Exelon CEO: Carbon price preferable to 'band-aid' nuke subsidies

Chris Crane said he would prefer a market-based climate solution to state resource subsidies and does not know the status of a White House bailout proposal for coal and nuclear plants. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 23, 2018

Virtual contracts drive a boom in corporate renewables procurement

As options for renewable energy purchase agreements grow, more businesses are coming into the market voluntarily.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 23, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Environmental groups cite hurricane concerns in coal ash suit against EPA

The groups are suing Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler and the EPA in the context of an August ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals, which established previous Obama-era guidelines hadn't gone far enough in protecting consumers.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 23, 2018

Revival of Bellefonte nuclear project could rest with Memphis muni

Private investor Nuclear Development wants to revive a defunct TVA nuclear project, but it needs Memphis Light, Gas and Water to buy the electrical output.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 23, 2018

Report: Expected ruling on Summer cost recovery could imperil Dominion-SCANA merger

SCE&G wants to recover about $5 billion from ratepayers for the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project through the Base Load Review Act, which a judge is expected to overturn for being at odds with the state's constitution.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 23, 2018

FirstEnergy West Virginia coal plant staves off 2019 deactivation

The Pleasants Power Station will instead retire in June 2022, according to FirstEnergy officials.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 22, 2018

New campaign will ask coal users to face the 'cold hard economic case' against them

With 150 GW of U.S. coal set to remain in service after 2020, the Rocky Mountain Institute aims to prove the resource is raising electricity costs.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 22, 2018

Even in Indiana, new renewables are cheaper than existing coal plants

Eliminating coal generation by 2028, and replacing it with renewables, storage and demand management, will be cheaper than keeping the plants online or converting them to gas, says Northern Indiana Public Service Co.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 25, 2018

Emails show Arizona regulator Olson copied utility talking points on rooftop solar

The revelation comes as Olson runs for reelection and utility spending booms in the fight over a 50% renewable energy standard.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2018

Report: Co-op plans exit from Tri-State G&T, concerned by lack of clean energy

Delta-Montrose Electric Association is raising funds to leave the power provider, saying the money it will save its customers through renewables will outweigh the exit fee.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2018

Indiana needs 9.3 GW new resources by 2035, critics want more transparency

Electricity in the state will grow slowly over the next two decades, but the retirement of older power plants is driving the need for cleaner resources.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 18, 2018

Federal regulators approve transfer of Vermont Yankee nuke for decommissioning

Entergy will transfer the license to NorthStar, which has pledged to decommission and restore the site by 2030, 45 years earlier than Entergy's original plan.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2018

Report: DOE coal, nuclear bailout on hold at White House

Backers of the plan failed to convince key administration officials, Politico reports, putting the spotlight back on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 16, 2018

Spotlight: 6 key issues driving the utility sector today

The industry is undergoing a fundamental transition as it moves away from a centralized, baseload-focused past to a more distributed, renewable future.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 15, 2018

California strives to nix its natural gas habit without letting the lights go out

The state relies on natural gas for reliability, but won't reach its 100% zero emissions goal without looking to alternatives.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018

Generation: Despite headwinds, natural gas reliance set to grow in much of US

Gas-fired generation has been called a bridge to a renewable future, but the length of the bridge depends on where it is.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 15, 2018

Electricity markets: States reassert authority over power generation

States want the benefits of electricity markets but also want to dictate their outcomes. How federal regulators strike a balance will influence the power mix for decades to come.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 16, 2018

Michael leaves 1.2 million without power, but coal ash pits intact

Hurricane Michael has reached the Carolinas, but Duke said the damages wrought on its coal ash pits by Florence are repaired and the sites are not a concern.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 12, 2018

Largest wind project in hemisphere approved for New Mexico, but transmission tie in limbo

Regulators approved a 2.2 GW wind farm but last month turned back an application for a transmission line that is supposed to deliver the clean energy to California markets. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2018

GE turbine troubles 'significant' but not end of its power business, analyst says

GE is facing performance problems with its most advanced gas turbine, which faces a $71 billion order backlog, but there is still hope for the turbine business, one analyst says.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 12, 2018

PJM CEO urges FERC to move on resilience as Trump coal bailout looms

A market-based rule for grid resilience would be preferable to a federal bailout, the head of the nation's largest wholesale power market told senators Thursday.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 15, 2018

Gulf Power: 'Unprecedented' storm may require system rebuild

The hurricane is estimated to be the strongest to hit the U.S. in 50 years and Southern Company is reducing output at two units of its Alabama nuclear plant as a "precautionary measure" as the storm continues northeast. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Oct. 11, 2018

AEP to shutter 1,590 MW Ohio coal plant two years ahead of schedule

American Electric Power analyzed the results of recent power auctions before coming to the conclusion that it will shutter its Conesville coal plant by the end of May 2020.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2018

Westmoreland Chapter 11 marks 4th major US coal company to declare bankruptcy

Westmoreland Coal will join producers Peabody Energy, Arch Coal and Alpha Natural Resources, who found the sector's headwinds too much to overcome.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2018

Gulf coast utilities brace for Michael, strongest storm in Florida panhandle history

The storm will be a test for Duke Energy, whose outage management system failed last year during Hurricane Irma.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Oct. 10, 2018