Wholesale Electricity Prices

Polar Vortex Weather System Brings Artic Temperatures Across Wide Swath Of U.S.

A contract fight is unfolding in Cleveland where industrial power customers were hit with “polar vortex” surcharges ranging from $9,000 to $290,000. When temperatures plummeted last January power demand spiked and some generation plants tripped offline. Grid operator PJM called on all generators to produce more power to stabilize the grid and then billed them… Keep reading →

Fracking In California Under Spotlight As Some Local Municipalities Issue Bans

A new study finds much of the world’s potentially recoverable shale resources are located in regions with limited water resources needed for advanced well completion technology like hydraulic fracturing. “Water risk is one of the most important, but underappreciated challenges when it comes to shale gas development. With 386 million people living on land above… Keep reading →

Work Crew Installs Solar Power Panels In Santa Monica

It might the hottest issue in solar, but a leading analyst says not to worry – for now, at least. We’re talking about the debate over net metering – NEM, for net energy metering, by the industry’s nomenclature. Utilities have been pushing back against NEM policies that often reward solar power system owners at the… Keep reading →

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant

The 40+ year-old Vermont Yankee Nuclear plant will shut down by Q4 2014 due to high cost structure and low natural gas and wholesale energy prices. On August 27, 2013, Entergy Corporation announced plans to close and decommission the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon, Vermont in Q4 2014, after the current fuel cycle.  Once the plant… Keep reading →