Entergy touts hydrogen as tool to meet industrial customers' green goals

On the utility's second quarter earnings call, CEO Leo Denault said it is working to offer industrial clients "some of the cleanest electricity in the country."

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 6, 2021

DC Circuit orders FERC to analyze climate, environmental justice more thoroughly

The court ruling is the latest one consistent with Chair Richard Glick’s stance that FERC should go farther in analyzing whether the gas projects it assesses are contributing to the climate crisis or cause harm to local communities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 4, 2021

The US power sector is halfway to net zero emissions, but it gets harder now, analysts say

Renewables led the power sector's recent energy transition, but breakthroughs are needed to take the transportation, building and industrial sectors to net zero emissions by mid-century.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2021

Bipartisan $1 trillion Senate infrastructure bill focuses on transmission, nuclear, carbon capture

"While there is much to celebrate in this product of our bipartisan efforts, more work still needs to be done," Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who leads the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said Monday.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 3, 2021

California governor moves to free up electricity supply amid projected 3.5 GW summer shortfall

Gavin Newsom, D, is pushing regulators to expedite clean energy projects, but experts are skeptical that the state will be able to bring online more than a limited amount of additional clean energy this summer. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 3, 2021

Xcel plans to roll out 10,000 MW of renewable energy in Minnesota, Colorado by 2030

Xcel Energy is accelerating plans to cut its carbon emissions in Minnesota, the utility's home base, and is also gearing up for a major transition, with longtime CEO Ben Fowke slated to retire on Aug. 18.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 30, 2021

Georgia Power announces another delay to Vogtle nuclear project

Completion of hot functional testing is "the last major milestone" for the plant's Unit 3, now expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2022.  

By Jason Plautz • July 30, 2021

Murkowski highlights potential boost to US critical minerals ahead of bipartisan infrastructure deal

Senators voted 67-32 to advance the latest version of the bipartisan infrastructure deal, securing the support of 17 Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 29, 2021

'This is starting on the right path': Hawaii sees early successes with performance-based regulation

Regulators are also considering developing new performance incentive mechanisms to regulate the retirement of a series of fossil fuel plants over the next few years. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2021

House grills FERC about commission's regulatory authority on cybersecurity, pipeline climate impacts

"There's no doubt that ... the biggest threat facing the electric grid today is cybersecurity," FERC Chair Richard Glick said during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 28, 2021

A brighter day for distribution co-ops? FERC's Tri-State proceeding and reformation of the G&T model

Stakeholders might not look to Tupac Shakur in the first instance when analyzing the troubles of the generation and transmission model. But recent developments at FERC suggest perhaps they should, the authors write.

By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • July 27, 2021

NextEra adds 1,840 MW renewables and storage to more than 15 GW backlog in Q2

NextEra Energy is nearing the halfway mark in its campaign to roll out 30 million solar panels across Florida by 2030, the multistate utility said Friday in its second quarter earnings report. 

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 26, 2021

AEP seeing 'credible interest' from potential buyers of Kentucky Power subsidiary, CEO says

AEP is ramping up its push to build more renewable generation, executives said Thursday, as the company detailed an increase in second quarter earnings amid a rebounding economy and interest in its Kentucky subsidiary.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 23, 2021

Texas PUC, ERCOT pledge 'reliability is first' as state pursues market reform

Regulators want the market to pay for reliability "in any form," including through additional thermal resources or on-site battery storage. They're also looking to better incentivize generators that provide power during periods of grid stress.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 23, 2021

FirstEnergy agrees to pay $230M fine for bribing Ohio officials to bail out two nuclear plants

Ohio groups called the fee a "drop in the bucket," despite it being the largest federal criminal penalty ever to be collected in the Southern District of Ohio, surpassing the $200 million fee imposed on Exelon subsidiary ComEd in 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 23, 2021

Democrats' 'Hot FERC Summer' campaign aims to boost FERC's visibility on Capitol Hill

As part of the campaign, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., and his colleagues are introducing a trio of FERC-related bills, including one that could open the door for FERC to implement a carbon price.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 21, 2021

Avangrid, PNM report progress with merger critics as criminal probe of Iberdrola raises new questions

As the utilities work to win over the remaining critics of their proposed $8.3 billion merger, the New Mexico hearing examiner wants more information about a criminal investigation into the activities of Avangrid's parent company.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 21, 2021

Elliott demands Duke improve performance in Florida, Indiana; says C-suite driven by 'self-interest'

The investment company, which says it's one of the utility's largest investors, repeated its previous assertion that Duke is underperforming due to poor management.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 20, 2021

Cost allocation remains key challenge for FERC ahead of transmission reform, Glick says

"When you're talking about money — when you're talking about who pays and how much — that's always a difficult issue," FERC Chair Richard Glick said in an interview with Utility Dive.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 20, 2021

Challenge to Berkeley gas regulation dismissed, a win for cities in carbon emissions fight

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit last week that challenged the city's restrictions on natural gas in new low-rise residential buildings, a major boost for local governments looking to follow suit.

By Chris Teale • July 19, 2021

Gridlock in transmission queues spotlights need for FERC action on planning

FERC is calling for stakeholder input to address the backlog in transmission queues holding 70% of the renewables needed for Biden's policy goals.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 19, 2021

Heatwave, wildfires heighten urgency for Western RTO: Glick, Clements

Some ex-FERC commissioners and chairs have urged FERC to tackle this unilaterally, but Chair Richard Glick and Commissioner Allison Clements believe such a policy should come from Western stakeholders themselves.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 16, 2021

Sen. Lankford voices doubts over Democratic clean energy standard, calling it 'punitive' for fossil fuels

Democrats are advancing clean energy funding and policy through a variety of legislative pathways, but Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., doubts how much will make it into a final bill.

By Robert Walton • July 16, 2021

FERC launches proceeding to reform transmission policy

“This is the beginning of a very long process,” said Commissioner Mark Christie.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 16, 2021

Developers enter largest green hydrogen PPA in US with 345 MW of wind to power facility

A new liquid hydrogen plant, part of a network Plug Power plans to build to satisfy rapidly growing demand, will be powered by a wind farm developed by Apex Clean Energy.

By Emma Penrod • July 15, 2021