As first US utility-scale offshore wind project nears approval, supply chain, permitting come into focus

Despite a lack of domestic components and a complex permitting process, Vineyard Wind is confident in its ability to move forward this summer with construction of its 800 MW project off the coast of Massachusetts.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 18, 2019

Dominion strikes deadline day utility deal to keep Millstone nuke operating

The company warned that New England's sole nuclear generator could retire if a contract for its output was not signed by March 15. 

By Gavin Bade • March 15, 2019

Market Monitor: 3 GW nukes, 12 GW coal uneconomic in PJM

The only nuclear plants receiving market signals to retire are one-unit generators, Monitoring Analytics said, and the only one to recieve a state subsidy "did not need" it.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 15, 2019

Chatterjee: Transmission could be resilience docket solution

The FERC chairman's remarks at CERAWeek represent a shift from past emphasis on generator fuel supplies in the resilience debate. 

By Gavin Bade • March 14, 2019

FPL proposes country's largest community solar project at 1,490 MW

If approved by Florida regulators, the project would more than double U.S. community solar capacity, currently at 1,387 MW.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 14, 2019

As US solar expands, states increasingly tackle compensation and community project complexities

Years of debate by "nerds in beige rooms" has led to today's booming solar market, but solar policy is becoming even more complicated.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 14, 2019

McNamee still mulling resilience docket recusal

In his first comments to the press since his confirmation, the Republican regulator said he is working with ethics officials to determine if the resilience docket too closely resembles a plant bailout plan he crafted in 2017.

By Gavin Bade • March 14, 2019

Perry says federal coal and nuke bailout not dead, but encourages states to act

The Secretary of Energy supports "thoughtful" state subsidy programs, but said he was not aware of discussions in Pennsylvania, where a lawmaker says DOE staff told him a federal bailout was not forthcoming.

By Gavin Bade • March 14, 2019

NYSERDA targets retail and bulk storage incentives as state aims for 3 GW by 2030

The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority's plan allocates $130 million and $150 million to the retail and bulk storage markets, respectively.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 13, 2019

Kansas City, Missouri, pledges carbon-free government by next year

The city council voted unanimously to get its electricity from renewable sources, develop a community solar farm and buy more electric vehicles.

By Chris Teale • March 13, 2019

Three's company: New Mexico joins California, Hawaii in approving 100% clean energy mandate

The bill requires the state to phase out all natural gas and coal-fired plants by 2045, signifying a major shift in energy priorities since a new governor and a new crop of legislators took office in January.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 13, 2019

Federal court denies FERC jurisdiction in PG&E bankruptcy case

FERC asserted it had "concurrent jurisdiction" and could prevent power contracts from being altered as part of PG&E's bankruptcy proceeding.

By Gavin Bade • March 13, 2019

Pennsylvania lawmaker: State crafted nuke subsidy bill after DOE said not to wait for bailout

The new bill to provide financial support to the state's nine nuclear plants is part of a trend of states taking the lead on premature retirements in the face of inaction from the federal government. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 12, 2019

PJM pushes FERC to act on capacity market rules, citing 'uncertainty' and 'confusion'

Until FERC approves a replacement for the capacity market design it threw out last year, PJM said it is directing market participants to prepare for an upcoming auction under both sets of rules.

By Gavin Bade • March 12, 2019

Duke defends IRP as greens push North Carolina regulators to reassess

Consumer and environmental advocates say the utility's 15-year plan in North Carolina is too expensive and doesn't do enough to eliminate fossil fuels. 

By Robert Walton • March 11, 2019

Dominion faces March 15 deadline to secure utility contracts for Millstone nuke

The plant owner has been negotiating with Eversource and United Illuminating to secure higher priced power purchase agreements, according to local news reports. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 8, 2019

ISO-NE forecasts transition to distributed, renewable generation

The grid operator released its 2019 Regional Electricity Outlook last week, listing natural gas plants as the only new conventional generation resource expected online between 2018 and 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 7, 2019

Oregon OKs dual PGE approach to procure renewables for business customers

Portland General Electric's clean energy offerings are part of a wave of creative Power Purchase Agreement tariffs utilities are offering to corporate and municipal customers.

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2019

Efficiency leads 2019 energy job growth prospects

Energy efficiency employers project a 7.8% growth rate for jobs this year, more than double the increase last year, in what the latest U.S. Energy and Employment Report deemed the "toughest hiring climate."

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2019

EPS Ep. 8: 'The coal bailout no one is talking about' with Joe Daniel of UCS

Customers are subsidizing coal plants with more than a billion dollars a year, the Union of Concerned Scientists analyst says, thanks to market rules that allow monopoly-owned plants to choose when they generate electricity.

By Gavin Bade • March 6, 2019

ERCOT sees increased chance for emergency capacity with record demand forecast this summer

The grid operator's preliminary summer analysis of extreme scenarios indicates ERCOT may need to issue energy alerts, but does not expect to use rolling brownouts.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 6, 2019

Great Plains states dominate renewables generation in 2018

While natural gas dominated generation additions last year, an NRDC analyst found that several Midwest states across the Great Plains region dominated renewables generation, indicating a shift in the energy mix driven by "economics" and "corporate interest."

By Catherine Morehouse • March 6, 2019

Industrial consumers oppose evolving Pennsylvania nuclear subsidy proposal

An early-February draft bill leaked last week would create a tier under Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio to direct utilities to purchase power from the state's nine nuclear plants.

By Gavin Bade • March 6, 2019

Minnesota 100% carbon-free bill joins flurry of state level clean energy action

Gov. Tim Walz's proposal expands energy efficiency programs and removes benchmark emissions requirements that utilities "have always blown by."

By Catherine Morehouse • March 5, 2019

Wyoming passes coal support bill in spate of Western action to save ailing plants

Montana lawmakers are also considering a bill to support the 2.2 GW Colstrip plant and a New Mexico clean energy bill includes provisions to help utility PNM recoup coal closure costs. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated March 11, 2019