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Enhanced Geothermal Systems May Drive Significant Growth in Geothermal Power Generation

LCG, February 19, 2026--The EIA released an "in-brief analysis" today regarding the expected completion of the first, large-scale commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) in June 2026, and the significant growth potential for year-round, 24x7, carbon-free, renewable EGS power generation in the United States.

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Hydrostor Announces Offtake Agreement with California Community Power for the Willow Rock Energy Storage Center

LCG, February 12, 2026--Hydrostor today announced that the Willow Rock Energy Storage Center has signed a 50 MW offtake agreement with California Community Power (CC Power) on behalf of six of its community choice aggregator members: CleanPowerSF, Peninsula Clean Energy, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, San Jose Clean Energy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority and Valley Clean Energy Authority.

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Industry News

S&P, Fitch Slash PG&E, SoCal Edison Credit

LCG, Jan. 5, 2001Standard & Poor's and Fitch lowered the credit ratings of California's two largest electric utilities yesterday following action by the state's Public Utilities Commission that will allow the companies to raise their retail electricity rates by one cent per kilowatt-hour.

Fitch dropped the ratings of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Edison Co. deep into junk bond territory but S&P was a little less harsh, saying it was "premature" to post a rating for the utilities that would place them in default with their lenders.

"If we do that, we're saying we're at the end and there's no way out for these utilities," said S&P analyst Richard Cortwright. "We haven't given up and we're seeing positive signs of legislative action."

California Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday called a special session of the state Legislature to address the mess that has been made of state's electric industry restructuring program. A special session allows any legislation passed by a simple majority to become effective immediately, without the need for the two-thirds vote ordinarily required.

Moody's has not yet announced a ratings decision. As the two major credit rating institutions, Moody's and S&P's credit ratings are built into loan covenants with major banks. If their credit ratings were dropped to the level of that of Fitch, the utilities would be in default on much of their short-term debt.

PG&E said the low rating by Fitch would not affect the company's bank-loan covenants.

Even so, their debt crisis has shut the two utilities out of the debt capital markets. In the California Legislature's special session, the companies are expected to lobby for a special issue of bonds backed by the State Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank.

Those bonds would not be a taxpayer "bailout" of the utilities in that they would be responsible for the debt, not the state. The money would be used to buy power for delivery to customers who would be obligated to pay for it later through a surcharge on their bills.

The word "bailout" has been used carelessly by populist groups who see any rate increase for the utilities as such. However, from the utilities' point of view, they are the victims of an electric customer "bailout" which they have financed.

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