power generation

Natural gas demand in Mexico stayed resilient through pandemic-ravaged 2020 compared to total energy demand, in line with trends seen globally, according to BP plc. Mexico’s natural gas consumption dipped only 1.9% year/year to 3.11 exajoules in 2020, while the country’s total primary energy consumption plunged 14.2% to 6.48 exajoules, according to BP’s Statistical Review…

The latest directive by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott aimed at ensuring electric reliability appears to be once again pitting proponents of fossil fuels against those who see renewables as an integral part of the energy landscape. In a letter sent to the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) last week, Abbott said the objective of the…

Fueled by a large decline in production, intense heat and a return to strong exports, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a modest 16 Bcf injection into storage inventories for the week ending July 2. The figure came in below the lowest of expectations, sending Nymex natural gas futures screaming higher. The August Nymex contract…

Hydroelectric generation should make up only 6% of the power load in California this year as historic drought conditions ravage the West, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Wednesday. In its Short-Term Energy Outlook, the EIA said hydroelectric generation in California in 2021 would be 19% lower than last year. It is seen falling…

Xcel Energy Inc. and NRG Energy Inc. recently reported carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions of more than 50% from baseline levels and unveiled new goals centered on electric vehicles as the utilities continue to search for ways to lower their emissions footprints. In its 16th annual sustainability report, Xcel reported a 51% CO2 reduction from electricity…

Delta Biofuels Inc. expects to begin groundwork later this year on a $70 million renewable fuel plant that would utilize excess sugarcane pulp, or bagasse, as feedstock. In December, the subsidiary of Tasso Renewable Energy began working with the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) to acquire a pellet plant in Jeanerette, aka Sugar City. According to…

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is expected to sign into law a bill passed by the legislature in June mandating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.  State House Bill (HB) 2021 requires electric utilities to transition to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their generation sources until they provide only carbon-free power supplies to Oregon consumers over…

Pushing out more natural gas-fired electric generation, California regulators last Thursday ordered 11,500 MW of carbon-free power to replace upcoming retirements of several old gas-fired generators and the state’s last nuclear plant. Calling its action historic, the five-member California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) called for the added renewables, batteries and efficiency measures to come online…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) last week directed its attention to electric vehicles (EV), batteries and reliable charging stations on a transitioning grid with a $200 million funding announcement followed by a request for information (RFI) for charging EVs on the grid.  At a roundtable discussion on advancing the domestic lithium battery industry, DOE…