EIA: US Power Use to Reach Record Highs in 2024, 2025

U.S. power consumption will rise to record highs in 2024 and 2025, the Energy Information Administration said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook. 

EIA projected power demand will rise to 4,086 billion kWh in 2024 and 4,165 billion kWh in 2025, compared to 4,012 billion kWh in 2023 and a record 4,067 billion kWh in 2022. 

More: Reuters 

Supreme Court Rejects Co-op Attempt to Block EPA Ash Rule

The Supreme Court last week rejected a request from the East Kentucky Power Cooperative to block an EPA effort to address the health risks presented by coal ash. 

The utility challenged the EPA’s plan in a federal appeals court, saying the agency exceeded its statutory authority by requiring monitoring and remediation at facilities that were no longer producing coal ash. The utility also asked the appeals court to block the plan while it considered the matter, a request the court denied. The utility then asked the Supreme Court to intervene, saying the statute at issue applied only to sites where solid waste “is disposed of.” The present tense, it said, excluded inactive sites where it said coal ash had been removed. 

The court’s brief order gave no reasons and there were no noted dissents. 

More: The New York Times 

DOE Says LNG Reviews Must Wait for FERC

The DOE last week said it is not able to complete reviews of two planned liquefied natural gas export terminals in Louisiana until FERC finishes its environmental assessments of the projects. 

The projects are Venture Global LNG’s CP2 facility and a facility from Commonwealth LNG, both located on the Gulf of Mexico. 

The additional review follows an Aug. 6 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that quashed FERC’s approval of NextDecade’s plant and ordered FERC to reconsider the project ramifications with a new environmental statement and public comment period. 

More: Reuters 

Biden Admin Doubles Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panel Components

The Biden administration last week announced it will double tariffs on certain solar panel components that are made in China. 

Starting in January, imports of Chinese solar wafers and polysilicon will carry a 50% tariff, up from the current levy of 25%. In addition, the administration said it would increase tariffs on certain Chinese products made out of the mineral tungsten. 

More: The Hill 

Rep. Guthrie to Lead House Energy and Commerce Committee

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) won the race to lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee next year and will replace retiring Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). 

Guthrie, who currently chairs the panel’s Subcommittee on Health, beat out Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) for the post. 

More: Axios