Western Energy News

Arizona’s largest utility pledges to go carbon-free by 2050

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RENEWABLES: Arizona Public Service Co. announces plans to produce all of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050 and will close a New Mexico coal plant seven years ahead of schedule. (Arizona Republic)

ALSO:
• The Spokane Nation in Washington state is set to become a “model for nation-building in the energy sector” through its 100% tribally owned Sovereign Power energy company. (Nonprofit Quarterly)
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District proposes almost 2.9 GW of new renewable energy capacity to support its goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. (Renewables Now)

***SPONSORED LINK: Attend Intersolar North America, February 4-6 in San Diego.

U.S. Energy News

Power plants face increasing weather risks from climate change

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POWER PLANTS:
• Power plants will be increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat, water shortages, flooding, and hurricanes, according to a new Moody’s report. (Utility Dive)
• An effort to repeal Ohio’s bailout for nuclear and coal plants is dead after organizers drop their court appeals. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

OVERSIGHT: North Carolina’s Democratic governor has reshaped the state’s utility commission in advance of several key decisions. (Energy News Network)

***SPONSORED LINK: Already on its 10th edition, ACI’s National Conference on Microgrids will be hosted in Boston on March 18-19. The conference will also feature an exclusive tour of the Sterling Municipal Light Department’s award-winning microgrid!

Midwest Energy News

Opponents drop effort to repeal Ohio nuclear, coal bailout

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POWER PLANTS: An effort to repeal Ohio’s bailout for nuclear and coal plants is dead after organizers drop their court appeals. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

ALSO: Midwest utilities are vulnerable to extreme heat and flooding, according to a Moody’s report that cites plants owned by Ameren and AES, as well as Xcel Energy plants in the Southwest. (Utility Dive, Star Tribune)

***SPONSORED LINK: MEEA invites you to Chicago, February 26-28 for the 19th annual Midwest Energy Solutions Conference. At the Midwest’s premier energy efficiency conference, you’ll join industry leaders for three days of panels, workshops, networking opportunities and celebrations of industry successes.***

POLICY:
• Critics say a ruling by federal regulators could price many renewables out of the PJM capacity market while driving up prices for consumers. (Energy News Network)
• PJM says the ruling “may have paradoxically unintended consequences over time and may result in less economic efficiency.” (Utility Dive)

COAL:
• A bill meant to stall coal plant retirements and the shift to gas and renewables in Indiana moves out of committee to the House floor.

Northeast Energy News

Advocates call federal ruling ‘worst case scenario’ for clean energy

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GRID: Clean energy advocates says a recent FERC ruling could price renewables out of PJM’s capacity markets and provide an advantage to fossil-fuel generation. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• New Jersey regulators file a brief saying the FERC decision will make it harder for the state to achieve its climate goals. (NJ Spotlight)
• The Hershey Co. says uncertainty caused by the changes has stalled its efforts to acquire renewable energy credits for its operations. (E&E News, subscription required)

***SPONSORED LINK: Already on its 10th edition, ACI’s National Conference on Microgrids will be hosted in Boston on March 18-19.

Southeast Energy News

West Virginia governor willing to do ‘anything’ to help oil and gas

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OVERSIGHT: The North Carolina Utilities Commission is finally at full strength — with almost all seats appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper —  and is expected to rule this year on orders related to electric vehicles and rate hikes. (Energy News Network)

OIL & GAS:
• West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says he is willing to do “anything” to help the state’s struggling oil and natural gas industry. (WVPB)
• A Kinder Morgan executive says the company is cautiously expanding its operations in Texas and Mexico. (S&P Global)

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PIPELINES: A small Texas water district joins a lawsuit against Kinder Morgan’s Permian Highway Pipeline amid protests across the state.