The Latest
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Report: CPUC launches PG&E, SCE probes after 3 deadly fires
Lawsuit threats loom after two of the state's largest investor owned utilities alerted regulators to transmission issues near ground zero of blazes that started last week.
Regulation & Policy -
AEP to spend $2.7B on renewables, $24.9B on T&D in next 5 years
American Electric Power plans to use the majority of its five year budget on transmission and distribution operations to "enhance service for customers."
Generation -
216 mayors signal support for more solar power in updated letter
The Mayors for Solar Energy effort, organized by Environment America, also includes training and resources for local governments to encourage more solar power.
Solar & Renewables -
Deep DiveLocational value of DER is essential to grid planning. So why hasn't anyone found it?
Policymakers want to identify the precise value of DER to their power systems, but the system may be changing too fast to make that possible right now.
Transmission & Distribution -
PodcastElectric Power Show Ep. 1: Everybody loves energy storage
Utility Dive's new podcast explores how the Energy Storage Association is navigating the polarized politics of Washington. We also offer midterm election analysis.
The Electric Power Show -
Lazard: Renewables can challenge existing coal plants on price
The firm's latest findings underscore a number of recent utility moves to replace coal with wind, solar and gas.
Generation -
Report offers 10 options to preserve utility role amid clean energy transition
The collaboration among Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute, examines ideas such as revenue decoupling, performance-incentive mechanisms and multi-year rate plans.
Transmission & Distribution -
Deep DiveClean energy platforms win at the state level as 7 governor seats shift blue
Several Democratic candidates ran their campaigns on clean energy in stark contrast to their opponents, which observers say may have helped win them the election.
Solar & Renewables -
OpinionDistribution system planning: Proactively planning for more distributed assets at the grid edge
The distribution grid is the backbone of a reliable electric system and proper planning will make it more flexible, reliable, resilient, cost-effective and clean, AEE's Coley Girouard and Ryan Katofsky write.
Distributed Energy -
OpinionSouth Carolina tackles unprecedented interstate interconnection issues
Duke Energy sought to waive the state's rules to allow renewable projects to participate in a renewables program initiated by North Carolina, opening a can of worms, writes IREC Regulatory Director Sara Baldwin Auck.
Regulation & Policy -
Amazon turns to Tesla for battery storage at UK distribution centers
The 3.6 MW solar array will be paired with an estimated 2 MW of battery storage, marking the latest example of a tech giant partnering with clean energy resource developers.
Solar & Renewables -
PG&E shares hit multiyear low as deadly Camp Fire rages
While the cause has not been determined, the utility reported that a line outage coincided with the most destructive blaze in California history, which has killed at least 29 people and burned 6,700 buildings.
Transmission & Distribution -
FirstEnergy reaches settlement to invest $500M in grid modernization
The settlement also returns $900 million to customers as a result of the lowered corporate tax rate.
Transmission & Distribution -
Northwestern Energy eyes lower costs as it joins CAISO Energy Imbalance Market
California's grid operator estimates the EIM has generated benefits in excess of $500 million for market participants since its launch.
Transmission & Distribution -
OpinionFor RTOs & ISOs: 'Don't call it a market' (props to LL Cool J)
The term "market" for the fully restructured RTOs/ISOs was brilliant PR, but a category error in describing what amounts to an alternative regulatory model, write attorneys Ray Gifford and Matthew Larson.
Regulation & Policy -
Duke, Dominion issue $1.3B in green bonds
Dominion plans to use the bonds to reimburse for its solar investments while Duke said it would use bonds to fund solar and energy projects.
Solar & Renewables -
Storage will replace 3 California gas plants as PG&E nabs approval for world's largest batteries
Installation of more than 2,200 MWh of storage will be the first time a utility directly replaces multiple major fossil fuel generators with batteries.
Generation -
Greenlots and Volvo to partner on charging infrastructure for electric trucks
The project in Southern California is supported by a $44.8 million state grant and will include both DC fast chargers and level 2 chargers.
Efficiency & Demand Response -
New York issues 800 MW offshore wind solicitation as tax credits wind down
The solicitation has been anticipated all year, following Gov. Andrew Cuomo's goal to develop 2,400 MW of offshore wind.
Solar & Renewables -
35% of US nuclear plants face early retirement: Union of Concerned Scientists
The analysis recommends the adoption of state and federal policies that would support the plants, including a national carbon price or low-carbon electricity standard.
Generation -
PJM aims for middle in defense of capacity market plan at FERC
Fossil fuel generators and consumer advocates assailed the grid operator's resource carve-out plan in comments while PJM tried to frame its proposal as a reasonable compromise.
Generation -
OpinionDon't believe all the blockchain hype
Blockchain may change some aspects of energy markets, but don't expect the revolution evangelists are promising.
Distributed Energy -
PG&E mimics smart phone data plans with EV charging rate proposal
Pacific Gas & Electric wants to replace demand charges, which have bedeviled electric vehicle charging station business models, with a subscription-based plan more similar to an iPhone data plan.
Distributed Energy -
NantEnergy acquires Sharp Electronics energy services, storage business
Sharp's energy systems business has an active project pipeline exceeding 60 MW of commercial and industrial solar-plus-storage installations in the United States, the companies said.
Energy Storage -
Exelon, PSEG have highest business risk among 34 utilities in Moody's report
All things being equal, the ratings agency says utility holding companies converge at a lower medium grade credit rating. But all things are not equal.
Corporate News