Power Engineering's E-Newsletter 5/15

Welcome! Register for POWER-GEN Natural Gas! Join some of the top names in the energy industry to discuss the issues surrounding technology, operation, construction and maintenance of gas-fired power and production from unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Power-Gen Natural Gas is Aug. 18 - 20 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Read More Share: Video Highlights Report says 8,700 MW to be retired during May and June EIA says gas generation could catch up with coal this season Fukushima decommissioning efforts improved, more challenges ahead Santee Cooper begins work demolishing coal generating plant View Now Share: Top Stories Consumers Energy closing second highest number of coal plants in nation Consumers Energy plans to retire its seven oldest coal-fired generating plants by April 2016. These plants represent 32 percent of the company’s fleet and mean that only one other energy provider in the country is retiring a larger percentage of its coal plants. Read More Share: Duke pleads guilty in federal court for coal ash crimes Duke Energy pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to environmental crimes and agreed to pay $102 million in fines and restitution for illegally discharging pollution from coal-ash dumps at five North Carolina power plants. Read More Share: VIDEO: Executives call for electric markets fix An executive panel at an annual nuclear conference said reforms must be made to the electric market in order to recognize the value of baseload power sources such as nuclear and coal. Read More Share: Entergy continues to monitor oil leak at Indian Point nuclear power plant Entergy said it continues to monitor and mitigate any impacts from an oil leak at the 2,000-MW Indian Point nuclear power plant in New York. Read More Share: The Week's Most Read Articles Hawaii lawmakers mandate 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 Hawaii lawmakers voted 74-2 this week to pass the nation's first state-wide requirement for 100 percent renewable energy generation. House Bill (HB) 623 mandates that the entirety of the state's energy portfolios must be generated using renewable energy resources no later than 2045. Read More Share: Video: Oil leak at nuclear power plant follows transformer explosion A transformer explosion at Entergy's Indian Point nuclear power plant in New York over the weekend leads to an oil leak in the nearby Hudson River. Read More Share: Dominion CEO: More power plants will be needed in Virginia Dominion is developing a lot of new generating capacity, especially natural gas, in its regulated Virginia territory, and that’s likely to continue, Dominion Chairman, President and CEO Thomas Farrell II said during a first quarter earnings call May 4. Read More Share: Tesla plugs into energy storage market with home battery system Elon Musk, CEO of electric car maker Tesla Motors hopes to park hundreds of millions of large, solar panel-connected batteries in homes and businesses. Read More Share: More Headlines • Democrats roll out revised plan to cap carbon emissions • Patriot Coal files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection • W.Va. PSC staff wants APCo to justify plant closures • MHPS to supply gas turbine to CHP plant in India • Con Edison Development acquires 140 MW of solar power projects • NextEra Energy breaks ground on solar projects in New York • Wind power developer seeks permit to connect to grid • Oklahoma lawmakers look to rein in wind industry tax credits • GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to begin refueling PWRs • Next generation nuclear fuel design revealed • NRC sets 2017 deadline for nuclear power plants’ earthquake risk analysis • Nuclear energy is key to U.S. energy future, senator says • Feds announce settlement with Honolulu over air violations • IAEA: Fukushima decommissioning efforts improved, more challenges ahead • PPL Montana VP Simonch to retire; Baker to head spinoff business Industry Trends Henry Hub Average Natural Gas Spot Prices The Henry Hub is the pricing point for natural gas futures contracts. Here's a look at how prices have changed up to May 7, 2015. Read More Share: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Economic Indicators The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas offers a glimpse into how the markets are doing domestically and internationally. Read More Share: EIA’s weekly coal production report The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released its coal production report for the week ending May 9. Read More Share: Join In Send UNLIMITED delegates (employees) for one flat rate! Does your company generate electricity? Is your company a utility, muni, co-op, public power provider, on-site power producer or IPP? Does your company generate at least 1 MW of energy? If you answered YES to any of these questions then your company qualifies for the Power Generators Discount Program!* Read More Share: Add your hero to our Wall of Honor! The Wall of Honor pays tribute to military personnel around the world. It is on display at all of PennWell's North American conferences. Click to add a name or sponsor the wall. Read More Share: Power Generation Week 2014 Post-Show Report It was another successful year at Power Generation Week 2014! As the world's largest power generation event, the week was spent focusing on the industry's latest innovations, technical trends, and business strategies. The event boasted over 22,000 attendees from 115 countries, and 1,400+ exhibitors. Click here to learn more about Power Generation Week and what happened in 2014! Read More Share: From GenerationHub Energy Future Holdings seeks extra time to lodge its final reorganization plan The bankruptcy court for Energy Future Holdings has scheduled a June 1 hearing on a May 11 motion by Energy Future Holdings and related companies for extra time to file a final reorganization plan without fear of a competing plan being filed. Read More Share: EIA says gas generation could catch up with coal this season The Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Short-Term Energy Outlook on May 12 and it suggests that the amount of domestic electricity generated from natural gas could essentially catch up with coal’s share this spring. Read More Share: Power Engineering Slideshow U.S. Coal Plants with the Lowest NOx Emission Rates The Top 5 U.S. coal-fired power plants were rated on the lowest NOx emissions. Read More Share: Callaway Energy Center's Replacement Reactor Vessel Closure Head Project Progress photos of the replacement reactor vessel closure head, during fabrication, at Equipos Nucleares SA in Santander, Spain. Read More Share: POWER ENGINEERING SPONSORED EVENTS POWER-GEN Europe Amsterdam Jun 9, 2015 - Jun 11, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN Africa Cape Town South Africa Jul 15, 2015 - Jul 17, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN Natural Gas Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio Aug 18, 2015 - Aug 20, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN Asia Bangkok Thailand Sep 1, 2015 - Sep 3, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN Middle East Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Oct 4, 2015 - Oct 6, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN International Las Vegas, NV USA Dec 8, 2015 - Dec 10, 2015 Click here for details NUCLEAR POWER International Las Vegas, NV USA Dec 8, 2015 - Dec 10, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN International Financial Forum Las Vegas, NV USA Dec 8, 2015 - Dec 10, 2015 Click here for details COAL-GEN Las Vegas, NV Dec 8, 2015 - Dec 10, 2015 Click here for details