Environmental
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Top Plant
A Half-Century of Reliability: Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant
Baltimore Gas & Electric set out to build the 1.8-GW Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in 1967 because fossil energy was becoming expensive and controversial. Over its nearly 50 years of operation
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Commentary
Idiot or Maniac: Where Does Your Power Company Fit in the Discussion?
It’s kind of exciting to be able to write that events are back in full swing. In case you missed it, POWER hosted the co-located Experience POWER, Distributed Energy Conference, and HydrogeNext events, Oct
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Coal
Why Sulfur Oxides Are Bad and How Flue Gas Desulfurization Technology Works
Sulfur oxides (SO x ) have several harmful effects both to the environment, and to human and animal health. Much of the SO x in the atmosphere comes from the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other
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Commentary
The Future of Sustainable Energy Production Hinges on Hydrogen
A major lesson from the global energy price crisis has been the value of having a diversity of supplies—not relying on a small number of (sometimes unreliable or politically controlled) sources. With
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O&M
Using Advanced Energy Management Controls to Decarbonize Commercial Buildings
The concept of decarbonization typically calls attention to the energy sources or inefficient systems that drive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions upward—in order to decarbonize, we must reduce our usage of, or replace, these sources or systems. What’s important to understand, however, is how the infrastructures that rely on these current energy sources or systems operate, […]
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Press Releases
Honeywell Launches Environmental Sustainability Index Showing Leaders’ Sentiment on Past Progress and Future Expectations Toward Corporate Environmental Goals
CHARLOTTE, NC – October 20, 2022 – Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON), a global leader in energy and climate transition solutions, today announced the launch of its Environmental Sustainability Index. The index is the first quarterly indicator of key trends pertaining to global efforts in climate change mitigation and other sustainability initiatives. Two-thirds of the S&P 500 […]
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Press Releases
Landmark Emissions-Reduction Project in Louisiana Announced; CF Industries, ExxonMobil, EnLink Midstream to Collaborate
CF Industries to capture up to 2 million metric tons of CO2 from operations ExxonMobil to develop 125K-acre CO2 storage location in Vermilion Parish ExxonMobil agreement with EnLink Midstream to transport CO2 through pipeline network IRVING, Texas – CF Industries, a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products, has entered into the largest-of-its-kind commercial […]
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News
Balancing the Scales: Disparities in Decommissioning Practices for Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy
There have been historic initiatives within the U.S. to create a sustainable energy economy and to address major environmental concerns created by fossil fuels. The Inflation Reduction Act contains $369 billion in climate and energy provisions, which will have a meaningful impact on climate change. Meanwhile, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law seeks to remedy environmental issues […]
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Hydrogen
NYPA, GE Successfully Pilot Hydrogen Retrofit at Aeroderivative Gas Turbine
A pioneering GE aeroderivative gas turbine project to demonstrate hydrogen combustion as part of a retrofit at an existing U.S. natural gas power plant has successfully utilized blends of 5% to 44% hydrogen with natural gas—some of the highest volumes of hydrogen blended into a commercially operating gas turbine. The project spearheaded by New York […]
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Nuclear
DOE Unveils Next Steps for Nuclear Waste Consent-Based Siting Process
The Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated community outreach to facilitate consent-based siting, management of spent nuclear fuel (SNF), and interim storage facility siting. The effort, outlined in a series of steps the DOE expects to take in response to a recent request for public input, marks a significant first step toward advancing the agency’s […]
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Nuclear
Michigan Governor Urges DOE to Support Palisades Nuclear Plant’s Reopening
Michigan’s governor has asked the Department of Energy (DOE) to support Holtec International’s efforts to “save” the 800-MW Palisades nuclear power plant, marking a potential turnaround for the facility in Southwest Michigan, which was taken offline for the final time on May 20, 2022, after 50 years of operation. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s in a […]
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Nuclear
Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Gets Legislative Approval for Operation to 2030
California’s lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 846, effectively offering Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) a pathway to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open until at least 2030. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham, a Republican from San Luis Obispo, and Democratic state Sen. Bill Dodd of Napa, passed the California Assembly by 69–3 […]
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Offshore Wind
Rapid Progress for Japan’s Offshore Wind Ambitions
Japan’s ambitions to install up to 10 GW of offshore wind power by 2030 have made rapid progress over the past month, driven partly by accelerated action to address a supply and demand mismatch. Weeks after
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Legal & Regulatory
Biden Signs Bill to Transform U.S. Energy, Combat Climate Change
President Biden’s signing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) should provide further impetus for growth of U.S. renewable energy, coming on the heels of a report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that installations of solar and wind power accounted for more than two-thirds of new domestic utility-scale generation in the first six months […]
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Renewables
Renewable Energy, Electrification Big Winners in Inflation Reduction Act
The U.S. House on Aug. 12 passed a bill with major implications for the power generation industry, joining the U.S. Senate in supporting the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The bill, which now heads to President Joe Biden for his signature, includes major provisions to combat climate change, including support for a variety of clean energy […]
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Trends
AEP CEO Nick Akins to Step Down, Julie Sloat Tapped as Next Company Head
American Electric Power’s (AEP’s) long-serving chairman, president, and CEO, Nick Akins, will step down as CEO on Jan. 1, 2023, and has already passed the company’s presidency to Julie A. Sloat, AEP executive vice president, and chief financial officer (CFO). Sloat, 53, will become the power generating company’s CEO in January, making her the first […]
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Nuclear
U.S. Utility Survey Suggests Industry Mulling Additions of 90 GW of New Nuclear
A Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) survey suggests U.S. utility members expect to add up to 90 GW of new nuclear generation by the 2050s, including more than 300 new small modular reactors (SMRs) in the U.S. over the next 25 years. The nuclear industry group’s survey, unveiled on July 29, sought to gather input from […]
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Press Releases
FM Global allocates US$300 million, first-of-its-kind ‘resilience credit’ to help policyholders proactively invest in climate resilience
JOHNSTON, R.I., USA—Policyholders of FM Global, which include one of every three Fortune 500 companies and similar size organizations worldwide, will collectively receive approximately US$300 million in a first-of-its-kind ‘resilience credit,’ providing them with additional means to invest in climate resilience solutions. The credit has the potential to help those organizations reduce total loss expectancies […]
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Coal
Group: EPA’s Coordinated Regulatory Assault on Coal Power Could Push Retirements Beyond 86 GW by 2030
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is readying a regulatory sweep targeting more stringent limits on traditional pollutants that could accelerate coal power plant closures. A coal trade group estimates that even without new rules, 86 GW of coal generation is slated to retire by 2030. While the U.S. Supreme Court in June curtailed the EPA’s […]
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Nuclear
Nuclear Power Production Curtailed in France, Worsening Europe’s Energy Crisis
High temperatures in river water are reportedly forcing Electricite de France SA (EDF) to cut power generation at some of its nuclear plants. The news is particularly troubling as several European nations struggle to cope with an energy crisis caused by gas cuts made by Russia in retaliation against sanctions placed on it due to […]
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History
Southern Company: A History of a Prolific Power Technology Pioneer
Atlanta-based energy giant Southern Co. has rapidly evolved to keep in step with the evolution of power. As part of its corporate growth, the company has notably pioneered technologies that have reshaped
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Nuclear
Spent Nuclear Fuel: A Valuable Resource—Not a Waste
Did you know that more than 90% of the potential energy that exists in fuel rods when they’re loaded into commercial nuclear reactors still remains in the fuel after five years of operation? Well, that’s
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Coal
Station Life Extension Through Coal-to-Gas Conversion
A project executed from conception through commissioning with the ideals of shared risk and shared success offers a unique approach to project execution, which could be replicated to keep other power plants in
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Legal & Regulatory
‘Major Questions’ Impacts Energy Regulation
On the final day of the Supreme Court’s term, the Court ruled in favor of West Virginia and other petitioners challenging the claimed regulatory authority that underlaid the Clean Power Plan (CPP)—the
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Waste to Energy
The Power of Cow Manure: How Farms of the Future Are Transforming Waste-to-Energy Operations
The use of renewable energy in the agriculture industry is an exciting new frontier that—with the right partners—can bring environmental and economic benefits to farmers, surrounding communities, and the
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Press Releases
America’s Power Statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Plans to Force the Shutdown of Coal-Fired Power Plants
Washington, D.C. – America’s Power President and CEO Michelle Bloodworth issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plans to use new regulations to shut down coal-fired power plants, as part of the administration’s efforts to decarbonize the power sector. The announcement follows last month’s decision by the Supreme Court that placed constraints […]
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Press Releases
Charah Solutions Awarded 9-Year Multi-Pond Ash Pond Excavation Contract from Long-Term Southeastern Utility Partner
Award Represents One of the Largest and Longest Term Projects in Company History Includes Excavation of Approximately 4.3 Million Cubic Yards of Coal Combustion Residuals from Three Ash Ponds to Support Ongoing Beneficiation Activities and Facilitate Future Pond Closures LOUISVILLE, KY (July 28, 2022) – Charah® Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: CHRA) (“Charah Solutions” or the “Company”), […]
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Nuclear
Nuclear Power Plants Report Stellar Performance, but Retirements Could Limit Climate Benefits
The world’s nuclear power plants generated a total of 2,653 TWh of energy in 2021, up 100 TWh from 2020. It was the third-highest total ever for global generation from nuclear, just 4 TWh short of the output in 2019 and 7 TWh less than the record set in 2006. The results were reported by […]
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Offshore Wind
BOEM’s First Two Offshore Wind Areas in the Gulf of Mexico Could Feed Texas, Louisiana
The Biden administration’s push to accelerate offshore wind deployment formally expanded into the Gulf of Mexico as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on July 20 unveiled two draft wind energy areas (WEAs) off the coast of Galveston, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana. The sites represent a “small subset” of its original 30-million Gulf […]
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Coal
Plant Bowen Will Showcase Largest Coal Ash Beneficial Use Project in the U.S.
Georgia Power will harvest 9 million tons of coal ash landfilled at its 3.4-GW Plant Bowen station in Bartow County, Georgia, and beneficially use it in concrete for major regional construction projects. The project, announced on June 29, will be the “ single largest beneficial use project of its kind in the U.S., and the largest […]