Welcome to Grid Brief! Today we’re looking at power generation in America’s electricity markets. Note: this will be the last Grid Brief for the week in observation of the Thanksgiving holiday. 🇺🇸 

What’s Keeping the Lights On?

Here’s a look at nation-wide generation.

As ever, natural gas, nuclear, and coal were the star players. Wind’s presence grew as the week rolled on.

And here’s a map to orient you as we move through the market regions.

ISO New England

Natural gas, nuclear, and hydro kept New England humming.

New York ISO

Like its yankee brethren in ISO-NE, natural gas, nuclear, and hydro were the star players in New York. Wind peaked above hydro once on the 17th.

Ørsted and Eversource installed the first of twelve offshore wind turbines for the state’s South Fork Wind Project on Tuesday. The state also decided to keep the Gowanus 2 & 3 and Narrows 1 & 2 barge-mounted generators running as peaker plants for the next two years to serve as a “temporary solution” to New York City’s reliability needs. New York City became more reliant on natural gas after it forced the Indian Point nuclear power plant to close under pressure from environmentalists.

PJM

Natural gas, nuclear, and coal were the big generators in America’s biggest power market.

MISO

Coal and natural gas traded places as the top two generators in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s footprint. But wind roared over them several times as part of its erratic and productive week.

ERCOT

Natural gas and wind traded places—with wind as a volatile force in the Lone Star State. Solar peaked above coal, nuclear, and wind at certain junctures.

ERCOT has had a bumpy entry into winter. Last week, one of its market watchdogs stepped down over governance issues. This week, it scrapped a 3 GW winter capacity procurement when no generators showed up to offer additional operating services.

SPP

Not a lot to look at in SPP. Wind, natural gas, and coal were the main generators.

CAISO

Natural gas was the top generator in California with solar usurping its spot several times. Hydro served as a reliable third place until wind overtook it towards the end of the week.

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Conversation Starters

• European steel group seeks US LNG. “ArcelorMittal is on the hunt for supplies of US liquefied natural gas in what would be its first LNG deal for its European steelmaking operations,” reports Financial Times. “With the search in its early days, no decision has been made on the length or structure of a contract to supply LNG, but industrial peers of the world’s second-largest steelmaker have signed agreements for about 20 years.”

• Ford scales back capacity at a new battery plant. “Ford is reneging on its ambitious plans to open a battery plant near Marshall, Michigan, a company spokesman said, scaling back both its investments in the EV battery facility and jobs as EV adoption is slower than expected,” reports Oilprice.com. “Ford will reduce its commitment to the battery plant by more than $1 billion and 800 jobs, reducing the planned capacity of the plant by 42%. While the plans have been scaled back considerably, Ford still plans to open the new plant by 2026.”

• Japan urges longterm LNG deal. “Japan’s government is asking liquefied natural gas importers to secure new decades-long supply deals under efforts to boost energy security,” reports Bloomberg. “The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has been meeting with Japanese buyers, as well as overseas suppliers, to urge the signing of more long-term LNG contracts, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. The push is meant to insulate Japan from future supply shocks, as well as potentially harsher sanctions against Russian fuel exports, the people said.”

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