Fitch: Financial innovation to fuel residential solar growth

Already under fire, the traditional utility model will face further challenges from new investor classes and financing arrangements.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2014

RMI: Electricity pricing must adapt to embrace distributed generation

But changes to traditional pricing structures could be disruptive, the report's authors warn.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2014

California set to impose statewide solar permitting and interconnection standards

Efficiencies that cut installation delays could save solar buyers $1,000.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 26, 2014

Ex-NRC inspector: California's Diablo Canyon nuclear plant needs to be shut down

The Napa earthquake causes the Senate to investigate.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 26, 2014

Salt River Project mulls smart inverters to ease solar transition

The growth in rooftop solar installations could cause problems for the Arizona utility.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2014

How Sacramento's public utility is getting in the residential solar business

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District wants to be customers' trusted advisor on all things solar. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 25, 2014

TVA picks new $975M natural gas plant over coal plant retrofit

The TVA directors cut coal and add flexibility that could eventually support new renewables.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 25, 2014

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Energy wants to get rid of net metering

A new policy should pay for the grid and push distributed energy resources to peak periods, a company strategy paper says.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 25, 2014

Calpine to buy Exelon's Fore River gas-oil plant in New England

Oil-burning capacity for next winter is worth $655 per kilowatt.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 25, 2014

Massive solar project lands SoCal Edison contract, but Duke Energy withdraws as investor

Duke Energy won't say why it will no longer be contributing to the 247-MW project in California. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2014

Verizon invests $40M to expand distributed solar program

The company will install more than 10 MW of solar generating capacity at eight of its facilities.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2014

How 4 utilities are turning distributed generation into an opportunity

Black & Veatch has a 6-step plan to help utilities "flip the DG equation."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2014

The state of the U.S. wind industry (and what it means for utilities)

Costs are dropping and capacity factors are rising -- but are utilities noticing?

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 25, 2014

Natural gas, hydro imports play bigger role in New England's energy mix

The growth of gas-fired generation and hydroelectric imports is helping displace coal and oil power in the region.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2014

Hawaiian Electric inks deal with Canada's biggest utility to liquefy natural gas

Hawaii’s high power rates make the challenges of LNG worth taking on.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 23, 2014

SCE&G plans multi-megawatt solar array for its headquarters

The South Carolina utility delayed one project but announced two more. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 23, 2014

FERC studying electricity market reforms

Chair LaFleur says price signals need to grow generation to supplement renewables’ advances.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 23, 2014

Dynegy to buy 12,500 MW for $6.25B

The power company will acquire Duke Energy's Midwest unregulated generation business and Energy Capital Partners' assets in New England and PJM. 

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 22, 2014

Duke Energy to face Florida regulators in build or buy debate

Duke wants to build its own new natural gas plant and Calpine wants to sell it a used one. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2014

Oglethorpe CEO: New natural gas pipelines needed for EPA compliance

Natural gas plants can get to a 70% capacity factor if pipelines deliver.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2014

PJM proposes capacity market rule changes to shore up winter reliability

The proposed changes follow a cold winter when as much as 22% of PJM generation was offline at one time.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2014

Wisconsin utilities propose fundamental changes to how distributed generation is priced

We Energies, Madison Gas & Electric and WPS want monthly charges instead of usage charges.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 20, 2014

Missouri utilities say Kansas wind is key to EPA compliance

Empire District Electric Co. and Kansas City Power and Light could use Kansas wind to cut emissions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 20, 2014

SDG&E and stakeholders search for common ground on the way energy is priced

Stakeholders from Google to the California PUC are working together to figure out the future of the grid. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2014

Illinois coal plants dig in as state looks at EPA compliance

The state must reduce CO2 emissions by 33% by 2030, but coal generators say they've already done their part.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2014