Big Rivers Laying Off 165 Big Rivers Electric Corp. said it will lay off 165 workers when it idles two generating plants in response to loss of the two Century Aluminum smelter customers. It expects to idle the 417-MW Wilson plant in February and the 443-MW Coleman plant by June.

Court Challenge Slows Wood Plant EcoPower Generation, developer of a 58 MW wood-burning plant in Perry County, hopes to begin construction this year and qualify for tax credits. The Public Service Commission approved the sale of power from the plant to Kentucky Power, but its order is being challenged by...

Large-Eddy Simulation results. (Source: Cristina Archer, PhD; University of Delaware) Stagger Turbines to Raise Output A University of Delaware researcher says more generous spacing and staggered arrangement of turbines could raise a wind farm’s output by 13% to 33% over conventional arrangements. The issue is pertinent to the state, where...

So. Ill. Split over Fracking Southern Illinoisans are split over hydraulic fracturing according to a new poll. More than 40% of people who answered the poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute said fracking should be encouraged, with about 39% opposed. About 20% had no opinion. The state recently...

Exelon, Groups Agree on Renewables Pact   Exelon and environmental groups have agreed in principle on a bill that could increase the building of solar projects in Illinois. The bill includes a financing mechanism that could benefit Exelon while increasing costs for its competition. More: Crain’s Chicago Business MARYLAND BGE...

ComEd Not to Blame for  Smart Meter Fires Commonwealth Edison’s smart meters are not to blame for overheating and fires that occurred in a pilot program. State regulators said the problem was loose connections and corrosion in customer-owned casings. Three smart meters caught fire during a 2010 pilot program, in...

Duke Settles with Environmental Groups Duke Energy agreed to quit burning coal at its share of the Wabash River Station power plant in western Indiana by June 2018 under a settlement with environmental and citizens groups that also calls for the company to increase its investments in renewable energy. The...

Duke Energy Carolinas reached a settlement with stakeholders on a revised energy efficiency plan that will add programs for multifamily housing and commercial customers. The agreement with the Environmental Defense Fund and the North Carolina Utilities Commission's consumer advocates includes a $400,000 bonus if the company increases energy savings by...

By Rich Heidorn Jr. PJM’s first competitive transmission project under FERC Order 1000 attracted proposals from five utilities and three independent developers. Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Reactors on Artificial Island. Photo Taken By Peretz Partensky from San Francisco, USA [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsThe proposals – to correct stability...

Integrating offshore wind into PJM will require billions in new transmission spending, either with radial lines from wind farms to shore or something like the Atlantic Wind Connection, a proposed a 300-mile transmission “backbone” off the coast from New Jersey to Virginia. Lines on shore also will have to be...