The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the grid operator for most of the state, set a new winter peak demand record between 7 and 8 a.m. CST on Monday. Cold weather drove power demand to an hourly peak of 57,958 MW, according to initial data. The previous winter peak of 57,265 MW was set Feb. 10, 2011. The new winter record exceeds the previous December demand record of 53,642 MW (set Dec. 10, 2013, between 7 and 8 a.m.) by more than 4,000 MW. As a cold front blew into the state over the weekend, the ERCOT system also experienced a new record for instantaneous wind generation output. Wind output reached 15,195 MW at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, topping the previous record of 15,033 set Nov. 27, 2016. ERCOT recently said an improving economy has lifted power demand in the Lone Star State, which gets most of its power from natural gas-fueled plants.
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EPA Enforcement Secures $13.7B in FY 2016
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) secured $13.7 billion during fiscal year (FY) 2016 from companies to control pollution, including several in the oil and natural gas industry, the agency said Monday in its annual enforcement results release.
Upstream, Midstream Players Cited in EPA 2016 Enforcement Results
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) secured $13.7 billion during fiscal year (FY) 2016 from companies to control pollution, including several in the oil and natural gas industry, the agency said Monday in its annual enforcement results release.
Democrats Alarmed by Trump Questions to DOE, Demand Probe
Democrats in both chambers of Congress said they are alarmed by a questionnaire the transition team for President-elect Donald Trump sent Department of Energy (DOE) officials earlier this month, with nine senators calling for an investigation into the matter, although the Trump team has since reportedly disavowed the document.
Washington State Regulators Settle Cascade Gas Pipe Safety Issue, Deny Avista Rate Hikes
Washington state’s regulatory commission took action on Thursday in separate cases involving a pipeline safety penalty for Cascade Natural Gas Corp. and general rate increase requests by Avista Utilities.
Economy Driving Higher Power Demand in Texas, ERCOT Says
Texas power demand is increasing faster than previously thought, according to a new report from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates most of the state’s power grid. Texas gets more than half of its power from natural gas-fueled generation.
Jordan Cove LNG Project Plans to Re-Apply at FERC
Within a week of being denied a rehearing, the Canadian-based backers of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project on the south-central coast of Oregon said they will re-apply at FERC for the $7.5 billion export facility and connecting gas pipeline project that bids to be the first U.S. West Coast LNG export facility.
California, New Mexico Join Lawsuit Over Venting/Flaring Final Rule — on BLM’s Side
California and New Mexico have asked a federal court to allow them to join a lawsuit by three other western states against the Interior Department (DOI) over a final rule to reduce venting and flaring from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands.
States Urge Trump Administration to Begin Scrapping CPP ‘On Day One’
Officials from 24 states opposed to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP) have written a letter to the incoming Trump administration, urging it to scuttle the plan shortly after the president-elect takes office next month.
PHMSA Issues Interim Final Rule For NatGas Storage
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an interim final rule (IFR) revising safety regulations for underground natural gas storage facilities, meeting a key requirement from a sweeping pipeline safety bill signed into law last summer.
