LBNL: Wind prices at record lows but future installations remain uncertain

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory expects installed wind capacity to plateau after 2021, when the resource's federal production tax credit begins to phase out.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2018

Renewables push CAISO prices lower, threaten inflexible generation

A new report finds uneven price distribution in utility-scale solar disproportionately affects baseload generation, such as coal and nuclear. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 28, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

Colorado approves Xcel plan to retire coal, shift to renewables and storage

The plan will see the utility retire 660 MW of coal power and invest $2.5 billion in renewable energy, part of Xcel's "steel for fuel" strategy.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018

FERC says SCE can't treat storage customers differently in service

Southern California Edison sought authority to curtail electricity service to storage customers first during times of peak demand, but FERC said that would be "unduly discriminatory."

By Gavin Bade , Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018

Eversource completes sale of New Hampshire hydro plants

Company officials say the sale is the "final milestone in the deregulation of the electric utility industry in the Granite State."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

Rhode Island approves National Grid modernization plan, rate increase

While gas and low income electric customers will see rate decreases, average residential power customers will see a 3.5% increase.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

Vistra Energy to close small waste coal plant in PJM

The 51 MW plant in McAdoo, Pa., is in the heart of coal country but loses money and has a "negative financial outlook," according to Vistra Energy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

RMI: Declining cost of renewables could save Tri-State customers $600M

Rocky Mountain Institute said Tri-State Generation and Transmission could save millions by retiring some of its coal and moving to renewables, but the utility called it an inaccurate forecast.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

Generators ask FERC to mandate capacity market for CAISO

California's market rules should be thrown out because they do not allow generators to recoup their costs, The Electric Power Supply Association said last week.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 27, 2018

Minnesota regulators unanimously reject Centerpoint's renewable natural gas program

The utility says it remains "committed to the importance of bringing a renewable natural gas option to our customers."

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated July 29, 2019

TVA to raise rates, will consider closing older coal plants

The Tennessee Valley Authority will consider closing down two older coal plants totaling more than 2 GW of capacity.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2018

HECO warns of extended outages as Hawaii braces for Hurricane Lane

Experts are concerned the slow-moving storm could disrupt fuel deliveries or petroleum refining in the state, which relies on oil for much of its electricity generation.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 24, 2018

PacifiCorp, Idaho Power agree to make CAISO their reliability coordinator

As the California grid operator draws closer to filing at FERC for approval of its Reliability Coordinator services, two more utilities have signed on following a commitment by the Balancing Authority of Northern California in July.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 24, 2018

New York unveils new toolkit to drive solar on brownfields

The procurement guidelines aim to spur community solar development on landfills and other underutilized land, advancing the state's 50% renewable generation goals.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 24, 2018

Interactive: Wind turbines are getting more powerful as 'specific power' declines

The new 2017 Wind Technologies Market Report, prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and released by the U.S. Department of Energy, shows a trend in turbines that do better in lower wind speeds.

By Ryan Wiser, Mark Bolinger, Ben Hoen and Bentham Paulos • Aug. 23, 2018

Court ruling a setback for EPA efforts to undermine coal ash rule

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit concluded Obama-era coal ash rules, which the Trump administration seeks to weaken, did not go far enough to protect the environment.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2018

Dems question FERC over chief of staff role in coal, nuke bailout

Sen. Maria Cantwell and Rep. Frank Pallone say statements made by FERC Chief of Staff Anthony Pugliese "call into question the impartiality and independence of the Commission."

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 23, 2018

DTE begins work on $1B Michigan gas plant

The Blue Water Energy Center will help replace three coal-fired plants DTE Energy plans to retire by 2023.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2018

EPA's new ACE rule is a coal lifeline 'disguised as a GHG regulation,' critics say

Changes to the EPA's New Source Review process could allow coal plants to stay open longer — if operators choose them over cleaner technologies.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 22, 2018

California legislators smooth closure path for state's last nuclear plant

The state assembly approved legislation that clears the way for closure of Diablo Canyon, providing $350 million for an employee retention fund and $85 million to make up for lost property taxes, among other provisions.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 22, 2018

Duke moves to stop FirstEnergy Solutions from exiting Ohio co-op

Consumer advocates worry that a bankruptcy court decision allowing FES to withdraw from the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, which operates a pair of coal plants, could raise prices for retail consumers.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2018

EPA moves to replace Clean Power Plan with modest carbon regulations

The proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule would require minor efficiency improvements at some coal plants and give states more latitude to set their own emissions standards.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Aug. 21, 2018

Montana developer eyes PURPA contracts for 320 MW of wind, 640 MWh of storage

Caithness Beaver Creek wants to build four 80 MW wind projects paired with 40 MW/160 MWh batteries, but couldn’t come to an agreement with utility Northwestern Energy over capacity payments.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 21, 2018

Updated NRC cybersecurity guidance highlights printers, copiers as hacker entry points

Attackers can use such devices as staging points to collect sensitive information, establish a persistent presence for later attacks or penetrate deeper into the defensive architecture, the commission says.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2018

BTM storage is booming in Ontario

A flurry of energy storage projects highlights opportunities for large industrial customers to reduce a costly rate structure established in 2005.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 20, 2018