Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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Nearly a year after Winter Storm Uri's devastation, where are we on grid resilience?
More comprehensive assessments of the benefits of additional transmission between various U.S. regions could result in greater grid resilience and reliability, the authors write.
Clint Vince and Barbara Tyran • Jan. 24, 2022 -
David McNew via Getty Images
New York City says goodbye to gas, establishing a blueprint for other communities
The work to prevent 1 GW of new gas being added in New York City can help others establish a strategy to permanently retire inefficient fossil fuel resources and replace them with sustainable clean energy solutions, says the author.
Seth Mullendore • Jan. 13, 2022 -
Sean Gallup / Staff via Getty Images
Unused and useless: States must act to end flawed natural gas power plant buildouts
Nothing exemplifies the irrational utility business model more than the billions of dollars companies have spent expanding natural gas capacity over the last decade, the author writes.
Grant Smith • Jan. 11, 2022 -
Fuel neutrality, pipeline environmental reviews and a return to common sense at FERC
In curtailing the Minimum Offer Price Rule and undertaking environmental reviews of pipelines, federal regulators are fulfilling their responsibilities while respecting state authority, writes former FERC commissioner John Norris.
John Norris • Dec. 7, 2021 -
Improving outcomes for everyone: Enthusiasm builds for broader Western electricity market
At issue is how we go about making our electricity cleaner, more reliable and more affordable, according to the CEOs of Southern California Edison and Pacific Power.
Steven Powell & Stefan Bird • Dec. 6, 2021 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Irreconcilable conflict? Lessons from the Central Maine Power transmission corridor debacle
The Central Maine Power corridor debate shows public support must be built for much-needed infrastructure through strategic, long-term transmission and distribution planning, the author writes.
Rebecca Schultz • Nov. 30, 2021 -
Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
At the forefront: The biggest state clean energy legislative trends of 2021
States continue to act as laboratories of innovation, taking unique policy approaches and testing their own solutions to various clean energy policy issues, the author writes.
Autumn Proudlove • Nov. 24, 2021 -
David McNew via Getty Images
Can the DOE's community solar target to power 5M homes be met? Not without state-level support
Without putting forth the resources and rewarding effective blueprints to pull off a monumental scaling effort of community solar, the DOE's new targets will not be met, the author writes.
Mike Gordon • Nov. 24, 2021 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Illinois' new clean energy law could be a regulatory playbook for other states
While the law's decarbonization targets and workforce development components grabbed headlines, less has been written about the utility regulatory requirements and challenges associated with enacting it, the authors write.
Carrie Zalewski, Jordan Graham and Tanya Rabczak • Nov. 23, 2021 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Energy-efficient infrastructure projects hold a key opportunity for contractors
For builders that incorporate sustainable systems into their projects, the $1.80-per-square-foot 179D tax deduction can quickly climb to millions of dollars.
Dean Zerbe • Nov. 22, 2021 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
NY regulator's shortsighted decision on NRG and Danskammer gas plants may cause future power shortages
The only viable answer at this time to fill the electric reliability hole that policymakers are digging is the conversion of existing and new state-of-the-art natural gas-fired generation plants to use "green hydrogen," the author writes.
Arnold R. Wallenstein • Nov. 18, 2021 -
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Utility of the future? We also need fundamental changes at state regulatory commissions
Regulatory commissions are hampered by outdated statutes, lack of staff diversity, and misaligned legislative bodies that govern and fund them, the authors write.
Stephanie Eyocko, Alicia Brown and Dugan Marieb • Nov. 15, 2021 -
Elizabeth Regan, Industry Dive/Utility Dive
Time for FERC to return to being fuel neutral
FERC in recent months has departed from its role as a fuel-neutral regulator of power markets by demonstrating a troubling pattern of favoritism for renewables and discrimination against fossil fuels, the author writes.
Guy Caruso • Nov. 12, 2021 -
Oli Scarff via Getty Images
When it comes to transmission, and greater FERC authority in general, be careful what you wish for
It is difficult to imagine that FERC will be excited about the opportunity to mix it up with the congressional delegation of a state it is trying to steamroller, the author writes.
Michael McKenna • Nov. 10, 2021 -
Christopher Furlong / Staff via Getty Images
Expand competitive power markets, not regulations and subsidies, to address global climate change
Instead of government-driven mandates, a more fruitful approach would be empowering competitive electricity markets to usher in market sustainable low-emission technologies, the author writes.
Wayne Winegarden • Nov. 9, 2021 -
David McNew via Getty Images
Stopping the utility profit grab and saving rooftop solar in California
We can dispense with the utility campaign's "cost shift" myth. It's based on bad math that does not account for the grid-stabilizing investment solar consumers make in their own systems and other factors, the author writes.
Dave Rosenfeld • Nov. 4, 2021 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
The need to expand organized power markets in the West
The extension of the SPP RTO to the West and development of Western RTOs in general will provide better coordination and efficiencies to help meet our current and future clean energy goals, Tri-State CEO Duane Highley writes.
Duane Highley • Nov. 3, 2021 -
Sean Gallup via Getty Images
Does your state's electricity system get an "F" in competitiveness?
While many states have made significant moves towards greater choice and competition, others have chosen to bolster an antiquated monopoly system and are as opaque in their decision-making as ever, the author writes.
Landon Stevens • Nov. 2, 2021 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Reconciled to reconciliation: Can the spending bill still jumpstart climate action?
Going forward, the U.S. government needs to craft new climate policies that are specifically geared to fostering private sector investment, the author writes.
Bob Hinkle • Oct. 29, 2021 -
Harvey Meston / Staff via Getty Images
Hydropower's absence in the reconciliation bill is a major gap in U.S. clean energy strategy
Hydro helps integrate wind and solar, so why isn't it supported in the reconciliation bill?
Alicia Barton • Oct. 28, 2021 -
As politicians battle, we need scientific credibility and objectivity to reach net zero emissions
If countries are to achieve economywide net-zero emissions by 2050, it will mean significantly accelerating clean energy efforts, the CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute writes.
Arshad Mansoor • Oct. 27, 2021 -
Scott Olson / Staff via Getty Images
Disaggregation resets expectations when energy efficiency falls short
It seems obvious that when a homeowner replaces an old appliance or fixture with a more efficient model, it is always a good thing. Surprisingly, it is not so clear-cut, the author writes.
Bill Hughes • Oct. 26, 2021 -
Scott Eisen / Stringer via Getty Images
How New England could demonstrate what a 'clean energy RTO' looks like
In showing how RTO markets can support the achievement of state policy goals and be the catalyst for a clean energy region, ISO New England has three big things going for it, the author writes.
Caitlin Marquis • Oct. 25, 2021 -
Brian Tucker/Utility Dive
Now is the time for regulatory sandboxes in energy and utilities
Recent test beds in Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore and United Kingdom provide inspiration for models to stimulate innovation in the United States.
Brien J. Sheahan • Oct. 22, 2021 -
Permission granted by Fermata Energy
The wrong policies will hinder electrification — here's what we need to do
Utilities' priority must be delivering clean, reliable power as efficiently as possible, so as a regulator, I'm skeptical when utilities propose that their role is to promote electrification with their ratepayers' money, the author writes.
Abigail Anthony • Oct. 20, 2021
