Line fault again plunges Puerto Rico into blackout

While nearly all the island's generation is back online after Hurricane Maria, the grid that supports it remains fragile and PREPA lacks sufficient reserves to resist minor disruptions. 

By Gavin Bade • April 18, 2018

New Hampshire governor's energy plan leans on nuclear, gas

The new plan by Gov. Sununu aims to diminish the cost impacts of renewable energy procurement by neighboring states, assuming those contracts will be above market rates.

By Peter Maloney • April 18, 2018

FERC chair takes up coal lobby line on plant retirements

Chairman Kevin McIntyre told House lawmakers he is concerned entire resource categories could "go the way of the dodo bird." It's a line common among the coal and nuclear lobbies, and few others. 

By Gavin Bade • April 17, 2018

State-federal concerns could dim FERC's landmark storage order

Wider access to a variety of markets has been hailed as the basis for energy storage growth, but jurisdictional issues could thwart an overarching solution.

By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018

Exelon, FE nuke closures would reverse PJM wind, solar benefits: Brattle report

Closing four plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania would harm the environment and raise electricity costs for consumers, a recent analysis finds.

By Peter Maloney • April 17, 2018

The shifting winds of near-term renewable energy demand drivers

As project economics have grown more compelling in recent years – particularly in the case of wind in the middle of the country – corporate investment has increased.

By Mason Smith, Matt Mooren and Lili Gao • April 17, 2018

FERC rejects CAISO's proposals to modify capacity procurement

The grid operator proposed tariff revisions to its risk of retirement capacity procurement mechanism, including how compensation for the at-risk resources is determined.

By Robert Walton • April 16, 2018

EPSA rails against FirstEnergy emergency request, New Jersey nuke subsidies

The trade group for independent power plant owners argues both requests amount to unnecessary bailouts for failing power plants.  

By Gavin Bade • April 16, 2018

Most MISO zones clear capacity auction at $10/MW-day

Zone 1, covering Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, cleared at $1/MW-day.

By Robert Walton • April 16, 2018

NGOs challenge New Orleans regulatory plan, Entergy peaker

The New Orleans City Council approved Entergy's proposed gas plant earlier this year, but environmental advocates say the City Council failed to examine "more benign" alternatives, like renewable energy. 

By Peter Maloney • April 16, 2018

Santee Cooper petitions to intervene in Dominion-SCANA merger

Observers suspect Santee Cooper may be preparing to oppose part or all of the proposed deal in an effort to protect itself against the VC Summer nuclear fallout, media reports say. 

By Robert Walton • April 13, 2018

NRC seeks more detail on Entergy plan to sell Vermont Yankee nuclear facility

Entergy's plan to sell the facility aims to significantly speed the site cleanup and restoration. But the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is not convinced the financial assurances are sufficient.

By Robert Walton • April 13, 2018

New Jersey passes bills for nuke subsidies, 50% RPS, 2 GW storage target

Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is expected to sign the measures, but proposed reforms to PJM's capacity market make the nuclear subsides' impact on wholesale power prices unclear.

By Gavin Bade • April 13, 2018

Senate confirms coal lobbyist Wheeler as EPA No. 2

Andrew Wheeler was present for preliminary meetings last year that led to the crafting of the Department of Energy's controversial plan to bail out coal and nuclear plants. 

By Gavin Bade • April 13, 2018

Perry: Emergency order for coal, nukes is 'exactly what has to happen'

The Secretary of Energy told a House committee Thursday emergency action to save coal and nuclear plants is necessary, though he stopped short of committing to a particular action. 

By Gavin Bade • April 12, 2018

How much are tariffs holding solar back?

Solar is maturing into a least-cost, best-fit resource for utilities and customers while facing down challenges with plunging costs and new grid services.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 12, 2018

Mitsubishi subsidiary seeks permits for $1.5B gas plant to send power to NYC

Diamond Generating is proposing a 1,200 MW plant in New Jersey's Meadowlands — an area close to major markets for electricity, but also environmentally sensitive.

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2018

Utilities, DER providers face off over market access at FERC meeting

Grid operators and utilities want to ensure that new distributed resources do not threaten reliability, while DER providers are wary they will use the argument as an excuse to stifle competition.

By Gavin Bade • April 12, 2018

MISO states push for authority over DER in electricity markets at FERC meeting

The states want to be able to choose whether they allow distributed resource aggregations to play in both retail and wholesale markets.  

By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2018

Updated: Whitehouse unveils bill directing study, pilot program for natural gas demand response

In the electric sector, demand response programs help reduce peak load and prices. New legislation would direct federal regulators to study its potential for gas markets.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2018

PJM files competing capacity market reforms at FERC

Stakeholder consternation over the two plans led the grid operator's leadership to punt the decision to federal regulators.

By Gavin Bade • April 10, 2018

As market pressures mount for IPPs, Vistra, Dynegy complete $1.74B merger

The combined company owns approximately 40,000 MW of installed generation capacity.

By Robert Walton • April 9, 2018

Perry: Economics not 'the issue' for FirstEnergy emergency evaluation

A senior DOE official previously said the agency "would never use" an emergency order to "stave off an economic issue."

By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2018

Southern Co. to be 'low to no carbon' by 2050, CEO says

While he gave no exact targets, Tom Fanning told Utility Dive that Southern will focus on technologies "that will allow us to take down carbon emissions to zero."

By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2018

What's next for South Carolina's embattled utilities?

The $10 billion planned cost for new nuclear turned into more than $20 billion, and the utilities' nuclear renaissance turned into a nuclear nightmare.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 9, 2018