Latest
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Coal
Coal Ash Bill Clears House with 265–155 Vote, Heads to Senate
Coal ash legislation that would protect the recycling of coal ash and gives states the authority to set their own standards for the disposal of fly ash with oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week cleared the House by a vote of 265–155.
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Solar
EU Strikes Deal with China in Solar Spat as China Imposes Solar Duties on U.S., S. Korea
The European Union (EU) Trade Commission reached a "targeted and innovative" settlement in its high-profile solar spat with Beijing, just as China imposed lofty duties on U.S. and South Korean manufacturers of solar-grade polysilicon.
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Nuclear
USEC Secures $29.9M in Federal Funding to Advance Centrifuge Demonstration
An amendment signed by USEC subsidiary American Centrifuge Demonstration to a June 2012 research, development and demonstration (RD&D) cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy gives the uranium enrichment technology firm an additional $29.9 million in government cost-shared funding, enough to fund the American Centrifuge program through September.
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Nuclear
EDF to Exit U.S. Nuclear, Cites Natural Gas Impact
Électricité de France (EDF), the world’s largest nuclear generator, began its withdrawal from U.S. nuclear on Tuesday, citing market changes spurred by cheap natural gas.
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Coal
Federal Court Upholds EPA’s GHG Permitting Rules
A divided panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last week ruled that Texas, Wyoming, and industry groups lacked standing to challenge rules by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to state greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting requirements.
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O&M
AEP Will Retire Rather than Refuel Ohio Plant
American Electric Power (AEP) has opted to retire—instead of refueling with natural gas—its 585-MW coal-fired Muskingum River Plant Unit 5 in Beverly, Ohio, in 2015.
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O&M
How Stealth Combustion Losses Lower Plant Efficiency. Part 1: The Problem
At the average coal-fired power plant, the battle to reduce net heat rate is complicated by skin-tight maintenance budgets, staff reductions, and—for some—the switch from baseload to mid-peaking service. The most fruitful approach to improving a plant’s heat rate is to optimize combustion in its boiler, particularly by minimizing the amount of “stealth” air in-leakage.
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O&M
ORP: New Tool or Another Gadget?
Understand how to best use a new tool-in this case, the measurement of oxidation-reduction potential—and avoid another on-line gadget.
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Coal
Economic, Regulatory Hurdles to Drive More Coal Retirements
The headwinds battering the coal power industry show no signs of slackening, as upcoming regulations and unfavorable economics promise to force another round of retirements.
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Commentary
American Energy Security and Innovation: The Role of Regulators and Grid Operators in Meeting Natural Gas and Electric Coordination Challenges.
Without some serious progress on improving its infrastructure and market structure, New England is facingchallenges to reliability with its increased reliance on natural gas, says the head of ISO-NE.