Efficiency & Demand Response: Page 2

DOE turns its focus toward equity with commitment to lowering solar deployment barriers

The U.S. Department of Energy's loan program historically has not focused on equity issues, instead choosing to work with the biggest companies and billion-dollar loans, program director Jigar Shah says.

By Robert Walton • May 05, 2021

LEED-certified federal buildings aren't using less energy, Carnegie Mellon study finds

While the study focuses on federal buildings, "there [also] is no credible evidence on the effectiveness of green certification programs in reducing energy consumption in commercial buildings," the study authors said.

By Robert Walton • May 04, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management

Utilities are using a variety of new resources and connected devices to balance the grid and meet demand, drawing on everything from smart thermostats to large-scale batteries.

By Utility Dive staff

Deep Dive

As utilities match CCAs on price, aggregators increase climate action, grow economies of scale to compete

With stranded costs and other charges keeping CCA bills and utility bills comparable, municipal and community aggregations are challenging utilities on renewables and climate targets to grow their customer base.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 04, 2021

Opinion

As markets mature, will EV fleet managers drive competition between power providers?

Utilities cannot be complacent and just expect to be the preferred electricity provider for fleets based in their territory, the author writes.

By Will Sierzchula • May 03, 2021

Deep Dive

Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan meets power system needs but leaves room for political dealing

The Biden infrastructure spend would rapidly transition the U.S. power sector in ways utilities like, but Congress is expected to seek changes.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 28, 2021

Just transition needed in transit electrification, labor leaders say

Transit worker representatives said agencies and the federal government should provide training and give workers a voice, otherwise major job losses could follow.

By Chris Teale • April 27, 2021

CPUC judge orders SoCalGas to return ratepayer funds but stops short of imposing financial penalty

"It is no different than if the Commission found SoCalGas guilty of robbery but then only required them to give back the stolen money," per the Public Advocates Office, which had asked regulators to fine SoCalGas $255 million.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 27, 2021

Annual peak loads are shifting to winter; ACEEE report details how utilities can manage

The rise of space heating, water heaters, solar generation and other new technologies has Duke Energy eyeing 1,400 MW of winter demand-side resources.

By Robert Walton • April 23, 2021

Spin begins electrifying operations, eyeing carbon neutrality

The Ford-owned micromobility company said it will start using electric vans in its two largest markets, having achieved carbon neutrality in 2020 by using carbon offsets and supporting environmental projects. 

By Chris Teale • April 22, 2021

FERC overstepping its authority in move to lower demand response barriers, NARUC, utilities charge

State regulators launched similar charges against federal regulators regarding FERC's order on energy storage, arguing the commission was illegally encroaching on state authority over the distribution system.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 21, 2021

Opinion

All-electric car and truck sales by 2035 would save $2.7 trillion, but will take smart policy to drive clean

Additional regulation to encourage rapid ground transportation electrification is needed for the U.S. to lead in electric vehicle technology innovation.

By Amanda Myers • April 19, 2021

JPMorgan, Citi follow Bank of America with trillion-dollar ESG pledges

JPMorgan's $2.5 trillion commitment could rebalance the scales. The bank has financed about $317 billion in fossil-fuel activity since 2015, an activist group found. In that time, it has put nearly $210 billion toward green initiatives.

By Dan Ennis • April 19, 2021

Deep Dive

As Biden targets 100% clean electricity, strategies emerge to reliably integrate rising renewables

A power system based on portfolios of increasingly cost-effective utility-scale and distributed renewables is emerging and driving new operational and market solutions to make it work reliably.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2021

Opinion

Cleaner by the mile: Electric trucks can have outsized environmental and health benefits

According to forthcoming research from Texas A&M University, electrification of a small number of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles can lead to significant pollution reductions, the authors write.

By David Farnsworth, Camille Kadoch and Nancy Seidman • April 14, 2021

Tesla praises, ConEd opposes different New York EV bills

The state's largest utility opposes a proposal that would require utilities to create commercial tariffs for fast charging in an effort to boost fleet adoption.

By Robert Walton • April 09, 2021

Online map showcases construction-related careers in booming green sector

The tool was designed to help workers research jobs and advancement paths in the green building field.

By Jennifer Goodman • April 08, 2021

Opinion

US building codes need a major retrofit to meet climate goals and spare consumers

The International Code Council, which recently rolled back local governments' say in energy efficiency regulations for buildings, needs to adapt to the times or step aside, writes Energy Innovation's Sara Baldwin.

By Sara Baldwin • April 07, 2021

Opinion

FERC's opt-out rule has created a stalemate for distributed energy resources and demand response programs

FERC should eliminate the opt-out rule because it is a market barrier that has served no useful purpose in more than a decade, the author writes.

By Kenneth Schisler • April 06, 2021

EV charging setup would cost Schneider, NFI more than 10 times annual fuel savings: study

The Environmental Defense Fund called charging infrastructure "the greatest challenge of electrifying heavy-duty trucks."

By S.L. Fuller • April 06, 2021

Lime introduces its first e-moped fleet in Washington, DC

The company deployed an initial 100 vehicles in the city last week, with Lime CEO Wayne Ting citing the company's commitment to safety as the service's biggest differentiator. 

By Chris Teale • April 06, 2021

​DOE begins 'repairing damage' done by Trump to energy efficiency program, say advocates

The U.S. Department of Energy has proposed changes to its appliance efficiency rules, which it says are designed to ease the process of setting energy saving standards.

By Robert Walton • April 05, 2021

State of the Electric Utility 2021

The 8th annual State of the Electric Utility Survey Report provides a pulse on industry trends from nearly 500 utility professionals, many at the VP level and above, along with insight from a broad range of industry experts.

By Nami Sumida • April 01, 2021

Deep Dive

State of the Electric Utility 2021: Gas doubts rise, DER focus wanes, and 5 other key takeaways

Despite the impacts of COVID-19, the energy transition is stronger than ever, the results of Utility Dive's 8th annual industry survey show.

By Larry Pearl • April 01, 2021

Opinion

Hold on to your seats. FERC just hit the fast forward button on the clean energy transition.

The commission removed a major speed bump on the road to a clean energy future when it amended its landmark Order 2222 on March 18, the authors write.

By Allison Bates Wannop and Jon Wellinghoff • March 30, 2021

Hawaii groups push for demand-side measures, streamlined interconnection to manage coal plant closure

Regulators in the state are concerned that delays to a series of renewables projects could force Hawaiian Electric to rely on fossil fuel generation after an Oahu coal plant retires in 2022.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 29, 2021