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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.

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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.

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Industry News

Colorado Supports Xcel Proposal to Exclude Bidding on 750 MW Plant

LCG, September 15, 2004--The Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) filed testimony Monday supporting Xcel's proposal to waive the competitive bid process for a 750 MW resource that would commence operations by the summer 2009.

Public Service of Colorado (PSCo), a regulated affiliate of Xcel, has submitted its Least-cost Resource Plan and requested a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to build a 750 MW expansion of its Comanche Station - with a waiver from the competitive bidding process. Furthermore, PSCo requests (a) customers pay the financing costs of the 750 MW plant immediately by raising rates during the construction period through a rate rider and (b) the Commission adopt a new capital structure for PSCo in the next rate case that includes construction costs of the coal plant in the base rates.

In addition to the 750 MW provided by the coal plant, PSCo forecasts a need for another 500 MW of capacity by 2009. The Commission recently approved a solicitation proposed by PSCo to add 500 MW of wind capacity. PSCo proposes a separate bidding process that would be open to all supply sources and DSM programs to fill out the supply portfolio, with the condition that PSCO would not bid. However, depending upon the capacity value applied to the new wind projects, the remaining quantity of capacity to bid on may be relatively insignificant.

As stated in the testimony of the OCC, "PSCo also testifies that if the Commission does not grant the waiver it will not bid or build the coal plant even though to do so might significantly increase the cost of electricity to ratepayers. It has also testified that if the Commission does not approve the proposed Regulatory Plan, the Company will not accept the CPCN."

The OCC agrees to grant the waiver, subject to the condition that the final investment cost of the plant be capped. "The OCC is supporting a waiver in this case because the Company's waiver proposal spreads the risks associated with various generation providers and serves as a hedge that will benefit consumers." The OCC had no specific cap included in its testimony.

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