Markets over regulation: Driving lower emissions generation through a carbon tax

Taxing carbon emissions would increase the price discrepancy between natural gas and coal and appropriately build into the prices the cost of CO2 emissions on the economy and our society, the authors write.

By Deborah A. Carroll, Kelly A. Stevens and John W. Rowe • May 15, 2020

Ditching PJM capacity market could cost New Jersey $386M through 2022, market monitor finds

New Jersey regulators opened a docket to investigate how the state could reach its 100% clean energy goals under the constraints of new rules in the PJM market.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 15, 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

Walmart blasts Virginia regulator's report on pricing, biomass in Dominion's proposed 100% renewable energy tariff

Tension is mounting in Virginia's regulatory proceeding that would block Dominion customers from leaving its service for clean energy and charge a premium for 100% renewable energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 14, 2020

Colorado Tri-State ruling could provide co-op exit template amid rising tensions with G&T providers

Tri-State is struggling to respond to member demands for renewable energy. The conflict could have implications that drive an energy transition — or tear the electric cooperative system apart.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 13, 2020

Duke CEO decries 'assault' on natural gas as shareholders, others target company's resource plans

Shareholders grilled the utility on its long-term investment plans, questioning why the company is lagging behind others in its renewable energy buildouts.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 13, 2020

Renewables poised to outstrip coal generation in 2020 as COVID-19 accelerates transition: EIA

Coal consumption is expected to decrease nearly a quarter to 453 million short tons this year due to shrinking power consumption and natural gas prices.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 13, 2020

NRC commissioner blasts proposed emergency preparedness rules for SMRs as a 'radical departure'

Small modular reactors could be exempt from a 10-mile evacuation zone requirement under a new proposal. Could the Nuclear Regulatory Commission offer its emergency preparedness alternative to existing facilities?

By Guy Burdick • May 13, 2020

Treasury Department offers wind industry coronavirus lifeline with safe harbor extension

The renewables sector is urging Congress to enact temporary refundability for renewable energy credits and take other "commonsense measures," to aid the industry. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 28, 2020

Replace NYC peakers with renewables+storage? Plant owners say they're working on it

An environmental justice group has called for renewables and battery storage to replace fossil fuel peaking units in New York City. Generators say the transition is already underway.

By Robert Walton • May 12, 2020

NV Energy crafts solar+storage subscription plan to keep large customers in its service

The utility said the new pricing structure would only affect large energy customers subscribing to the program.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 12, 2020

Dominion's nearly $50 monthly power bill hike in Virginia is a warning for other states

The utility's monopoly status is functionally similar to the Fixed Resource Requirement offramp that some states across PJM are seeking, and could mean trouble for ratepayers, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.

By Todd Snitchler • May 11, 2020

Great River Energy to exit coal, close 1.15 GW plant, but North Dakota governor vows rescue

Gov. Doug Burgum, R, called the generation and transmission provider's decision "disappointing" and promised to "find a path forward for Coal Creek Station" to maintain the jobs and baseload power it provides.

By Robert Walton • May 11, 2020

MISO: Majority of coal is self-committed, 12% was uneconomic over 3-year period

Advocacy groups say the numbers support their arguments that running coal plants uneconomically is costing ratepayers billions of dollars.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 7, 2020

DC Circuit grills NARUC, FERC on whether Order 841 will harm state ability to regulate distribution

The fundamental question for judges is whether FERC's landmark energy storage order will harm states' ability to operate the safety and reliability of their distribution systems.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 6, 2020

New York to include small combustion turbines in annual carbon emission limits

New York is the last of the 10 states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to outline how it will meet the lower regional CO2 limits set to begin in 2021 and continue with annual reductions through 2030.

By John Funk • Updated Dec. 2, 2020

United Power sues Tri-State claiming 'civil conspiracy' to block Colorado jurisdiction over exit fees

The complaint alleges Tri-State Generation & Transmission has caused United Power hundreds of millions of dollars in damages in an effort to keep members from leaving its service.

By Robert Walton • May 6, 2020

Dominion jacks up renewables and storage in Virginia IRP, following landmark clean energy rule

In its newest plan for the state, Dominion would add between 11 and 40 GW of solar in the next 25 years and up to 5 GW of offshore wind in the next 15 years, while still keeping some natural gas in the system.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 5, 2020

States should leave markets that don't work for families and businesses after bad FERC decisions

Reentering PJM and other markets can be reconsidered when a new FERC majority is ready to care at all about consumers instead of political donors, the author writes.

By Mark Kresowik • May 5, 2020

Pueblo, Colorado, voters reject Black Hills Energy exit

The city's mayor told Utility Dive that forming a municipal utility will help the city lower rates and reach its 100% renewable energy goal by 2035.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 6, 2020

Global GHG emissions could fall 8% in 2020 amid pandemic: IEA

Coronavirus has reduced emissions and energy demand, but a recovery without clean investments could jeopardize those gains, the group said.

By Chris Teale • May 1, 2020

New Mexico delays 350 MW, 240 MWh solar+storage projects intended to replace San Juan coal plant

Meanwhile, a company determined to save the San Juan plant announced it has secured $22 million in federal funding to explore potential carbon storage options in grounds near the facility.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 1, 2020

FERC confirms Goldman Sachs ties to renewables company, opening door for push on corporate transparency

The intervenor on the Goldman Sachs application plans to use this ruling to press federal regulators into more regularly defining affiliate relationships, such as in his JPMorgan/El Paso Electric appeal.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 30, 2020

FERC's Chatterjee highlights COVID-19 demand disruptions, resource threats

The FERC chair also rejected the notion that the commission's PJM MOPR order will hurt renewables, and urged states to wait before pulling out of the RTO's capacity market.

By Larry Pearl • April 29, 2020

Maryland taking a 'serious look' at exiting PJM capacity market through FRR, says PSC Chair

The state filed a petition for review with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals this week, echoing concerns raised by Illinois, New Jersey and others that federal regulators are unfairly infringing on state clean energy policy.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 29, 2020

Duke to double renewable capacity in 5 years, but critics say utility lags on storage deployment

The utility plans to add 8,000 MW of wind, solar and biomass by 2025, but critics say the utility isn't taking sufficient advantage of energy storage and efficiency.

By Robert Walton • April 29, 2020