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EPA Announces Proposed Rule Action to Revise ELG's and Support Reliable, Affordable Coal-fired Power Plants

LCG, May 14, 2026--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is proposing a rule to revise wastewater limits, known as effluent limitations guidelines (ELG), for steam electric power plants that will help improve grid reliability and lower electricity prices while continuing to support clean and safe water resources. If finalized, the EPA's proposal is estimated to reduce electricity generation costs by as much as $1.1 billion annually, which could provide cost-savings to American consumers.

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DOE Awards $94 Million to Eight American Companies to Accelerate SMR Deployments and Develop Supply Chain

LCG, May 14, 2026--The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of eight companies to support the near-term deployment of advanced light-water small modular reactors (SMRs) in the United States. The DOE states that awardees will collectively receive more than $94 million in Federal cost-shared funding to spur additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry in licensing, supply chain, and site preparation.

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Industry News

California Able to Import 4,000 Megawatts

LCG, Dec. 15, 2000--The California Independent System Operator said late yesterday that the state had made it through yet another trying day when it flirted with power outages. As much as 4,000 megawatts of imported power helped stave off darkness during the evening peak demand hours between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The Bonneville Power Administration, operator of federal hydroelectric facilities in the Pacific Northwest, said had shipped power southward to help Cal-ISO avoid Stage 3 blackouts. The agency said the terms under which it sent power to California stipulate that the state must return two megawatts for every one it gets.

At least half of the return must occur within 24 hours of Bonneville deliveries, but the remainder of the exchange can occur during nighttime hours and weekends when loads are relatively low. "Because the transaction is an exchange, its impact on Bonneville's reliability, financial status and fish obligations should be neutral, or beneficial for the Northwest," said Steve Wright, BPA acting administrator.

U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson formally issued an emergency order yesterday, urging power suppliers to "act in a responsible manner that will help keep the lights on." Using his emergency powers, he said the federal government would require all generators and marketers -- not just federal agencies -- to continue to sell power in California.

That action came after some power producers began demanding immediate payment for power sold to the state's utilities for delivery to retail customers. With Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Edison Co. in the hole for a combined $8 billion in unrecovered power costs, some producers are worried about the ability of the state's two largest utilities to continue to pay for power.

Though peak demand in California at this time of year is around 33,000 megawatts -- just three quarters of peak demand on a hot summer day -- available generation resources are extremely short. About 3,600 megawatts of in-state power plants are shut down for scheduled maintenance.

But California's power plants have been running so hard since May they are beginning to break down. Cal-ISO said that some 4,700 megawatts was off-line for emergency repairs.

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