Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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Tackling 3 key issues can help scale virtual power plants and spur a wave of benefits, analysts say
Advanced operational software, communications standards and customer compensation are needed to scale VPP size and services, cut system and customer costs and enhance reliability, key VPP players agree.
Herman K. Trabish • April 17, 2024 -
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As states increasingly look to advanced nuclear, Wyoming, Virginia and Michigan lead the way
Their efforts are showing policymakers elsewhere how to attract emerging nuclear technologies and the skilled workers they need to operate, National Association of State Energy Officials President David Terry said.
Brian Martucci • April 17, 2024 -
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Monday’s eclipse could cut US solar output by 40 GWh. Here’s how 5 grid operators are preparing.
Grid operators are not expecting any reliability issues during the eclipse but say forecasting energy demand will be complicated. Monday “will not be a typical spring day,” MISO noted.
Robert Walton • April 4, 2024 -
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A new era of price-based demand response emerges, but utilities and regulators need proof of its potential
New load flexibility from price-based demand response programs could be invaluable if reliability and cost-effectiveness is confirmed in real-world operating conditions, stakeholders agree.
Herman K. Trabish • March 27, 2024 -
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California lawmakers backpedal on income-based utility charges as IOUs, others propose alternatives
State legislators ordered regulators in 2022 to implement an income-graduated fixed charge to protect low-income customers and shift the funding for various policy goals. A new bill would repeal that.
Herman K. Trabish • March 19, 2024 -
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2024 PJM Outlook: Tough choices loom on capacity market, plant retirements, transmission planning
Ensuring that enough new generation comes online to replace retiring power plants is a key issue that threads through PJM’s expected focus this year, stakeholders and observers said.
Ethan Howland • Feb. 29, 2024 -
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Congressional action on energy permitting remains stuck, but states, developers are finding solutions
States are resolving local objections to projects through community engagement while transmission developers are making innovative use of existing rights-of-way to bypass permitting logjams.
Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 27, 2024 -
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As wildfires losses mount, will commercial insurers decline to cover utilities?
As Xcel Energy, PG&E, Hawaiian Electric and others confront catastrophic wildfires, industry observers believe the growing risk could spur innovation in commercial insurance that ultimately benefits utilities.
Emma Penrod • Jan. 31, 2024 -
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New solutions emerge to better integrate renewables into the grid, Xcel, Eversource and others say
Requiring the 400+ GW of battery capacity in U.S. interconnection queues to have grid-forming capabilities could enable variable renewables growth “cheaper and faster than adding new transmission,” one expert said.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 25, 2024 -
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To keep or not to keep: The fate of scope 3 emissions in SEC’s climate disclosure rule
Given all of the pushback the agency has received over its proposed rule, particularly scope 3 reporting requirements, experts are uncertain if scope 3 will make the final cut.
Zoya Mirza • Jan. 25, 2024 -
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Utility Business Outlook: Power prices stay elevated as elections sow uncertainty for clean energy plans
For utilities and the clean energy sector, 2024 could bring “an exceptional level of volatility and opportunity,” according to Bank of America Global Research analysts.
Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2024 -
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Renewable Energy Outlook: Addressing supply chain, project hurdles could see dividends in 2024
It may be a blessing in disguise for the offshore wind industry that so many developers had to delay or cancel projects last year, one attorney said.
Diana DiGangi • Jan. 18, 2024 -
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As reliability concerns with renewables rise, upgrading inverters is urgent, analysts say
The variable output of renewable energy resources requires “grid-forming” inverters to protect power system current flows, engineers and others agree.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 2, 2024 -
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Eversource wary about attracting investor capital as Connecticut moves to forefront of PBR trend
Connecticut utilities’ credit and financials will remain stable or improve when performance-based regulation is fully implemented, just as they did for Hawaiian Electric, said the state’s chief utility regulator.
Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 5, 2023 -
Adeline Kon/Utility Dive
The energy storage space is heating up. Here are some of the technologies making a dent.
Utility Dive took a look at four technologies, and spoke to some of the companies spearheading them, to get a better picture of the emerging energy storage landscape.
Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 5, 2023 -
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Can ERCOT show the way to faster and cheaper grid interconnection?
With the "connect and manage" process, which doesn’t require network upgrades, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas brought 14.2 GW online in the last two years, more than any other grid operator.
Ethan Howland • Nov. 27, 2023 -
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More powerful, resilient and versatile: The next generation of solar tech is emerging
“This is a great time to be involved with solar technology,” said Chris Deline, head of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s photovoltaic field performance group.
Diana DiGangi • Nov. 16, 2023 -
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EV sales are rising. So why are automakers nervous?
Slower sales growth, lower prices and growing inventories have spooked carmakers, leading some to reconsider their electric vehicle plans to bolster their finances.
Michael Brady • Nov. 13, 2023 -
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Duke, others leverage new IRA rules to finance clean energy, but cost, complexity are hurdles
New tax credit provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act could more than triple the $20 billion annual tax equity market that today finances clean energy in the U.S., if various challenges can be overcome.
Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 6, 2023 -
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Heat pumps are hot, but commercial retrofits face cold realities
Government decarbonization strategies call for widespread deployment of heat pumps for building heating and cooling, but experts warn of retrofit costs, disruption and other concerns.
Nish Amarnath • Nov. 1, 2023 -
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Utilities, charging companies battle over EV fast chargers, slowing deployment amid massive needs
State and federal policies are driving utilities and EV charger providers to transform U.S. transportation. They have found common ground in some areas but cannot agree on the utility role in fast charging deployment.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2023 -
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Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources: Xcel VP
Effective distribution system planning and merging analytic insights into comprehensive electricity planning both face barriers, analysts and stakeholders said.
Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2023 -
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How utilities are partnering with GM, BMW, Lyft and others in the auto sector to accelerate EV adoption
Automakers and utilities “are now partners until the end of time, whether they like it or not,” said Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America.
Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2023 -
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The American power system is changing. How can electricity rates keep up?
As the industry prepares for the electrification of different sectors of the economy, experts are looking at new ways to make electricity rates more equitable.
Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 24, 2023 -
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A community solar boom will test Xcel, other utility plans against developer, customer needs: analysts
New state and federal funding and initiatives for community solar can bring equity and system reliability to the emerging energy transition, analysts say.
Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 10, 2023
