Congressional Policy Tracker: Everything you need to know from carbon capture to wind energy

Renewable energy developers are lobbying for tax credit extensions while Republican leaders seek bipartisan research-focused solutions to support advanced nuclear, carbon capture and energy storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Dec. 2, 2019

States, NGOs sue DOE for reversing lightbulb standards as global energy efficiency progress stalls

By reversing the 2017 expansion of lightbulb standards, the Trump administration is blocking electricity savings that would be the equivalent of the output of 25 large power plants per year, NGOs say.

By Matthew Bandyk • Nov. 6, 2019

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

Solar, energy efficiency to drive drops in load, peak demand over next 10 years, ISO-NE says

The region remains energy constrained, but the grid operator expects to have sufficient resources to meet electricity demand through 2028.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2019

Siemens, StreetLight Data partner to support EV deployments

The partnership will enable city planners to identify and prioritize the best locations for charging stations to maximize EV adoption and use.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 31, 2019

'General Motors better wake up' before China takes EV market, former California Gov. Brown tells Congress

"In five years we're going to be buying Chinese cars," Jerry Brown said Tuesday, after three major automakers sided with President Donald Trump in his efforts to prevent California from implementing its own emissions standards.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 30, 2019

Buildings as grid resources? NASEO sees 'far reaching' implications

Flexible load management capabilities could save U.S. customers $16 billion annually by some estimates. The National Association of State Energy Officials says "grid-interactive efficient buildings" can help deliver that value.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 30, 2019

Cities can lead the way for vehicle grid integration

Since the dawn of the modern EV era, grid operators have warned that the vehicles could overwhelm grid distribution systems. The warning has yet to materialize, but the threat remains.

By Scott Shepard • Oct. 29, 2019

California may be a climate leader, but it could be a century behind on its carbon goals: study

Renewables are driving carbon out of the power sector, but economic expansion has led to much less progress in reducing emissions from the transportation, building and industrial sectors, the nonprofit Next 10 found.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 29, 2019

California proposes energy efficiency market overhaul with single administrator

A proposed order at the California Public Utilities Commission would transform two areas of energy efficiency policy: regional energy networks and market transformation initiatives.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2019

Time running out for energy efficiency, other tax credit extensions as next spending deadline nears

Bipartisan federal legislation would extend energy efficiency tax credits aimed at residential homeowners and builders, but a looming Nov. 21 deadline may threaten more comprehensive action.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2019

Next-gen demand response is coming online, and utilities are calling on it more often: SEPA

Data from the Smart Electric Power Alliance shows participation in AC switch programs is on the decline, while demand response capacity grows.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 25, 2019

Utilities' failure to plan for DER surge promises missed opportunities, increased costs, analysts say

Utilities can use skyrocketing customer-owned DER to balance rising penetrations of variable renewables on their systems, if they take on the big work of distribution system planning.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 24, 2019

Madison, Wisconsin, cab fleet is first in nation to go all-Tesla

The $5 million Green Cab Madison project is backed by tech firm Zerology, which also plans to build a 600-kilowatt solar array for daytime charging and to offset night charging.

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 18, 2019

EV charging promises a demand response bonanza for utilities, if they can handle it

Aggregated flexible load of high EV penetrations will be lucrative in demand response markets, but for now smaller EV demand gives utilities management practice.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2019

Electric revolution: How are cities overcoming EV range anxiety?

Cities need a wide-ranging strategy if they are to help more residents go electric in a way that is accessible and equitable, analysts say.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 17, 2019

With 10% penetration, EVs could shift all residential peak load to night, analysis of SoCal Ed finds

Jackson Associates analyzed 5,000 Southern California Edison customer loads and concluded that electric vehicles could be used as a Virtual Power Plant capable of smoothing out the utility's residential peak demand.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2019

Ohio Supreme Court nixes cap on FirstEnergy efficiency spending, but state slated to drop standard

The court overturned a ruling from state regulators that capped energy efficiency outlays for FirstEnergy, but state efficiency spending was recently slashed to help pay for coal and nuclear plant subsidies.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2019

St. Louis releases inaugural energy benchmarking report for buildings

More efficient building performance would reduce the city's GHG emissions by at least 11%, saving more than $65 million in annual energy costs. 

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 16, 2019

Electric revolution: As EV demand increases, can utilities and cities keep up?

Utilities are increasingly helping cities prepare for transportation electrification, while confronting increased power generation and delivery needs — often to areas already experiencing high demand.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2019

Plugging In: Colleges seek partners to help reach energy goals

As more energy customers set goals for lower emissions, some institutions are tapping the private sector for technical expertise and financial support to advance sustainability.

By Hallie Busta • Oct. 14, 2019

6 US regions leading the way on electric buses

A new report found that electric buses can be successful in a diverse mix of cities, even those with cold winters such as Chicago and Cambridge, MA. 

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 11, 2019

DOE must implement 4 long-delayed efficiency standards, 9th Circuit Rules

The rules, initiated under the Obama Administration but delayed by President Trump's Energy Department, could save U.S. households and businesses at least $8 billion over 30 years, advocates say.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2019

Mayors announce Global Green New Deal at C40 Summit

A coalition of 94 mayors showed support of the deal, intended to encourage emissions reduction in the transportation, buildings, industry and waste sectors.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 10, 2019

Boston to require carbon-neutral design for new city buildings

The city's updated Climate Action Plan calls for decarbonizing large buildings, which could cut citywide emissions nearly 40% by 2050. 

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 9, 2019

Minnesota shuts down oil, manufacturing groups' attempt to derail Xcel EV pilot

Five industrial groups asked the state to reconsider approval of Xcel's $25 million electric vehicle program. Clean energy and EV stakeholders say oil-backed opposition is expected to increase as EVs rise in the market.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 9, 2019