Sonal Patel is a national award-winning multimedia journalist and senior editor at POWER magazine with nearly two decades of experience delivering technically rigorous reporting across power generation, transmission, distribution, policy, and infrastructure worldwide.
Executives from power companies operating in different markets revealed how their firms are being affected by low natural gas prices, pressures to achieve fuel diversity, distributed energy generation, and lax demand growth, among a number of topics. The annual executive roundtable panel at the ELECTRIC POWER Conference and Exhibition on April 19 was moderated by […]
Even if the Clean Power Plan (CPP) doesn’t overcome legal challenges, it is likely that many states will implement carbon-curbing measures set down by the rule, some panelists said at the Environmental Mega Session at the ELECTRIC POWER 2016 conference in New Orleans on April 19. The Rule’s Shaky Legal Standing The rule is […]
Public benefits offered by the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) far outweigh the costs, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said as it released a review of the 2012-finalized rule’s cost implications. The final cost consideration—released just days before power plants that received a one-year extension must come into compliance with the rule—was prompted by […]
Power News Don't miss these POWER magazine resources: Post Jobs | View Jobs | Buyers' Guide Puerto Rico Utility Moves to Restructure $9B in Debt A plan to restructure $9 billion in Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) debt—an eighth of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s staggering $72 billion in debt—surfaced at the U.S. territory’s […]
Financially bruised Peabody Energy Corp.—the world’s largest privately owned coal mining firm—is seeking bankruptcy protection. The St. Louis–headquartered company filed for voluntary Chapter 11 protection in a desperate attempt to strengthen liquidity and reduce debt amid what it says has been an “unprecedented industry downturn.” It filed petitions for most of its U.S. entities in […]
BADEN, SWITZERLAND—April 11, 2016—Today, GE (NYSE: GE) announced a deal with China Machinery Engineering Corp (CMEC) to supply two 330-megawatt (MW) boilers to Engro Powergen Thar (Private) Limited, CMEC’s joint venture with Pakistan companies for the Thar Block II Power Plant. The deal will support Pakistan’s move to use its ample coal reserves in the […]
After 64 years as a landmark in Wilmington, N.C., one of three boiler units at Duke Energy’s retired coal-fired L.V. Sutton Plant crumpled in a dusty heap of contorted steel and splintered glass on April 10. The implosion is the first of three similar events to take place at the Sutton Plant. The next is […]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today formally commissioned its Port Everglades Next Generation Clean Energy Center – the third in a series of such facilities powered by American-produced natural gas. As was the case with the company’s Next Generation Clean Energy Centers at Riviera Beach and Cape Canaveral, the Port Everglades facility […]
Power News Don't miss these POWER magazine resources: Post Jobs | View Jobs | Buyers' Guide EEI Gets Pushback on Proposed Rebranding of Utility Solar The Edison Electric Institute has come under fire for a new communications plan that was intended to depict utilities as more community-minded.&hellips; Read More State AGs Join Forces to […]
SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) and Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corporation (OECC) will announce the full commissioning of the 100-acre East Camden, Arkansas solar field on March 31, 2016. The 12‑megawatt (AC) array is located in the Highland […]
RENO, Nev., March 30, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA) announced today its subsidiary has signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Alevo Group SA, a leading provider of energy storage systems, to jointly build, own and operate the Rabbit Hill Energy Storage Project, located in Georgetown, Texas. Ormat will own and fund […]
March 24, 2016 12:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) delivered record electric reliability in 2015 with the average customer experiencing less than one outage during the year. PG&E’s sizable investment in its electric infrastructure and its commitment to integrating innovative technology continues to pay dividends for its customers. […]
Contributing to the stable operation of critical facilities worldwide March 27, 2016 10:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today that it produced its milestone 40,000th Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) unit in February 2016. UPS are used as back-up power supplies for essential facilities like data centers and financial institutions, where a […]
Two renewables giants with a hefty global reach are facing debilitating financial crises. SunEdison on the Verge of Bankruptcy California-headquartered solar project developer SunEdison, a company that has 1,000 operational sites worldwide and is staffed by 3,000 employees, is facing a liquidity crisis so dire, the company’s yieldco TerraForm Global warned in a March 29 […]
A handful of attorneys general want to join forces on ongoing and potential investigations into whether fossil fuel companies misled investors and the public about the impact of climate change on their businesses. New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the joint effort on March 29, during a one-day climate change conference for attorneys […]
New 2750 kVA generator set with the latest Cummins QSK60-G22 60-litre engine brings more power using less fuel in a smaller footprint Manston, Kent, England — Building on a tradition of technological innovation, performance and reliability, Cummins Power Generation introduces the QSK60-G22 engine as part of the QSK60 Diesel Series. Having previously only been available in a 60 Hz version, the new 50 […]
Power News Don't miss these POWER magazine resources: Post Jobs | View Jobs | Buyers' Guide Turkey Point Faces Lawsuit Over Cooling Canal Leaks Two environmental groups on March 22 filed a notice of intent to sue Florida Power & Light (FPL) in federal court over leaks from the utility’s Turkey Point Nuclear Plant south of […]
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Scuderi Clean Energy’s (SCE) high efficiency, natural gas power generation and energy storage systems are ideal for large commercial properties with high electric usage. Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160321/346331LOGO The patented SCE system utilizes conventional state-of-the-art technology in a unique method to create the best possible answer to power generation issues – […]
New facility supports increasing volume of low voltage systems for European customers March 21, 2016 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time LIVONIA, Mich.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A123 Systems LLC, a developer and manufacturer of advanced lithium-ion batteries and systems, today announced that it is expanding its operations in Europe by opening a new manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic […]
March 16, 2016 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The global geothermal power market continued to grow forward according to the 2016 US and Global Geothermal Power Production Report released today by the US Geothermal Energy Association. With an operating capacity of 13.3 GW in 24 countries, the market had new capacity under development in 82 countries. […]
March 17, 2016 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–According to the latest research study released by Technavio, the global solid oxide and fuel cell (SOFC) market is expected to reach close to USD 815.6 million by 2020. Global solid oxide and fuel cell (SOFC) market expected to reach close to USD 815.6 million by 2020. […]
Alinta Energy Orders Inspection of 19 Generators at Seven Power Plants to Increase Reliability GE to Deploy Legacy Alstom Business’ DIRIS* Robotic Inspection Tool and TurboRotoscan Technologies Cited among Industry’s Best Practices Robotic Systems Enable Faster Generator Inspections without Removing Rotors from Machines Order Showcases GE’s Total Plant Solutions for Servicing Non-GE Power Plant Equipment, […]
Over the past week, several states took action on the Clean Power Plan as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urged governors to “wait and see” on the carbon rule, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) chief defended the rule. McConnell Urges Governors to Halt Compliance Work. In a March 21 letter to the National […]
Power News Don't miss these POWER magazine resources: Post Jobs | View Jobs | Buyers' Guide Rise of Populist New Right Party AfD May Trump Germany’s Energiewende On March 13, three of Germany’s 16 states held regional elections that were largely seen as a referendum on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s increasingly controversial refugee policies as well […]
BASF to license AMSC’s second generation high temperature superconductor manufacturing technology Parties agree to develop advanced low cost manufacturing process for second generationhigh temperature superconductor DEVENS, Mass. and LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany, March 08, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMSC, a global energy solutions provider serving wind and power grid industry leaders, and BASF Corporation, announced today that they […]
Affordable prices to continue as utility also focuses on safety and reliability Photos(1) DETROIT, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — DTE Gas will invest $1.4 billion in its Michigan natural gas pipeline infrastructure over the next five years to maintain the safety and reliability of its natural gas system, while at the same time keeping prices affordable for its residential and business […]
March 10, 2016 11:00 AM Eastern Time TEMPE, Ariz.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–First Solar, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: FSLR) Operations & Maintenance group has announced it now has 5 gigawatts (GW) of assets in its portfolio of solar power plants, firmly establishing it as the largest solar O&M provider in the world. First Solar Energy Services, which has held […]
Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, is President Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Here’s a roundup of Garland’s more recent power sector rulings. July 2015: On Backup Generators Chief Judge Garland and senior circuit Judges Williams and Randolph repealed part of the Environmental Protection […]
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed, with bipartisan support, a bill that slackens emissions limits for power plants that burn coal refuse. The Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment (SENSE) Act passed the House with a 231–183 vote on March 15. However, the White House has said it strongly opposes the bill (H.R. […]
BETHESDA, Md., March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has combined its energy products and technologies into a single commercial line of business to be known as Lockheed Martin Energy. “For decades, we have been investing in smart, natural and safe energy technologies,” said Frank Armijo, the newly appointed vice president of Lockheed Martin Energy. […]