The Latest
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Xcel, Duke unveil $35M of EV investments in Minnesota, South Carolina
Duke Energy wants to test the vehicle-to-grid capabilities of school buses, while Xcel sees EVs as a way to leverage clean energy investments.
Distributed Energy -
Deep DiveBusiness Models: What utilities can learn from Amazon and Netflix about the future of ratemaking
Time- and location-based price signals can guide customer usage, but electricity subscriptions could give more control.
Solar & Renewables -
Report: DOE coal, nuclear bailout on hold at White House
Backers of the plan failed to convince key administration officials, Politico reports, putting the spotlight back on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Generation -
OpinionVehicle emissions rollback shouldn't stop utilities from investing in electric vehicles
The expanding electric vehicle market has created new revenue opportunities for electricity generators and utilities, but the Trump administration's recent attempt to roll back fuel efficiency standards creates new uncertainty.
Energy Storage -
Deep DiveElectric Vehicles: The Swiss army knife of the grid
Experts see a future where electric vehicles provide an array of grid services, from demand response to soaking up excess renewable generation.
Distributed Energy -
Massachusetts regulators order Columbia Gas to halt all non-essential work
The moratorium follows a deadly series of explosions in September the Columbia Gas system in northern Massachusetts.
Transmission & Distribution -
Deep DiveGrid Mod: Transactive and distributed tech demand a new approach
Utilities must prove to regulators that grid upgrades will help integrate a new class of resources reliably and cost-effectively.
Transmission & Distribution -
Where do smart cities need to improve? 7 industry leaders weigh in
While the power sector is a key point for innovation when it comes to electrification and smart tech, industry leaders at Smart Cities Week DC posited the focus rests on transportation, communications and other areas.
Regulation & Policy -
AEE keeps tabs on gubernatorial candidates in key energy states
The cleantech trade group published scorecards for candidates from states with open seats and strong market opportunities for clean energy.
Solar & Renewables -
Federal regulators approve transfer of Vermont Yankee nuke for decommissioning
Entergy will transfer the license to NorthStar, which has pledged to decommission and restore the site by 2030, 45 years earlier than Entergy's original plan.
Generation -
Duke proposes 150 MW green tariff program for South Carolina C&I customers
The program would allow nonresidential customers to contract for clean energy through the utility while leaving other consumers "financially neutral."
Solar & Renewables -
In a first, PG&E cuts power to 60,000 to prevent wildfires during wind storm
Planned outages during dry, windy conditions are the "last resort" in a wildfire prevention plan rolled out by the utility last year.
Transmission & Distribution -
Portland General Electric to develop 'smart grids' in 3 Oregon towns
The trio of smart grids will serve 20,000 customers, allowing them to respond to demand management signals and maximize renewable energy consumption.
Transmission & Distribution -
In bid to help bees, Xcel to require vegetation disclosure in solar RFPs
As pollinator-friendly solar sites become a growing trend, Xcel Minnesota becomes the first utility to require solar project bids disclose the type of vegetation they will be using at their sites.
Solar & Renewables -
California requires utilities to address pipeline methane leaks
The state now requires utilities to prioritize pipeline repairs that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, in contrast with Trump's EPA which is looking to ease oil and gas methane restrictions.
Transmission & Distribution -
Deep DiveCalifornia strives to nix its natural gas habit without letting the lights go out
The state relies on natural gas for reliability, but won't reach its 100% zero emissions goal without looking to alternatives.
Generation -
Port of Long Beach tests microgrid tech for critical operations
"This project will help us learn more about how to keep the power, and cargo, flowing," said Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach executive director.
Distributed Energy -
Nevada considers blockchain to track renewable credits
While some of the interest in blockchain technology is driven by a wider fad, the utility sector is considering using the distributed ledger technology to track renewable energy.
Solar & Renewables -
OpinionEnergy efficiency helps housing affordability, especially for low-income families
Left unchecked, rising energy costs can compromise the quality and long-term affordability of rental homes for low-income Californians, Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister and NRDC's Maria Stamas write.
Efficiency & Demand Response -
PJM CEO urges FERC to move on resilience as Trump coal bailout looms
A market-based rule for grid resilience would be preferable to a federal bailout, the head of the nation's largest wholesale power market told senators Thursday.
UPDATED: Oct. 15, 2018 at 10:04 a.m.
Generation -
Largest wind project in hemisphere approved for New Mexico, but transmission tie in limbo
Regulators approved a 2.2 GW wind farm but last month turned back an application for a transmission line that is supposed to deliver the clean energy to California markets.
Generation -
Michael leaves 1.2 million without power, but coal ash pits intact
Hurricane Michael has reached the Carolinas, but Duke said the damages wrought on its coal ash pits by Florence are repaired and the sites are not a concern.
Generation -
WalletHub: San Diego tops list as 2018's greenest US city
The 100 largest U.S. cities were judged on 26 "green" indicators including smart energy policies, amount of green space and greenhouse gas emissions per capita.
Solar & Renewables -
California decision means higher costs for community choice programs
Community choice advocates say a Thursday decision by state regulators will shift hundreds of millions in costs and undercut the business case for leaving an investor-owned utility's supply.
Transmission & Distribution -
Google: Powering data centers with clean energy 24/7 'no easy feat'
The company is already the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world, but a new white paper shows how difficult it will be to eliminate all emissions from its footprint.
Solar & Renewables