As Google, Meta eye clean energy buys, researchers find widely used strategy has scant carbon benefits

Compared with annual matching, 24/7 green power procurements can drive “significant” cuts in carbon emissions and spur emerging technologies like long duration storage, Princeton University researchers found.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 13, 2023

ERCOT forced to declare emergency conditions in extreme heat as Texas flirts with blackouts

Experts say battery resources may have kept the grid operator from declaring rolling blackouts amid low renewables output and high thermal outages.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2023

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

Ninth Circuit largely upholds FERC PURPA reform decision affecting small solar, wind

The appeals court on Tuesday told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to assess how its decision would affect the environment but didn’t vacate the order.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 6, 2023

Facing declining membership, Tri-State offers to sell excess power

Selling excess power can “reduce cost pressures on our remaining members,” Tri-State CEO Duane Highley said in a statement.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2023

PJM, market participants reach agreement to resolve $1.8B in Winter Storm Elliott fines

The agreement potentially resolving disputes with Calpine, Energy Harbor, LS Power and others is slated to be filed with federal regulators late this month.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 5, 2023

RNG developer Terreva Renewables secures $417M in funding in first year

The private equity-backed developer has already completed four renewable natural gas projects on landfills in the United States, with more expected.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 5, 2023

As Ørsted, others seek up to 71% hike in clean energy contract prices, NYSERDA warns of rate increases

Proposals to raise offshore wind and onshore renewable energy contract prices in New York would push residential rates up by 4% a month, according to a state agency.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 31, 2023

Texas grid operator to consider reliability-must-run contract for retiring Talen Energy gas unit

Experts say RMR agreements in Texas are rare, but recent extreme weather may be forcing the grid operator to reconsider assumptions around demand and needed resources.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2023

Minnesota regulators clear way for 10-year operating extension of Xcel’s Monticello nuclear plant

The decision will allow plant operations to continue through 2040, subject to the NRC also approving a license extension.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 28, 2023

American Clean Power asks FERC to hold conference on capacity accreditation

Improving the patchwork approach to measuring the reliability value of power plants, energy storage and other resources would bolster the grid, according to the trade group.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 25, 2023

CAISO seeks FERC approval for Western day-ahead market, with 2025 start date

The grid operator’s proposal is a key step in developing electricity markets in the West but faces competition from the Southwest Power Pool.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 24, 2023

DOJ raises market power concerns for PJM in Vistra-Energy Harbor deal

Vistra could withhold power from a gas-fired power plant in Ohio to increase prices for nuclear plants that would be bought in the roughly $6.3 billion deal, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 23, 2023

Only 6% of gas capacity needs major changes to meet EPA’s proposed GHG rules: RMI report

Power plant owners most affected by the EPA proposal are Florida Power & Light, Georgia Power, Entergy Louisiana, Southern Power and Duke Energy Florida, according to RMI’s analysis.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Aug. 25, 2023

ArcLight, other private equity power plants in PJM face growing financial challenges: report

Risks facing private equity in PJM include lower capacity prices, competition from renewable energy and capacity market reforms, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 22, 2023

Google-backed white paper offers framework for deliverability in clean energy procurement standards

Linking clean power purchases to sources in the region where the energy is used can bolster the grid and enable more accurate carbon accounting, according to Google.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 17, 2023

DC Circuit rejects Vistra, generator arguments in PJM capacity market dispute

The Electric Power Supply Association said the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. District decision was “another blow to the health of PJM’s competitive markets.”

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 16, 2023

NRC approves emergency preparedness rule for small modular reactors

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s “reckless” decision on Monday fails to require SMRs and other new nuclear technology to have offsite emergency plans, the Union of Concerned Scientists said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 15, 2023

ArcLight affiliate plans to buy 693-MW Kleen Energy power plant in Connecticut from Sojitz

The transaction builds on ArcLight’s focus on the electrification “mega trend” and on supporting the energy transition, the private equity firm said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 14, 2023

EPA power plant carbon plan relies on unavailable tech, violates law: EEI, trade groups

The EPA based proposed emissions standards on hydrogen blending and carbon capture technology that isn’t widely available, violating the Clean Air Act, utility and power sector trade groups said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 11, 2023

A community solar boom will test Xcel, other utility plans against developer, customer needs: analysts

New state and federal funding and initiatives for community solar can bring equity and system reliability to the emerging energy transition, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 10, 2023

PJM, MISO, others warn of ‘significant power shortages’ from EPA’s power plant carbon rule

The agency’s proposed limits on power plant carbon emissions rely on “green” hydrogen and carbon capture, technologies that may not be widely available, four grid operators told the agency.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 10, 2023

Affordable energy in West Virginia starts with economic dispatch

West Virginia’s utilities have been operating their coal plants while incurring large losses and could have saved their ratepayers money by taking advantage of cheaper available power sources in the PJM market.  

By Ashtin Massie, Maria Castillo, Joe Daniel • Aug. 9, 2023

Constellation Energy CEO ‘disappointed’ to see peers opposing EPA’s power plant carbon rule

Emerging ways to blend hydrogen with gas and capture carbon dioxide will allow power plants to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule, Joseph Dominguez, Constellation CEO, said Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 8, 2023

FERC rejects requests from Entergy, others for waivers of MISO’s seasonal capacity rules

Granting the waivers would have hurt generators across the grid operator’s footprint by reducing their capacity values, the agency said Friday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 7, 2023

As Vogtle Unit 3 starts commercial operation, Unit 4 gets NRC approval to begin fuel loading

Vogtle Unit 3 is the first newly constructed commercial nuclear reactor in the U.S. in more than 30 years. Unit 4 is expected to enter into service in the fourth quarter of 2023 or first quarter of 2024.

By Larry Pearl • July 31, 2023