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Cutting Carbon Reveals Sharp Differences Between Rich and Poor

Submitted by meacott on Thu, 2014-12-18 05:46
If climate talks are to succeed, the winning formula is well known: Cut coal use and give the developing world more resources to build out alternative energy portfolios. With easy access to coal, though, that is a lot more difficult than it sounds.

If climate change stands atop your priorities, then the recently ended confab in Lima, Peru, registered only modestly on your radar. For true believers, the best spin is that talks are going forward - and that all parties got at least some of what they are seeking for the November 2015 UN climate summit in Paris.

Eaton Helps Power Africa's Largest Microgrid Project

Submitted by aburr on Fri, 2014-12-12 14:22

Eaton will provide electrical engineering services and power distribution equipment for the construction of a 5-MW solar microgrid system in Annobon Province, an island off Equatorial Guinea in West Central Africa. The microgrid has battery storage and is designed to supply reliable and predictable power to meet the off-grid community's energy demand. It will be the largest self-sufficient solar microgrid project in Africa.

GE, Utility, Government, and Academia Partner on Underground Microgrid Project to Improve Electricity Reliability in NY’s North Country

Submitted by aburr on Fri, 2014-12-12 14:21

GE Global Research and GE Energy Consulting, along with National Grid, the Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and Clarkson University announced a partnership on a research project to improve the reliability and resiliency of electricity delivery in northern New York.

NTE Carolinas Signs Long-Term Power Purchase Agreement with Concord, N.C.

Submitted by aburr on Fri, 2014-12-12 14:20

NTE Carolinas entered into a long-term PPA with the City of Concord, North Carolina. Under the terms of the agreement, NTE's Kings Mountain Energy Center will provide Concord with electric generation services for an initial 20-year term. In July 2014, NTE secured an equity investment for its three natural gas-fired power plants, including the Kings Mountain Energy Center, from Capital Dynamics and Wattage Finance. Construction of the facility is anticipated to begin in the second-quarter 2015, and commercial operation is scheduled to begin in the first-quarter 2018.

Starwood Energy Group to Acquire Lakeside Generation

Submitted by aburr on Fri, 2014-12-12 14:20

Starwood Energy Group Global, a private investment firm focused on energy infrastructure, announced that an affiliate has entered into an agreement with Lakeside Energy to acquire Lakeside Generation, a 369-MW portfolio of three natural gas facilities, one located in Pennsylvania and two in New York. The portfolio consists of Hazleton, a 158-MW peaking facility in Pennsylvania; Syracuse, a 103-MW combined cycle facility in New York; and Beaver Falls, a 108-MW cogeneration combined cycle facility in New York.

Entergy to Acquire Union Power Station in Arkansas

Submitted by aburr on Fri, 2014-12-12 14:18

Entergy subsidiaries, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Texas have signed an agreement to acquire the Union Power Station, a highly efficient, natural gas-fired 1,980-MW generating facility. The station is owned by Union Power Partners, an independent power producer, and wholly owned by Entegra TC. The Union Power Station, which entered commercial service in 2003, consists of four combined-cycle gas-fired generating units, or CCGTs, each rated at 495 MW.

Digest (December 2014)

NRG Energy and MGM Resorts International completed installation of the world's largest rooftop solar array on a convention center;

Southern California Edison on November 5 announced the largest purchase of grid-connected energy storage in U.S. history. NRG Energy acquired Pure Energies Group; Duke Energy Progress filed with FERC for approval to purchase $1.2 billion in generating assets;

The U.S. Department of Energy authorized Bechtel to resume engineering work at a facility that will treat some of the nation's liquid radioactive waste; Burns & McDonnell plans to develop a grid stability awareness system;

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of New York's first energy management network operations center. And others...

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Finding Common Ground on Energy Efficiency

Policy recommendations for utilities and regulators.

It’s the downright cheapest way of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Yet it’s mired from state to state in battles over definitions, principles, and parameters. Herein a collection of recommended policy positions to break the impasse over energy efficiency.
Byline: 

M. Sami Khawaja, Hossein Haeri, and Brian Hedman

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Planning vs. Partiality

A case study from PJM on competitive procurement of regional transmission under FERC Order 1000.

What happens to FERC Order 1000, and its vaunted quest for fairness and transparency, when regional grid planners ask for competitive bids to solve a pressing transmission need, but then modify some of the project proposals, unilaterally, in an honest effort to improve them?
Byline: 

John Dalton

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