EnergyOnline
Services

RSS FEED

EnergyOnline.com rss

News

FERC Proposes NEPA Revisions to Streamline Air Quality Analyses and Accelerate Natural Gas Projects

LCG, October 16, 2026--The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced on Thursday its new proposal to revise and accelerate its review of air quality effects for proposed natural gas projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The draft policy statement highlights revisions designed to (i) avoid unnecessary delays and duplicative analysis and (ii) deliver greater regulatory certainty and a streamlined path forward for project applicants.

Read more

AEP Announces 702-MW Bloom Fuel Cell Project to Serve Google in Wyoming

LCG, October 14, 2026--American Electric Power (AEP) today announced plans for a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Google, under which AEP will invest approximately $4 billion to advance a new 702-MW fuel cell generation project located near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Google will acquire power from Cheyenne Fuel Cell, LLC, which is approximately 92 percent owned and controlled by AEP and 8 percent owned by funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners, LLP. AEP and its partners plan to start construction this year and to be fully operational by the end of 2028.

Read more

Industry News

$2.52 Million Fine Proposed in Fatal Pipeline Blast

LCG, June 22, 2001The Research and Special Programs Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has proposed a $2.52 million civil penalty against an El Paso Corp. unit for safety violations that led to a natural gas pipeline explosion in New Mexico last August, killing 12 people.

The proposed fine, largest ever against a natural gas pipeline firm, follows a DOT investigation that charged El Paso with several safety violations, including use of the pipeline to transport "corrosive gas on numerous occasions without taking proper preventive and mitigative steps."

The DOT also accused El Paso of failing to ensure that qualified personnel perform internal corrosion procedures to ensure pipeline integrity and neglecting to follow procedures for continuing surveillance of its facilities, which would have led to action to control collection of liquids at low points where corrosion could occur.

On August 19 last year, the pipeline exploded near Carlsbad, N.M. The resulting ball of fire incinerated all 12 members of two families as they slept, camped nearby on a fishing trip.

El Paso has said it did not believe it committed any violations. "Certainly it was a very regrettable accident but we don't believe it was caused by any violations or procedures that may or may not have been performed on our part," said Norma Dunn, an El Paso spokeswoman.

Edward Brigham, acting deputy administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration, said "We must do everything we can to prevent the loss of life from pipeline failures. The penalties we seek in this case reflect the importance of comprehensive integrity management programs."

El Paso will have 30 days in which to either pay the fine or seek a close-door hearing on the allegations.

Copyright © 2026 LCG Consulting. All rights reserved. Terms and Copyright
UPLAN-NPM
The Locational Marginal Price Model (LMP) Network Power Model
Uniform Storage Model
A Battery Simulation Model
UPLAN-ACE
Day Ahead and Real Time Market Simulation
UPLAN-G
The Gas Procurement and Competitive Analysis System
PLATO
Database of Plants, Loads, Assets, Transmission...
CAISO CRR Auctions
Monthly Price and Congestion Forecasting Service