CPUC plan for community solar stirs controversy with renewables advocates

Solar advocates take exception with fees for community solar the CPUC would let utilities impose on users.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2015

Desert Sunlight 550 MW solar PV project goes online

The installment ties the Topaz project as the biggest PV array in the world.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2015

How new turbine technology will open up the Southeast to wind development

"The message is that wind energy could be a more significant generation opportunity in this region than you thought." 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2015

Idaho could soon have the most solar per-capita of any state

Officials at the state's largest utility say hundreds of megawatts of potential solar power projects are seeking power purchase agreements.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2015

Elon Musk: Utilities have a 'pretty good' future, can coexist with solar industry

Electric cars will boost demand for power and help the utility industry avoid the death spiral, Musk told a crowd in Detroit.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2015

SRP will supply free wind power to Super Bowl XLIX

Salt River Project will provide free renewable power to the Super Bowl as part of a $1 million sponsorship package.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2015

Pew: Ohio freeze on renewables, efficiency mandates is driving away business

Lawmakers' decision to freeze renewable standards in Ohio has injected uncertainty into the state's clean energy industry.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2015

Rooftop solar is now cheaper than the grid in 42 American cities

Homeowners in some of the largest U.S. cities can get a better return from rooftop solar than from a pension fund or the S&P 500, a new study found.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2015

FERC approves Great Northern transmission line to link Manitoba hydro and Minnesota wind

The line will be built by Canadian and U.S. utilities and will connect to MISO.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2015

How electricity demand is pushing Massachusetts to expand gas pipelines

Studies find the state needs to expand infrastructure or face reliability and cost concerns.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2015

$150M in pollution controls approved for Wisconsin coal facility

Alliant Energy subsidiary Wisconsin Power & Light will also close a smaller coal-fired plant.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2015

Michigan, We Energies agree to solution for U.P. power woes

The accord will allow the planned Integrys merger to move forward without opposition from Michigan.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2015

EIA forecast: Lower natural gas prices, increased renewables in 2015

Growth in electricity prices nationwide will drop to 1.1% from 2014’s 3.1%, EIA forecasted.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2015

PJM: Renewables, efficiency can keep coal plants operating under EPA rules

Regional emissions cutting plans will be more effective and cheaper, PJM also found in its study of EPA carbon regulations.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2015

Xcel solar project meets resistance in Minnesota

Locals fear the NextEra Energy’s 62 MW installation will hurt land values.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2015

Wind generation hits records, mitigates price spikes during cold snap

Wind energy shows it can help regulate power prices during extreme weather events.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2015

EIA: Wholesale power prices rose across the nation in 2014

Electricity prices were highest in the Northeast, as high gas prices combined with extreme winter weather.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2015

ICF: Coal's future grim as power markets face fuel, regulatory uncertainty

Natural gas will continue to dominate the new generation mix.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2015

API: Electric generation drives U.S. gas production to record levels

Power generation will continue to fuel the United States' natural gas consumption.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2015

Tennessee sues TVA over Gallatin plant coal ash ponds

Advocacy groups say the lawsuit targets the most serious coal ash problems at the coal plant's ponds.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 9, 2015

Illinois study lays out options, alternatives for Exelon nuclear plants

The largest generator in Illinois said three of its nuclear facilities are at risk for early retirement.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 9, 2015

Can California really get to 50% renewables in 15 years?

Utilities and energy exerts say California faces big choices as it readies its grid for Gov. Jerry Brown's energy goals.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 9, 2015

IHS: Global solar PV to reach 53 GW in 2015, Calif. to become global leader

China, Japan, and the U.S. remain leaders and grid-tied solar plus storage will triple this year.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 2015

The new guide to the nation's best solar policies — and how to emulate them

It takes a suite of good policies to significantly boost solar, but every state is "different and special and changing."

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 2015

NV Energy shutters 300 MW of coal power

257 MW are scheduled to be taken offline in 2017.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2015