Generation

U.S.-based Energy Capital Partners (ECP) has expanded in Canada with a C$835 million ($626-million) takeover announced Monday of fossil fuel-fired power plants in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.

Natural gas and related infrastructure will play an integral role in the U.S. transition to a lower-carbon economy and remain a significant contributor to the country’s energy portfolio as well as economic growth over the next two decades, according to the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America’s (INGAA) INGAA Foundation.

Natural gas-fired combined-cycle (NGCC) power plants last year became the technology with the most electricity generating capacity in the United States, surpassing coal-fired plants, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

In a stark change from recent trends, natural gas consumption in the United States fell 1.4% in 2017, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

November natural gas is set to open a penny lower Tuesday morning at $2.91 as weather forecasts prove of little consequence and traders mull purchases.

In a move that may have long-term implications for natural gas use in power generation, Portland General Electric (PGE) on Sunday officially began full participation in a real-time energy imbalance market (EIM) run by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).

August natural gas is set to open 3 cents lower Friday morning at $3.01 as overnight near-term weather models moderated, and traders see little in the way of upside potential. Overnight oil markets eased.

The Navajo Nation Council on Tuesday approved an agreement to continue operating the massive Navajo Generating Stations (NGS) in Arizona through 2019, after which the plant would be retired, another closure related to cheap natural gas supply.

Natural gas-fired power generation may be buffeted by increasing competition from renewables and nuclear capacity additions worldwide, but don’t count it out as it will continue to play a key role for decades in reducing worldwide emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).