Generation
-
Google to power Virginia data centers with 24/7 clean energy from AES
The partnership "lays a blueprint for other companies to decarbonize their own operations," Google said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 04, 2021 -
Courtesy of Bechtel
Bechtel reaches construction milestone at Southern Company's $25B Vogtle nuclear plant
Bechtel last week set into place a passive containment cooling water tank, which the company says is the last major lift at the only two nuclear power plants under construction in the United States.
By Kim Slowey • May 03, 2021 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Getty
TrendlineThe 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 -
TVA to retire coal fleet by 2035, CEO says, with renewables, gas and nuclear on the table as replacements
TVA's board of directors will discuss coal plant replacement options and carbon reduction goals next Thursday, with the utility expected to open up a new integrated resource plan process.
By Jean Haggerty • April 30, 2021 -
Xcel takes nearly $1B fuel cost hit from February storms but still sees Q1 profit rise
The majority of the $965 million incurred net costs came from the gas distribution and generation portions of its subsidiaries, according to the company's quarterly earnings report.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 30, 2021 -
PJM proposes to end FERC MOPR policy that raised prices for state-subsidized resources
Under the grid operator's plan, the minimum offer price rule would no longer apply to state-subsidized resources in capacity auctions. But some competitive suppliers are calling for a replacement market design.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 29, 2021 -
Retrieved from Twitter.
Deep DiveBiden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan meets power system needs but leaves room for political dealing
The Biden infrastructure spend would rapidly transition the U.S. power sector in ways utilities like, but Congress is expected to seek changes.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 28, 2021 -
States ask FERC to eliminate MOPR, grant more flexibility in pursuing alternatives to PJM capacity market
New Jersey and Illinois are actively considering using the fixed resource requirement as a way to pursue clean energy outside the PJM Interconnection's capacity market.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 26, 2021 -
Getty
Deep DiveCalifornia's dilemma: How to control skyrocketing electric rates while building the grid of the future
New ideas include income-based rates, publicly-funded infrastructure, utility entrepreneurship, and customer-funded wildfire insurance.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2021 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Power grid upgrades absent in Senate Republicans' $568B counter to Biden infrastructure proposal
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., told reporters that Republicans were open to discussion on including broader climate policy, and that spending on roads and highways could include funds for EV infrastructure.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 23, 2021 -
Permission granted by Minnesota Power
Sen Wyden proposes bill ending fossil fuel tax breaks, boosting clean energy incentives
The technology-neutral policy would create tax incentives for resources that emit zero or net-zero emissions.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 22, 2021 -
FERC overstepping its authority in move to lower demand response barriers, NARUC, utilities charge
State regulators launched similar charges against federal regulators regarding FERC's order on energy storage, arguing the commission was illegally encroaching on state authority over the distribution system.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 21, 2021 -
Mississippi Power to retire 976 MW of fossil fuels by 2027
The utility announced planned retirement dates after Mississippi regulators prompted it to reduce generation capacity amid evidence of "very little, if any, customer load growth."
By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 20, 2021 -
Democrats tested over boosting transmission, not pipelines, as bill directs FERC to improve regional planning
One political hurdle in transmission policy is how to heighten regulatory pressure on the pipeline sector while building electric transmission as efficiently as possible, said Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 20, 2021 -
Courtesy of GE Renewable Energy
Clean energy jobs 'hit hard' by COVID-19 in 2020: report
Research from Environment Entrepreneurs found the sector shed 307,000 jobs but rebounded in the second half of the year — and could be set for a major recovery in 2021.
By Chris Teale • April 20, 2021 -
Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by thinkreaction via Getty Images
Deep DiveAs Biden targets 100% clean electricity, strategies emerge to reliably integrate rising renewables
A power system based on portfolios of increasingly cost-effective utility-scale and distributed renewables is emerging and driving new operational and market solutions to make it work reliably.
By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2021 -
Permission granted by First Solar
OpinionGas is failing California. It's time to move on.
Even a state like California can waver in its progress towards clean energy if we let fear take over, the authors write.
By Nina Robertson, Katherine Ramsey and Shana Lazerow • April 16, 2021 -
Permission granted by Honolulu Dept. of Environmental Services
Hawaii top regulator fears potential clean energy project delays could slow closure of HECO oil-fired plant
Hawaiian Electric representatives, however, say the utility is trying to balance a variety of concerns, including from local communities.
By Kavya Balaraman • April 15, 2021 -
Retrieved from Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz.
White House considers doubling Obama-era carbon reduction targets: BNEF
President Joe Biden could also announce a plan next week to reduce economy-wide carbon dioxide emissions by 50% in the next decade, according to BNEF.
By Robert Walton • April 14, 2021 -
Glick: FERC should tackle MOPR if PJM can't agree on update by December capacity auction
Commissioner James Danly introduced his own proposal for a state option to substitute preferred resources over those that clear in a capacity auction.
By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: April 16, 2021 at 10:28 a.m. -
Yujin Kim/Utility Dive/Utility Dive
Q&ATaking Charge: FERC Commissioner Christie on his 'across the board' respect for state authority
"The state regulators know much more about their own states than I did as a Virginia regulator and that I will as a FERC commissioner," said Commissioner Mark Christie in a wide-ranging interview with Utility Dive.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 13, 2021 -
Former NRC chair questions economic feasibility of new nuclear in US
Former NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane acknowledges the progress of small modular reactor designs from NuScale Power to achieve permitting while flagging supply chain issues for the broader industry.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 12, 2021 -
Retrieved from Twitter.
Biden $1.5 trillion budget proposal includes 27% increase in overall clean energy spending
The proposed budget would ramp up spending on new technologies, including advanced nuclear and hydrogen.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 12, 2021 -
Granholm: American Jobs Plan will prioritize communities struggling with loss of coal, oil and gas jobs
Some 40% of the benefits of the American Jobs Plan should go to communities affected by the coal, oil and gas industries, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said during Thursday's White House press briefing.
By Emma Penrod • April 09, 2021 -
Fotolia
Weather-related outages primary cause of Texas blackouts, new ERCOT data finds
At peak, 54% of generator outages in the region were caused by weather-related issues from Feb. 14 through Feb. 19, according to ERCOT's analysis.
By Catherine Morehouse • April 07, 2021 -
Wyoming bills to slow coal plant closures sent to governor as 4 other states pursue similar steps
The Wyoming legislature has approved a series of bills intended to make closing coal plants more difficult, an action the local Sierra Club says will only delay the inevitable.
By Emma Penrod • April 07, 2021
