Draft DOE memo lays out plan to prop up vulnerable coal, nuclear power plants
The U.S. Department of Energy may direct grid operators to buy power or capacity from designated coal-fired and nuclear plants for two years to assure grid resilience and bolster national security, according to a draft addendum to a pending DOE order.
A year later, Trump still eyeing Paris withdrawal as others move to fill gap
Twelve months after President Donald Trump pledged to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the nation remains a party to the accord even as the administration works domestically to roll back many of its environmental rules.
Much of US energy industry recoils at Trump plan to prop up at-risk power plants
A plan to force grid operators to buy power from at-risk coal and nuclear power plants went over well with some connected to those industries but prompted a swift backlash from a larger group of energy stakeholders.
Reviews mixed for nearly 7-year-old FERC transmission rule
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Order 1000, with some utilities praising the rule for increasing competition to build new power lines. But others say it has spurred few new projects, and this and other concerns with the rule, including those expressed by some utilities and former FERC commissioners, have led to calls for the agency to revise the order or scrap it entirely.
Law experts: DOE draft coal, nuclear plan faces long odds but could take effect
Although DOE's draft plan to use two rarely invoked laws to save struggling coal-fired and nuclear power plants likely would face steep legal challenges, it still may roil power markets absent an immediate court stay, legal experts said.
DOE official explains agency's call to save coal, nuclear plants
DOE Undersecretary Mark Menezes confirmed the department was considering a proposal for grid operators to buy power from at-risk coal and nuclear generation facilities to stave off plant retirements, using the national security rationale given in a memo on the proposal leaked last week.
Push for generation subsidies could shift power market costs, panelists say
Policies aimed at subsidizing select generating resources in competitive markets run the risk of shifting larger swaths of generation's cost burden to ratepayers instead of private plant owners, market observers say.
US grid operator's subsidy 'headache' worsened by Trump bid to save coal, nukes
The federal policy coordinator of the U.S.'s largest regional grid operator asserted that moves by the Trump administration to support struggling coal-fired and nuclear power plants worsens a "headache" over accommodating public policies and state-mandated energy subsidies in competitive markets.
US generators ask FERC to protect PJM market from federal, state subsidies
Facing state and possibly federal moves to subsidize nuclear and coal power plants in PJM Interconnection's capacity market, three power suppliers are urging U.S. federal regulators to direct the grid operator to adopt a new minimum offer price rule instead of alleged subsidy-friendly market reforms that could distort market price signals.
Judge orders US EPA to produce documents supporting Pruitt's climate stance
A federal district court judge has ordered U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt to produce the documents behind his controversial statement that carbon dioxide is not a "primary contributor" to climate change.
AEP chief wants further study of grid resilience as US DOE ponders broad plan
American Electric Power Co. Inc. President and CEO Nick Akins believes steps need to be taken to slow the loss of U.S. coal-fired and nuclear power plants, but the company wants individual regions to decide how to ensure grid resilience.
Science board frustrated by US EPA's lack of communication
During the first meeting of the EPA's Science Advisory Board under Administrator Scott Pruitt, scientists repeatedly asked the agency to respond to their requests for information to aid their review of the science underpinning regulatory actions.
US EPA science board approves review of agency's science transparency policy
The U.S. EPA's Science Advisory Board voted unanimously to review a recent proposal on science transparency that has been panned by scientists, academics, environmental groups, and others as an effort to exclude public health studies from consideration for regulatory actions.
DOE report identifies gaps in US power sector cybersecurity
The U.S. electric power sector has suffered no lasting damage from cyberattacks and is generally prepared to manage most electricity disruptions but the risk of significant cyber intrusions is growing, according to report from the U.S. Department of Energy released.
SEC commissioner says agency could do more on climate-related disclosures
The SEC could be doing more to ensure that companies are disclosing the information investors need, including on climate-related risks, to make wise decisions about their financial holdings, but is unlikely to do so anytime soon, said SEC Commissioner Robert Jackson.
