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Group rebuts EPA's claim in transparency rule; DOE envisions small coal plants

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Group rebuts EPA's claim in transparency rule; DOE envisions small coal plants

Top News

Policy group says EPA misrepresented its science transparency report

The Bipartisan Policy Center is contradicting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's assertion that a controversial science transparency proposal is consistent with the group's recommendations.

Full service on Rover would lift gas storage, Energy Transfer tells FERC

Placing into service additional segments of the completed Rover natural gas pipeline would unlock 850 MMcf/d of incremental capacity and gas supply, helping to refill U.S. gas storage, Energy Transfer Partners LP's Rover Pipeline LLC told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Trump DOE's fossil fuel office envisions spreading futuristic, small coal plants

President Donald Trump's leader on fossil energy research and development said he envisions "coal-based power plants of the future" that, like in the 1970s, will again enable the United States to spread coal technology to developing countries around the globe.

Power

* A more than 5,000-MW generation shortfall in Texas has pushed the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' projected 2018 summer reserve margins below recommended levels, warned a new report by North America's electricity grid reliability organization.

* The U.S. Department of Energy released a report that assesses the potential scope and duration of a prolonged power outage associated with a significant cyber incident, as well as an evaluation of the readiness and gaps in the country's ability to manage and mitigate consequences of a cyber incident against the electric subsector.

* After building 2,000 MW of wind as part of its Wind XI project in Iowa, MidAmerican Energy Co. has proposed another 591 MW under Wind XII to reach its vision of supplying 100% of its electric customers' demand in the state with renewable power.

* Environmental advocacy group Prairie Rivers Network sued Dynegy Inc. for allegedly polluting the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River with coal ash waste from the retired Vermilion Power Station in Illinois.

* South Carolina regulators denied petitions for rehearing on South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.'s solar rates, which were approved in early May, Utility Dive reported.

* Energy innovation could result to 20,000 new jobs and $25 billion in investment in Ohio, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch reported, citing a report from research and consulting firm Synapse Energy Economics.

* The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has decided to increase oversight of the Tennessee Valley Authority's Sequoyah and Watts Bar nuclear plants, following the completion of annual reviews at the two facilities, Power Engineering magazine reported.

* Data processing and blockchain interests are among the entities interested in taking over the troubled 109-MW Hardin Generator Project in Big Horn County, Mont., the Billings (Mont.) Gazette reported.

* Former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy will lead Harvard University's new Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment.

Natural gas/Oil

* While TransCanada Corp. may be the most plausible bidder for Kinder Morgan Inc.'s Trans Mountain oil pipeline system in western Canada, energy finance experts expect that private equity firms and pension funds will take a look at acquiring the asset.

* Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd., or Petronas, agreed to acquire a 25% equity stake in the LNG Canada project in Kitimat, British Columbia. The deal is expected to close in the next few months.

* A shortfall in pipeline capacity from the Permian Basin to the Gulf Coast is already causing problems for oil producers in West Texas, but a bigger problem is looming: a potential bottleneck at the major hub in Cushing, Okla., that could widen the price differential between West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude.

* Exxon Mobil Corp. hopes that the new attorney general of New York would rethink the climate change probe pushed by former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, Reuters reported. Separately, the news outlet reported that Exxon Mobil shareholders voted against a proposal to split the chairman and CEO roles.

* Anadarko Petroleum Corp. shut down its natural gas gathering system in northern Colorado due to safety considerations, according to The Denver Post.

Coal

* The city of Oakland, Calif., has announced that it will appeal a federal court decision reversing a ban on coal intended to limit development of a proposed export facility.

* The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld a ruling from the Kanawha County Circuit Court that prevents former Massey Energy Co. shareholders from filing an amended complaint against company management in connection with the Upper Big Branch mine disaster, the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail reported.

* S&P Global Ratings lowered Westmoreland Coal Co.'s credit rating to SD from CCC-, citing the company's $110 million bridge loan financing that subordinates the first lien lenders' debt to the new loan.

Commodities

* The price of day-ahead power could meander Thursday, May 31, on the back of choppy demand outlooks for Friday. Natural gas futures could offer support as the front-month July contract follows prior-day losses with slight gains overnight, last trading 1.2 cents higher at $2.897/MMBtu at 6:45 a.m.

* After ending its first day in the lead slot with a 1.8-cent loss at $2.885/MMBtu, NYMEX July natural gas futures notched gains in buying amid oversold conditions and despite fundamental pressure overnight ahead of the Thursday, May 31, open and the midmorning release of the weekly storage report.

* The natural gas inventory report slated for release at 10:30 a.m. ET on May 31 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration is expected to show renewed strength in the storage rebuilding process in the week to May 25.

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New from RRA

* The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has issued an order in American Electric Power Co. Inc. subsidiary Indiana Michigan Power Co. Indiana jurisdictional electric rate case, Cause No. 44967, and as a result, the company will soon be implementing a meaningful rate increase.

Quoted

"We want to be clear that the proposed rule is not consistent with the BPC report in substance or intent," said Jason Grumet, president of The Bipartisan Policy Center, in letter to the EPA explaining that the agency mischaracterized recommendations from a 2009 paper from the Center.

The day ahead

* Early morning futures indicators pointed to a lower opening for the U.S. equity markets. To view more SNL equity market indexes, click here. To view more SNL Energy commodities prices, click here.

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