FERC summit highlights reliability concerns for renewables + storage, but has California found a solution?

In a day-long FERC conference on renewables+storage hybrids earlier this summer, system operators focused on reliability while advocates described new opportunities.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 3, 2020

Duke IRP includes scenarios to reduce carbon emissions 70% by 2030

One 70% reduction scenario would not add any more natural gas, and another would add 2,650 MW of offshore wind by 2030. But its base case scenarios continue gas buildout into the 2030s.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 2, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

EPA finalizes changes to coal ash, wastewater limits expected to save industry $140M annually

A group representing 163 utilities and three major U.S. utility trade groups had pressed EPA to update requirements issued during the Obama Administration, saying compliance costs for a number of rules were "staggering."

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 2, 2020

NuScale small modular reactor design becomes first to get NRC safety approval

With the safety review complete, the company plans to move forward with a 12-module plant at Idaho National Laboratory.

By Guy Burdick • Sept. 1, 2020

Illinois officials call Exelon plan to close 4 GW of nuclear a 'threat' to secure more subsidies

The utility blamed federal regulators' 2019 rule that raised the price for state-subsidized resources bidding into the PJM Interconnection, but a spokesperson for Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Exelon's "primary purpose is to dramatically increase those subsidies on behalf of their shareholders."

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2020

Senate Democrats reveal climate plan that could 'almost entirely' define clean energy policy under Biden admin

The report calls on Congress to spend at least 2% of annual U.S. gross domestic product on climate actions and require federal regulators to ensure publicly-traded companies disclose climate risks, among other measures.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 27, 2020

What caused California's recent blackouts?

The causes of the rolling blackouts on August 14 and 15 may be numerous and complex, but few of those reasons have anything to do with California's shift to more renewable generation, writes attorney Seth Hilton.

By Seth Hilton • Aug. 25, 2020

Ensuring DER inclusion in capacity markets may require a rethink of resource adequacy

The growth of customer-owned resources is forcing system operators and aggregators to see their value as reliability tools and rethink the concept of resource adequacy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 24, 2020

Groups challenge FERC's PURPA rule, accuse commission of 'actively discouraging' small power facilities

The solar industry on Friday filed a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, following federal regulators' rejection of the requests for rehearing.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Sept. 21, 2020

5 technologies propelling the energy transition

Utility Dive's latest series focused on electric sector innovations that could strengthen the grid, increase reliability and expand clean energy.

By Utility Dive Editors • Aug. 24, 2020

Final payments delayed in FES bankruptcy case as Justice Department racketeering investigation continues

The ruling — which means the bankruptcy case is technically not over — came after Ohio's Attorney General asked for an indefinite delay of all final payments while the federal probe continues.

By John Funk • Aug. 19, 2020

California power outages underscore challenge of maintaining reliability during climate change, the energy transition

An in-depth review of the proximate and structural causes of California's issues is needed to chart a new path forward, the authors write.

By Alex Gilbert and Morgan Bazilian • Aug. 19, 2020

Propelling the transition: The battle for control of virtual power plants is just beginning

As virtual power plants develop, there is a growing debate about the degree to which the future of distributed energy management will be controlled by large utilities or third-party aggregators.

By Matthew Bandyk • Aug. 18, 2020

Propelling the transition: Green hydrogen could be the final piece in a zero-emissions future

Green hydrogen beats renewables plus batteries at fueling heavy transport, serving industry and long duration storage — if it can be delivered affordably.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 17, 2020

Duke shifts toward renewables, storage investments in wake of $1.6B Atlantic Coast Pipeline loss

Grid upgrades and other "low-cost, smaller-scale" investments will incrementally replace the $2 billion originally set aside for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, said Duke CEO Lynn Good.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 11, 2020

Uncertainty over earnings return for $8B North Carolina coal ash cleanup weighs on Duke

Not allowing Duke to make a return on its coal ash cleanup could strain the utility's balance sheet, CEO Lynn Good said. But analysts say the regulatory environment in North Carolina does not bode well for the utility thus far.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 11, 2020

Senate grills FERC, DOE on power sector cybersecurity

Stakeholders have been very engaged with the Department of Energy since President Donald Trump's May 1 executive order, said a DOE senior advisor.

By Guy Burdick • Aug. 6, 2020

After ComEd bribery case, Illinois groups push for changes to clean energy bill

The groups want to undo recent rate increases from Ameren Illinois and ComEd, but the state Chamber of Commerce will not support the update if it still protects Exelon's nuclear plants.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 6, 2020

EPA extends utility coal ash compliance deadline 6 months

The rule gives utilities "reasonable deadlines," a NRECA spokesperson said, but environmental groups view it as the latest example of federal policy protecting industry interests.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 6, 2020

The future of hydropower will be determined in the Pacific Northwest

By eliminating the best energy storage source in the nation — carbon-free hydropower — we will be fighting climate change with our hands tied behind our backs, the author writes.

By Kurt Miller • Aug. 6, 2020

bp targets $5B annual renewables spending, 50 GW by 2030

The international oil company gave greater insight into its plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 after taking a $16.8 billion hit in Q2 of this year.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2020

PSEG to sell almost 7 GW of fossil fuel generation, retain nuclear plants

The utility is pursuing investments that will help New Jersey meet its clean energy goals, through grid modernization, efficiency, batteries and renewables.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2020

A blow to small solar, a win for states and utilities? Regulators, analysts assess FERC's PURPA rule

Federal regulators issued a ruling on the law earlier this month that stakeholders say could disproportionately benefit vertically-integrated utilities in non-competitive markets in particular.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 30, 2020

New Mexico approves 100% renewables + storage replacement for San Juan coal capacity

A full renewables portfolio, along with battery storage, was the only replacement option that fully satisfied the state's 100% carbon-free energy transition goals, according to regulators.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 30, 2020

Senate Republicans urge McConnell to include clean energy in COVID-19 recovery package

The letter, led by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is likely "the largest number of Republican senators" to have signed onto an effort urging clean energy be included in a federal recovery package.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 24, 2020