Emissions

Dynegy Divides To Conquer In Recovery Bid

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One of the country’s most troubled energy firms has reorganized itself and simplified its borrowing structure in a bid for survival.

The entire board of electricity producer Dynegy resigned earlier this year, along with much of the senior executive leadership, leaving the once high-flying firm adrift just ahead of the summer peak-generation season. With new management in place for the past month, and a new board of directors sworn in on June 15, the company’s second-quarter results were met with more curiosity than ire by investors and analysts accustomed to extreme volatility in the company’s outlook. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 9, 2011 at 6:00 AM

AOL Energy Week In Review

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The energy industry held on tight through a volatile week as second quarter financial reports started rolling in and the federal government managed to compromise on a budget that would prevent a US default.

Environmental and energy funding have been front and center of the heated debate in Congress. In The Next Government Crisis, Margaret Ryan describes how Republicans are clashing with environmental regulators over a proposed bill that would slash nearly $2 billion from the EPA budget. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 5, 2011 at 5:15 PM

An Attempt at Clarity in the Who-Should-Pay-for-Transmission Debate

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Last week I wrote about the planning reforms contained in Order 1000, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s landmark rule on transmission planning and cost allocation. Today’s blog looks at Order 1000’s cost allocation implications – basically, how to figure out who pays for new transmission development.

Clements’ previous blog, as well as this one, both appeared originally on the NRDC staff blog, Switchboard. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 5, 2011 at 6:00 AM

EPA Responds To Power Sector On MACT Rule

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In an escalating war of words, the Environmental Protection Agency responded to the American Public Power Association and its August 3 filing of claims against the proposed Electric Generating Unit Maximum Achievable Control Technology (EGU MACT) rule.

Read the full story on the APPA filing: MACT Ruling Faces Utility Opposition. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 4, 2011 at 9:50 AM

The Next Government Crisis

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With the bruising debt ceiling battle barely over, Washington lobbyists are already preparing for a new smackdown in September over environmental regulation.

House Republicans have amassed a Christmas wish list of rules they view as unwarranted expansions of federal power and are trying to stop them cold in the fiscal 2012 appropriations bill for the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and several smaller agencies. They’ve subtitled the bill the “Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act.” Keep reading →

 /  Published August 2, 2011 at 3:35 PM

Regulators, Industry Treading Lightly For Now

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Environmental regulators showed the first signs of their evolving position on the natural gas industry last week, proposing new standards intended to prevent escaping natural gas in production, storage or transport from contributing to pollution.

The new air pollution standards from the Environmental Protection Agency, targeted at the contribution of escaping natural gas to smog-forming volatile organic compounds, are comparatively limited in scope and apply to “several types” of production, storage or transport processes and equipment. The changes are largely adjustments to storage tanks and other equipment. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 2, 2011 at 6:00 AM

No Surprises As Gasification Project Meets Delays

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It was unnecessary to feign surprise when a planned advanced coal gasification technology project was put “on hold” at the University of Wyoming late last week.

“Capital from the private sector only flows to large and ambitious projects when there is reasonably regulatory, legal and financial certainty,” Wyoming Governor Matt Mead said in responding to the delay on the $100 million High Plans Gasification – Advanced Technology Center. “This is a real world example of the local impact of the federal government’s failure to provide a policy path forward for energy use in America.” Keep reading →

 /  Published August 1, 2011 at 3:00 PM

Another Chance For Trash

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Who said trash is waste?

The renewable energy arm of Pennsylvania utility PPL opened its newest gas-fired plant in Allentown, Pennsylvania in late July, powered by methane from the local landfill. Officially named the Glendon Green Energy Park, the project was funded in partnership with the state and Chrin Brothers Inc. and cost $8 million to build. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 1, 2011 at 6:00 AM

The Top Ten Ways We Waste Energy And Water In Buildings

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Last week, one third of the country saw thermometers hit triple digits. Across the nation, air conditioners are cranking and sprinklers are chugging away as millions continue to seek relief from the summer heat.

While grateful for the welcome relief provided by utilities, many of us are increasingly mindful of the precious resources we are tapping. Just looking around at the buildings where we live and work, it is all too easy to identify ways we waste energy and water. In fact, it has been estimated that we throw away as much as 30-50% of the energy and water that flows into our buildings. Multiply that by the nearly 5 million buildings in the US alone and I’m sure you’ll agree we have a big opportunity to better conserve energy and water. Keep reading →

 /  Published July 26, 2011 at 6:00 AM

Emissions Rules Could Boost Technology Additions

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Fewer coal plant closures may result from pending Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules than previously estimated, says a new analysis from ICF International.

Combined with delays in federal greenhouse gas regulation and new expectations of rising natural gas prices, the latest estimates cut ICFI’s projection of forced coal closures from 50 gigawatts to 39 GW. Of that, 17 GW are coal plant closures already announced by operators. Keep reading →

 /  Published July 19, 2011 at 11:00 AM
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