Dynegy sells plants to LS Power for $1 billion, 2nd-quarter profit widens on prices, charge

COLUMBUS, Ohio —Power provider Dynegy will sell eight plants plus another under development for about $1 billion in cash and $500 million in stock as the company attempts to bolster its finances and reduce debt.

TVA reduces plans for Alabama nuclear plant to 1 reactor, instead of the 4 originally planned

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority, faced with falling electric sales and rising costs from cleaning up a massive coal ash spill in Tennessee, on Friday trimmed plans for a potential four-unit nuclear plant in northeast Alabama to one reactor.

Report says early costs of climate bill will be modest, with prices rising 20 percent by 2030

WASHINGTON — Climate change legislation before Congress would boost electricity prices by about 20 percent by 2030, although most of the increases wouldn’t begin until after 2020, a government analysis concluded Tuesday.

Climate experts: ‘Cash for clunkers’ won’t do much to reduce greenhouse gas pollution

WASHINGTON — “Cash for clunkers” could have the same effect on global warming pollution as shutting down the entire country — every automobile, every factory, every power plant — for an hour per year. That could rise to three hours if the program is extended by Congress and remains as popular as it is now.

Senate rebuffs bid by Obama, McCain to kill rural energy grants

WASHINGTON — The Senate broke with Barack Obama on Monday as it voted to keep alive a grant program to help people in rural areas receive reasonably priced electricity despite the president’s demand to kill it.

Report concludes only broad action on climate will achieve required pollution cuts

WASHINGTON — If global warming is to be addressed without breaking people’s pocketbooks, no single answer will do the job, a research group tied to the electric utility industry says in a new study that concludes the problem must be attacked from many directions.

Patriot Coal to shut down W.Va. surface mine, focus production at lower-cost operations

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Another major U.S. coal mining complex has fallen victim to the slumping demand for energy.

Enel and EdF create joint venture to develop nuclear energy in Italy

MILAN — The Italian energy company Enel has formed a joint venture with France’s EdF to develop nuclear energy in Italy, the companies said in a joint statement Monday.

TVA raises coal ash spill tab to $1.2B; blames disaster for $167M loss in 3rd quarter

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority raised its estimates for cleaning up a massive coal ash spill to $1.2 billion on Friday, and partly blamed its third-quarter loss of $167 million on that cleanup.

Gas distributor Nicor affirms 2009 profit outlook of $2.54-$2.74 per share

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Nicor on Friday affirmed its 2009 profit outlook, saying it is starting to see the positive effect of higher rates in its natural gas distribution business.

Feds aim to ease Calif. water shortages by sending nearly $60M in grants to farms, dairies

FRESNO, Calif. — Federal agencies have pledged to send nearly $60 million in grants to help California communities, farms and dairies suffering from ongoing water shortages.

Cuba turns off air conditioners, shuts factories, shortens workdays to save money in recession

HAVANA — It’s hard to find a spare tire in Cuba these days, or a cup of yoghurt.

Power company Xcel reaffirms profit outlook of $1.45-$1.55 per share

MINNEAPOLIS — Power company Xcel Energy on Thursday reaffirmed its 2009 profit outlook as rate increases in several states have helped offset lower demand for electricity caused by the recession.

Rush on Midwestern coal, once deemed too dirty to burn, brings jobs back to Ill., Ky., Ind.

CENTERTOWN, Ky. — A five-minute drive from this community’s lone gas station leads to a gateway to untapped riches: A bed of coal twice the size of Lake Michigan.

Reliant Energy helps NRG second-quarter profit more than triple

PRINCETON, N.J. — NRG Energy Inc. on Thursday reported that its second-quarter profit more than tripled from a year ago, helped by its acquisition of Reliant Energy’s retail operations in Texas and the sale of a German mining business.

Ohio budget strives to put solar power in financial reach of more residents

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s latest budget seeks to put solar power in the financial reach of Ohio residents by addressing the cost of installation, the biggest barrier to the renewable energy technology’s large-scale deployment.

Waste Management posts sharp drop in 2nd-qtr profit on falling recycling and energy prices

Waste Management, the nation’s largest trash hauler, said Thursday its second-quarter profit dropped sharply due largely to falling recycling and energy prices.

Power company Vattenfall posts profit drop, seeks to restore trust after nuclear incident

STOCKHOLM — Swedish energy group Vattenfall on Thursday posted a 36 percent drop in second-quarter earnings and said it needs to restore trust after a short circuit at a nuclear power plant in Germany raised concerns about safety there.

Beijing says global economic crisis boosting effort to phase out coal-fired power plants

BEIJING — China has taken advantage of a drop in electricity demand due to the global financial crisis to speed up a campaign to close small coal-fired power plants and improve its battered environment, an official said Thursday.

Electricite de France SA reports small increase in net profit to $4.37 billion

PARIS — Electricite de France SA reported Thursday a tiny increase in net profit in the first half, due mainly to an improvement in its international operations, but warned that full-year earnings would not grow as it focuses on investments and reducing debt.

Senate passes energy and water bill; panel boosts transportation, housing programs

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday passed a $34.3 billion energy spending bill that backs up President Barack Obama’s promise to close the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste facility in Nevada.

NJ regulators approve $515M solar power project, seal state’s No. 2 spot after Calif.

NEWARK, N.J. — Regulators approved more than $515 million in projects Wednesday that will more than double the amount of solar power generated in New Jersey and will solidify the state’s No. 2 spot behind California in power produced from the sun.

NJ regulators approve $515M solar power project, propel state toward No. 2 spot after Calif.

NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey is heading toward the No. 2 spot — after California — in solar power generation with regulatory approval of a $515 million energy project.

Massey Energy reports $20.2 million in 2Q, citing sales to power plants

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal producer Massey Energy Co. said Tuesday it turned a better-than-expected profit in the second quarter as it booked fewer charges and increased shipments to power plants despite slumping demand for electricity amid the recession.

Inspector general: TVA lawyers limited $3M report on cause of Tenn. ash spill

WASHINGTON — The head of the Tennessee Valley Authority acknowledged a “larger cultural problem” at the agency as an inspector general’s report says it allowed its lawyers to stifle a $3 million study into the cause of a massive coal ash spill to limit its legal liability.

Greenpeace: China’s top 3 energy suppliers emit more greenhouse gases than Britain

BEIJING — China’s three largest energy suppliers emitted more greenhouse gases than all of Britain last year, environmental watchdog Greenpeace China said in a report issued Tuesday.

Israel tells leery US it will do whatever it must to keep Iran from gaining nuclear bomb

JERUSALEM — Israel hardened its insistence Monday that it would do anything it felt necessary to stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb, just the ultimatum the United States hoped not to hear as it tried to nudge Iran to the bargaining table.

Israel reserves right to use any means to stop Iran, US vows tougher sanctions if talks fail

JERUSALEM — Israel insisted Monday it will do whatever it must to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, even as the visiting U.S. defense chief promised tougher international sanctions if Tehran spurns an offer of talks.

Clinton paints robust picture of US policy abroad, warns NKorea that tantrums won’t work

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stood fast Sunday behind the administration’s readiness to engage with foes like Iran and North Korea and heaped praise on China in advance of two days of critical talks aimed at easing the global economic downturn.

Clinton mum on Mideast defense umbrella, says US still wants dialogue with Tehran

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Sunday she would not reveal any specifics of a possible defense umbrella to protect Mideast allies against Iran’s nuclear program while insisting Washington remained open to dialogue with Tehran.