Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
-
Performance-based regulation: Seeking the new utility business model
As the push to upend traditional utility business models grows across the country, new leading efforts are showing results where others missed the mark.
Herman K. Trabish • July 23, 2019 -
State carbon free policies increasingly inclusive of nuclear, but resource needs federal boost
The poor economics of nuclear generation stymie investments in the private sector, making federal policy necessary.
Catherine Morehouse • July 17, 2019 -
Disputed ground: The future of landfill gas-to-energy
Gas capture at landfills creates electricity and revenue, but also has economic and environmental disadvantages.
Max Witynski • July 15, 2019 -
Solar + wind + storage developers 'gearing up' as hybrid projects edge to market
A "wave" of new projects is coming to use wind, solar and battery storage in ways that will stabilize grids, increase efficiencies and lower power costs.
Herman K. Trabish • July 09, 2019 -
The new kid on the block: CCAs face credit, other challenges to lead California's renewable energy growth
Community Choice Aggregators say they will use resource diversity, distributed energy resources and load management to lead California beyond its 2030 renewables goals.
Herman K. Trabish • July 08, 2019 -
Diversifying the Northeast power mix: Is offshore wind + storage key to the region's reliability?
As more New England states roll out offshore wind mandates, bringing the technology to scale is a portfolio priority.
Herman K. Trabish • July 02, 2019 -
The rise of EVs could overwhelm the grid, but PG&E has a better plan
Stakeholders can use PG&E’s framework to see where the value lies in meeting the power demand that will come with the big shift to transportation electrification.
Herman K. Trabish • June 13, 2019 -
Wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes: How utilities are preparing for a summer of storms
Man-made electric grids are no match for natural disasters, so utilities are putting increasing focus on speeding recovery times.
Robert Walton • June 06, 2019 -
'Not all batteries are made equal' — APS battery fire highlights safety risks, lack of knowledge
The recent explosion at an Arizona energy storage facility renewed concerns about battery safety, including the need to educate regulators and lawmakers, a Sonnen official said.
HJ Mai • June 05, 2019 -
Are cities the Green New Deal's most viable frontier?
New York City and Los Angeles want to put a local spin on the national version — though the plans may be tricky to replicate.
Chris Teale • June 03, 2019 -
With new transmission urgently needed, FERC Chair hints at a new Order 1000 proceeding
Only 3% of new transmission development has come through the Order 1000-mandated competitive process; developers are split on solutions, but all want federal action.
Herman K. Trabish • May 31, 2019 -
Securitization fever: Renewables advocates seize Wall Street's innovative way to end coal
New laws passed across the country allow customer-backed bonds to pay off stranded coal assets in favor of renewables, but utilities are hesitant.
Herman K. Trabish • May 28, 2019 -
Want to know if California can make zero emissions by 2045? Here's what to watch
To reach a zero emissions economy, California needs to eliminate natural gas by regionalizing the Western grid and coordinating local and state system planning.
Herman K. Trabish • May 21, 2019 -
DOE proposal to roll back lightbulb efficiency puts billions in energy savings on the line
Manufacturers argue the stronger 2017 standards were put in place illegally, but the process-driven debate is putting lower carbon emissions and greater customer choice at risk, efficiency advocates say.
Robert Walton • May 15, 2019 -
Florida's solar turnaround sparks concerns over limits on community projects
Many are asking how big this boom will get, but a better question may be how this growth will evolve as its impact sparks responses by utilities, solar developers and policymakers.
Herman K. Trabish • May 09, 2019 -
Massachusetts' multipronged policy approach spurs distributed energy storage
Sunrun has credited the state's bedrock of distributed energy policies for enabling its participation in ISO-NE's capacity market with an aggregated solar-plus-storage bid.
HJ Mai • May 07, 2019 -
Toxins in the ground: Inside America's most polluted coal ash site and industry's struggle with federal rules
A Texas family's legal battle with an electric cooperative over contaminated land is a microcosm of a larger national debate on how to handle the toxic byproduct of burning coal.
Catherine Morehouse • May 06, 2019 -
North Carolina coal ash battle comes to a head as Duke challenges cleanup order
The utility's coal ash saga stretches on in the state after an eventful Friday highlighted multiple avenues for closure and costs, making the future of the ponds and rates uncertain.
Catherine Morehouse • May 02, 2019 -
Marijuana prices have collapsed, forcing growers to focus on energy efficiency
Experts say the biggest opportunities to reduce energy use in the cannabis sector are in the design phase of a new grow operation.
Robert Walton • May 01, 2019 -
ERCOT's reliability anxiety: Energy groups square off on what's to blame
Competition between traditional generation and renewables has put energy incentives under scrutiny in the Texas legislature.
Herman K. Trabish • April 30, 2019 -
Utility buy of DER providers: A perfect match or a problematic combination?
A new white paper suggests the only way utility holding companies can keep DER providers from disrupting the power sector is to buy them.
Herman K. Trabish • April 29, 2019 -
As California utilities falter, legislators, governor back 'tower of finance' solution to wildfire costs
Climate change-driven catastrophic wildfires are keeping California's utilities from protecting ratepayers and supporting climate goals — layered financing may allow both.
Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2019 -
Utilities, charger vendors find interconnection best practices to propel EV growth
Collaboration and transparency pioneered in solar interconnections can fast-start delayed transportation electrification ambitions.
Herman K. Trabish • April 22, 2019 -
High-speed hurdle: Designing a fast-charging network for electric buses
Bus manufacturer New Flyer has just the ticket: planning deployment and charging stations by route.
Iulia Gheorghiu • April 22, 2019 -
Renewable procurement gaps pose risk for California's climate goals, but what solution is best?
A new bill may capture broad agreement about the need for a central backstop procurement entity, but doubts about it remain.
Herman K. Trabish • April 15, 2019
