GLG News by Gypsum Wallboard 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...

Integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC), a commercially demonstrated technology for Carbon (CO2) capture is marketed as turnkey approach via Bechtel and General Electric’s long-term alliance. The recent alliance with Schlumberger addresses the outstanding question of what to do with captured CO2....

MANDATING TRANSPORT COST LOW SULFUR POWDER RIVE BASIN COAL SUGGESTS A TREND THAT COULD APPLY BEYOND MISSOURI AND TO OTHER STATES E.G. TEXAS Reducing transport cost of coal would provide economic impeturs for additional coal-fired units in Mid-West and South 

Examples of regulated electric utilities opting for different fuel mixtures: Alliant Energy is hedging its bets supporting both coal and gas-fired units. FPL is hedging its bets supporting gas-fired and nuclear power plants.   Regulated utilities will determine their fuel energy mix based...

    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...

Nuclear Power Plants Estimated Capital Costs have risen 2 - 5 times over the last 18 months Such High Costs may require special Rate Considerations by state regulators Lacking such rate recovery mechanisms, self financing may limit growth of Nuclear Power in USA