An offer utilities can't refuse: The low cost of utility-scale solar

A new report finds even policy uncertainties have not stopped the growing partnership between utilities and solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 9, 2018

Report: FERC working with White House, NSC on coal and nuclear bailout

FERC's chief of staff said the agency is working to identify plants "critical" to the grid, E&E reports, the first step in a bailout plan detailed in a leaked NSC memo this spring. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated Aug. 9, 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

Report: Trump to nominate DOE policy head McNamee to FERC

Bernard McNamee helped roll out the Department of Energy's ill-fated plan to save coal and nuclear plants, which FERC rejected unanimously in January.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 8, 2018

Southern increases Vogtle nuke price tag by $1.1 billion

The plant will now cost $27 billion, more than twice the company's original estimate when it was approved in 2008.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 8, 2018

CAISO could lose 28 gas plants and keep the lights on: UCS

The plants are "dead weight" on the California system, researchers said, and could easily be replaced by other resources with no impact on reliability. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 8, 2018

Solar growth continues in US, though EIA trims its 2019 forecast 45%

A change in methodology has led the Energy Information Administration to cut its forecast of solar power capacity additions.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 8, 2018

As second wave of state storage targets builds, utilities propose new projects

Experts are watching Arizona, Nevada and Colorado for new policies that will help develop the industry.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 7, 2018

Utility planners leverage better accuracy of DOE's renewable cost forecast tool

Users like the National Renewable Energy Lab's rigorously calculated Annual Technology Baseline for its accuracy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 7, 2018

NY regulators leave 680 MW gas plant without an air permit

The combined-cycle plant is a key part of the state's plan to replace capacity from the retiring Indian Point nuclear plant, which will go offline in 2021. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 7, 2018

Report: DOE, DHS planning new grid cybersecurity exercise this fall

The Liberty Eclipse exercise will focus on blackstart capabilities and the intersection of the natural gas and electric power sectors, E&E News reports. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 7, 2018

Minnesota co-op breaks ground on first major storage projects in state

The 10 MW of solar joined with 30 MWh of batteries will be the largest combined facility owned by a U.S. co-op and is expected to save Connexus Energy $4 million a year through peak shaving. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 7, 2018

FERC halts construction of Mountain Valley Pipeline after court ruling

The decision is the biggest victory yet for opponents of the 300-mile natural gas pipeline, which FERC approved last October. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 6, 2018

Hawaii's new fuel price performance incentive gives HECO 'skin in the game'

A new sharing mechanism moves some risk of fuel price volatility from customers to the utility, but not everyone is convinced it will make a difference. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 6, 2018

Corporate clean power purchases reach 7.2 GW, surpassing 2017 record

As more companies sign 100% renewables pledges, a Bloomberg report estimates they will need to buy another 197 TWh of clean energy by 2030. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 6, 2018

Alliant plans to eliminate coal, cut emissions 80% by 2050

Alliant Energy, which serves almost 1 million customers across Iowa and Wisconsin, said by 2030 renewables will supply almost a third of its capacity.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2018

EPA will not weaken Obama-era ozone standards

The decision means industry lawsuits against the rules can move forward, leaving the Trump Department of Justice to defend them. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 3, 2018

Will lower cost renewables and natural gas accelerate PacifiCorp's generation transition?

A Sierra Club-commissioned study is aimed at moving PacifiCorp’s planning ahead and getting more coal "off the grid."

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 2, 2018

Massachusetts utilities file US-record offshore wind contracts at $65/MWh

If approved by regulators, utilities say the contracts would save $14/MWh compared with buying renewable energy on the open market. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 2, 2018

Dominion nuke plant eligible for zero carbon resources bid in Connecticut

The company had warned regulators that its Millstone nuclear plant was at risk of shuttering after the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's original RFP wouldn't have allowed it to bid until 2023.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 2, 2018

Advocates hail passage of Massachusetts clean energy bill but want to take it further

The state's final energy bill is a watered down version of the one passed by the Senate in June.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 2, 2018

Holtec to buy three nuclear plants, greatly accelerate decommissioning

Holtec is acquiring Oyster Creek from Exelon Generation as well as the Pilgrim and Palisades plants from Entergy. For the first two, Holtec plans to complete decommissioning in eight years.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2018

How can the US reach the cutting edge of offshore wind R&D? DOE seeks input

Despite the president's rhetoric against wind power, the Energy Department is looking at how it can improve research and development, on and offshore. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 1, 2018

Macquarie Infrastructure to sell New Jersey gas plant for $900M

The New York ISO is depending on the 644 MW Bayonne Energy Center to help make up for capacity lost due to the exit of Entergy's Indian Point nuclear plant.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2018

NextEra to retire Iowa nuclear plant in 2020

Utility Alliant will pay the nuclear operator $110 million and buy 340 MW of power from existing NextEra wind projects in exchange for ending its power purchase agreement with the plant early.

By Gavin Bade • July 27, 2018

NextEra's renewables backlog grows to 7.4 GW as customers anticipate lower costs

The company's record backlog includes many energy storage and solar projects slated for years in the future, as prices are expected to drop in the 2020s.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 27, 2018