Top News
PacifiCorp aims for 7,000 MW of new wind, solar, batteries by 2025
PacifiCorp outlined its preferred energy resource plan for the next 20 years with an emphasis on transitioning to clean energy by retiring 16 of its 24 coal plant units over the next decade and adding more than 7,000 MW of solar, wind and storage, plus major transmission projects for those new resources.
National Grid pushes back on allegations of 1,616 violations on NY gas work
National Grid USA's downstate New York utilities made their case for why state regulators should not impose penalties against them for allegedly committing 1,616 safety violations, many tied to a Queens, N.Y., gas pipeline project embroiled in a qualifications cheating scandal.
Tenaris stock price tumbles to 52-week low as US business struggles
Luxembourg-based steel pipe manufacturer Tenaris SA saw its share price on the New York Stock Exchange drop to its lowest point in 52 weeks as the company struggles amid low demand for its product in the U.S.
Murray Energy, Foresight face potential defaults in weakening coal market
Weakening export markets and accumulated debt could bring more pain to the U.S. coal market, especially for a pair of top producers now under tight lender-imposed deadlines to sort their financial situations.
Quoted
"If we get to 70% or 75% [renewables penetration] with the balance being natural gas, you're going to cut U.S. electric emissions by 80 or 90%, which is what we need to do. But you're not going to get to zero," NextEra Energy Inc. Chairman, President and CEO James Robo told investors on Oct. 2, explaining the company's plans to continue investing in natural gas infrastructure.
Power
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* New York state's power grid operator has released a new study on its proposal to embed the "social cost" of carbon dioxide emissions into the wholesale price of electricity. This study asserted that carbon pricing is the most cost-efficient and fastest way for the state to achieve a carbon-free power system by 2040, as sought by recently enacted legislation.
* PG&E Corp. will pay $65 million and implement system reforms to settle a state investigation into alleged falsification of internal records about its underground infrastructure, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
* Separately, a consumer group and a trustee in PG&E Corp.'s bankruptcy case are questioning the utility's bankruptcy-related attorney fees after it reached the $140 million mark, according to The Mercury News of San Jose, Calif. The trustee, Andrew Vara, said the case could likely rank among the most expensive cases ever filed.
* A small solar-plus-storage project in Montana is generating debate at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over whether developers can limit the output of their facilities to qualify for special treatment under a decades-old law aimed at boosting renewables.
* A bipartisan report from New York University concluded that the Trump administration is pushing federal science into a "crisis," with "almost weekly violations of previously respected safeguards," The New York Times reported.
* The New Mexico Supreme Court denied a petition to clarify the applicability of the Energy Transition Act to Public Service Co. of New Mexico's application for the San Juan Generating Station abandonment, securitization and replacement power. As such, the state Public Regulation Commission will handle the question of ETA's applicability.
* New Jersey has formed an oversight panel to oversee the decommissioning of the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, according to The Associated Press.
Natural gas
* Hess Midstream Partners LP has agreed to acquire Hess Infrastructure Partners LP. As part of this transaction, Hess Midstream Partners' organizational structure will be converted into an "UP-C" structure, eliminating incentive distribution rights payments to sponsors.
* Natural gas consumption in the U.S. ticked higher during the week ended Oct. 2 owing to an increase in demand in the residential and commercial sector, according to figures released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in its Oct. 3 "Natural Gas Weekly Update."
* The first of the 10 liquefaction units at the approximately $2 billion Elba liquefaction project has entered commercial service. The project is a joint venture of Kinder Morgan Inc. and EIG Global Energy Partners LLC.
* The U.S. Geological Survey more than tripled its estimate of recoverable oil and natural gas in Ohio and Pennsylvania's Utica Shale on Oct. 3. The agency said technological advances by horizontal drillers make more resources available than in previous estimates.
* The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a 22% increase to NICOR Gas' delivery base rates, about 7% less than what the utility originally sought. The new rates are expected to take effect on Oct. 8.
Oil
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* With activist investors pushing both the splitting of Marathon Petroleum Corp. and a leadership change at the integrated refiner, the man some see as a potential replacement for embattled Chairman and CEO Gary Heminger said he backs the current leadership.
* National oil companies and supermajors will have to be actively involved in creating new technologies for wind and solar power generation if unconventional energy is to become a major power source, the general partner of RockPort Capital Partners said Oct. 2.
* The California Department of Conservation's Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources issued a more than $2.7 million civil penalty to Chevron Corp. for violations at the Cymric oil field in Kern County.
* A new Washington state crude-by-rail law has forced Phillips 66 to significantly cut shipments of Bakken crude to its Ferndale Refinery, the refinery's manager told federal regulators.
* Abraxas Petroleum Corp. signed agreements to sell two noncore assets for $7.9 million, subject to certain due diligence and closing conditions.
* Saudi Arabia announced that it has fully restored oil output at 11.3 million barrels per day and is now focusing on the planned initial public offering of Saudi Arabian Oil Co., according to Reuters.
Coal
* Blackhawk Mining LLC reached an agreement with lenders to increase funds available under its debtor in possession financing package due to a potential cash shortfall as the company completes its bankruptcy reorganization.
* Navajo Transitional Energy Co. LLC secured the final approval from the U.S. District Court of Delaware to buy Cloud Peak Energy Inc.'s Montana and Wyoming mines. The company, owned by the Navajo Nation, will retain the employees at the mines.
ChartWatch

Large corporations are set to become an ever more important driver of renewable energy markets in Europe, where the phaseout of generous government subsidies has utilities and other developers looking to the likes of Alphabet Inc., Heineken NV and Daimler AG for stable revenue streams.
New from RRA
* The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission at its Oct. 3 open meeting voted unanimously to approve a partial settlement authorizing Peoples Natural Gas Co. LLC and its affiliates, which are known collectively as PNG Companies LLC, a $59.5 million consolidated gas distribution rate increase.
The day ahead
* The Baker-Hughes Rig Count is due out today.
* 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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