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John Larsen, Former DOE Advisor, Leads US Power Sector Research at Rhodium Group

John Larsen, Former DOE Advisor, Leads US Power Sector Research at Rhodium Group

John Larsen, who previously served as an electric power policy advisor in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, is now a director at Rhodium Group. In this role, Larsen is responsible for leading the firm's research into the U.S. power sector and broader energy systems. His expertise lies in analyzing national and state-level clean energy policies and market trends. Before his tenure at the Department of Energy, Larsen directed federal and congressional policy analysis for the World Resources Institute’s Climate and Energy Program. He also holds a position as a non-resident senior associate in the Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and has lectured at academic institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and Amherst College. Larsen's academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a master’s degree in urban and environmental policy and...

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.

Amazon and X-energy Partner to Construct 12-Reactor Nuclear Facility in Richland, Washington

Amazon and X-energy Partner to Construct 12-Reactor Nuclear Facility in Richland, Washington

Amazon and X-energy Partner to Construct 12-Reactor Nuclear Facility in Richland, Washington

Hexagon Energy and Weyerhaeuser Partner to Develop 3 GW Geothermal Power in Pacific Northwest

Hexagon Energy and Weyerhaeuser Partner to Develop 3 GW Geothermal Power in Pacific Northwest

Hexagon Energy and Weyerhaeuser Partner to Develop 3 GW Geothermal Power in Pacific Northwest

House Energy Committee Advances Six Nuclear Bills; Representative Pallone Supports with Transparency Condition

House Energy Committee Advances Six Nuclear Bills; Representative Pallone Supports with Transparency Condition

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has advanced six nuclear energy bills without opposition, signaling a bipartisan consensus on expanding atomic power. The legislation aims to streamline licensing, boost domestic fuel production, and enhance regulatory clarity for the nuclear industry. Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ-6), the ranking Democrat, expressed conditional support for these bills, emphasizing that his backing is contingent upon the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Department of Energy maintaining sufficient transparency in their safety rules and regulations. While the nuclear measures passed unanimously, the committee also saw sharp divisions over environmental regulations, with Democrats opposing two bills that would restrict state authority over diesel emissions and locomotive pollution. The advanced nuclear bills address challenges such as licensing delays, regulatory clarity, and workforce retention within the nuclear sector, covering areas like fuel recycling, uranium e...

International Energy Agency Seeks Junior Power Sector Analysts to Bolster Grid Analysis

International Energy Agency Seeks Junior Power Sector Analysts to Bolster Grid Analysis

The International Energy Agency (IEA), an autonomous body operating within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), is actively recruiting Junior Power Sector Analysts. These positions are intended to enhance the IEA's analytical capabilities concerning power systems and markets, with a specific emphasis on electricity grids. The analysts will contribute to the Electricity Systems and Markets Division (ESM) by conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis, modeling, and drafting for key IEA publications, including its annual Electricity report. Responsibilities include monitoring technical, regulatory, and policy developments in electricity systems globally, supporting analytical output on grids and system flexibility, and contributing to the modeling of medium-term electricity forecasts. The IEA is seeking candidates with advanced university degrees in relevant fields and a minimum of three years of direct experience in the electricity industry, economic consulting, or grid te...

Hexagon Energy and Weyerhaeuser Co. Partner to Develop 3 GW Geothermal Power in Pacific Northwest

Hexagon Energy and Weyerhaeuser Co. Partner to Develop 3 GW Geothermal Power in Pacific Northwest

Hexagon Energy and Weyerhaeuser Co. Partner to Develop 3 GW Geothermal Power in Pacific Northwest

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.

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.

Google to invest $15 billion in AI infrastructure and buy nuclear power in Finland

Google to invest $15 billion in AI infrastructure and buy nuclear power in Finland

By Essi Lehto HELSINKI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google will invest at least €13 billion ($15.1 billion) in artificial intelligence infrastructure in Finland over the next two years and has signed its first nuclear power contract outside the U.S., it said on Wednesday.

U.S. Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity Projected to Increase Significantly by 2029

U.S. Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity Projected to Increase Significantly by 2029

U.S. Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity Projected to Increase Significantly by 2029

PwC Projects $31.6 Trillion Global AI Infrastructure Spending by 2050, U.S. to Account for Nearly Half

PwC Projects $31.6 Trillion Global AI Infrastructure Spending by 2050, U.S. to Account for Nearly Half

PwC Projects $31.6 Trillion Global AI Infrastructure Spending by 2050, U.S. to Account for Nearly Half