Oil & Energy Online

Fusion Achieves a Net-Energy Gain

A first step toward a new energy resource
A first step toward a new energy resource In December, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a monumental milestone in nuclear fusion energy research. For the first time, a… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/fusion-achieves-net-energy-gain/

Grid Operator: Electrification Demands 300% More Energy

ISO New England issues report on study analyzing impacts of a transformed future grid
ISO New England issues report on study analyzing impacts of a transformed future grid A reliable, decarbonized electric grid that can support the heating and transportation… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/grid-operator-electrification-demands-300-more-energy/

Western Drought Hits Extremes

Water management experts call for actionable solutions
Water management experts call for actionable solutions The West is currently facing a historic mega drought. In the southwestern U.S., scientists have called this the worst… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/western-drought-hits-extremes/

Lights Out, Middle America

Grid overseer warns two-thirds of the U.S. is at risk of rolling blackouts this summer
Grid overseer warns two-thirds of the U.S. is at risk of rolling blackouts this summer The North American Reliability Corporation (NERC) has issued a report warning that several… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/lights-out-middle-america/

Get a Load of This

Electricity use in New England expected to increase over the next decade, according to 2022 report
Electricity use in New England expected to increase over the next decade, according to 2022 report Power grid operator ISO New England is projecting the region’s annual net… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/get-load/

Renewable Advocates Target ISO New England

Trade groups claim the grid operator unfairly favors natural gas
Trade groups claim the grid operator unfairly favors natural gas For years, state and local governments have been hounding grid operators for more clean energy resources to help… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/renewable-advocates-target-iso-new-england/

Power Plants Continue Binging Fuel Oil

Trend reported last issue continued through February
Trend reported last issue continued through February In last month’s cover story, Oil & Energy reported that 17.1 million gallons of fuel oil were consumed for power generation… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/power-plants-continue-binging-fuel-oil/

Renewable Portfolio Standards Chart

A list of current renewable power generation targets, by state and investor-owned utility
Last month, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a Corporate Goal case model comparing utility emission reduction targets with the Reference Case of last… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/renewable-portfolio-standards-chart/

Once Again, Heating Oil Comes to the Rescue

Industry helped keep the lights on for millions of East Coast homes and businesses
Industry helped keep the lights on for millions of East Coast homes and businesses The alert went out on January 11 at 2:00 p.m. ISO New England, the region’s electric grid… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/once-again-heating-oil-comes-rescue/

Drought Relief for Western States

Water shortage has major implications for hydropower and agriculture industries
Water shortage has major implications for hydropower and agriculture industries Over 70% of the American West, Southwest and Northern Plains has been categorized as a D3 (severe)… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/drought-relief-western-states/

Our Cleaner, Safer Fuels Also Support America’s Grids

While utilities on the West Coast are burning down forests, our industry is revitalizing the Northeast’s forest economy and preventing electricity peaking in the process
While utilities on the West Coast are burning down forests, our industry is revitalizing the Northeast’s forest economy and preventing electricity peaking in the process Last… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/our-cleaner-safer-fuels-also-support-americas-grids/

EIA Charts Fossil Fuel and Petroleum Products Source and Sector “Spaghetti”

In 2020, power plants used more than triple the amount of fossil fuels consumed by all residential buildings in the U.S.
In 2020, power plants used more than triple the amount of fossil fuels consumed by all residential buildings in the U.S. In early May, the U.S. Energy Information Administration… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/eia-charts-fossil-fuel-and-petroleum-products-source-and-sector-spaghetti/

Fallout from Texas Energy Crisis Continues

Death toll climbs as electric grid operator points fingers
Death toll climbs as electric grid operator points fingers In the March 2021 issue of Oil & Energy, we reported — based on then-current news coverage — that more than 30 people… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/fallout-texas-energy-crisis-continues/

The Cold, Dark Future of Electrification

Widespread blackouts, high energy costs portend crisis for “electrify everything” movement
Widespread blackouts, high energy costs portend crisis for “electrify everything” movement Power outages plunged more than 4 million Texas homes and businesses into darkness… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/cold-dark-future-electrification/

Central Maine Power Line Stalled Again

Proposal has cleared final regulatory hurdles but more obstacles remain
Proposal has cleared final regulatory hurdles but more obstacles remain Almost three years after its announcement, Central Maine Power’s proposal for a 145-mile electricity… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/central-maine-power-line-stalled-again/

Propane Providers Band Together

When Tropical Storm Isaias left over 800,000 Connecticut customers without power, propane dealers from in and out of state answered the call
When Tropical Storm Isaias left over 800,000 Connecticut customers without power, propane dealers from in and out of state answered the call They say pictures speak louder than… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/propane-providers-band-together/

Sundown

Solar industry hit hard by pandemic-related uncertainty
Solar industry hit hard by pandemic-related uncertainty As in most industries, the last few months have been life changing for the solar industry. Last year, solar installations… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/sundown/

Net Metering Under Threat

Regulator intervention could forever change rooftop solar market
Regulator intervention could forever change rooftop solar market For decades, net metering has been the cornerstone of the growing rooftop solar market. There are 41 states with… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/net-metering-under-threat/

Farm to Grid

Dairy farmers are using manure and food waste to make electricity
Local dairy farmers in Massachusetts are now producing their own renewable energy. The farms are using anaerobic digesters with a combined heat and power (CHP) energy system to… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/farm-grid/

ISO-NE Capacity Prices Fall to Record Low

Grid operator sees a win for ratepayers … but what’s the deal?
New England’s competitive wholesale electricity markets are producing record low prices. In February, the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE) held its 14th annual… https://oilandenergyonline.com/articles/all/iso-ne-capacity-prices-fall-record-low/