EIA: Wholesale, Retail Electricity Prices to Rise in 2025

U.S. wholesale power prices are expected to be slightly higher on average in 2025 in most regions outside of Texas and the Northwest, according to the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook. 

The forecast expects the 11 wholesale prices it tracks to average $40/MWh in 2025, up 7% from 2024. It also expects the average residential prices to be 2% higher than the 2024 average, though after accounting for inflation, prices may remain relatively unchanged. 

The only two regions expected to have lower than average prices are ERCOT ($30/MWh) and the Northwest ($55/MWh). 

More: EIA 

DOJ Asked to Investigate Texas’ Handling of $1B in Harvey Recovery Funds

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has asked the Justice Department to take action against the Texas General Land Office (GLO) after finding it had violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against Black and Hispanic residents when it designed a competition to allocate Hurricane Harvey relief money. 

HUD’s review of the GLO’s funding process revealed the state agency had engaged in a pattern of “discriminatory actions based on race and national origin,” wrote Ayelet Weiss, assistant general counsel for HUD’s Office of Fair Housing Enforcement, in a letter to the Justice Department. The GLO originally awarded no money to Houston or Harris County. 

More: Houston Chronicle 

BLM Seeks Public Input for Idaho Renewable Projects

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on two renewable projects in Idaho proposed by Arevia Power. 

The proposed projects are for a 400-MW Snake River Energy Solar facility and a 500-MW Taurus Wind facility. The facilities will share a 550-MW battery storage facility and a transmission line. 

An informational forum will be held Jan. 28. The public may submit their input by email until Feb. 7. 

More: pv magazine