Panel Rejects Pollution Control Waiver
The state Pollution Control Board rejected a request by Ameren Corp. to transfer permission to delay pollution controls at five coal-fired plants to Dynegy Inc., which is seeking to acquire the plants. The board said Dynegy could submit a new petition for a waiver, requiring the company to prove that it faces a hardship preventing it from cutting emissions.
Meanwhile, Foresight Energy LLC, the largest coal producer in the state, offered to help Dynegy finance the emissions controls or acquire the plants itself. Its goal: To create a new customer for its southern Illinois coal.
More: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
INDIANA
AEP to Close Last Coal-Fired Plant at Tanners Creek
American Electric Power announced it will close the last of its four coal-fired generating units in Lawrenceburg by 2015. AEP previously decided to close the first three of the Tanners Creek units. About 115 employees working at the plant will be affected.
More: Cincinnati Business Courier
MARYLAND
Groups ask O’Malley to Block LNG Plant
More than 100 environmental and community groups have formed a coalition to fight Dominion’s proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility at Cove Point. The groups asked Gov. Martin O’Malley to oppose the export complex, which they say would accelerate fracking in the region and emit more carbon pollution than most of the coal-burning power plants in the state.
More: Baltimore Sun
Utilities May Charge for “Dumb” Meters
Customers who say “no” to a new smart electric meter could end up paying for it. The Public Service Commission staff recommended that utilities charge customers who keep their existing meters about $75 upfront as well as a monthly fee.
Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel also supports charges to cover meter reading and other costs incurred by customers who choose to keep their old devices.
More: The Gazette
NEW JERSEY
Carlyle Group Acquires Sayreville Power Plant
The Carlyle Group will buy the Red Oak power plant, an 823 MW combined cycle facility in Sayreville, from Energy Capital Partners.
Carlyle is purchasing Red Oak and five California plants through its affiliate Cogentrix Energy Power Management. Carlyle, an asset manager, has purchased $1.2 billion in generation assets since acquiring Cogentrix in late 2012.
More: The Carlyle Group
OHIO
AEP Seeks $290 Million to Expand Smart Meters
American Electric Power asked the Public Utilities Commission for a $290 million rate hike to expand its smart meter program to 900,000 customers. AEP has deployed smart meters to 110,000 customers to date.
More: The Columbus Dispatch
Bowling Green Outlaws Fracking, Niles Repeals Ban Amid Labor Opposition
The Bowling Green City Council banned fracking and disposal of fracking waste fluids while Niles City Council unanimously repealed its own ban on oil and gas drilling.
Niles reversed the “Community Bill of Rights” it enacted in August in a meeting packed with anti-drilling advocates pleading to keep the ban and labor unions encouraging its repeal. Opponents of the ban said the law might not withstand a legal challenge because the state Department of Natural Resources claims only it can license drilling.
But Bowling Green’s attorney said his city’s ban is part of the city’s criminal code, not its zoning code. The city is an unlikely target for drilling because of a high water table and unsuitable geology.
More: Toledo Blade; The Vindicator
Sierra Club Launches Boycott of FE
The Sierra Club launched an advertising campaign urging Ohioans to boycott FirstEnergy Corp. to protest what it says are efforts by the company to undercut Ohio’s renewable energy and efficiency standards. The target of the boycott is FE’s retail arm, FirstEnergy Solutions.
The environmental group paid for an electronic billboard across from the Statehouse, where lawmakers may soon revisit Ohio’s 2008 law requiring utilities to find at least 25% of their power from renewable or advanced technology sources by 2025. A FirstEnergy spokesman called the campaign “misleading.”
More: The Blade
PENNSYLVANIA
PJM Clears Hatfield’s Ferry, Mitchell Closings
FirstEnergy’s Hatfield’s Ferry and Mitchell power plants can shut down Oct. 9 without affecting grid reliability, an analysis by PJM has concluded. PJM told FirstEnergy of its conclusions in a letter dated Sept. 19, saying that the impact of the closures “can be handled by transmission upgrades and the implementation of temporary operating measures.”
FirstEnergy said it’s shutting down the plants because they’re losing money. The move will displace 380 workers.
More: Reuters
Med-Ed Suspending Energy-Saving Program
Met-Ed is suspending its energy-saving Easygreen program while it awaits the result of a Public Utility Commission cost/benefit analysis. Last year, about 20,000 Met-Ed customers participated in the program, which allows the utility to remotely control their air conditioners and pool pumps when demand for power peaks.
The PUC expects to complete the study on the programs of Med-Ed and other Pennsylvania utilities this summer.
More: York Daily Record
Customers Mostly Satisfied with Their EDCs
87% of electric distribution company customers reported they were either somewhat or very satisfied with the overall quality of service they received from their providers in 2012, down slightly from 89% in 2010 and 2011. PPL and Penn Power led the rankings with a 90% satisfaction rating; Peco had the lowest overall score at 84%.
More: Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
VIRGINIA
Solar Donation Fund is a Bust
The state’s voluntary donation fund to make loans for solar energy projects has attracted virtually no interest and made no loans. Through April 26, contributions to the fund amounted to $319.54, but the monthly transaction fees to accept online donations totaled $319.00, leaving a balance of 54 cents.
More: Richmond Times-Dispatch
Dominion Rate Hearing Opens
The State Corporation Commission began a public hearing on a proposal from Dominion Virginia Power that would keep base rates flat for at least two years. Customers may still see increases for the costs of fuel, constructing new plants and environmental compliance. Regulators have until November to decide.
More: Associated Press
