News

Entergy Corp. announced on Monday that it plans to continue operating its 2,000-MW Indian Point nuclear power plant in spite of the N.Y. Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) rejection of the plant’s application for a water quality certification on Friday.

The Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced on Thursday its plan to carry out a multi-pronged evaluation process for the independent testing of smart meters installed in the Texas competitive retail electric market. This action follows Oncor Electric Delivery’s announcement last week that it had incorrectly installed more than a thousand smart meters in central Texas.

Xcel Energy and Calpine Corp. announced on Monday that Public Service Company of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company, will purchase two of Calpine’s power plants near Denver that currently provide power to the utility under power purchase agreements.

Entergy Corp., the second-largest operator of nuclear power plants in the U.S., announced on Monday it will cancel its proposed spin-off transaction that would have relocated six of its nuclear units into newly formed companies, Enexus Energy Corp. and EquaGen LLC. This decision occurred in the wake of the New York Public Service Commission’s (NYPSC) decision on Thursday to reject the company’s planned spin-off.

Suniva, a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and modules, announced on Thursday that it has been selected for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program under the DOE’s Innovative Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Advanced Transmission and Distribution Technologies Solicitation.

Portland General Electric (PGE) said on Friday it had submitted a proposal to Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to close its coal-fired Boardman Power Plant by 2020.

Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) said on March 31 that meeting state-mandated energy conservation goals could cost the typical 1,000-kilowatt-hour customer an additional $2 to $3 a month.

CAT PUMPS recently introduced two new stainless steel triplex plunger pumps featuring a 316 stainless steel liquid-end for corrosion resistance. The 7CP6111 and 7CP6171 are designed for pumping liquids like seawater in small seawater reverse osmosis installations, demineralized water for misting, or hot water and sanitizers for sterile cleaning systems. The 7CP stainless steel pumps […]

Sensing and monitoring systems supplier Meggitt PLC launched the Endevco model 6634C, a microprocessor-based vibration amplifier that has been designed to condition and display rotating machinery data in simultaneous outputs, such as broadband, acceleration, velocity, and displacement. Model 6634C is designed to accept inputs from a single-ended, differential piezoelectric or ISOTRON (IEPE-type) accelerometer, velocity coil, […]

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products’ LAF series of three-phase, fan-cooled DC welding power sources are designed for high-productivity mechanized submerged arc welding or high-productivity GMAW welding. Made for use in combination with ESAB’s A2-A6 equipment range and the A2-A6 Process Controllers (PEK or PEI), LAF welding power sources offer excellent welding characteristics throughout the entire […]

Honeywell has added universal input/output (I/O) transmitters to its family of XYR 6000 wireless products. The transmitters allow manufacturers to wirelessly monitor more plant points with fewer devices. The company says that by transmitting signals from up to three different types of inputs — including measurement devices with a high-level analog, temperature or milli-volt, or […]

UK-based Sherborne Sensors has introduced the LSI series of closed-loop gravity-referenced servo inclinometers to the North American market. The family of inclinometers is specially designed to withstand severe shock and vibration inputs for precise measurements in demanding environments. The series incorporates a unique, flexure-supported torque-balancing system that is rugged enough to withstand shock inputs of […]

High-speed imaging systems manufacturer Photron introduced hardware to extend the normal operating temperature range of the Fastcam SA5 and Fastcam SA2 high-speed cameras. The Range Version (RV) is a new sealed case design that makes the camera models impervious to dirt, dust, and sand. Photron’s RV option includes two serviceable external fans that direct cooling […]

I’m often asked about my source of ideas for this space each month. I have two primary sources of subject material. First, I read the industry news every day and save those items that either annoy or agitate me. At the end of the month, I go over the list, often a long one, and pick the one item that immediately motivates me to take virtual pen to paper. This month, no single item emerged as the topic for my bully pulpit, so I present a potpourri of loosely connected topics for your consideration. (It should be noted that other things bug other members of the editorial staff; we’re a diverse group and do not always agree about industry issues.)

For the first time, China led the U.S. and other G-20 members in 2009 clean energy investments and finance, according to data released Thursday by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Last year, China invested $34.6 billion in the clean energy economy—nearly double the U.S. total of $18.6 billion. Over the past five years, the U.S. also […]

The California Energy Commission has approved converting a San Joaquin County peaker plant to a combined-cycle plant. The 169-MW Tracy Peaker Plant would become the 314-MW Tracy Combined Cycle Power Plant. The decision last Wednesday was seen as opening the possibility of integrating solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation—to be built on city land—with the plant, […]

Roughly two weeks after announcing that it would provide approximately $5 million in scholarships and fellowships for students enrolled in nuclear energy–related engineering and science programs at accredited U.S. universities and colleges, the U.S. Department of Energy announced two new funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) to support university and college efforts to build or expand their school’s nuclear science and engineering basic research or education capabilities.

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced last Wednesday that the two agencies, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, will cooperate more closely and align priorities to support the development of environmentally sustainable hydropower. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) represents a new approach to hydropower development—a […]

Just as momentum is building to encourage and finance the building of new U.S. nuclear power plants, a rash of mostly bad news for existing nuclear plants and plant operators—including recent small fires—has tempered industry excitement. The incidents are minor in magnitude, yet the timing is bad for those hoping for a revival of nuclear power.

Vietnam and the United States have signed an agreement that will allow U.S. companies to work in Vietnam to develop atomic power for energy.

Under a final decision issued Monday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), no stationary sources, including power plants, will be required to get Clean Air Act permits that cover greenhouse gases (GHGs) before January 2011.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspection team that was sent last week to investigate crack indications at Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station completed ultrasonic tests on Sunday night that show 12 of the 69 nozzles on top of the plant’s reactor head developed some sort of cracks.

New Jersey’s Gov. Chris Christie decided last week to move $65 million in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) money to the state’s general fund to help cover budget deficits.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued on Thursday a proposal to standardize the definition of transmission facilities subject to mandatory reliability standards. The commission’s intent is to protect the reliability of the nation’s bulk power system.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report on Friday that highlights examples of small businesses throughout the clean, renewable energy and environmental management sectors that have received funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which was enacted in February 2009.

Oracle announced on Tuesday the results of a research report that surveyed 150 North American C-level utility executives to understand their vision for the next 10 years concerning how the smart grid will evolve in our communities and homes and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Thursday that it will conduct a comprehensive research study to investigate the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on water quality and public health.

The U.S. Departments of Energy (DOE) and Agriculture (USDA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced on Monday the launch of a joint research program to produce high-resolution models for predicting climate change and its resulting impacts.

The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) released on March 15 a new study, titled China’s Promotion of the Renewable Electric Power Equipment Industry: Hydro, Wind, Solar and Biomass, which examines policies put in place by the Chinese government to promote the development of its renewable energy sector.

Last week, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) representatives announced that they intend to approve a draft environmental document related to the expansion of the South Texas Project nuclear power plant. Concern about the environmental impact of the proposed expansion has been a key regulatory obstacle for the project.