INSIDER
Conflicting federal policies may cost residents more on flood insurance, and leave them at risk
Read full article: Conflicting federal policies may cost residents more on flood insurance, and leave them at riskAn Associated Press review has found that thousands of people may be paying more for flood insurance or remain unaware of the dangers of dam failures because of conflicting federal policies.
Conflicting federal policies may cost residents more on flood insurance, and leave them at risk
Read full article: Conflicting federal policies may cost residents more on flood insurance, and leave them at riskAn Associated Press review has found that thousands of people may be paying more for flood insurance or remain unaware of the dangers of dam failures because of conflicting federal policies.
Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South Texas
Read full article: Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South TexasThis week’s ruling was the latest twist since cities and groups in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley sued to block the projects.
Panel's approval of liquefied natural gas export terminal puts more pressure on Biden to block it
Read full article: Panel's approval of liquefied natural gas export terminal puts more pressure on Biden to block itWhat would be the nation’s largest export terminal for liquefied natural gas has won approval from a federal commission.
Senate confirms new energy regulators, extending Biden's grip on panel that backs renewable energy
Read full article: Senate confirms new energy regulators, extending Biden's grip on panel that backs renewable energyPresident Joe Biden’s grip on a key federal energy commission will last beyond his first term, giving a boost to the Democrat’s push for renewable energy regardless of the election results in November.
US energy panel approves rule to expand transmission of renewable power
Read full article: US energy panel approves rule to expand transmission of renewable powerFederal energy regulators have approved a rule to expand the amount of renewable energy such as wind and solar power that is transmitted to the electric grid.
Native American tribes gain new authority to stop unwanted hydropower projects
Read full article: Native American tribes gain new authority to stop unwanted hydropower projectsThe U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has rejected several proposed hydropower projects on the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. The commission has also created a policy that essentially gives tribes early veto power over such projects.
Worried about safety, a small West Texas town challenges planned cross-border pipeline
Read full article: Worried about safety, a small West Texas town challenges planned cross-border pipelineCritics are calling on federal regulators to increase their scrutiny and oversight of the proposed pipeline, which would send gas from Texas to the Mexican coast for export to other countries.
Clock ticking for plan to keep West Virginia coal plant open
Read full article: Clock ticking for plan to keep West Virginia coal plant openMore than 500,000 homes and businesses in West Virginia would see their electricity bills increase for a year to extend the life of a coal-fired power plant on the brink of closure.
US pipeline agency pulls back plan to assess climate impacts
Read full article: US pipeline agency pulls back plan to assess climate impactsAmid pushback from industry groups and lawmakers in both parties, federal energy regulators are scaling back plans to consider how natural gas projects affect climate change and environmental justice.
Texas could connect to national power grids without losing autonomy, former grid regulator says
Read full article: Texas could connect to national power grids without losing autonomy, former grid regulator saysTexas has long refused to connect its decentralized grid to two national power networks, but Hunt Energy Network CEO Pat Wood said the state could do so without additional oversight — and without state Legislature approval.
High court rejects gas company's pipeline stay request
Read full article: High court rejects gas company's pipeline stay requestChief Justice John Roberts has rejected a Supreme Court stay request from the St. Louis-based natural gas company Spire Inc. to allow it to keep operating a pipeline through Illinois and Missouri.
Biden names Democrats to lead nuclear, pipeline agencies
Read full article: Biden names Democrats to lead nuclear, pipeline agencies(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON – Moving quickly to assert influence over energy issues, President Joe Biden has named two Democrats to lead regulatory agencies that oversee nuclear power, natural gas and other energy infrastructure. Christopher Hanson, the new chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Rich Glick, leader of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, replace Republicans who led the panels under President Donald Trump. The NRC regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, including in medicine, while FERC regulates interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil. It also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas terminals, interstate natural gas pipelines and hydropower projects. He also has served as a senior adviser in the Energy Department’s Office of Nuclear Energy and other department roles in the Obama administration.
Michigan dam had repeated safety violations before flooding
Read full article: Michigan dam had repeated safety violations before floodingThis photo shows a view of a dam on Wixom Lake in Edenville, Mich., Tuesday, May 19, 2020. The Edenville dam, in Michigan’s Gladwin and Midland counties, includes a series of earthen embankments totaling about 6,600 feet (2,012 meters) long, with a maximum height of nearly 55 feet (16.8 meters). The Edenville dam's spillway capacity was only about 50 percent of the probable maximum flood, the commission said. Among its other violations: performing unauthorized dam repairs and earth-moving and failing to file an adequate public safety plan, maintain recreation facilities or monitor water quality. “The record demonstrates that there is no reason to believe that Boyce Hydro will come into compliance," the commission added.