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Rhode Island Energy Rates See Increases Despite Temporary Credits, Future Reforms Pending

Rhode Island Energy Rates See Increases Despite Temporary Credits, Future Reforms Pending

Rhode Island Energy has implemented new distribution rates, resulting in higher utility bills for customers, although a temporary monthly electric credit of $14.51 is in effect from October through September 2027 to mitigate the impact. A proposed winter supply rate of 17.029 cents per kilowatt-hour is awaiting approval from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). According to a PUC staff summary, a typical electric customer will pay $46.32 more annually due to the new distribution rates, while a gas-heating customer will see an annual increase of $277.85. These figures represent distribution costs and do not include the temporary credits or the separate charge for the electricity itself. The utility had initially sought higher increases, but the PUC approved a smaller adjustment, maintaining the return on equity at 9.275% and rejecting a second-year increase.

Bipartisan CLEAR Act Introduced to Expedite Power Project Permitting and Reduce Costs

Bipartisan CLEAR Act Introduced to Expedite Power Project Permitting and Reduce Costs

Bipartisan legislation, the Certainty in Litigation for Electric Asset Reliability (CLEAR) Act of 2026 (H.R. 10302), has been introduced in Congress by U.S. Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Gabe Evans (R-CO). The bill aims to streamline the permitting process for large power line projects across the United States. It proposes updating current law to ensure that transmission projects coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) adhere to the judicial review standards of the Federal Power Act, rather than traditional judicial review. This includes a 120-day statute of limitations for filing lawsuits, a requirement for petitioners to participate in the environmental review process before litigation, and direct elevation of challenges to the U.S. Court of Appeals. The goal is to accelerate project timelines, reduce red tape, and lower costs associated with transmission infrastructure.

PJM Interconnection Capacity Costs Skyrocket, Driving Up Electricity Bills in Member States

PJM Interconnection Capacity Costs Skyrocket, Driving Up Electricity Bills in Member States

Electricity bills in states within the PJM Interconnection, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland, are experiencing significant increases due to soaring capacity costs. PJM, which manages the electricity grid for 13 states and the District of Columbia, sets these capacity costs through auctions designed to ensure sufficient power supply during peak demand. For the 2025/2026 delivery year, capacity clearing prices jumped by 833% from the prior auction. This dramatic increase is attributed to several factors: PJM's revised method for counting available power, which gives less credit to solar and wind resources; the retirement of older power plants (coal and gas) without sufficient new generation to replace them; and rapidly rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence and data centers. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has capped subsequent auction prices to protect consumers, but auctions have consistently hit these caps, indicating persistent supply constraints.

Missouri Farm Bureau Criticizes Department of Energy's Transmission Study for Omitting Landowner Concerns

Missouri Farm Bureau Criticizes Department of Energy's Transmission Study for Omitting Landowner Concerns

The Missouri Farm Bureau has voiced strong criticism regarding the U.S. Department of Energy's Draft 2026 National Transmission Needs Study. The 112-page document, which examines transmission constraints and areas requiring additional infrastructure, conspicuously omits any mention of 'landowner,' 'property owner,' 'farmer,' or 'rancher.' This omission, according to the Missouri Farm Bureau, highlights a significant disconnect between national transmission planning efforts and the individuals directly impacted by these projects. The Bureau emphasizes that transmission lines traverse private properties, including family farms, pastures, homes, and businesses, and can lead to issues such as land division, restricted land use, interference with agricultural practices, and costly litigation for property owners facing eminent domain. The organization advocates for meaningful engagement with landowners from the earliest planning stages of transmission expansion to ensure their rights and livelihoods are consider...

Ukraine Conducts Record Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Arctic Gas Facilities

Ukraine Conducts Record Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Arctic Gas Facilities

Ukrainian special forces have claimed responsibility for drone strikes that hit two Russian gas facilities in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, a region in the Russian Arctic zone. These strikes, which occurred on Wednesday, involved drones traveling nearly 2,000 miles into northwestern Siberia, setting a new record for the longest-range attack in the ongoing conflict. The targets included a major plant in Novy Urengoy, a gas-producing city, and another facility approximately 60 miles south in the Purovsky district. Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point stated that its FP-1 one-way drones were used in the Novy Urengoy strike, covering over 3,200 km. Yamalo-Nenets' governor, Dmitry Artyukhov, confirmed a drone attack caused a fire at an industrial facility, reporting no fatalities or injuries. This operation marks Ukraine's deepest strike into Russian territory since the full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting what was previously considered a secure rear for Russia.

South Korean Business Leader Proposes US$6 Trillion Economic Bloc with Japan Amid Global Trade Shifts

South Korean Business Leader Proposes US$6 Trillion Economic Bloc with Japan Amid Global Trade Shifts

South Korean Business Leader Proposes US$6 Trillion Economic Bloc with Japan Amid Global Trade Shifts

Exclusive-White House weighs how to use Defense Production Act to expand US oil refining capacity, sources say

Exclusive-White House weighs how to use Defense Production Act to expand US oil refining capacity, sources say

By Jarrett Renshaw Sept 11 (Reuters) - The White House is weighing how to use the Defense Production Act to expand U.S. oil refining capacity as the conflict with Iran exposes the country's vulnerability to global crude supply disruptions and price spikes, according to two sources familiar with the

The Evolution of Power Lines Explained

The Evolution of Power Lines Explained

Overhead power lines represent a foundational element of modern electrical infrastructure, serving as the primary means for bulk transfer and distr...

PJM Wholesale Market Capacity Auction Clears at Price Cap, Driving Up Maryland Electricity Bills

PJM Wholesale Market Capacity Auction Clears at Price Cap, Driving Up Maryland Electricity Bills

Electricity bills in Maryland are on the rise, primarily due to the wholesale market serving the region, PJM, clearing its capacity auction at the price cap. This cost is subsequently passed on to consumers through the delivery portion of their bills. A significant contributing factor to this situation is the rapid increase in data-center load, which is outpacing the construction of new electricity generation facilities. Maryland's Office of People's Counsel estimates that this will result in an approximate $21 monthly increase for BGE customers. This particular cost component is embedded in the delivery charges, meaning consumers cannot mitigate it by switching electricity suppliers. The issue highlights a broader trend of increasing electricity rates across various states, with some regions experiencing substantial year-over-year increases.

Cedar Rapids Residents Protest Proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center

Cedar Rapids Residents Protest Proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center

Dozens of Cedar Rapids residents have protested outside the Alliant Energy building in response to the company's proposed Morgan Valley Energy Center. The planned 720-megawatt natural gas power plant would occupy 160 acres west of Cedar Rapids in the Morgan Valley area. Opponents of the project have voiced concerns regarding its potential environmental and health impacts on the community. Alliant Energy, in response to the protests, stated that the energy center is necessary to meet growing energy demand and maintain reliable electric service. The company also noted that the project is currently undergoing a regulatory review process to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental and public health requirements. This development highlights a conflict between energy infrastructure expansion and community environmental concerns.

Xcel Energy Seeks AVP, Project Development to Advance Decarbonization Goals

Xcel Energy Seeks AVP, Project Development to Advance Decarbonization Goals

Xcel Energy Seeks AVP, Project Development to Advance Decarbonization Goals

Michigan Regulators to Re-evaluate Line 5 Tunnel Permits Following State Supreme Court Ruling

Michigan Regulators to Re-evaluate Line 5 Tunnel Permits Following State Supreme Court Ruling

The Whitmer administration announced that Michigan state regulators will review previously issued permits for the controversial Line 5 tunnel project. This re-evaluation comes in response to a Michigan Supreme Court ruling from this summer, which provided stronger guidance on environmental impact assessments. Enbridge Energy plans to replace an aging section of its oil and natural gas liquids pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac with a new one, to be buried in a tunnel beneath the lakebed. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) had issued a water resources permit for the tunnel project on July 15, acknowledging potential "adverse" impacts on ecological and tribal resources but deeming it preferable to an oil spill in the Great Lakes. However, two weeks later, the Michigan Supreme Court vacated a tunnel permit issued by a different state agency, the Michigan Public Service Commission, citing that the scope of harm considered was too narrow. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is now dir...