Generation

Many mayors condemn Supreme Court ruling limiting EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions

Cities have doubled down on reducing emissions in recent years. Local leaders say Thursday’s 6-3 decision weakens a key federal partner that they believed would help them achieve their goals.

By Danielle McLean • July 1, 2022

EPA retains tools to cut power sector GHG emissions despite Supreme Court curbing its authority: attorneys

However, the court’s use of the “major questions doctrine” indicates challenges to future regulations are likely, according to lawyers.

By Ethan Howland • July 1, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

The Utility Dive Outlook on 2022

Utility Dive examines priorities, expectations and trends for three key subjects — FERC, renewable energy and rate design — and provides a broader roundup of some of the U.S. power sector trends to watch in the year ahead.

By Utility Dive staff

Supreme Court rejects EPA ability to set fleet-wide GHG emissions standards for power plants

The ruling issued Thursday means Congress, states and markets will drive the shift towards cleaner energy, according to Advanced Energy Economy, a trade group.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2022

Power supply groups urge FERC to reform Western offer cap to avoid market uncertainty

Recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission offer cap decisions threaten power suppliers’ willingness to sell electricity in tight conditions, industry groups said.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2022

EPA regional ozone proposal threatens electric reliability: RTOs, state utility regulators

Grid operators are asking for a “reliability safety valve,” while a cooperative utility trade group warns the proposal could force up to 42 GW of coal generation to retire in 2026.

By Ethan Howland • June 28, 2022

Energy sector job growth outpaces overall US economy, with strength in transportation, renewables: DOE

The number of jobs in the U.S. energy sector grew 4% in 2021, outpacing 2.8% growth in overall domestic employment, according to the agency.

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2022

Salem Harbor to pay $17.1M fine, disgorge profits to settle allegations it improperly received ISO-NE capacity payments

Salem Harbor Power Development asked a Delaware bankruptcy court on Tuesday to approve the settlement as part of the company’s ongoing Chapter 11 restructuring proceeding.

By Robert Walton • Updated June 29, 2022

Conservative approach to Texas grid operations could cost consumers $1.5B this year, says market monitor

As a result of changes to Texas wholesale electricity markets, pricing outcomes “at times grow disconnected from the actual operating conditions,” said Independent Market Monitor Director Carrie Bivens.

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2022

Alliant, We Energies walk back Wisconsin coal retirement plans in light of MISO's expected capacity shortfalls

Alliant Energy and WEC Energy Group have filed plans for their subsidiaries to add renewables to the state’s grid but are holding on to older coal resources to bridge the transition.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 24, 2022

California climate change plan's reliance on carbon removal technologies draws criticism

The California Air Resources Board is in the process of putting together the 2022 update to its scoping plan, which charts out a pathway to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045

By Kavya Balaraman • June 23, 2022

Massachusetts AG, Public Citizen warn JERA plan to buy New England power plants raises market concerns

JERA is seeking fast-track approval to buy three natural gas and oil-fired power plants totaling 1,617 MW in the Northeast.

By Ethan Howland • June 23, 2022

PJM capacity prices fall 32% with more nuclear, solar capacity clearing in the latest auction

Cleared coal-fired capacity fell by about 5.8 GW to 21.6 GW, with possible retirements ahead, according to an ESAI Power analyst.

By Ethan Howland • June 22, 2022

Appeals court partly strikes down FERC approval of ISO New England winter reliability program

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Friday rejected ISO New England payments to coal, hydroelectric, biomass and nuclear generators under the program.

By Ethan Howland • June 21, 2022

FERC proposes 'first-ready, first-served' interconnection rules to help spur new generation, storage

The federal agency at its monthly meeting Thursday also proposed extreme weather grid reliability requirements and one-time reports from transmission providers on how they assess extreme weather.

By Ethan Howland • June 17, 2022

Rhode Island governor signs 'most aggressive renewable energy standard' in US, targets 100% offsets by 2033

The law does not prohibit utilities from using fossil fuels, but it ensures the development of a “corresponding amount” of renewables throughout the region.

By Robert Walton • Updated June 30, 2022

MISO faces growing capacity shortfalls in northern, central regions, annual survey finds

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator will be increasingly reliant on emergency or non-firm resources, MISO and the Organization of MISO States said in a report released Friday.

By Ethan Howland • June 13, 2022

Defense Department picks BWXT to build 1st US advanced nuclear microreactor, with 2024 delivery

The 1-MW to 5-MW reactor will be tested at the Idaho National Laboratory and has been dubbed “Project Pele” by the U.S. Department of Defense.

By Robert Walton • June 9, 2022

New York lawmakers abandon bill to grow renewables as state's grid operator warns margins tightening

Reliability margins on New York’s grid are shrinking, the Independent System Operator said, just days after state lawmakers halted work on a bill designed to grow renewables.

By Robert Walton • June 9, 2022

One cooperative should not be allowed to derail our collective clean energy efforts

If that is allowed to happen, the clean energy transition will be much like it is today — primarily enjoyed by customers of large investor-owned and municipal utilities that serve urban areas, the CEOs of three Colorado co-ops write.

By Jessica Matlock, Jeff Wadsworth, and Brad Zaporski • June 8, 2022

Pacific Northwest plan calls for 3.5 GW of renewables, more energy efficiency by 2027

The plan recommends that the region add between 750 and 1,000 average MW of energy efficiency to its portfolio by the end of 2027, and expand that to at least 2,400 average MW by the end of 2041.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 1, 2022

NuScale makes public debut but requires 'a lot of financing' to launch small nuclear reactor in 2029

Will being the first publicly traded small modular reactor company allow it to beat out its competitors?

By Elizabeth McCarthy • June 1, 2022

'Dramatic shift' in utility regulations, better pilot designs needed to propel energy transition, DOE report finds

Electric industry players call for innovations in the way regulators handle pilots of new utility and private sector technologies and system operations in a new Department of Energy paper.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 31, 2022

California drought could halve summer hydropower generation, leading to more natural gas, EIA finds

The increase in natural gas generation, in turn, could contribute to higher wholesale electricity prices and carbon emissions, the analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration found. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 27, 2022

FERC to monitor gas, power markets for manipulation as forward summer electricity prices jump up to 233%

Summertime forward power prices are up between 77% and 223% from a year ago, driven by higher gas prices, FERC staff said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • May 20, 2022

NERC sounds alarm on solar tripping in 'sobering' summer reliability report

Electric grid operators may struggle with resource shortages, droughts and extreme temperatures this summer, according to North America's grid watchdog.

By Robert Walton • May 19, 2022