Distributed Energy

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

During a hearing Wednesday 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

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

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 OKs bill setting path to 100% EVs by 2030, prods utilities to prep for grid impacts

The legislation would put Washington five years ahead of California's 2035 target and create a new publicly available mapping tool to help utilities plan for impacts to the distribution grid.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 20, 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

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

States, utilities must ensure equitable investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, new report warns

The shift to electric transportation is beginning, and a new report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy warns the benefits could be constrained to higher-income populations without the right policies.

By Robert Walton • 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

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

Zero-emission vehicles 'are coming very fast now,' says author of Congressionally-mandated report

Within 15 years, zero-emission vehicles will be the dominant type of vehicle sold, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

By Robert Walton • April 01, 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

Opinion

California wildfires spur re-examination of regulatory barriers to widespread microgrids

Those seeking to build microgrids face long-standing barriers that appear in one form or another in virtually all 50 states, the author writes.

By Peter Asmus • March 25, 2021