Distributed Energy

Hawaii OKs emergency demand response to avoid energy shortfalls following AES coal plant closure

Th order will be "a good jolt to the market for the next couple of years, to meet this emergency need," one solar advocate said. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 10, 2021

PG&E, BMW smart-charging pilot highlights potential for electric vehicles as grid resource

Aligning electric vehicle charging loads with renewable energy can help cut greenhouse gas emissions, manage the grid more efficiently and save customers money, according to data from a Northern California study.

By Robert Walton • June 01, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Utility Business Model Reform

Utilities and regulators around the country are exploring new business models, from updated rate structures to performance-based regulation, in order to meet evolving policy and business priorities.

By Utility Dive staff

Republicans include $4B for EVs in 2nd counteroffer to Biden infrastructure plan

In all, the Republicans' proposal would spend $928 billion on infrastructure over the next eight years, a $360 billion increase over their previous proposal.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 28, 2021

Port of Long Beach incentivizes trucking industry to adopt cleaner fuels as electric, hydrogen tech scale up

The California port said Monday it was exempting natural gas-powered trucks from an impending emissions fee.

By S.L. Fuller • May 27, 2021

ClearGen, GreenStruxure announce $500M partnership on renewable microgrids

The microgrids serve industrial facilities, schools, hotels and other commercial facilities with a no-money-down offer, making on-site generation and storage a possibility for more businesses.

By Jason Plautz • May 25, 2021

Chicago's second e-scooter pilot signals persisting interest

While the four-month pilot in 2020 drew 75% fewer complaints than 2019's, some affordability and racial equity shortcomings remained. 

By Jason Plautz • May 21, 2021

Deep Dive

'A terrible idea': Texas legislators fight over renewables' role in power crisis, aiming to avert a repeat

Texans may face future freezes if lawmakers blame renewables and fail to set winterization standards and create market-based reliability protections, analysts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 17, 2021

Bipartisan Maine lawmakers push to create first statewide, publicly-owned utility in US

Proponents say a key goal of creating such a publicly-owned utility would be to make Maine the first state to reach its goal of 100% renewable energy.

By Scott Voorhis • May 17, 2021

Charlotte, North Carolina, models public-private approach for electrifying bus fleet

The city council recently approved a partnership to pilot 18 battery electric bus vehicles, while much of the U.S. has been slow to electrify transit.

By Jason Plautz • May 12, 2021

Nikola scales production, fueling stations as it books deal for 100 EVs

For one battery-electric truck customer, the sale hinges on government subsidies, which the OEM's CFO said it is helping the fleet secure.

By S.L. Fuller • May 11, 2021

'We are simply not ready' for EV charging at scale, House Republicans say, warning of China dependence

During a hearing last week on major clean-transportation legislation — part of the Biden administration's $174 billion proposal to bolster electric vehicles — Republicans said the plan strips away consumer choice.

By Robert Walton • May 06, 2021

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

Sponsored by Calico Energy

Building sector carbon emissions are rising, but this data can help

Reducing the energy our buildings consume starts with getting utility data in the right hands.

New York lawmakers pass bill requiring all new vehicle sales be zero-emissions by 2035

The measure now awaits Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature. His office says a decision has not been made yet, but the state is committed to electrifying its transportation sector.

By Robert Walton • April 29, 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

White House eyes $42B in existing funding for Biden electric vehicle push

The Biden administration wants to spend $174 billion to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. Using existing funding sources can jump-start that initiative, say transportation policy experts.

By Robert Walton • April 27, 2021

New York regulators address data access issues in bid to grow clean energy development

New York is in the process of creating an integrated energy data resource to manage the wide range of information required by distributed resource developers.

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2021

Cleantech incubator part of Houston's goal to be 'energy transition capital'

One year after the city unveiled its Climate Action Plan, the incubator said it has 30 startups ready to move into its 40,000-square-foot Greentown Labs space.

By Chris Teale • 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

Washington Gov. Inslee rejects legislature's effort to set 100% EV goal for 2030

Gov. Jay Inslee, D, partially vetoed legislation requiring utilities to prepare for an all EV future, opposing the link between the 2030 goal and the implementation of a road usage charge program.

By Kavya Balaraman • UPDATED: May 14, 2021 at 8:47 a.m.

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

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