Generation

California utilities object to fossil fuel requirements in proposed 11.5 GW procurement package

The proposed procurement is intended to maintain grid reliability after the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is retired by 2025.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 15, 2021

Hybrid storage and renewable projects are popular. Are they the best for the market?

Using wholesale power market prices from 2012 to 2019 across the seven grid operators, researchers found that independently siting a battery could lead to a higher value in nearly all U.S. markets.

By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

The Utility Dive Outlook on 2021

The major trends driving the US power sector persisted in 2020, despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the recent changes in the White House and Congress, will likely get stronger in 2021.

By Utility Dive staff

Manchin defends coal-fired plants, expresses concern over 'aggressive' Biden climate goals

Sen. Joe Manchin, whose home state of West Virginia is in the heart of mining country, came out swinging in defense of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. at the annual EEI conference, arguing they are being singled out unfairly.

By Scott Voorhis • June 14, 2021

New gas turbines 'better be flexible' to someday accept carbon capture or hydrogen: New EEI chairman

Natural gas has a critical role to play as utilities pursue net-zero goals, said DTE Energy Executive Chairman Gerry Anderson, who was elected on Monday as the new chairman of the Edison Electric Institute.

By Larry Pearl • June 10, 2021

National Grid encourages FERC to provide better incentives for grid-enhancing technology

Xcel Energy, on a panel, agreed with many of the hurdles a National Grid representative laid out, including operational, technological and financial barriers.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 10, 2021

California PUC considers sending utilities back to drawing board on hydrogen blending proposal

“This isn’t the commission slamming the door on hydrogen research — they’re just saying that the utilities don’t have a blank check," said Sara Gersen, clean energy senior attorney with Earthjustice.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 09, 2021

Duke, Southern other utilities provide more details to FERC on proposed Southeast energy market

The commission had asked the utilities, which also include Dominion Energy and TVA, among others, to provide more details on their proposal to form a centralized energy exchange market.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 09, 2021

Advanced nuclear tech in 'early innings' but essential to widespread decarbonization, utility execs say

The electric grid cannot be decarbonized "with renewables and batteries alone," Xcel Energy CEO Ben Fowke said at the Nuclear Energy Assembly.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 08, 2021

Opinion

Laying the regulatory groundwork for hydrogen in the United States

Hydrogen is a fundamentally different energy commodity that merits its own regulatory structure in the United States, the authors write.

By Drake D. Hernandez and Emre Gençer • June 08, 2021

Fate of Illinois nuclear plants in balance after 3 fail to clear PJM auction and subsidy plan stalls

Three Illinois nuclear plants failed to land power contracts at the PJM capacity auction, generating additional uncertainty about their future.

By Scott Voorhis • June 07, 2021

New England states push for governance changes in ISO-NE, ahead of anticipated MOPR reform

To quell state frustrations, regulators say conversations will have to move beyond reforming the controversial minimum price rule.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 07, 2021

Opinion

'An unlikely alliance': US investor-owned utilities and NGOs partner to advance new carbon-free tech

The Edison Electric Institute and the Clean Air Task Force announce an initiative to support a slate of emerging carbon-free technologies.

By Ben Fowke and Armond Cohen • June 04, 2021

FERC should expand organized markets across the US, former chairs and commissioners say

Although momentum for RTO expansion is growing, resistance to the shift is strong in some markets where the more competitive structure doesn't exist.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 03, 2021

Nuclear capacity increases by 4.5 GW in long-delayed 'MOPRed' PJM auction, coal loses 8 GW

Total costs dropped $4.4 billion and prices dropped to $50/MW-day during PJM’s years-delayed capacity auction, due to lower load forecasts, which translate to lower reliability requirements, according to the grid operator.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 03, 2021

ESG issues weigh on utility credit ratings, particularly PG&E, Edison and FirstEnergy: Moody's

It's early in the energy transition, said Moody's analyst Jeffrey Cassella, but so far the firm has not identified any utility companies turning ESG concerns into net-positives.

By Robert Walton • June 03, 2021

Deep Dive

Xcel's record-low-price procurement highlights benefits of all-source competitive solicitations

The utility's Colorado division showed how competitive bidding benefits customers if regulators protect the quality of the process.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 01, 2021

Arizona regulators revive energy rules package, propose 100% clean energy by 2070

Regulators kept intact proposed standards for energy efficiency, storage, and all-source procurement, while setting a longer schedule to transition the electric sector.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 28, 2021

NERC sees potential summer energy shortfalls, says energy transition 'pace' may threaten reliability

Parts of North America are at elevated or high risk of energy shortfalls during the above-normal temperature conditions many expect this summer, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. warned.

By Robert Walton • May 27, 2021

Biden administration opens up California coast for 4.6 GW of offshore wind development

The state is working with federal agencies to prepare for a lease sale in mid-2022, as the offshore wind industry aims to bolster a West Coast supply chain.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 26, 2021

Tenaska files complaint with FERC against SPP, alleging $66M overcharge on wind interconnection

The developer says the additional charges highlight the need to reform transmission planning and cost allocation to provide renewable energy developers with transparency and certainty in developing new projects.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 26, 2021

California mulls 11.5 GW procurement package to bolster grid after Diablo Canyon, natural gas plants retire

Regulators are considering two proposed decisions, one with up to 1,500 MW of fossil fuel capacity and the other with only 500 MW.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 25, 2021

Duke-supported group launches campaign against North Carolina bill to examine wholesale market reform

The campaign claims to reveal "the ugly truth" about regional transmission organizations, which it calls "a Really Terrible Option," and is the product of a group that received $500,000 from Duke during the state's primary elections.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 24, 2021

Rare FERC move sparks heated debate over commission's role assessing pipeline climate impacts

FERC voted 3-2 to approve two pipeline projects after Commissioner James Danly proposed a last-minute amendment to avoid setting a precedent on examining climate impacts — and to secure his own vote.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 21, 2021

Deep Dive

Elliott's proposed Duke split untimely, analysts say, as advocates warn of 'dangerous can of worms'

Analysts question why the proposal to split Duke Energy into three companies comes now, when the utility is on an upswing, while ratepayer advocates warn against Elliott Management's outsized role in the power sector.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 20, 2021

Google, Microsoft, other companies pursue new certification to back 24/7 clean energy claims

Corporate consumers seek real-time information about their hourly energy use, and as decarbonization goals become more ambitious, EnergyTag is creating hourly certifications for clean energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 19, 2021