As solar-plus-storage surges, can smart devices help overcome deployment barriers?

As utilities move to reap the benefits of solar-plus-storage, manufacturing and interconnection barriers threaten to impede growth.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 29, 2019

DOE fossil head: New US coal plants 'quite possible'

No coal plants are under construction in the U.S. today, but the Department of Energy's top fossil fuel official thinks that could change if natural gas prices spike. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 29, 2019

Corporate clean energy PPAs doubled to 13 GW in 2018: BNEF

Corporate PPAs are driving wind and solar growth, while energy storage isn't yet cost competitive enough to be paired with renewables for those agreements, according to BNEF.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2019

Blue state AGs press McNamee recusal in resilience docket

Ten Democratic attorneys general said the proceeding "closely resembles" debate over the DOE coal bailout plan McNamee helped design — the standard FERC lawyers said may trigger a recusal recommendation. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 29, 2019

EPA's Wehrum on whether climate is in crisis: 'I'm trying to figure that out'

The agency’s top air official cast doubt on the severity of climate threats to the U.S. and defended proposed changes to mercury regulations on power plants.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 28, 2019

Behavioral demand response gives Baltimore Gas and Electric a business reason to reduce peak usage

Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute provide insight on the results of the largest dynamic pricing program in the nation, as of 2017.

By Coley Girouard • Jan. 28, 2019

PacifiCorp delays IRP 4 months, warns analysis of coal data remains in early stages

The raw comparison of its coal fleet to alternative replacement options, such as renewables, doesn't account for reliability concerns and system planning, utility officials said.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2019

EIA: US far off track for global climate goals as fossil fuel reliance persists

The agency's Annual Energy Outlook projects the U.S. will cut economy-wide carbon emissions 2.5% by 2050 — far less than the level scientists say is necessary to stave off the worst impacts of climate change.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 25, 2019

Virginia Governor approves law requiring Dominion to excavate all coal ash

The bill drew broad bipartisan support in January and will also require the utility to recycle at least a quarter of the 27 million cubic yards of coal ash it stores at its Virginia plants.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated March 21, 2019

NRC's new Fukushima-driven safety rules not designed for the 'real world,' critics say

The new rule aims to mitigate "severe events" at U.S. nuclear reactors, but the Union of Concerned Scientists says a key provision was removed before the Republican-led Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved it 3-2.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 24, 2019

FirstEnergy Solutions reaches restructuring agreement, could emerge from bankruptcy in 2019

The agreement leaves open the possibility FirstEnergy Solutions could continue to own and operate its retail and wholesale load-serving business.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 24, 2019

DOE sees role for coal supporting renewables with $38M funding announcement

Given the increased used of alternative energy sources, it's important for the coal fleet to be flexible "to accommodate electricity needs that are less than baseload," DOE said.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 24, 2019

Don't confuse energy favoritism with energy resilience

The Department of Energy has cited cyber and national security in a proposal to subsidize uneconomical power plants. Major General Bob Dees writes that this assertion is "dubious."

By Bob Dees • Jan. 24, 2019

A new lease on life for Holyoke, Massachusetts' former coal-fired power plant

The Mount Tom Station was replaced by a solar farm with a three-megawatt battery storage system and 17,000 solar panels — the state's largest.

By Chris Teale • Jan. 22, 2019

Minnesota study finds it cheaper to curtail solar than to add storage

A report studies Minnesota's options for 70% renewable penetration and finds surprising results regarding energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2019

New Jersey advances first community solar pilot to power 45K homes

State regulators approved the rules for what could evolve into a permanent community solar program of at least 225 MW over the next three years.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators direct higher plant payments amid capacity crunch concerns

Changes to the state's market rules will make prices respond more quickly during times of grid stress, boosting payments to resources that can provide emergency power. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 22, 2019

Navigating utility business model reform: A practical guide

Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute provide a guide to modernizing the electric utility business model. 

By Dan Cross-Call, Cara Goldenberg and Mike O’Boyle • Jan. 22, 2019

Bailout doubt – PG&E faces bankruptcy amid California's 'first climate change-caused emergency'

Stakeholders say few will benefit from bankruptcy, but alternatives have been dubbed "politically too hot to touch."

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators defer to legislature on utility ownership of energy storage

The state's market for energy storage is in limbo since regulators dismissed a request by AEP Texas last year to install two battery storage projects.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 18, 2019

All Texas coal plants report toxic ash contamination as federal rules in flux

High levels of arsenic, boron, cobalt, lithium and other contaminants were found in groundwater surrounding the Lone Star State's 16 coal plants.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 18, 2019

Greens, consumer advocates split as Louisiana approves $1B Cleco plant deal

The Sierra Club touted a renewable energy and coal phaseout deal it struck with the utility as part of the acquisition, but the Alliance for Affordable Energy is concerned Cleco will move the fossil plants into cost recovery.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 18, 2019

Southern CEO: Georgia Power to consider resilience in IRP for first time

"Maybe you take coal plants out of service but you keep them alive in the event that you have a resiliency emergency," Tom Fanning told a Washington audience Thursday.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 18, 2019

Trump signs bill streamlining advanced nuclear regs as Senate considers R&D funding

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee grilled nuclear scientists about the impact of advanced nuclear reactors and the need to fund research for new manufacturing opportunities.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 17, 2019

The Supreme Court should reject requests for a do-over on state clean energy programs

Ruling against zero emission credit programs for nuclear plants could jeopardize renewable energy credits, too, and threaten to overturn policies in nearly thirty states, according to Harvard's Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe • Jan. 17, 2019