All posts by Joe Smyth

Joe Smyth was a Research and Communications Manager for the Energy and Policy Institute.

Xcel Energy supports gas industry group pushing false claims in Colorado

Xcel Energy is supporting a new gas industry effort in Colorado that has published false claims about the costs of electrification. The new gas industry group launched the same week...

/ February 3, 2022

Utility trade associations say utilities are disclosing climate risks to investors. Major investors disagree

The trade associations for investor-owned electric and gas utilities claim that their member companies already provide investors with sufficient information about how utilities are navigating climate risks, such as reducing...

/ January 11, 2022
cheap renewable energy erodes the value of carbon capture

Major investors warn utilities against carbon capture and offsets

Utilities should “focus primarily on minimising the use of fossil fuels and particularly coal”

/ December 2, 2021

Project Tundra coal carbon project faces delays, higher costs, and departing contractor

A proposal to build a carbon capture project at a coal plant in North Dakota faces delays, higher than expected costs, and a key contractor who said it won’t construct...

/ October 8, 2021

Do major investors support American Electric Power’s lobbying against President Biden’s clean energy plan?

Despite publicly pledging to support efforts to limit global warming emissions, asset managers are silent while utilities lobby against climate legislation

/ September 30, 2021

Salt River Project board narrowly approves nearly $1 billion gas plant expansion

This post was updated on September 13 to reflect the results of the Salt River Project board vote The board of directors of the Salt River Project, the third largest...

/ September 9, 2021
Hedge fund Acme Equities ("Enchant Energy") is attempting to install CCS on the San Juan Generating Station.

Enchant Energy spent more on lobbying than planning its coal carbon capture project

– The Department of Energy increased its share of the costs to study a carbon capture proposal at the San Juan Generating Station in the final week of the Trump...

/ August 18, 2021

NRECA runs misleading pro-coal ads to sway Illinois lawmakers

As negotiations continue over a climate and energy bill in Illinois, misleading online advertisements from a group called “Voices for Cooperative Power” have appeared. The ads running in Illinois political...

/ July 15, 2021
Comanche coal plant

Colorado regulators reject coal front group’s attempt to intervene in Xcel Energy resource plan

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has rejected a coal industry front group’s efforts to intervene in Xcel Energy’s resource plan, after the Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel and Colorado Energy...

/ June 10, 2021
Great River Energy presentation to Lignite Energy Council

Lignite Energy Council shouldn’t be funded by utility ratepayers, Minnesota Attorney General argues

Minnesota’s Attorney General thinks utility ratepayers should not be forced to fund the Lignite Energy Council, a coal industry group that has opposed clean energy policies in Minnesota and supported...

/ May 19, 2021