NY Sen. Schumer rejects calls to immediately close Indian Point nuke

Following reports the nuclear facility is leaking contaminated water, some environmental and health groups called for immediately mothballing the plant. But that would raise power prices in the region up to 40%, said New York Sen. Charles Schumer.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2016

ERCOT sets another wind record, with over 14 GW serving 45% of system load

Over 45% of the system load for the Texas grid operator was served by wind-generated electricity on Feb. 18. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 23, 2016

Opponents challenge federal expansion under Clean Power Plan

Opponents of the Clean Power Plan have filed their initial briefs in a D.C. circuit court, setting off the next round of battles over federal government's efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing generators.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2016

Taming the Wild West: CAISO begins study of a full regional electricity market

The California ISO is beginning a landmark study on whether a regional grid will ease the state's transition to 50% renewables by 2030. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 22, 2016

South Carolina lawmakers lobby for stronger restrictions on coal ash disposal

Any utility disposing of coal ash in South Carolina would be required to utilize Class 3 landfill under legislation moving quickly through the state's capitol.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 2016

New Hampshire bill resists Eversource bid to rate base gas pipeline investments

Eversource Energy has asked regulators for authority to buy and sell gas from the planned Access Northeast project it is developing along with Spectra and National Grid.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 2016

DOE targets eastern Idaho as possible site for small nuclear reactors

Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems has been granted a site use permit to consider locations within the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 2016

EPA cites 12 counties for exceeding SO2 standards under NAAQS regulation

12 counties were issued non-attainment designations under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and 23 were declared unclassifiable in the agency's latest release on pollution levels resulting largely from coal power plants.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 19, 2016

Duke Energy's plan for new gas generation 'problematic,' NC regulatory staff says

A new gas-fired facility is planned to come online in eight years, but staff of the North Carolina Public Utilities Commission are questioning whether technological advances in the power industry will make the plan necessary.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2016

New York needs 4 GW of storage by 2030 to meet REV goals, advocacy group says

Advocacy and advisory group NY-BEST also calls for standardized safety requirements, locational pricing in new report. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 19, 2016

TVA mulls sale of unfinished Bellefonte Nuclear Plant

Tenessee Valley Authority is considering selling the unfinished Bellefonte Nuclear Plant. Construction began more than four decades ago.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2016

Washington Senate pass bill to fund possible Colstrip coal units closure

The measure does not set dates for any coal retirements, but allows Puget Sound Energy to create a fund for the eventual shutdown of coal plants closed after 2023.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2016

NARUC 2016: What the SCOTUS stay and Scalia's death mean for the Clean Power Plan

The plan is likely to be delayed about two years, if it is upheld, injecting new uncertainty into utility planning processes.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 18, 2016

Xcel Energy pushes for study of early closure for Prairie Island nuclear plant

Though there are concerns that taking nuclear power offline would raise carbon emissions, Xcel Energy is calling for a discussion into the early closure of its Prairie Island facility.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016

Study: Atlantic Coast Pipeline could cost Virginia counties $7.9B

The pipeline system, running from West Virginia to North Carolina, will cost about $5 billion to construct, but a new study finds four counties in Virgina could wind up with billions in losses.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016

Maryland challenges Dominion's coal ash water disposal plan in Virginia

The state of Maryland has filed an appeal of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's decision to approve Dominion's plan to drain treated coal ash water into rivers.  

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2016

Updated: Puerto Rico Gov. signs utility restructuring bill after legislative approval

Differences with a Senate version passed last week will have to be ironed out before Feb. 23, when a debt agreement reached with the utility's creditors expires.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2016

Supreme Court preps for hearings on Maryland power subsidies case

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments next week over how the state of Maryland negotiated subsidies for a natural gas power plant built to ensure there is adequate supply to meet demand.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 16, 2016

How utility executives see the future of the electricity business

Here are some of the key findings from Utility Dive's third annual State of the Electric Utility report.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 16, 2016

Oregon lawmakers propose carbon tax, coal phase-out

The bills would phase out coal, increase renewables and enact a carbon tax. But Oregon is currently in a short legislative session, and some say more time is needed to consider such significant changes.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2016

Alaska utilities to purchase stake in ConocoPhillips gas field

Municipal Light & Power and Chugach Electric Association will need authorization from Alaska regulators for the $152 million deal.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2016

EEI: Utilities moving from coal, toward gas & renewables regardless of CPP stay

Carbon emissions from the power sector are already down about 17% since 2000, according to Edison Electric Institute officials. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to delay implementing the Clean Power Plan will not reverse those efforts.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2016

Bad power deals cost Maine $38M, governor says

 "Socialists love to subsidize new wind and solar,"  said Maine Governor Paul LePage (R). 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2016

8 trends shaping the grid of the future

A Deloitte study finds "alternative energy’s shift to the mainstream is largely complete and likely irreversible."

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 11, 2016

Sunverge Energy to roll out solar management system

Sunverge Energy says its next generation solar integration system will be available this summer.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 11, 2016