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OpinionWhen states pick expensive policies under the guise of 'states' rights,' consumers pay
The inconsistency between state choices and wholesale power markets has reached a boiling point, and it's time someone closed the lid, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.
By Todd A. Snitchler • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Proposed bill would include large hydro, nuclear in California's renewable portfolio standard
The proposed legislation would also temporarily suspend the state's renewable portfolio standard so utilities could focus investments on infrastructure and vegetation management.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Arizona Public Service sets 100% clean energy target, but doesn't rule out carbon capture for gas plants
Renewables advocates cheered the announcement but called for earlier coal closures and more specifics on community support, and for state regulators to set a 100% clean energy standard.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Utility Dive Outlooks: What's in store for coal, gas, renewables, DER and beyond
2020 promises to be another busy year across the U.S. power sector as the energy transition gathers more steam.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 23, 2020 -
OpinionA path forward for New England to a low-carbon future: Why a capacity market still matters
Significant work remains to integrate state decarbonization policies into the ISO New England and its wholesale markets, the author writes.
By Dan Dolan • Jan. 22, 2020 -
FERC MOPR order may have 'paradoxically unintended consequences': PJM
FERC's December order "might have made the process more administrative, more uncertain than it needs to be," a PJM official told stakeholders in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020 -
Ameren, Xcel, Dominion, Duke among most at-risk from changing climate: Moody's
Extreme heat and flooding, along with water scarcity and more severe hurricanes related to climate change, present long-term risks to utility assets, the credit rating agency found.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020 -
Indiana's Hoosier Energy to retire its 1,070 MW coal plant by 2023
The plant makes up over half the utility's current generation mix and did not previously have a set retirement date.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020 -
New York regulators recommend charging infrastructure plan expected to deliver $2.6B in net benefits
The program will cover up to 90% of costs for "make-ready" charging stations to lower cost barriers for developers.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 21, 2020 -
Georgia bill would require companies to treat coal ash like municipal solid waste
The proposed legislation would impose stricter regulations on coal ash cleanup, requiring landfills holding the waste to have bottom liners and leachate collection systems.
By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 17, 2020 -
California launches rulemaking to manage transition away from natural gas
The California Public Utilities Commission will look into updating current reliability standards, as well as long-term contracting and tariff change rules.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 17, 2020 -
US hit record $55.5B renewables investments in 2019
A slow start to 2019 ended with a flurry of offshore and onshore wind investments led by the U.S., China and Europe.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 17, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Outlook: US renewable resources on steady course for increased deployment
"In 2020, there’s sort of a 'come on in, the water's warm' element of excitement and momentum" around renewable energy procurement, one analyst said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Indiana bill would require Trump administration or state regulator blessing to retire coal plants early
The bill would prevent utilities from retiring plants early or otherwise decreasing operations unless explicitly directed by the federal government, not counting the Environmental Protection Agency.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Tri-State announces major renewables shift with 1 GW in new projects, but questions remain
Tri-State announced a total of six new wind and solar projects and a forecast of 50% renewables use by its members by 2024, along with plans to abandon a proposed coal plant in Kansas.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 16, 2020 -
BLM OKs $1B California desert solar project praised for balanced approach amid ongoing controversy
The Natural Resources Defense Council said the 450 MW project balanced solar development and natural resource protection, but a potential federal update to a California desert energy plan remains a point of contention.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 16, 2020 -
Wind + solar expected to add 61 GW over next two years: EIA
Renewable energy is expected to grow quickly alongside steady natural gas growth as more capacity is needed to replace retiring coal.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Early utility regulator retirement gives Wisconsin opportunity to move on third party solar impasse
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a renewable energy proponent, will have the chance to shift the state's utility regulatory body toward his agenda after Commissioner Mike Huebsch's early retirement.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
OpinionAsh ponds: Keep calm and close in place
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to closing coal ash ponds, the author writes, cautioning against jumping to preordained conclusions on how to address the coal generation byproduct.
By Steven A. Burns is a partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources practice. • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Water scarcity accelerates plans to close Xcel's Tolk coal plant by a decade
Xcel Energy subsidiary Southwestern Public Service plans to submit an analysis on the plant's abandonment and replacement options by 2021.
By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 15, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 outlook: Natural gas faces regulatory, environmental scrutiny but still wants role in carbon-free grid
Aggressive natural gas investments in recent years may bring the sector to its tipping point. But some stakeholders say the fuel still has an important role to play in a decarbonized future.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020 -
OpinionWill deep decarbonization include nuclear? Possibly, with many caveats
Nuclear has a potential role in a low carbon future only if it is guaranteed to deliver electricity at a levelized cost under $0.076/kWh, the author writes.
By Levin Nock • Jan. 14, 2020 -
Deep Dive2020 Outlook: Coal faces headwinds from aging plants, adverse market signals and high remediation costs
Despite persistent economic challenges, the coal industry continues to fight to preserve its place in the U.S. energy mix.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 14, 2020 -
Kansas considering securitization for aging coal plants, but caution urged
Is "securitization fever" catching on in Kansas?
By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 14, 2020 -
Deep Dive
2020 Outlook: 10 trends driving the US power sector
From utilities to states to grid operators, the energy transformation is accelerating, but significant challenges remain.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 13, 2020
