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EPA Announces Proposed Rule Action to Revise ELG's and Support Reliable, Affordable Coal-fired Power Plants

LCG, May 14, 2026--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is proposing a rule to revise wastewater limits, known as effluent limitations guidelines (ELG), for steam electric power plants that will help improve grid reliability and lower electricity prices while continuing to support clean and safe water resources. If finalized, the EPA's proposal is estimated to reduce electricity generation costs by as much as $1.1 billion annually, which could provide cost-savings to American consumers.

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DOE Awards $94 Million to Eight American Companies to Accelerate SMR Deployments and Develop Supply Chain

LCG, May 14, 2026--The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the selection of eight companies to support the near-term deployment of advanced light-water small modular reactors (SMRs) in the United States. The DOE states that awardees will collectively receive more than $94 million in Federal cost-shared funding to spur additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry in licensing, supply chain, and site preparation.

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Industry News

Aluminum Production Slashed as Power Prices Soar

LCG, Dec. 27, 2000Shortages and high prices in a region where electric power was once plentiful and cheap have forced Goldendale Aluminum Co. to slash by three-quarters production at a primary aluminum smelter in Washington state, according to the plant's owners.

The big Norwegian industrial firm Norsk Hydro said in a statement yesterday that its Goldendale, Wash. smelter operated by subsidiary Golden Northwest Aluminum would reduce production from about 105,000 to just 27,000 metric tons for the next nine months. A metric ton is 10 percent greater than a conventional 2,000-pound ton.

The Pacific Northwest has heretofore enjoyed an abundance of hydroelectric power, but a booming high-tech economy coupled with low rainfall has pointed up the need for increased sources of electricity. At the same time, the hydro facilities are under pressure from environmentalists to cut back production in order to protect certain fish species. There is even talk of demolishing four large dams on the Snake River.

Bonneville Power Administration, the federal agency responsible for operating the government-owned hydroelectric facilities and for much of the transmission grid in the Northwest, recently cut back on power allocations to industries and at the same time raised the price of power.

Norsk Hydro said it would return much of its power allocation to Bonneville at a below market price. The cutback at Goldendale will "free-up funds to protect the viability of Goldendale through investment in power generation capacity," the company said in a statement.

The company intends to keep its work force intact for the nine months, it said, paying "costs of continued employment, wages and benefits of the smelter's employees."

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