Comparing America's grid operators on clean energy progress: PJM is headed for a climate disaster

The nation's largest grid operator is fueling a continued gas boom, despite growing data that such generation is perilous for the climate and unnecessary to serve customers, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

By Miles Farmer and Amanda Levin • July 2, 2019

TVA 20-year plan includes up to 14 GW new solar, 5.3 GW storage

The utility's integrated resource plan also includes up to 18 GW of gas-fired generation, which a consumer advocate group says highlights the need to focus on efficiency.

By Robert Walton • July 1, 2019

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

Virginia regulators approve revised Dominion IRP, but warn about understated costs

Customer advocates called the State Corporation Commission's decision "unconscionable." The utility says warnings of higher bills tell "only part of the story."

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2019

Ohio Senate nuke subsidy bill drops clean air pretense, but keeps diminished renewable standard

The Energy and Public Utilities Committee of the Ohio Senate will hold a rare Saturday morning hearing this weekend, but has not yet announced when it will vote on its rewrite of House Bill 6.

By John Funk • June 28, 2019

Nuclear power industry heading toward smaller, cheaper, faster build designs: ClearPath

Advanced small modular reactors could be a game changer that helps the nuclear industry survive in the 21st century, according to the clean energy non-profit.

By HJ Mai • June 28, 2019

Transitioning US to 100% renewables by 2030 will cost $4.5 trillion: Wood Mackenzie

Including existing nuclear plants would reduce the price by almost $500 billion, while other savings are possible with a longer time frame to allow for technological advancements, the consulting firm said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated July 1, 2019

Massachusetts regulators approve state's largest clean energy procurement

The Department of Public Utilities approved long-term contracts for more than 9.5 million MWh of annual hydropower from Quebec.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2019

Senators target 50% national renewable energy standard by 2035, zero-carbon by 2050

The bill would set annual utility benchmark requirements starting in 2020 and allow states that already meet or exceed the federal standard to opt out.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 27, 2019

EPA recommends Georgia become 2nd state to run its own coal ash permit program

Oklahoma is the only state currently operating its own program as part of the Trump EPA's agenda to give more flexibility on coal ash regulations.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 26, 2019

NV Energy to add 1.2 GW solar, 2.3 GWh storage as large customer exit slows

The capacity will be divided among three projects and help the utility exceed its goal of doubling renewable energy output by 2023.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 25, 2019

Ohio Senate struggles to revise nuclear subsidy bill amid intense political maneuvering

The last-minute compromise comes as senators are presented with two reports that predict the House version would drive Ohio power prices up and potentially block new manufacturing.

By John Funk • Updated June 26, 2019

PSEG Power could lose $415M on exit from 2 Pennsylvania coal plants

PSEG made strides to clean up its generation mix and says its remaining coal assets have either been sold or scheduled for early retirement.

By Robert Walton • June 25, 2019

Illinois directs Vistra to retire 2 GW coal by 2020

Under the recent orders, Vistra Energy will need to retire the units by the end of the year and NRG Energy's Midwest Generation subsidiary will need to address groundwater contamination at four Illinois plants.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 24, 2019

Duke Indiana IRP adds 2.35 GW wind and solar, keeps some coal online for almost 20 years

The utility's resource plan shutters 4 GW of coal in the next seven to 19 years, but environmentalists say the retirements aren't aggressive enough and new natural gas "should never be built."

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2019

Rhode Island siting board rejects Invenergy's 900 MW gas plant

Opponents have maintained the plant would never be constructed; Invenergy is considering its options, and could appeal.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2019

Clean Power Plan replacement triggers rush to court

Climate activists say they expect to have the Affordable Clean Energy rule invalidated in court.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2019

Ohio Supreme Court rejects FirstEnergy's grid modernization charge

Critics alleged the charge, which totaled about $200 million a year, lacked proper oversight and was an illegal subsidy of the utility's ailing coal and nuclear plants.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2019

Bipartisan bill targets federal nuke PPA by 2024, advanced reactor demos by 2025

The bill requires the federal government to enter into a power purchase agreement by 2024 with a reactor that received an NRC license after 2018, with an emphasis on "first-of-a-kind or early deployment nuclear technologies."

By HJ Mai • June 20, 2019

EPA issues Clean Power Plan replacement as coal bailout remains sidelined

"Fossil fuels will continue to be a key part of the energy mix," EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said at a press conference Wednesday.

By Robert Walton • June 19, 2019

BNEF: Wind, solar to hit 48% of global generation by 2050, but coal use to rise until 2026

According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, wind and solar are now the cheapest sources of power across most of the world, and by 2030 will undercut commissioned coal and gas plants "almost everywhere."

By Robert Walton • June 18, 2019

Congress pushes for storage, renewables to have same private investment incentives as fossil fuels

Two bipartisan bills introduced last week would shift tax policies to incentivize clean energy and carbon capture technologies.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2019

Tri-State assesses FERC rate regulation to avoid potential inconsistency of state oversight

Tri-State currently avoids FERC regulation because all of its members are small electric cooperatives, but it could change that by adding a member who is not — possibly a power marketer.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2019

US power sector carbon emissions rise as natural gas outpaces renewables: Ceres

Non-emitting resources rose to the top for the first time in 2017 among the 100 biggest power generators in the U.S., but rising power demand met increasingly by natural gas caused overall carbon levels to increase.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2019

TVA agrees to excavate 12M tons of coal ash after 5-year battle

"Complex geology" under the unlined pits led to groundwater seepage, and evidence showed the Cumberland River was contaminated by the heavy metals.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 14, 2019

North Carolina removes anti-wind provision from bill

On Tuesday, state lawmakers dropped a proposed moratorium on wind development from legislation that critics said would devastate the industry.

By HJ Mai • Updated June 26, 2019