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NERC: EPA’s Clean Power Rule Could Transform Coal Power Use
Implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP) could change the use of the U.S. coal-fired generating fleet from baseload to seasonal peaking—and pose grave implications for plant economics and operating feasibility, the North American Electric… Read More

Maryland to Mandate Emergency NOx Reductions at Coal Plants
An emergency action proposed by Maryland regulators on Friday will require 14 coal-fired units in the state to minimize nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions every day during the 2015 summer ozone season, starting as soon as May 1. The rule submitted… Read More

Announcement from POWER

Submit your Power Project by next Thursday, April 30

All nominated projects must be in commercial operation by the nomination deadline of April 30, 2015. The 2015 categories are:

Plant of the Year Award
Reinvention Award (formerly Marmaduke Award)
Water Award
Smart Grid Award
Top Plants Awards (in gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable subcategories)

Submission information and nomination forms available at https://www.powermag.com/power-awards/

Japanese Court Clears Sendai Nuclear Reactors for Restart
A Japanese court has rejected a petition to halt the restart of two reactors at the Sendai nuclear power plant, putting the country on course again to revive its long-stalled nuclear power sector. The Kagoshima district court in southwest Japan… Read More

FERC Issues Final Gas-Electric Coordination Rule
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a final rule to improve coordination of wholesale natural gas and electricity market scheduling in light of the nation's increased reliance on natural gas generation. FERC's March 2014 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking… Read More

Dominion to Close Virginia Coal Ash Ponds
Dominion Virginia Power will close all its coal ash ponds at power plants in Virginia to comply with standards established by state and federal regulations. The company announced on April 17 that it would close ponds at four locations: Bremo… Read More

Texas, Okla. Consider Eliminating Wind Incentives
Bills to eliminate incentives that have accelerated the expansion of wind power found momentum in Texas and Oklahoma last week. Texas Moves to Nix RPS, CREZ The Texas Senate on April 14 approved, by a 21–10 vote, legislation that would… Read More

Report: Utilities Are Making Significant Investments in Transmission Infrastructure
Investor-owned electric utilities in the U.S. spent $16.9 billion in 2013 to build transmission infrastructure, a report recently released by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) shows. The ninth annual publication of the EEI's Transmission Projects: At a Glance highlights a… Read More

NPPD to Convert Coal Boiler to Use Hydrogen Fuel
In what could be an industry first, Nebraska's largest electric utility plans to replace an existing coal-fired boiler with one that uses hydrogen fuel. The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) said on April 17 that it plans to fuel its… Read More

Four Ontario Electric Utilities Pursue Merger
Ontario's four largest local electricity distribution companies are working to form a large new utility Enersource Corp., Horizon Utilities Corp., Hydro One Brampton Inc., and PowerStream Inc. have made a commitment to merge and create a new utility. The companies… Read More

DOE Highlights Carbon Capture Milestone
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects backed by the Department of Energy (DOE) have captured 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, the agency said in an announcement highlighting the milestone. The projects contributing to the 10 million tons captured… Read More

Clean Power Plan Achievable but Challenges Large, Say Experts
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Power Plan is feasible in its ultimate goals, but getting there will take a lot of work and some rethinking of how the targets are achieved, according to speakers at the Environmental Mega Session,… Read More

DOE Highlights Challenges to Energy Infrastructure in Quadrennial Energy Review
The U.S. energy infrastructure needs not just substantial investment for the future but also considerable rethinking about its role and functions in order to be positioned to deal with a rapidly changing energy landscape and evolving threats from cyber attack… Read More

Executive Roundtable Discusses Looming Power Sector Changes
If there was one thing that the panelists at Wednesday's Executive Roundtable at the ELECTRIC POWER 2015 Convention and Exhibition in Rosemont, Ill., agreed on, it was that change—spurred by new regulations, cheap gas, and the spread of distributed generation—is… Read More

Famous Last Words: “It’s Never Happened to Us!”
Don’t wait until after an incident to make improvements and correct problems in coal handling systems: That was the message delivered to attendees at the best practices workshop during the Powder River Basin Coal Users’ Group (PRBCUG) Annual Meeting, which… Read More

CAES a Potential Solution to California’s “Duck Curve,” Say Experts
California’s burgeoning renewable generation sector, given renewed vigor with a proposed increase in its renewables mandate, means it will need robust energy storage capacity going forward, said speakers at a session at the Electric Power Conference and Exhibition April 22… Read More

EPCE: An Extra Tool for Workforce Development
If you work for a power generator or utility, chances are good that your company has concerns about filling open positions with qualified people. Though many utilities work closely with local community colleges, that approach often is not enough, and… Read More