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Energy Firms Up-In-Arms Over Congressional Treatment of Ex-Im Bank

Ken Silverstein's picture
Submitted by Ken Silverstein on Mon, 2015-07-13 14:01
If calmer heads prevail, the Ex-Im Bank should get reauthorized. However, if political mindsets rule the day, the bank will go down in flames, and take with it a number of potentially positive energy ventures.

Over the Fourth of July, American’s celebrated the birth of a nation. But in some corners, they mourned the potential death of a federal agency that has meant a lot to energy companies, especially those in the nuclear and renewable fields: the Export-Import Bank.

Actually, on June 30th, the deadlined passed for the U.S. Congress to reauthorize the agency, which makes loans to domestic businesses — both big and small — so that they can sell their wares around the globe. While the bank is now unable to make to any new loans, it still must service the existing ones it has.

Wind of Change Challenging Utilities

Elon Musk’s appearance at the Edison Electric Institute’s annual convention was a “wind of change” moment.

The industry is coming to terms, or trying to come to terms, with new forces that are challenging it as a business proposition in a way that it hasn’t been challenged in a history of more than 100 years.
Byline: 

Llewellyn King

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Distribution Optimization: Ready for Takeoff

Part 2: Key choices on the way forward.

Integrated Distribution Planning (IDP) – much like its bulk power system cousin, Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) – provides a useful starting point for regulators and utilities to begin thinking about how to optimize the distribution system.
Byline: 

Sonia Aggarwal, Robbie Orvis and Michael O’Boyle

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Piggybacking on the Grid

Why net energy metering is unfair and inefficient.

While customers may have reached a “net zero” threshold on energy, they are a large net negative on very expensive grid services.
Byline: 

Charles E. Bayless

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EPA's Clean Power Plan

Charting a Path Forward

With respect to the Clean Power Plan, the question is whether EPA will address the major issues and reinforce its positions in advance of the anticipated legal challenges.
Byline: 

Steven A. Weiler

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Smart Gas Investment

As a bridge to a low-carbon future, natural gas can’t – and shouldn’t – meet every need.

Some describe natural gas generation as the “Swiss army knife” of technologies, as it can meet a variety of electric system needs. Yet while a Swiss army knife can prove handy, we don’t often use it when we have access to a well-equipped toolbox. It can introduce unnecessary costs and unacceptable risks.
Byline: 

Dr. Carl Linvill

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