Honda buying LG Energy Solution’s stake in Ohio EV battery plant building for $2.85B

LG Energy Solution said the deal is intended to “increase the operational efficiency” of its joint venture with Honda. However, press reports and company statements suggest a potential shift to energy storage systems.

By Eric Walz • Jan. 6, 2026

Hybrid heating: A bridge to decarbonization or a road to obsolescence for gas utilities?

Combining heat pumps with gas furnaces can help manage winter peaks, lower energy costs and cut carbon emissions. But this approach requires well-structured regulatory frameworks and cost-recovery mechanisms, West Monroe experts write.

By Andrew Biondi, Margaret Oloriz and Estelle Mangeney • Dec. 18, 2025

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

Ford scraps EV plans, shifts to stationary energy storage

Ford will convert plants in Kentucky and Michigan to produce lithium iron phosphate batteries, including 20-foot DC container systems of the type used by data centers, utilities and large-scale industrial and commercial customers.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 17, 2025

DHL adds Tesla Semi to California fleet

The logistics company said the electric truck is traveling approximately 100 miles per day and requires charging once per week. 

By David Taube • Dec. 11, 2025

To power the AI revolution, we need a grid built for speed

Advancing AI requires utility incentive reforms that value digital upgrades like advanced metering and distributed energy resource management systems, Schneider Electric’s Jeannie Salo writes.

By Jeannie Salo • Dec. 11, 2025

Construction costs continue to climb as prices rise for steel, copper and switchgear

Price volatility is keeping procurement unpredictable for contractors, said Macrina Wilkins, senior research analyst at Associated General Contractors of America.

By Sebastian Obando • Dec. 3, 2025

Utilities, regulators look to accelerate pilots to achieve speed-to-innovation

Stakeholders say clear cost limits, timelines and parameters for scaling can overcome the inertia of a traditionally risk-averse industry.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 1, 2025

Ionna plans $250M investment in EV charging infrastructure in California

The joint venture between eight automakers aims to install up to 30,000 electric vehicle charging bays in the U.S. by 2030.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 1, 2025

[Podcast] How Utilities Are Planning for Demand

This podcast explores how utilities are meeting rising power demand with smart planning and strategies for the grid of tomorrow.

By Utility Dive's studioID • Updated Dec. 1, 2025

Large California waste hauler plans fleet transition, hopes market catches up

Despite a loosening of state and federal regulations and a “get in line” attitude from utilities, Recology is still planning to transition to battery electric and fuel cell vehicles.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 25, 2025

How engineered building solutions support data center technologies to deliver AI workloads

Modular control buildings drive scalable growth for AI-ready data centers.

By Damian Mannino • Nov. 17, 2025

America’s EVs are a $30B grid asset. Let’s not lock it away.

We have the potential for a 7 million-vehicle-strong virtual power plant at our disposal in the U.S. today, with 78.5 million on the way by 2035, writes ev.energy CEO Nick Woolley.

By Nick Woolley • Nov. 17, 2025

Shell to sell ‘substantial portion’ of Volta EV business

The sale comes less than three years after the oil giant acquired Volta for $169 million to help scale its EV charging capabilities in the U.S.

By Brett Dworski • Nov. 14, 2025

How we talk about next-gen electric vehicles matters for key regulations

To reduce the administrative burden on all parties, regulators and utilities must explicitly distinguish between an EV that is merely “capable” of bi-directional charging and one that is actively enabled, writes Bill Crider of Ford Motor Co.

By Bill Crider • Nov. 10, 2025

Caltrain ridership up 47% after electrification

The public transit operator says electrification allowed it to expand overall system capacity while reducing travel times and enabling more frequent service at stations.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 28, 2025

Renewing the case for energy efficiency: a grid resource, customer trust tool and economic engine

Efficiency and broader demand-side management strategies are powerful tools for grid planning that offer flexibility, speed and cost control, writes ICF’s Justin Mackovyak.

By Justin Mackovyak • Oct. 24, 2025

$1.6B in clean energy investments were rolled back in September: E2

More than $24 billion in clean energy investment has been withdrawn so far this year, according to E2. The group said $11 billion in new projects were announced over the same period.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 23, 2025

Convenience store executives say EV charging investments not paying off

Leaders from Parker’s, Sheetz and Nouria said demand for charging has weakened and installation is more expensive as industry and government support disappears.

By Jessica Loder • Oct. 23, 2025

To keep power affordable, regulators must rethink who pays — and when

A growing body of evidence shows that widespread residential electrification can actually reduce average rates, but only under the right conditions, write Becky Li and Joe Daniel of RMI. 

By Becky Li and Joe Daniel • Oct. 20, 2025

A customer-centric vision for meeting future demand growth

As data center growth pressures the electric grid, customer relationships will be critical for utilities, write Nathan Shannon of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative and Sharon Talbott of Salesforce.

By Nathan Shannon and Sharon Talbott • Oct. 17, 2025

Why data center operators should pay for residential electrification upgrades

Upgrading households is the fastest way for hyperscalers to obtain all the electricity they need, writes Ari Matusiak, founder and CEO of Rewiring America.

By Ari Matusiak • Oct. 10, 2025

Xcel Minnesota proposes ‘first-of-its-kind’ distributed capacity procurement

Xcel requested the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approve the program with a budget range of $152 million, based on a minimum procurement of 50 MW, to $430 million if it deploys all 200 MW.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2025

Energy efficiency is reducing Northeast peak demand, electricity bills: Acadia

“It is more important than ever for policymakers, advocates, program administrators, and consumers to understand the value ... of energy efficiency resource acquisition,” said Acadia’s Jamie Dickerson.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 7, 2025

The week in 5 numbers: DOE slashes clean energy funding following coal ‘investment’

Plus PJM’s data center woes, record storage deployment and new generation additions.

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 3, 2025

Utility conferences to watch in 2026

See our annual list of notable power-sector conferences where industry leaders will share knowledge in a rapidly-changing landscape. 

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 1, 2025