FERC Warned Renewables Planning Can Strand Grid Assets -
"But at a FERC technical conference, others highlighted a potential risk for overbuilding and the cost it could incur for consumers."
Why this is important: It's...more
12/2/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Generation ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
NERC ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy
German Regulator Puts Brake on Nord Stream 2 in Fresh Blow to Gas Pipeline -
"First flows through the pipeline look very unlikely in the first half of 2022, he added."
Why this is important: It is estimated that Russia...more
11/18/2021
/ Coal Industry ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Russia Chooses Not to Raise Natural Gas Supplies to Europe Despite Putin’s Pledge to Help -
"Highly anticipated auction results showed Russia’s state gas giant Gazprom had not booked additional gas transit capacity for...more
11/4/2021
/ Abandoned Property ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal ,
Coal Mines ,
Energy Sector ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Coal Power to Increase for First Time Since 2014, US Says -
"The amount of electricity produced by coal plants is expected to tick up 22% in 2021, reversing coal’s six-year downward trend."
Why this is important: For...more
10/21/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy
Ford Building Massive Electric Vehicle and Battery Plants with $11.4 Billion Investment
"Automaker says production hubs will bring 11,000 jobs to Tennessee and Kentucky."
Why this is important: Ford Motor Company and...more
How a Colorado Coal Plant Could Become a Massive Battery for Renewable Energy -
"If the idea works, it could be a case study for other communities trying to preserve jobs and property taxes as the world shifts to cleaner...more
9/9/2021
/ Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Coking Coal ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tesla
As U.S. Retreats, China Looks to Back Taliban with Afghan Mining Investments -
"While the Taliban takes stock of the natural resources and U.S.-funded infrastructure now at their disposal, strategic competitors including...more
8/26/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Cybersecurity ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Sanctions
Appeals Court Rules Louisiana Oil-and-Gas Lawsuits Must be Heard in Federal Court -
"The state and six coastal parishes have filed 42 lawsuits against 200 fossil fuel companies since 2013 over coastal erosion and wetland...more
8/12/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tax Credits
China to Build the First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor – Of Course -
"It will be China’s own Linglong One design, it will be about 125 MW, it will take about 5 years to build, and it will generate about a billion...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 20 of Currents. In this issue, we discuss major and interesting topics such as IGCC coal power, BP and solar projects, using coal substitutes, Republican investments in EVs, cofiring, secure mineral...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 18 of Currents. As always, we cover the gamut of hot topics in the energy industry. In this edition, we provide insights on issues at the local, state and federal levels, as well as international...more
Shot Heard Across Texas: San Antonio Gets a Temporary Restraining Order Against ERCOT -
"CPS Energy, the municipal electric utility serving San Antonio and the surrounding area, has won the first skirmish against the...more
5/12/2021
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Renewable Energy
Clearway Energy Acquires 264-MW Wind Farm in West Virginia -
"Located in Grant County, Mt Storm was put on stream back in 2008 and is feeding electricity into the PJM market."
Why this is important: Clearway Energy...more
Federal Lawmakers Seek Funds to Plug Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells -
"U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat from New Mexico, said plugging these wells is an important step to protecting communities and can help put people...more
WV Legislature Adopts Compromise Amendment to Natural Gas Property Tax Bill -
"HB 2581 would provide a revised methodology to value oil and natural gas properties by the State Tax Commissioner in response to a West...more
Oil Giants Win Climate Suit as Judges Push for Political Fix -
"New York City suffered another setback in its effort to make Exxon Mobil Corp., BP Plc and other energy companies help cover the public costs of dealing with...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 11 of Currents. As we begin a new month. I'll remind everyone that we are continually looking to write about different topics...
In Shift, Oil Industry Group Backs Federal Price on Carbon -...more
World's Largest Coal Miner Coal India Bets on Solar, Eyes Further Mine Closures -
"Pramod Agarwal said its joint venture with state-run NLC India Ltd plans to invest around 125 billion rupees ($1.73 billion) in solar...more
U.S. Congress Launches Probe Into Multibillion-Dollar 'Clean Coal' Tax Credit -
"The U.S. Congress is investigating a multibillion-dollar subsidy for chemically treated coal that is meant to reduce smokestack pollution,...more
3/18/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Coal ,
Coal Industry ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Tax Credits
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 8 of Currents. Recently, my colleagues Joseph Schaeffer and Risa Katz-Albert recorded a webinar - Data Privacy and Security 101: Six Questions to Ask Yourself. They discuss basic introductory data...more
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Floats Natural Gas Tax to Pay for $3 Billion Pandemic Recovery Plan -
"Long a proponent of an extraction tax, Wolf said it could pay for improvements to workforce training and support, remove...more
The Possible Xinjiang Coal Link in Tesla’s Bitcoin Binge -
"The main draw is the cheap power needed to run the computers that perform the complicated equations for so-called 'Proof of Work' that confirm transactions...more
Exxon, Chevron CEOs Discussed Merger Last Year -
"Chevron’s Mike Wirth and Exxon’s Darren Woods spoke as the Covid-19 outbreak hurt oil and gas demand, adding financial strain to both companies, Dow Jones said."
Why...more
Why the U.S. isn't in Desperate Need of the Keystone XL Pipeline -
"U.S. President Joe Biden fulfilled a campaign promise by scuttling the 1,897-kilometre pipeline."
Why this is important: While the rescission of the...more
In a Rare Rebuke, FERC Fails to Approve Mountain Valley Pipeline's Proposal -
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission deadlocked 2-2 on Mountain Valley’s request to bore under streams and wetlands along the pipeline’s...more
1/21/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Mines ,
Cybersecurity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines