National blueprint for building-sector decarbonization released by Biden administration

The plan, which sets specific targets for reducing on-site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, also recommends state and local building performance standards.

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 4, 2024

Appliance efficiency standards save lives, making DOE’s updates all the more urgent: report

Appliance standards prevented between 1,900 and 4,400 pollution-related deaths in 2017, according to research from CLASP, a nonprofit focused on how energy efficiency can address climate change.

By Robert Walton • April 1, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

AI in the Power Sector

Artificial intelligence is uniquely positioned to impact the electricity industry from both ends: as the technology driving large load demand growth and as a tool with the potential to make the power system more efficient. 

By Utility Dive staff

A new era of price-based demand response emerges, but utilities and regulators need proof of its potential

New load flexibility from price-based demand response programs could be invaluable if reliability and cost-effectiveness is confirmed in real-world operating conditions, stakeholders agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 27, 2024

Sonnen CEO aims to repeat company’s Utah virtual power plant success

The company has been helped by Utah regulators and Rocky Mountain Power seeing the value in a distributed, dispatchable portfolio that could potentially scale faster than new fixed generation, Blake Richetta said.

By Brian Martucci • March 26, 2024

ICC’s decision on 2024 energy conservation code draws criticism, debate

The International Code Council, after receiving nine appeals, has voted to move provisions aimed at slashing greenhouse gas emissions from the main code to appendices.

By Nish Amarnath • March 22, 2024

Bidirectional charging could unlock new potential for waste fleet electrification

A recent pilot by Veolia in the UK could lead to a future where electric trucks can feed energy back into the grid rather than just paying for it. But the U.S. market is still in the early stages of incorporating EV technology.

By David Richardson • March 18, 2024

Utilities, others lobby senators to block DOE’s distribution transformer efficiency rule

The U.S. Department of Energy plans to finalize new efficiency rules for distribution transformers in April, but a broad coalition of utilities is supporting legislation to block the effort.

By Robert Walton • Updated March 19, 2024

Lenders can spur building decarbonization with a focus on energy efficiency, renewables: RMI

A new RMI report recommends that lenders conduct, as part of their underwriting process, a cost-benefit analysis of efficiency upgrades and the replacement of fossil fuel technologies with renewable ones.

By Nish Amarnath • March 13, 2024

ASHRAE introduces renewable energy in latest building energy standard

The Department of Energy has affirmed ASHRAE’s updated Standard 90.1, estimating that it will drive energy savings nationwide. States now have two years to certify that they have reviewed and, if needed, updated their codes. 

By Nish Amarnath • March 11, 2024

4 strategies to boost customer engagement with time-varying rates

Empower customers to be active participants in the clean energy transition with proven principles for crafting a successful Time-Varying Rates (TVR) customer experience.

By Alex Lopez, Senior Product Marketing Manager of Uplight and Brad Langley, VP of Marketing of GridX • March 11, 2024

Building energy code revamps can get another $90M from DOE

More energy-efficient homes can remain habitable longer during extreme heat and cold events, which could save lives, a Department of Energy-commissioned study finds.

By Ysabelle Kempe • March 6, 2024

Top 3 US energy efficiency policy opportunities in 2024: ACEEE

The United States achieved a 4% reduction in energy intensity last year, and experts say federal policy changes will be needed to maintain that pace.

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2024

Smarter data, smarter budgets: Utilities benefit economically from proactive vegetation management

Vegetation management remains one of the biggest budget items for utilities, but proactive vegetation management is key to extending operating budgets.

March 4, 2024

Local, tribal clean energy projects can tap into $18M from DOE

Microgrids and downtown revitalization efforts that create energy-efficient buildings are potential projects the Department of Energy suggested could be eligible.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 29, 2024

EIA reaches agreement with bitcoin miners, will destroy collected data and publish new survey proposal

The U.S. Energy Information Administration told a federal district court on Friday that it has “formally withdrawn and ceased” the emergency collection of data from crypto miners.

By Robert Walton • Updated March 1, 2024

Is software the untapped hero to unlock the potential of the grid and help us reach net zero?

Discover how innovative software promises to revolutionize grid management, turning DERs from burdens into assets and paving the way for a future of autonomous grids.

Feb. 26, 2024

Heat pumps would cut energy bills for majority of US homes: NREL research

Even so, “we need work to bring down the cost of installing heat pumps,” said a senior research engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

By Ysabelle Kempe • Feb. 26, 2024

Con Edison expands SmartCharge EV incentive program to commercial stations in NYC

Ride share and fast charging provider Revel will be the first participant in Consolidated Edison’s new EV charging program. Officials say program incentives should help to lower station operating costs.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 26, 2024

Smart electric panels are not a smart bet

A recent analysis of the product and commercial landscape, value proposition and alternatives to smart panels concluded that their long-term prospects are dim unless they are significantly stripped of cost and functionality.

By Ben Hertz-Shargel • Feb. 23, 2024

New England capacity prices rise almost 40% in most recent auction

Clean energy resources made up 40% of the total capacity commitments, according to ISO New England, and no coal plant met the auction clearing price.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2024

FERC enforcement office seeks $27M from Ketchup Caddy for MISO demand response fraud

The CEO of the company, which had “no legitimate market activity,” according to FERC staff, said he planned to “[d]o this for just a couple of years, make a bunch of money to put kids through school .... and no one’s hurt.”

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 22, 2024

Schneider Electric sees surge in energy management, system revenue in Q4 2023

AI developments and continued demand across the data center and infrastructure markets drove its fourth-quarter and full-year growth, according to the company’s latest earnings.

By Nish Amarnath • Feb. 20, 2024

Arizona Corporation Commission moves to eliminate energy efficiency rules, renewables targets

The move is “a big step backwards” for Arizona, said Mark Kresowik, senior policy director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 13, 2024

Colorado regulator’s vision for Xcel virtual power plant: Tariff-driven, 50 MW and online by this fall

The virtual power plant pilot would include an opt-in “prosumer tariff” with higher fixed costs and a lower volumetric rate designed to incentivize distributed energy resource investment.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2024

Duke Energy proposes new gas plant to meet load growth, but groups question projections

“We’re already projecting eight times the load growth we anticipated just two years ago,” said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy’s South Carolina president.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 6, 2024