Latest
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Commentary
An Iconoclast’s Manifesto
It’s time to banish a few common terms that are hindering good thinking and obstructing progress in the power sector.
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Supply Chains
TREND: Down Go Electricity Prices
A variety of factors have exerted downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices the past few years. EIA data suggest this may be a long-term spiral, not just a temporary hiccup.
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Coal
Gates Calls for Increased Spending on Energy Research, Renewed Focus on Nuclear
Bill Gates didn’t mince words last night when sharing with the IHS CERAWeek crowd his thoughts about public support for basic scientific research in the United States.
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Coal
China Looks to Curb Carbon Emissions by Diversifying Power Portfolio
China will reduce the nation’s carbon emissions and energy use per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by at least 3.7% this year and perform trials for a carbon-trading program, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said in a report on Tuesday. The country would also make "greater efforts to conserve energy" and "reduce the discharge of major pollutants," it’s top economic planner said.
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Environmental
Obama Nominees—McCarthy for EPA, Moniz for DOE, and Jewell for DOI—Face Tough Confirmation Hearings
President Obama this week nominated Gina McCarthy, the current assistant administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation, to head the EPA. He also nominated Dr. Ernest Moniz, currently a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for secretary of energy. Both are expected to face a difficult confirmation process.
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Nuclear
Federal Court Reopens Case Disputing Nuclear Waste Fund Fees
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last week reopened and set a relatively expedited briefing schedule for a case in which several states and nuclear utilities have claimed collection of a nuclear waste fee by the Department of Energy (DOE) is unlawful.
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Environmental
EIA: U.S. Power Sector SO2, NOx Emissions Lowest Since 1990
Power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the U.S. declined to their lowest level since 1990, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said last week.
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Nuclear
Global Laser Enrichment Formally Proposes Uranium Facility for Paducah
GE–Hitachi division Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) has reportedly submitted a nonbinding proposal to establish an additional uranium enrichment facility at the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Paducah enrichment site in Kentucky.
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Business
Survey Suggests Regulatory Risk, Weak Power Prices Are Biggest Challenges for European Power Sector
A survey of European power utility and consultancy workers conducted by energy information provider Platts last week suggests that regulatory risk and weak wholesale power prices are thought to be at the top the industry’s most significant challenges.
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Business
Creating a Sustainable Energy System Through Gas and Electric Harmonization
The increasing importance of natural gas in the nation’s generation mix has brought a number of reliability concerns to the forefront. Though regional and federal regulators are beginning to address the issues involved in harmonizing the natural gas and electric power sectors, a number of roadblocks remain to be removed.