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The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is frequently cited for the proposition that renewable energy resources will become more competitive with traditional generating plant technologies.  However, it may come as a surprise that researchers are now claiming that renewables are more economical than all (but 1) of the remaining coal plants.   This is the conclusion of the just released Coal Cost read more…

This should be yet another wake-up call that the more rapid retirement of generation capacity is placing pressure on system operators’ ability to keep the lights on, particularly during more stressful periods.   MISO is not the only region facing an imminent threat.   MISO facing increasingly thin reserve margins due to plant retirements – NERC EXTRA Thursday, December 15, 2022 3:24 PM read more…

All is not well in “Grid-Land.”  The NYISO and MISO have recently issued warnings about the challenges to maintaining a reliable system in meeting decarbonization mandates (see the S&P articles below).  Especially concerning is that mandates are accelerating the retirement of older fossil-fuel units that the RTOs say are needed to avert capacity shortages.  More concerning is the growing reality read more…

There is no shortage of bold energy transition plans, as numerous governmental leaders and think tanks have proposed aggressive actions to fully decarbonize electricity generation over the next few decades.  Importantly, although the goal may be the same, the many transition plans employ different assumptions and means to achieve the goal.  That there are important differences warrants debate.   We have read more…