DOE taps 9 ‘clean coal’ projects for funding, support

The Department of Energy had announced possible funding opportunities up to $50 million to support "transformational coal technologies," last year. Now the agency is following through. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2018

FERC issues storage, reliability orders, calls conference on aggregated DERs

The commission directed grid operators to design rules that allow storage to provide energy, capacity and ancillary services, as well as set wholesale prices as buyers and sellers. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 15, 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

New ISO-NE report warns fuel supply could harm reliability

The finding echoes similar warnings the grid operator produced earlier this year following a cold snap in late December and early January. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 14, 2018

ISO-NE presses FERC to approve capacity market reform

The grid operator argues its two-part capacity market proposal will better integrate subsidized resources than existing rules. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 14, 2018

Sierra Club, Talen Energy strike deal to halt coal burn at Pennsylvania plant

Under the settlement, the Brunner Island plant will only operate on natural gas during the "ozone season," and will permanently stop burning coal after 2028.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 14, 2018

Resilience, pipelines & PURPA: FERC regulators preview major issues at NARUC

State utility regulators heard from all five federal energy regulators at a conference in Washington this week.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 14, 2018

Powelson: Input from PJM, ISO-NE states critical to FERC resilience docket

Any proposal that does not include input from states in those markets "will not garner any support," Powelson said at the NARUC Winter Conference on Monday.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

Trump budget would gut EPA, DOE renewables office

The budget would cut the DOE renewables office by 65% and eliminate ARPA-E and the agency's loan programs. EPA would be cut by nearly a quarter. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

APS to install 50 MW, 135 MWh solar-shifting battery

The contract with developer First Solar will allow APS to use the battery to deliver solar power when electricity use is at its peak, 3-8 p.m. each day.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

Is PURPA done? New bill takes aim at law's mandatory purchase obligation

The law has been under fire for much of its 40-year history, but changes proposed in November could be the most significant yet.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 12, 2018

Connecticut wants to boost renewables goal to 40% by 2030

The state's finalized Comprehensive Energy Strategy addresses grid modernization, distributed generation and ensuring energy efficiency is given the opportunity to compete and grow. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2018

California PUC establishes new utility planning process to reach carbon goals

For the two-year process, regulators will evaluate the appropriate greenhouse gas emission planning targets for the electric sector the first year and consider proposals to meet those targets the following year. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2018

Most PJM states oppose capacity repricing proposal

The grid operator, however, still plans to send the 2-part capacity auction proposal to its board for approval. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 9, 2018

Markets matter: US wind belt expands as more utilities do the math

The DOE NOPR and the tax overhaul bill initially threatened the continued growth of wind energy. But "ultimately, clean power emerged a winner on policy, again," Vestas Americas President Chris Brown writes.

By Chris Brown • Feb. 8, 2018

Energy tax credits in final budget deal

Despite previous opposition in the House, tax credits for nuclear energy, carbon capture and a variety of gas and renewable technologies are in the bill approved early Friday.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018

Major DOE NOPR supporters skip rehearing requests at FERC

Coal and nuclear interests are instead looking to FERC's resilience proceeding and pricing reforms at regional grid operators to save their ailing plants. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018

Energy tax credits included in Senate budget deal

Tax credit extensions for nuclear plants and a number of natural gas and renewable energy technologies are in the Senate package, but are likely to face opposition in the House.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018

Court filings stave off Sabal Trail pipeline shutdown, for now

The D.C. Circuit was set to put the pipeline on hold this week, but last-minute filings from FERC and pipeline owners appear to have bought the project some time. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018

AES prepares for layoffs at US utilities as part of wider restructuring effort

The energy company is pushing to shrink its carbon footprint and pivot to cleaner energy resources. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 7, 2018

Vistra, Dynegy must divest some Texas generation to win approval for merger

The Texas grid operator limited the amount of generation a single market participant can own, and the combined Vistra-Dynegy company would own too much.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2018

AEP carbon reduction plan calls for more than 8 GW of renewables

The utility intends to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its power plants 80% below 2000 levels by 2050.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2018

Virginia Gov. Northam lends support to Dominion rate reform bill

The state Attorney General and consumer advocates oppose the bill, saying it would allow Dominion to charge customers twice for renewable energy projects. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 7, 2018

NRG sells renewable energy business, Southern plants in reorganization move

The company says the sale will bring in $2.9 billion in cash and more is to come as it continues to remake itself.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 7, 2018

EIA: Low prices, rising production to boost gas generation through 2050

While natural gas grows the most on an absolute basis in EIA's projections, reaching 39% of U.S. energy production in 2050, nonhydroelectric renewable energy grows the most on a percentage basis.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 6, 2018

SMRs a 'game-changer' for troubled US nuke industry, DOE tells Congress

The U.S. nuclear industry is at a "tipping point" after years of "historic downward pressure," officials told lawmakers, but new, smaller reactive designs could be the sector's savior. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 6, 2018