses? Who Knows? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In two separate actions over the past 24 hours, the D.C. Circuit granted the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) request to suspend cases challenging the Clean Power Plan and the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). The orders are the latest in a series of similar actions over the past month by the D.C. Circuit that […]The post D.C. Circuit Halts Clean Power Plan, Mercury Rule Litigation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

As Dynegy moved this week to assume full ownership of two struggling Ohio coal plants it co-owns with AES Corp. subsidiary DPL Inc., the company’s CEO reportedly said it is mulling withdrawing its presence from downstate Illinois owing to the state’s intervention to keep its nuclear plants running. Dynegy CEO Robert Flexon told Crain’s Chicago Business […]The post [UPDATED] Dynegy Rethinks Illinois Ventures Amid Market Turmoil appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Rain and snow has returned to California, ending the record-setting drought with record-setting precipitation. The drought led to forest fires, dead orchards, and brown lawns. It also took a big bite out of ratepayers’ wallets and increased global warming emissions, due to the loss of low-cost, zero-emission hydropower. In a study released April 26 by […]The post Drought Has Big Impact on California Power Market appeared first on POWER Magazine.

President Donald Trump is getting a lot of advice about the Paris Agreement on climate change lately, though it remains uncertain what he’ll do with it. A group of more than a dozen companies, including some power industry big hitters, sent a letter April 26 to the president calling for continued involvement in the agreement. […]The post Paris Agreement Debate Heats Up appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Natural gas supply and price, along with lower electric demand and the growth of renewables, have been far more responsible for the decline in the U.S. coal industry than environmental regulations, according to a new study by Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and the Rhodium Group, a New York consulting firm. That means […]The post Columbia Study Casts Doubt on Trump Coal Plan appeared first on POWER Magazine.

GE Power signed a landmark deal to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services for 10 power plants with a combined capacity of 11 GW. Sonelgaz SPE, a state-owned utility in charge of electricity and natural gas distribution in Algeria, owns the facilities. The agreement includes technology upgrades designed to enhance energy efficiency—allowing more than 420 […]The post GE Power Inks Its Largest Services Deal Ever appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The impact of Westinghouse Electric Co.’s March 29 bankruptcy filing will be felt throughout the U.S. nuclear power industry, accord to an April 19 report released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). “The bankruptcy filing raised fundamental questions about the future of the U.S. nuclear power industry, and particularly whether four new reactors that Westinghouse […]The post Report: Westinghouse Bankruptcy Raises “Fundamental Questions” About Nuclear’s Future appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Trump administration is “closely” reviewing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) final cost consideration finding for its Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) to determine whether it should reconsider the rule or some part of it, it said in an April 18 federal court filing. The EPA filed a motion with the D.C. Circuit urging […]The post Trump’s EPA Signals Changes for Power Plant Mercury Rule appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A three-judge panel for the D.C. Circuit on April 18 unanimously upheld Order No. 1000, denying multiple challenges by New England power firms and state regulators to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC’s) controversial mandate that requires utilities to remove certain “right of first refusal” provisions from existing tariffs and agreements. The decision in Emera […]The post D.C. Circuit Again Upholds FERC Order No. 1000 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Department of Energy (DOE) issued an unprecedented emergency order on April 14 to keep open a power plant that had been slated for shutdown under the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) in a bid to secure electric reliability. The DOE’s order was issued under the Federal Power Act Section 202(c). It inaugurates the […]The post DOE Issues First-Ever Emergency Order to Keep Open a Unit That Is Noncompliant with MATS appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Barack Obama administration waged war on the coal industry, but that’s all over now, recently confirmed Secretary of Energy Rick Perry told the National Coal Council (NCC) during its annual spring meeting. The NCC is an advisory board to the secretary of energy tasked with providing expert advice on matters of the coal industry. […]The post Energy Secretary Perry: War on Coal Is Over appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects natural gas–fueled electricity generation will exceed all other fuel sources once again this summer, marking the third year in a row that gas has been the leader. However, the EIA anticipates electricity generation from both gas and coal will be less this summer than in 2016. The reason […]The post Natural Gas Projected to Fuel Largest Share of U.S. Summer Power Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will review and reconsider revisions to technology-based effluent limitations guidelines (ELG) and standards finalized by the Obama administration in September 2015. Power generators around the nation have been readying to comply with the rule that sets the first federal limits on the levels of toxic metals in wastewater discharges from […]The post EPA Rescinds Effluent Limitations Guidelines Rule appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Maryland on April 10 became the first state in the nation to pass legislation enacting a tax credit for residential and commercial energy storage installations. The measure passed unanimously in the state Senate, and with a 101–11 vote in the House. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) is expected to sign SB 758 into law. The bill […]The post Maryland Passes Energy Storage Tax Credit appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Exelon Corp., the nation’s largest nuclear generator, reinvented itself amid recent power pricing swings, market inequities, and policy worries that are challenging its “very existence,” a high-ranking executive told attendees at the ELECTRIC POWER Conference and Exhibition in Chicago this week. Bryan Hanson, president and chief nuclear officer for Exelon Generation, who gave the annual […]The post Exelon Chief Is Optimistic Despite Current Nuclear Market Turmoil appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A coalition of 24 states and localities have urged a federal court reviewing the merits of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Power Plan to stall the agency’s recent motion to suspend a case challenging the controversial rule. West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (No. 15-1363) is arguably the most important set of environmental cases […]The post Fight to Keep EPA’s Clean Power Plan Alive Intensifies in Federal Court appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An April 6–issued report released by the World Energy Council suggests that the single biggest worry among global energy leaders is commodity price volatility. Prices appear to be a big concern because of the “Grand Energy Transition” toward de-carbonization. Leaders in resource-holding countries, such as Saudi Arabia, are anxious about long-term economic models, if prices […]The post Commodity Price Volatility Is Prime Concern Among Global Energy Leaders appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Global new renewable power capacity grew in 2016 even as global new investment in renewables dropped, according to a report commissioned by the United Nations Environment Program out April 6. The Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2017 report found that global investment in renewables—excluding large hydro—fell in 2016 by 23% to $241.6 billion. That […]The post Report: Global Renewable Investment Down, Capacity Grows appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The James A. FitzPatrick nuclear power plant officially belongs to Exelon Generation. The sale of the Scriba, NY plant, finalized on March 31, has been long-expected. “We look forward to bringing FitzPatrick’s highly skilled team of professionals into the Exelon Generation nuclear program, and to continue delivering to New York the environmental, economic and grid […]The post Sale of FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant Final appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post THE BIG PICTURE: Prevailing Winds appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Varnish buildup in oil systems and components can degrade performance and cause erratic valve operation. Some experts have conducted research and formulated new lubricants that could help solve those problems. One such oil proved highly successful during a five-year run at a gas turbine power plant. By eliminating the need for oil changes and valve […]The post High-Performance Oil Reduces Varnish and Saves Money for Gas Turbine Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

What it means to have a secure energy generating facility has changed in recent years as the threat of cyberattacks grows. As the nation’s energy sector becomes increasingly interconnected, it is moreThe post Cybersecurity: Keeping Current on a Moving Target appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A power plant’s isolated phase bus is generally reliable, and therefore, maintenance is frequently overlooked. However, the system is too important to neglect. Assessing its condition during minor outagesThe post The Oft-Neglected Isolated Phase Bus Deserves Your Attention appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Many elaborate planning tools are available to help managers prepare for power plant outages. However, there is something to be said for keeping things simple. One modest tool that some NRG Energy facilitiesThe post Simplify Outage Planning to Increase Collaboration appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Small hydro is becoming big business as ongoing technological advances make more small sites economic to exploit. Older plants can also see substantial output and efficiency gains by upgrading from decades-oldThe post Strategies for Small Hydro Upgrades appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Technology advancements and new regulatory requirements could reshape how power plant owners operate and maintain large power transformers. Experts outline emerging strategies and call attention to overlookedThe post New Approaches for Transformer Operation and Maintenance appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Cyclic operating conditions can be problematic for many coal-fired power plants that were designed to run as baseload units. Implementing a combustion and boiler performance management program can help ensureThe post Enhanced Boiler Defense Strategies for an Aging Coal Fleet appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Continuous condition-based monitoring of electrical conductors and insulation is an effective way to reduce required plant maintenance activities, cut operating costs, and prevent unplanned shutdownsThe post Facilitating Predictive Maintenance of Electrical Assets with Pervasive Sensing Strategies appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Cycling a combined cycle plant places additional stresses on all equipment, but the impacts extend beyond the gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator. Plant owners and managers are beginning to seeThe post Reducing Cycling Damage to Combined Cycle Steam Turbines appeared first on POWER Magazine.

New technology is being used throughout the power industry to improve plant efficiency, predict trouble with degrading equipment, forecast weather trends, and train workers. A recent conference hosted by POWERThe post The Future Is Now: Connected Power Plants Are Here appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Most combined cycle professionals understand that a joint between grade 91 steel and an austenitic stainless steel is considered a dissimilar-metal weld. For that reason, it requires special weldingThe post Dissimilar-Metal Weld Is a Misnomer appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Today, some F-class operators continue to opt for rotor-out major inspections, which are cumbersome and inefficient. They involve complex lifts and moves of the rotor, as well as the need for substantial spaceThe post Using Rotor-In Major Inspections to Shorten Outages and Drive Safety appeared first on POWER Magazine.

India’s Department of Atomic Energy, the entity responsible for research, construction, and operation of the country’s nuclear power reactors, will build two prototype fast-breeder reactors (PFBRs) atThe post India Gears Up to Expand Fast Breeder Reactor Fleet appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Two years after the Energy Union was launched as a strategy to help the European Union (EU) provide secure, sustainable, competitive, and affordable energy, the 28-member bloc is seeing a precipitous drop inThe post A Wrap-Up of the Energy Union’s Second Year appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A comparison of coal power plant fleets from China, the European Union (EU), Japan, and the U.S. by the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) Clean Coal Centre yields surprising insights into efforts theseThe post Who Has the World’s Most Efficient Coal Power Plant Fleet? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

China has brought 24 of its 36 operating nuclear reactors online at a breakneck pace since 2010, but there are signs it may roll out future plants that are still under construction more slowly, owing in partThe post China’s Nuclear Expansion Mired in Overcapacity appeared first on POWER Magazine.

I recently bought a house in southwestern Florida, but not without some reservations. Don’t get me wrong, I love the palm trees and sandy beaches, but what worries me is the area’s sea-level trend, asThe post Whether Man-Made or Not, Global Warming Is a Problem appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A decade ago, the annual Platts nuclear energy conference in Washington was brimming with optimism over a coming “nuclear renaissance,” as licensing requests poured into the Nuclear Regulatory CommissionThe post U.S. Nuclear: From Hope to Despair appeared first on POWER Magazine.

There have been numerous pronouncements recently about the upcoming demise of the bulk power grid as consumers are projected to move toward decentralized green energy sources. We don’t believe that the endThe post Reports of the Electric Grid’s Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A long-planned expansion of Sunflower Electric Power Corp.’s Holcomb Station is a little closer to fruition as of March 17 with a favorable ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s high court ruled to uphold a 2010 construction permit, which was amended in 2013, for the plant. The Sierra Club argued that the permit […]The post Holcomb Station Coal Plant Expansion Clears Legal Hurdle appeared first on POWER Magazine.

AES subsidiary Dayton Power & Light (DP&L) confirmed on March 20 that it will close two of its coal-fired plants by 2018 because they have become uneconomic. The Ohio utility announced its intent to close the two plants in January as part of a settlement over its future reliability planning. The plan had been contested […]The post AES Closing Two More Ohio Coal Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Beijing, China—a city known for its dreadful air pollution—no longer has any large coal-fired power plants adding to the problem. The Huaneng Beijing Thermal Power Plant’s final unit suspended operations on March 18, marking the end of coal-fueled generation in the city. Beijing’s power is now being supplied by what Xinhua (the Chinese government’s official […]The post Beijing’s Last Coal Power Plant Ceases Operation, Air Pollution Still a Concern appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In a ruling that stunned the nation, a district court in Japan awarded damages to 62 plaintiffs who lived near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant before the 2011 disaster, finding that plant owner Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) and the Japanese government were aware of risks to the plant and could have taken measures […]The post Japanese Court Awards Damages to Fukushima Residents appeared first on POWER Magazine.

President Donald Trump’s proposed budget, which cuts funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 31%, will not be received favorably by the American people, former EPA Administrators Gina McCarthy and Carol Browner said March 17 during a call with the press. “This is clear what’s happening. The White House has made a decision that […]The post Deep EPA Budget Cuts Not What Americans Want, Former EPA Heads Say appeared first on POWER Magazine.