important energy developments in the usa

The Obama administrations's new greenhouse gas emission regulations are to be released on 2Jun2014.

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/05/22/obama-divides-power-players-with-rule-utilities-accept/

They follow the recent 6:2 decision by the Supreme Court upholding the authority of the EPA to regulate emissions of CO2 from power generators. There are important implications for low-carbon nuclear generators.

Snip:

"Exelon chief executive Chris Crane said the rules will give his company a chance to go to state regulators and talk about how its nuclear fleet, which is suffering because of low electricity prices, could thrive.

“It will be in the states where these kinds of decisions are made,” he told reporters in Washington this month."


See also:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/power+sector+sees+upside+emissions+limits/9869868/story.html

Snip:

"For some power companies, the rules will help save nuclear reactors or boost investments in wind farms. Companies with a fleet of reactors, such as Entergy Corp., and Exelon, may benefit from a rule to cut carbon. "We see a potential upside," said Chuck Barlow, vice-president of environmental strategy and policy for Entergy, which owns coal, natural gas and nuclear power plants.

"It would be an opportunity for our nuclear facilities." That view isn't shared by lobbyists for coal producers such as Peabody Energy, who call the EPA plan the latest salvo in a "war on coal" that would result in lost jobs and less reliable energy."


and here:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140522/NEWS11/140529897/exelon-enviros-agree-on-bill-to-launch-illinois-solar-industry

Snip:

"It is anticipated that they will require each state to develop a comprehensive plan to maintain and expand clean energy resources like wind, nuclear, hydro and solar energy."


So, again, reports of the death of nuclear energy in the US appear to be greatly exaggerated.

The new EPA regulations will require significant cuts in CO2. Some coal plants will become uneconomical. Gas plants, which emit a lot less carbon than coal per unit of energy produced will be less affected, but they may still be adversely affected economically. It is likely that electricity costs will increase as a result. All this augurs in favour of nuclear - refurbishment and extensions of existing plants and making new plants more viable.

DYODD

Cheers