After public rebuke, Duke axes Carolina power line, downsizes gas plant proposal

The utility will construct two smaller gas-fired plants instead of one, and scrapped plans for a new line and substation, opting to lean on efficiency and demand management instead. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2015

NY Gov. Cuomo: State will fight Entergy plans to shutter FitzPatrick nuclear plant

The state questioned Entergy's corporate citizenship following the announcement it would shut down the 838-MW James A. FitzPatrick nuclear facility in Scriba, N.Y.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2015

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

How to decarbonize the US energy system, in 14 charts

A powerful new policy simulator lays out the costs and benefits of the Clean Power Plan and deeper decarbonization on the electricity sector and broader economy. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 5, 2015

Oregon ballot initiatives to eliminate coal power by 2030 clear first hurdle

Renew Oregon submitted twice the necessary signatures in an initial step to putting coal to the test in next November's election.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2015

EIA: Nuclear capacity set to rise despite recent shutdowns

Though the agency's data wasn't updated in time to account for Entergy's recent announcement that it will shutter a facility in New York, the U.S. Energy Information Admnistration says nuclear capacity will likely rise between now and 2020.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2015

How the legal battle over demand response could hinder California's climate goals

Observers say demand response could be key to California's bid to reach 50% renewable energy.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2015

Duke looks to extend licenses for aging nuke fleet in the Carolinas

Duke Energy officials say they will hold on to their nuclear fleet in North and South Carolina as long as possible, doubting the chances for new generation.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 3, 2015

Entergy announces plans to retire NY's FitzPatrick nuclear plant

Entergy Corp. will shut down its 838 MW James A. FitzPatrick nuclear power plant by late 2016 or early 2017. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Nov. 2, 2015

Maryland attorney general wants state to reconsider Exelon-Pepco merger approval

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh has thrown his support behind a bid to undo approval of the Exelon-Pepco deal, arguing the merger will hold back efforts to modernize the state's grid.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

Duke's Piedmont deal forces restructuring ownership of Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Dominion Resources will remain the lead owner of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, but how the shares will be restructered remains to be seen.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

DC Circuit will wait until after Paris climate talks to rule on Clean Power Plan stay

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has set the schedule for arguments related to a stay on the Clean Power Plan, but won't rule on them until after climate change talks conclude in Paris this year.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

Exelon delays decision on Illinois nuke after MISO announces potential market changes

The Midcontinent ISO last week acknowledged the need for market changes in the southern Illinois area, giving new hope to Exelon's struggling Clinton nuclear facility.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2015

NextEra grows renewable portfolio, weighs sale of Texas merchant generation

NextEra CEO James Robo said the company reviews all their assets each year and determines whether it makes sense to keep them. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 30, 2015

Inside the first fully dispatchable utility solar-storage project in Hawaii

SolarCity is combining solar panels and storage in a single project on Kaua'i, but the most innovative part of the deal could be how it is structured.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 29, 2015

SCE&G says new V.C. Summer nuke agreement will prevent further delays

The utilities backing two new nuclear units north of Columbia have struck a deal with companies managing and constructing the project, aimed at reducing cost overruns and delays.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

NV Energy remains on track to join Western energy imbalance market

FERC approved a California ISO tariff change aimed at allowing the utility to participate in the Energy Imbalance Market, but a few other details will need to be worked out first.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

EIA: Gas generation edges out coal for 2nd consecutive month, 3rd time this year

Gas generation in August exceeded coal for only the third time ever, EIA reported this week. But it's also the third time this year and the second consecutive month where gas has been king, marking a shift towards gas as the more popular fuel choice. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

Rocky Mountain Power unveils clean energy proposal, but skeptics remain

The Salt Lake City-based utility wants to offer a new, lower tariff for expanding businesses and split residential bills into use and access charges in a plan aimed at cutting emissions. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

West Virginia gov. says his state will file CPP compliance plan

West Virginia's attorney general is leading the lawsuit challenging the Clean Power Plan, but the state's governor says a compliance plan will be filed anyway in hopes of "lessening the pain."

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2015

Southern Co., rural co-ops buck utility trend in challenging Clean Power Plan

While most utilities around the country are deciding to comply rather than fight the Obama administration's plan to reduce greenhouse gasses, coal-dependent Southern Co. and a coalition of electric co-ops have filed suit against the regulatory package. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

FERC: Renewables account for over 60% of new generation in 2015

The latest energy infrastructure report from FERC finds wind up to 5.9% of U.S. generation capacity, while solar passes the 1% mark, even with the rooftop sector not included.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 28, 2015

SCE fined $16.7M for illegal regulatory communications on San Onofre closure

Utility execs had prohibited communications with regulators on the $4.7B settlement, an administrative law judge decided.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 28, 2015

Duke CEO: Piedmont deal heralds new focus on natural gas industry

In the future, gas infrastructure investments will be a growing focus for Duke Energy, according to CEO Lynn Good.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

Study: 3 years after Sandy, East Coast and Gulf power grids still vulnerable to storms

A new report shows millions of consumers, hundreds of substations and dozens of power plants are susceptible to a strong hurricane battering the United States' Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015

NEI chief: More nuclear retirements to come in unregulated markets

The head of the Nuclear Energy Institute predicted that nuclear plants would be forced to shutter due to market rules that he says do not properly value baseload capacity.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2015