GLG News by Elevators and Escalators Experts

    The input costs for utilities to generate electricity are up.  These costs include coal, transportation, natural gas, and power purchases.  There are no guarantees, however, that a regulated utility may pass along these costs as discussed in the commentary section.

    Wind power qualifies for production tax credits.  These production tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2008 without renewal by Congress and the President.

    Bituminous coal prices have soared over 100% in the last year.  This is obviously bad news to electric consumers dependent upon utilities with a large exposure to coal-fired generation.  The run-up in coal prices could be a benefit to some utilities.

    As the article correctly points out, capital costs to build a new power plant have risen considerably since 2000; coal plants included.  It is not just the up-front capital costs that have affected decisions to build new coal plants as discussed in the commentary sectio...

    The recent plunge in SO2 allowance prices may affect the decisions of coal-fired power plant owners.

    The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on February 8, 2009 in favor of the plaintiffs that coal plants could not be removed from the list of mercury sources subject to a Maximum Available Control Technology (MACT) standard and the subsequent movements to require EPA to set...

    All of the various regulations being discussed in the U.S. Congress to slow, stabilize, and then reduce CO2 emissions nationally include some type of cap and trade system.  Each of these programs have a portion of the CO2 emissions allowances being allocated for free to...

    The biggest driver for orders of coal railcars will be the new coal plants coming on line the next few years.  The commentary section below discusses the number of new coal plants presented by FreightCar America on its Q1 2008 conference call versus an updated analysis by...

    The BNSF and other railroads charge in new coal transportation tariffs and contracts a fuel surcharge to recover the cost of fuel.  Other freight moves also come under fuel surcharges.  The commentary that follows discusses by the numbers the BNSF’s fuel surcharge on...

    The EPA is currently being challenged in the courts by both the states and industry over various aspects of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR).  The outcome of the case could provide an opportunity for those trading SO2 allowances.