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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

California Congressman Puts Heat on Cal-ISO

LCG, Nov. 19, 2001--U.S. Rep. Doug Ose, a California Republican, has demanded that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission act on what he says is preferential treatment of the California Department of Water Resources by the California Independent System Operator.

In a letter last Thursday to FERC, which was released Friday, Ose said dealings between the two state agencies contravene the required independence of the ISO. Reliant Energy Inc. and Mirant Corp. filed a complaint with FERC last month alleging that information-sharing between the two groups violates the ISO's tariff.

Ose backed up his letter with a copy of a confidential memo from Eric Woychik, described as having inside knowledge of the water agency, to ISO board member Mike Florio, who is also a lawyer for an anti-utility gadfly group, The Utility Return Network.

Ose did not tell how he came by the memo, but said it revealed "egregious examples of interference by CDWR in the electricity market."

How confidential was the memo? In it, Woychik wrote "If the press, Legislature, or FERC get wind of this, I think we are toast!!!"

Woychik's memo said that CDWR scheduling practices resulted in "very large additional costs for purchases," and compromised reliability. He cited as an example an instance when the water agency required the ISO to accept bilateral contracts for $400 per megawatt-hour when cheaper coal-fired generation from a Nevada plant was available for $60.

In his letter to FERC, Ose said the memo "clearly illustrates the perils of a lack of independence" at the ISO.

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