MISO integrated utilities lost $492M from 2016-2019 via uneconomic coal dispatch: market monitor

"Basically all of … the not efficient, unprofitable decisions were made by integrated utilities," while merchant generators were largely profitable, the grid operator's independent market monitor told stakeholders Thursday.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 9, 2020

'Buyer beware': Report highlights challenges to new PJM gas plants

New analysis from the Applied Economics Clinic and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis concludes the challenges to new gas plants in the PJM Interconnection "are growing stronger and stronger."

By Robert Walton • Oct. 7, 2020

A resolution to LCOE is not the metric you think it is

After one of the authors questioned the usefulness of the widely-used levelized cost of energy metric, two NREL analysts worked with him to find the metric is reliable — but only if used in real time.

By James Loewen, Pieter Gagnon, and Trieu Mai • Oct. 7, 2020

EIA raises forecast for coal generation bump in 2021, and more carbon emissions

Coal-generated electricity is on a long-term decline in the U.S., but the Energy Information Administration expects a 4% bump in its share of the nation's generation in the next year.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 7, 2020

National Grid sees hydrogen as a linchpin, joins utilities targeting net zero carbon by 2050

The company intends to continue studies and pilots to blend hydrogen into its existing gas network, viewing the renewable gas as a "lynchpin" between its networks, according to a spokesperson.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 5, 2020

Biden could pursue 'easy' climate solutions, elements of the Green New Deal if elected: experts

Renewable energy, storage and transmission projects will continue to face challenges even in "blue" states supportive of such development, according to speakers at the Society of Environmental Journalists' annual conference.

By Gloria Gonzalez • Oct. 2, 2020

Illinois regulators move to preserve retail net metering rate, order audit of Ameren's bid to end it

Ameren Illinois says customer solar generation is about to reach 5% of peak demand on its system, allowing it to end retail net metering under state law.

By John Funk • Updated Oct. 2, 2020

Virginia regulatory staff project $800 annual customer bill increase for Dominion to meet clean energy law

Plans proposed by the utility, ranging from around $44 billion to $84.3 billion, did not include a least-cost compliance option, according to staffers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 1, 2020

Vistra to retire 6.8 GW coal, blaming 'irreparably dysfunctional MISO market'

The company plans to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, will retire all its Midwest coal by 2027 or sooner, and add almost 1,000 MW of solar by the end of 2022.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 30, 2020

NextEra, Mountain Valley Pipeline developers receive 2-year extension from FERC

Regulators lifted a work-stop order on Friday on all but a 25-mile segment including a national forest. Developers were previously aiming to bring the pipeline in service by early next year.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Oct. 13, 2020

Ameren pledges net zero carbon by 2050, 3.1 GW new renewables by 2030, keeping coal into 2040s

Pending negotiations over securitization legislation in Missouri could encourage the utility to retire its coal assets faster, according to stakeholders.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 29, 2020

NYISO highlights case for carbon pricing days before highly-anticipated FERC conference

The grid operator hopes the Sept. 30 conference will convince federal regulators that the mechanism is the most efficient way for regulated markets to support state decarbonization goals.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 29, 2020

Demand response failed California 20 years ago; the state's recent outages may have redeemed it

The West's recent heatwaves put California power users in the dark but showed how flexible demand response, including distributed storage, can keep the lights on.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2020

Ohio attorney general sues to block $1.3B bailout of former FirstEnergy nuclear plants

The move comes as Ohio lawmakers hold hearings on competing bills to replace HB 6 with a new bailout bill, or simply repeal it.

By John Funk • Sept. 25, 2020

Michigan vows to go carbon neutral by 2050, increase oversight of utility resource plans

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D, signed an executive order on Wednesday setting the most ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal in the Midwest.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Sept. 24, 2020

Murkowski 'not giving up' on Senate clean energy bill vote before the end of 2020

Despite a potentially more difficult path for the legislative package following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair is determined to see her bill get a vote by the end of this year.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 23, 2020

Maine regulators OK state's largest renewables solicitation with 482 MW solar, but skip storage

Spurred by recent legislation, the procurement will add 546 MW of resources, representing about 10% of the state's load.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 23, 2020

House passes massive clean energy bill amid Trump veto threat, Senate uncertainty

The House passed its Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act on Thursday, though the White House earlier this week indicated the president was likely to veto the bill, despite support in the Senate.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Sept. 24, 2020

Politics disrupts San Diego's pursuit of an energy transition partner amid dissatisfaction with SDG&E

San Diego's 50-year-old franchise agreement with San Diego Gas and Electric expires in January, but city leaders can't agree on standards for the next provider, leaving bidders, including Berkshire Hathaway Energy, waiting.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 18, 2020

FERC lowers barriers to DERs in wholesale markets in rare Chatterjee-Glick consensus

The commission passed its long-awaited rule on distributed energy resource aggregations in a 2-1 vote two weeks after the departure of Commissioner Bernard McNamee.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 18, 2020

Nation's first freshwater windfarm all but approved as Ohio siting board removes 'poison pill'

The Ohio Power Siting Board unanimously voted to remove language that would require offshore turbines to shut down overnight eight months of the year to protect migrating birds and bats.

By John Funk • Sept. 18, 2020

Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond

Welcome to "Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond," a podcast series dedicated to further understanding how the utility industry can overcome the several challenges brought out by COVID-19 with technology and smart planning. 

By Utility Dive's Brand Studio • Sept. 18, 2020

How to participate in the 2020 Utility Dive Awards

Industry Dive is gearing up for the 2020 Dive Awards. We want to hear your ideas on the executives, utilities and policymakers that stood out.

By Utility Dive Editors • Updated Sept. 28, 2020

Energy committee advances FERC nominees to Senate for final confirmation

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the nominations of Allison Clements and Mark Christie to the full Senate.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Nov. 18, 2020

In contentious vote, Pennsylvania takes formal step towards joining regional cap and trade market

In a meeting punctuated by profanity and debate over the legitimacy of the process, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board voted 13-6 to advance a formal rulemaking for the state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 16, 2020