EnergyOnline
Services

RSS FEED

EnergyOnline.com rss

News

EIA Estimates Record U.S. Electric Generating Capacity Additions in 2026, with Solar in the Lead

LCG, February 20, 2026--The EIA today issued an "in-brief analysis" that estimates U.S. power plant developers and operators plan to complete a record installation of 86 GW of new, utility-scale electric generating capacity that is connected to the U.S. power grid in 2026. Last year, 53 GW of new capacity was added to the grid, which was the largest capacity installation in a single year since 2002. Thus the estimate of 86 GW of new capacity in 2026 is a whopping 33 GW greater than the year prior. It should be noted that over 20 GW of the 86 GW of new capacity this year is estimated to be completed in December.

Read more

Enhanced Geothermal Systems May Drive Significant Growth in Geothermal Power Generation

LCG, February 19, 2026--The EIA released an "in-brief analysis" today regarding the expected completion of the first, large-scale commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) in June 2026, and the significant growth potential for year-round, 24x7, carbon-free, renewable EGS power generation in the United States.

Read more

Industry News

Mid-American Unit Sues SoCal Ed over Payment

LCG, Nov. 15, 2001--A subsidiary of a major Midwestern utility holding company said it filed a $100 million lawsuit yesterday against Southern California Edison Co., alleging the struggling utility has reneged on an agreement to pay part of its past-due bill.

CalEnergy Operating Corp., which is 50 percent owned by Mid-American Energy Holdings Corp., said it file suit in California Superior Court in Imperial County claiming SoCal Ed had reneged on an October promise to begin paying overdue bills for electricity produced at its geothermal plants.

In exchange for that agreement, CalEnergy and several other non-utility power producers known as "qualifying facilities" agreed not to file a petition which would force the utility into involuntary bankruptcy.

David Sokol, chairman of CalEnergy's parent company, said SoCal Ed "is reneging on its agreements with renewable energy producers. Edison protects its shareholders while little players across the state, including vendors and landowners in Imperial County, suffer."

Qualifying facilities are not, for the most part, "renewable energy producers." Most are medium-size conventional gas-fueled plants, many of which are cogeneration units, built in response to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978.

SoCal Ed took umbrage in a statement issued yesterday. "We categorically reject as untrue the claim that SCE breached any settlement agreement with CalEnergy or otherwise acted inappropriately," the utility said, adding that it hoped to be able to pay all its creditors early in the new year.

"Meanwhile, we believe it is important to deal fairly and equitably with all creditors and not to single out one group for preferential payments," the company said.

Mid-American Energy is majority owned by billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and is the largest utility in Iowa, with operations extending into Illinois and South Dakota.

Copyright © 2026 LCG Consulting. All rights reserved. Terms and Copyright
UPLAN-NPM
The Locational Marginal Price Model (LMP) Network Power Model
Uniform Storage Model
A Battery Simulation Model
UPLAN-ACE
Day Ahead and Real Time Market Simulation
UPLAN-G
The Gas Procurement and Competitive Analysis System
PLATO
Database of Plants, Loads, Assets, Transmission...
CAISO CRR Auctions
Monthly Price and Congestion Forecasting Service