Port of Long Beach tests microgrid tech for critical operations

"This project will help us learn more about how to keep the power, and cargo, flowing," said Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach executive director.

By Barry Hochfelder • Oct. 15, 2018

Grid Mod: Transactive and distributed tech demand a new approach

Utilities must prove to regulators that grid upgrades will help integrate a new class of resources reliably and cost-effectively.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Distributed Energy Resource Growth

Utilities' traditional reliance on large power plants is shifting to a model that includes distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar, battery storage and even electric vehicles.

By Utility Dive staff

Generation: Despite headwinds, natural gas reliance set to grow in much of US

Gas-fired generation has been called a bridge to a renewable future, but the length of the bridge depends on where it is.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 15, 2018

Electric Vehicles: The Swiss army knife of the grid

Experts see a future where electric vehicles provide an array of grid services, from demand response to soaking up excess renewable generation.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018

Business Models: What utilities can learn from Amazon and Netflix about the future of ratemaking

Time- and location-based price signals can guide customer usage, but electricity subscriptions could give more control.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018

Duke Energy to spend $500M on battery storage in next 15 years

Duke Energy is planning a large battery investment in the Carolinas, and on Monday asked state regulators to approve a solar project as well.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2018

New tool helps states identify EV policies that work, and those that don't

Vehicle purchase incentives have the most impact, according to the National Association of State Energy Officials rubric, while some popular policies may not be particularly effective.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2018

DOE energy storage grants look to the day when renewables rule the grid

DOE program aims at low cost, long duration storage to meet grid needs when renewable penetration rises above 50%.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 9, 2018

Are regulators hindering EV acceleration?

Utilities and regulators are starting to scale up charging infrastructure, but are finding it takes private vendor and utility "coopetition" to build the interoperable EV charging networks needed to satisfy drivers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 9, 2018

Michigan regulators clear Consumers PURPA rates, green tariff programs

Solar advocates say the avoided cost rates, on hold since November, will bring more certainty for potential investors.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 8, 2018

Brattle: Nevada could cost-effectively deploy 1 GW of energy storage by 2030

The state is revamping the planning process for its utilities, and the Public Utilities Commission is considering establishing an energy storage target.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2018

Proposed Pepco substation highlights DC's grid modernization battle

Pepco's proposed substation faces pushback from district residents and environmentalists as the utility looks to modernize the capital's grid in response to changing demand and population growth. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2018

Duke to install 530 EV chargers in Florida, study grid integration

The utility will focus EV charging infrastructure efforts on public spaces, making 10% of the installations in lower-income communities.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2018

Coal lobby pleased as Trump nominates ally McNamee to FERC

The Department of Energy official is expected to align closer with White House priorities than former Commissioner Robert Powelson, who stepped down in August. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 4, 2018

Connecticut agencies say Millstone 'at risk' as Dominion seeks boost in clean energy RFP

If the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority agrees Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant is 'at risk,' it could receive above-market rates in Connecticut's solicitation for zero emission resources.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 3, 2018

Ahead of FERC storage order deadline, new rules begin to take shape in PJM

PJM Interconnection's straw proposal gives a glimpse into how energy storage might participate more in wholesale markets.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 2, 2018

9 solar and storage executives share utility wish lists

From sharing system data to opening grid plans to DERs, distributed energy vendors have a long list of priorities for utilities to address.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 2, 2018

When PJM's capacity market stops working for consumers is it time to leave?

Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Brien Sheahan urges states with renewable energy mandates or nuclear subsidies to reevaluate their participation in the largest U.S. electricity market.

By Brien J. Sheahan​ • Oct. 2, 2018

True Value: To get to tomorrow's grid, DER grid services must be compensated right today

At Solar Power International 2018, the solar-plus-storage industry advanced new possibilities for the power system regarding storage and distributed resources, but also confronted new questions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2018

PJM: 'Significant chunk' of renewables to come from corporate procurement

Direct purchases from corporations are the largest area of renewable energy growth in the RTO, said senior market strategist Andrew Levitt.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 1, 2018

'Not your grandma's DER': Distributed resources modernize, prove value to grid

Portfolios of DER are finally operating and showing how customer-sited resources can be of great value to utilities and system operators.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 27, 2018

Nevada approves 4-part plan to integrate more DER

The plans garnered support from clean energy advocates ahead of the state's ballot initiatives to spur renewable energy growth and to do away with regulated utility monopolies.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 27, 2018

NYPA head Quiniones outlines next steps to digitize the grid

Over the next two years, the New York Power Authority's digitization initiative will focus on adding sensors and identifying third-party partners for its data-driven decision support system, CEO Gil Quiniones says.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 27, 2018

Utilities, carmakers launch campaign to cut US transportation energy use 50% by 2050

As the Trump Administration proposes to freeze fuel efficiency standards, a diverse coalition has formed to reinvent transportation for a modern world.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 26, 2018

The top 3 headaches for behind-the-meter C&I storage

Executives working on energy storage deployment in the commercial and industrial market sound off on recent trends and changes in the sector, including the biggest difficulties for BTM.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 26, 2018