Latest
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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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Environmental
Gas Power Fights Uphill Battle in China
Soon to become the world’s largest electricity market, China is also looking to ease its reliance on coal by shifting toward renewables and natural gas. But an array of roadblocks stand in the way of gas becoming a major element of the mix. -
Environmental
The Effect of Shale Gas on Power Generation in New England
Generators in New England were burned in the 2000s when a fleet of new gas turbine plants couldn’t compete because of high fuel prices. But what goes around comes around, and these same plants are now pushing out oil and coal thanks to cheap shale gas and favorable regulations. -
Legal & Regulatory
With the Gas, the Flow of Fracking Litigation Continues
Few industrial innovations are free of litigation, and fracking is no exception. In this update from last year’s review of litigation trends, favorable early results for explorers and developers suggest cautious optimism may be in order for the natural gas industry. -
Environmental
Air Quality Impacts from Natural Gas Extraction and Combustion
EPRI performed a review of air quality issues related to natural gas extraction and combustion in 2011–2012. This review focused on both traditional pollutants (such as particulate matter and volatile organic compounds) and emerging air pollutants (such as ultrafine particle number) that are being considered in air quality management processes. This article summarizes the major topics and conclusions from this review. -
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.