Top News
West Virginia readies to host only Clean Power Plan repeal hearing
Charleston, W.Va., will play host to a political showdown Nov. 28 and 29 as lawyers, politicians, environmental groups, concerned citizens and others descend on the Appalachian city for a public hearing on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's repeal of the Clean Power Plan.
NJ group sues FERC over process that lets pipelines take land
Concerned over anticipated federal approvals of natural gas pipeline projects, a New Jersey conservation group asked a U.S. district court to require changes in how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission grants pipelines the power of eminent domain as part of Natural Gas Act certificates.
Federal data shows coal employment, production rose in Q3'17
U.S. coal production rose sharply in the third quarter as employment increased for the fourth straight quarter. Mines produced 196.1 million tons of coal in the most recent period compared to 186.5 million in the second quarter, an increase of 5.1%. Meanwhile, average coal mine employment rose 0.4% in the same period to 54,096, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis of U.S.
Power
* Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., plans to reveal a $146 billion "Marshall Plan" for Puerto Rico recovery in which solar and wind power sources will generate approximately 70% of the country's energy demands within a decade, The Washington Post reported. The bill also asks the Congress to consider slashing Puerto Rico's debt and providing additional federal funding to redevelop infrastructure.
* Canadian trade minister François-Philippe Champagne urged clean tech firms to be "un-Canadian" and brag about the country to be able to compete in the $1 trillion global clean tech market, according to the National Observer. "One of our biggest challenges I think is about scale," Champagne said at the launch of Cleantech Export Week in Ottawa. "Be a bit un-Canadian. Bragging about Canada is a good thing."
* As the North Carolina Utilities Commission begins its evidentiary hearing into Duke Energy Progress LLC's controversial revenue request, the Duke Energy Corp. subsidiary filed testimony Nov. 27 detailing a partial settlement reached with the public staff.
* Mississippi Power Co. filed an amended and restated stipulation reached with several stakeholders that would reduce retail rate impacts related to the Kemper County integrated gasification combined-cycle project.
* I Squared Capital agreed to purchase a 3,400-MW portfolio of Latin American and Caribbean power assets from a subsidiary of Kenon Holdings Ltd. for roughly $1.18 billion, marking I Squared's second large power acquisition in South America.
* The Electric Reliability Council of Texas said Texas' wind generation capacity increased to over 20,000 MW, surpassing the 19,800-MW capacity from coal-fired facilities in the market, The Houston Chronicle reported.
Natural gas/oil
* TransCanada Corp. is asking the Nebraska Public Service Commission to review changes to its Keystone XL approval, The Canadian Press reported. The request is not for the entire line to be reconsidered, only to answer some questions raised in the recent approval of an alternative route for the line.
* A wave of midstream energy operators could be pushing the master limited partnership model toward its next iteration as they embrace a self-funding strategy that scales back the large distributions that have attracted investors seeking yield growth and tax benefits.
* Enbridge Inc. reached a settlement with the state of Michigan to address safety concerns over twin underwater pipelines where Lakes Huron and Michigan converge, The Canadian Press reported. The company will conclude an evaluation by June 2018 on three options to replace seven kilometers of Line 5 that run under water, as well as other immediate safety precautions.
* In a bid to boost profits and find well-drilling efficiencies, oil and natural gas producers are leveraging automated technologies from offshore drilling with shale wells, according to a report from Reuters.
Coal
* Murray Energy Corp. dropped cases against CSX Transportation Inc. over service delays and other transportation problems. The coal producer confirmed it had "dismissed, without prejudice," cases brought against the railroad under federal courts and before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
* American Electric Power Co. Inc. has issued a request for proposals for the supply of up to 400,000 tons of Central Appalachian coal and up to 250,000 tons of Illinois Basin coal, both f.o.b. barge, to one or more generating stations, from January through June of 2018.
Commodities
* After sinking 15.5 cents in the Nov. 24 session, NYMEX December natural gas futures reversed course Monday, Nov. 27, to end the day more than 11 cents higher amid technical buying and short covering ahead of options expiration at the closing bell.
* Despite mostly lower load outlooks and little support from mixed spot gas prices, daily power markets across the U.S. leaned flat to higher Monday, Nov. 27.

New from RRA
* Duke Energy Progress LLC and the North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff filed a partial settlement Nov. 22 regarding certain issues in the company's pending electric rate case (Docket No. E-2, Sub 1142). The partial settlement specifies a $127 million base rate increase premised upon a 9.9% ROE
Quoted
"Our office has been a leader in fighting against the Obama-era Power Plan. I'm glad the EPA selected Charleston as the setting for this crucial hearing, where its leaders will be able to hear from those directly impacted by this unlawful regulation." — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, in a statement before a Nov. 28-29 public hearing on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's repeal of the Clean Power Plan.
The day ahead
Early morning futures indicators pointed to a higher 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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