Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
If you are interested in having your voice heard on Utility Dive's Opinion page, please read our editorial guidelines and fill out the submission form here.
-
Alex Cristi via Getty Images
Accelerating utility rate case filings with generative AI
By leveraging generative AI, utilities can draw on a wealth of information to construct more robust and evidence-backed rate proposals.
Huzaifah Basrai • Oct. 22, 2024 -
halbergman via Getty Images
Can America keep up with AI’s energy appetite in the race with China?
Even with companies like Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft making big moves on clean energy, without an improved permitting process, their data centers might struggle to get the power they need to go online.
Divyansh Kaushik • Oct. 21, 2024 -
Marco_Piunti via Getty Images
Achieving energy resilience: Deep insight into threats, assets and national policy is the first step
While many energy companies maintain business continuity plans, true resilience requires moving beyond this standard approach to become more innovative and adaptive in this heightened threat environment.
Brian Harrell and Mark Freedman • Oct. 18, 2024 -
Allkindza via Getty Images
Creating a clean and reliable grid for Illinois
The recent price spike in PJM’s capacity market is drawing attention to the growing need for policy that moves Illinois towards an affordable clean energy future.
John Delurey • Oct. 17, 2024 -
Just_Super via Getty Images
Mining for talent: Education’s crucial role in America’s clean energy, mineral-driven future
Amid a clean energy revolution and a precarious geopolitical landscape, effectively bridging the educational gap in mining and engineering is pivotal for securing America's technological and environmental future.
Misael Cabrera and Bill Zisch • Oct. 15, 2024 -
Scharfsinn86 via Getty Images
Turning the US hydrogen field of dreams into reality
Perhaps a line from the classic American film “Field of Dreams” best summarizes the approach to hydrogen production and infrastructure: “If you build it, they will come.”
Jeremy Harrell • Oct. 14, 2024 -
BJP7images via Getty Images
How clean energy legislation can incentivize US mineral production
Both presidential candidates generally agree on the importance of supporting U.S. critical mineral projects given their role in securely supplying key industries, from defense manufacturers to automotive companies.
Gregory Wischer and Morgan Bazilian • Oct. 11, 2024 -
Permission granted by sonnen, Inc.
Unfinished business: The bipartisan appeal of distributed power plants
Policymakers can best address the grid’s problems by leveraging existing regulatory authorizations to make better use of our assets and infrastructure, former FERC chairs Jon Wellinghoff and Neil Chatterjee write.
Jon Wellinghoff and Neil Chatterjee • Oct. 10, 2024 -
CatLane via Getty Images
Opportunities and obstacles for the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission
The memorandum of understanding that established the collaborative is remarkable for the sheer number of states involved and the fact that it covers three independent system operators: ISO-NE, NYISO and PJM.
Oct. 9, 2024 -
simonkr via Getty Images
Hawai‘i’s electricity problems expose a failed energy transition strategy
Hawai‘i, like several other states, is taking fossil fuel generation out of the system faster than it is bringing on alternative generation.
Jonathan Chanis • Oct. 8, 2024 -
narvikk via Getty Images
Big Tech is upending the clean energy landscape
Big Tech’s demands for specific project development plans and contractual provisions can create — or destroy — millions of dollars in value for renewable companies.
Akshat Kasliwal, Jesse Gilbert, and Anirudh Mathur • Oct. 7, 2024 -
Marc Piscotty/Getty Images via Getty Images
5 ways utilities and other climate planners can tackle extreme heat
As climate change causes extreme heat to spread and become more frequent, the health and energy insecurity impacts faced by vulnerable populations will grow, too.
Judsen Bruzgul and Mason Fried • Sept. 27, 2024 -
ArtemisDiana via Getty Images
C&I customer needs are rapidly changing. How can utilities maximize their relationship?
Utilities risk being blindsided by the capacity needs of commercial and industrial customers by not engaging them early and often to understand their electrification plans.
Julia Hamm and Chase Weir • Sept. 26, 2024 -
Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
Results show carbon capture’s alleged promises are full of hot air
The happy-talk DOE press information says nothing about the difficulties associated with building a first-of-its kind technology and hooking it up to a large-scale electric generator.
Dennis Wamsted • Sept. 25, 2024 -
Rolf Wittke via Getty Images
Permitting reform’s false choice
Any benefits to green infrastructure that would be gained by undoing federal protections are likely to be more than offset by the proliferation of fossil fuels.
David E. Adelman • Sept. 20, 2024 -
Getty Images via Getty Images
Renewable energy claims under scrutiny: Preparing for the updated FTC Green Guides
Public utilities and energy companies, in particular, should brace for increased scrutiny of their environmental claims.
Shawane L. Lee • Sept. 19, 2024 -
samxmeg via Getty Images
Misguided DOE rules on fossil fuel use will harm human health and risk national security
Two recent DOE actions will effectively ban more resilient building solutions like microgrids and combined heat and power that are among the cleanest, most versatile and efficient ways to power buildings.
Cameron Brooks • Sept. 18, 2024 -
Allkindza via Getty Images
The Energy Permitting Reform Act is our best shot at advancing critical climate goals
The bill would be a crucial step toward America realizing its potential as a 21st century clean energy superpower, but only if we can put our desires for a perfect policy aside and embrace practical compromise.
Danielle Russo • Sept. 17, 2024 -
MRaust via Getty Images
Detractors take note: Tri-State is meeting its reliability, affordability and clean energy obligations
A recent report from the Colorado Energy Office shows Tri-State, unlike some other power suppliers in our region, has ample resources in the years ahead, the general manager of K.C. Electric Association writes.
David Churchwell • Sept. 16, 2024 -
Politicized energy policies aren’t working, but a better system is possible
Pairing partisanship with extraordinary demands on our power grid from load growth and energy evolution is a recipe for catastrophic failure.
Christina Hayes and Todd Snitchler • Sept. 13, 2024 -
TomasSereda via Getty Images
The impacts of climate change on deeply decarbonized energy systems: A New York case study
As the impacts of climate change intensify, it will become increasingly important for energy system planners to directly account for the effects that warming temperatures will have across every segment of the industry.
Kevin Steinberger, Vignesh Venugopal and Tory Clark • Sept. 12, 2024 -
vlastas via Getty Images
Why many environmentalists are warming to nuclear power
They are revisiting their early concerns about nuclear power — primarily waste, safety and costs — in light of new information, and they are concluding that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Judi Greenwald • Sept. 11, 2024 -
EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER via Getty Images
Utilities hold the key to the electric vehicle market
Most utilities are already engaged in basic EV-related activities, such as education regarding when and where to charge, and are offering incentives to install charging infrastructure. But they can do much more.
Doug McMahon • Sept. 10, 2024 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Distributed capacity procurement: A new model for utilities to deploy DERs at scale
The record-setting surge in PJM capacity pricing spotlights the reality that we have been unable to build new capacity resources fast enough.
Pier LaFarge • Sept. 5, 2024 -
Courtesy of Port Arthur LNG
LNG exports make both economic and environmental sense
Exports are not reducing domestic supply and squeezing American ratepayers or power plant operators; exports come from added production and have only a small impact on price.
Kyle Isakower • Sept. 4, 2024
