Welcome to Grid Brief! Today, we’re looking at power generation in America’s traditional monopoly areas with relevant news items.

Monopoly Area Monday

Here’s a snapshot of generation nation-wide:

Total generation stayed fairly level nation-wide, with natural gas as the top generator. Wind leapt over nuclear to take the number two spot toward the end of the week.

Carolinas

A low load week for the Carolinas; nuclear maintained its dominance with a menagerie of generators grappling in the background.

TVA

The TVA saw its generation rise over the week; nuclear ratcheted down while gas ramped up.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s new emissions rules may force the TVA to rethink its commitment to new natural gas generation, an institutional position environmentalists and politicians have already been lambasting the public utility for.

Southeast

Natural gas, nuclear, and coal kept the Southeast humming.

WeaveGrid, an electric software provider, announced a collaboration with Southern Company and its subsidiary Alabama Power to “launch an innovative new program for EV owners in the Alabama Power service footprint. The company is simultaneously working with Georgia Power, piloting a similar program for a limited number of EV owners in Georgia. The program aims to support EV adoption by simplifying home charging for customers in both states, offering streamlined access to electric utility incentives for charging vehicles during off-peak periods, as well as managed charging that optimizes charging for economic and grid benefits.”

Florida

Florida’s generation mix and total generation kept to its consistent spring pattern.

With hurricane season on the way, Florida Power & Light has launched a grid-hardening program that replaces wooden poles with concrete to bolster its transmission system during heavy winds.

Northwest

Hydro remained the king of the Northwest, with a colorful collection of generators swapping the second and third spots.

Intel has committed to a $36 billion dollar expansion, complete with new data centers, which will put greater strain on Portland Gas & Electric’s ability to supply load.

Southwest

The Southwest also had a low-load week, with natural gas, nuclear, and solar as its standouts.

An Arizona utility is attempting to build four new natural gas turbines without any environmental review. According to Axios, Arizona has the most reliable electrical system in America.

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Conversation Starters

• America’s next LNG export plant to begin operations mid-year. “Venture Global LNG Inc. expects to begin production at its second liquefied natural gas export facility in Louisiana in mid-2024, further cementing to the US as the world’s biggest supplier of the super-chilled fuel,” reports Bloomberg. “The Arlington, Virgina-based company requested approval to receive an LNG shipment to cool down its equipment as part of its start-up process at the Plaquemines LNG facility, according to a regulatory filing dated April 22. That’s a key step before LNG exports can begin.”

• Drone attack takes Iraqi gas field offline. “Four expatriate workers lost their lives, and two others sustained injuries in a recent drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq's Kurdistan region. This attack, reported by an advisor to the Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister and a senior Kurdish political source, has also resulted in the suspension of production at the site,” reports Oilprice.com. “The ramifications of the assault extend beyond casualties, impacting electricity generation in the region. Kurdistan's electricity ministry stated that the drone attack disrupted gas supplies to power plants, leading to an approximate 2,500 MW reduction in electricity output.”

• American gas-fired generation increased in 2022 and 2023. “Electricity generation from units that primarily consume natural gas in the U.S. Lower 48 states has increased for all hours of the day since 2021, according to data reported on Form EIA-930, Hourly and Daily Balancing Authority Operations Report,” reports the Energy Information Administration. “Increased electricity generation from natural gas was due mostly to coal retirements, increases in natural gas-fired electricity generating capacity, and low natural gas prices in 2023. Off-peak natural gas-fired generation rose about 22% between 2021 and 2023, according to our data, displacing coal-fired units as an overnight source of electricity.”

Crom’s Blessing

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