Court Challenge Slows Wood Plant
EcoPower Generation, developer of a 58 MW wood-burning plant in Perry County, hopes to begin construction this year and qualify for tax credits. The Public Service Commission approved the sale of power from the plant to Kentucky Power, but its order is being challenged by an industrial group.
More: The Hazard Herald
PSC Rebuffs AG on Plant Purchase
The Public Service Commission denied Attorney General Jack Conway’s request to reconsider its approval of Kentucky Power’s purchase of a 50% stake in a West Virginia’s Mitchell coal plant. The purchase will replace supply from a Big Sandy unit set to retire. Conway may take his objections to court.
More: The Hazard Herald
MARYLAND
$95 Million for EmPOWER Maryland
The Public Service Commission approved spending almost $95 million on the state’s EmPOWER Maryland program. The program’s goal is a 15% reduction in per capita and per capita peak consumption by the end of 2015. About half of the goal has been reached, but progress is lagging.
More: Baltimore News Journal
Many Locals Like Fair Wind
Most local speakers favored development of Exelon’s 30 MW Fair Wind project for the revenue it would provide to Garrett County. Environmental interests still oppose it, though, as they did when it was owned by Clipper Windpower.
More: National Wind Watch
Potomac Ed Reconstructs Line
FirstEnergy’s Potomac Edison finished a $5.3 million reconstruction of a 138-kV line in western Maryland, a project that replaced more expensive work the utility had planned when it was part of Allegheny Energy.
More: Frederick News-Post
MICHIGAN
University Testing Solar in Snow
A research project is studying snow’s effects on solar power production and how to minimize it. The two-year Michigan Technological University project is testing at the university and at other locations, including in Pennsylvania.
More: Ludington Daily News
NEW JERSEY
BPU Appeals Capacity Ruling
Regulators filed notice that they will appeal the October federal court ruling that called the state’s Long-Term Capacity Pilot Project unconstitutional. The Board of Public Utilities’ legal arguments were not laid out in the notice. The capacity program — similar to one in Maryland that was also rejected by a court — was intended to get cost-effective supply in needed areas where the state said PJM’s capacity market had failed.
More: NJSpotlight
Military Base Gets 1.2 MW of Solar
Trinity Solar has finished installing 12.3 MW of solar generators at the residential facilities for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The installation — more than 10,000 modules on 650 rooftops — is expected to provide over 30% of the community’s annual power needs.
More: Trinity Solar
Looking for Ways to Boost CHP
A bill to promote combined heat and power was approved by a state committee, but the way forward for CHP is unclear. Interests are divided on the question of subsidies and the state cut CHP money from its clean energy fund. Board of Public Utilities examination of the issue has made little progress.
More: NJSpotlight
Chivukula Would Revamp BPU
Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, chair of the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, wants to cut the Board of Public Utilities’ membership and restructure its operations because he says it is not doing its job.
More: Law360
PSEG Touts ‘Energy Strong’ Support
Eighty-five municipalities and counties have expressed strong support for Public Service Electric & Gas’ controversial Energy Strong program, which would spend $3.9 billion to fortify the utility system. PSE&G now has filed changes that may cut the cost by 15%.
More: PSEG; NJSpotlight
NORTH CAROLINA
Nuclear Worth $20 Billion to Carolinas
The nuclear industry contributes $20 billion to the Carolinas’ economy, according to a Clemson study commissioned by the industry. The impact is attributable to the states’ seven nuclear plants, but also to the associated nuclear industries and facilities housed in the Carolinas.
More: Charlotte Observer
Airport Seeks Solar
The Charlotte Douglas airport is seeking bids to install up to 53 MW of solar panels, which would make it among the largest solar producers in the state. The output probably will be sold to Duke Energy.
More: Charlotte Observer
Duke Files ‘Green Source Rider’
Duke Energy asked regulators to approve a program allowing big customers to offset new power needs with renewable energy or certificates. The green power would come from sources in or out of state not already meeting the state’s renewables requirements.
More: Duke; Charlotte Observer
OHIO
AEP Backs Green Pullback
American Electric Power surprised at least some observers by coming out for a bill that would ease the state’s energy efficiency and renewables mandates. As protests mounted against S.B. 58, a Senate committee cancelled its markup of the measure and an unusual coalition of environmentalists and user groups started trying to work out a compromise.
More: The Columbus Dispatch; The Plain Dealer; Columbus Business First
Iberdrola Could Rethink Wind Farms
Iberdrola Renewables said it will reconsider the two wind farms it is developing in the state if the legislature approves S.B. 58. The company chose Ohio for the new plants, and the 304 MW wind farm it already operates, because of the current law’s requirement that half of the state’s renewables come from in-state resources.
More: Columbus Business First
Lake Erie Wind Farm Scrutinized
Developers of an 18 MW wind farm in Lake Erie were peppered with questions at the state Siting Board’s first public hearing on the pilot project. The six-turbine development, which is vying for a federal grant, would feed its output to Cleveland Public Power.
More: The Plain Dealer
OK for Green Power Amendment Vote
The state Ballot Board said backers of a green-energy constitutional amendment may collect signatures to get their amendment on the November 2014 ballot, but the board’s chairman urged voters to reject it. The amendment would authorize a $1.3 billion annual bond issue to develop renewables.
More: The Columbus Dispatch
PENNSYLVANIA
NRC Lowers Susquehanna Rating
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission lowered the performance rating of PPL’s Susquehanna Unit 2 after a fourth unplanned shutdown in a year.
More: Citizens’ Voice
Cabot Wells ‘In the Sweet Spot’
Cabot Oil & Gas wells in Susquehanna County may be among the most productive on the planet, resetting geologists’ expectations. The company’s top two wells will produce 14 billion cubic feet over their lifetime, multiples of normal output.
More: Standard Speaker
Solar Breakthrough for Penn, Drexel?
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University have created a material they say would be more efficient and less expensive than those used now to make solar power panels. “A new category of ways of making a solar cell,” one professor said.
More: The Philadelphia Inquirer
PUC Must Release PPL Documents
The Public Utility Commission must release documents it used to reach a $60,000 penalty agreement with PPL concerning 2011 storm-caused power outages, the Office of Open Records said.
More: The Morning Call
WEST VIRGINIA
Lawsuits Mount for Pinnacle Wind Farm
A property developer’s lawsuit adds to more than 30 filed recently against the 23-turbine, 55 MW Pinnacle Wind Farm, whose output is being sold to Maryland. Plaintiffs charge noise and vibration from the 2.4 MW turbines are damaging health and property values. Pinnacle is a unit of Edison Mission Energy.
More: The State Journal
