Solar insiders expect ITC harm finding, handing tariff decision to Trump

Sector leaders are confident the International Trade Commission will find that imported solar panels have hurt domestic manufacturers, but how the president will respond remains unclear. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 19, 2017

Storage gets boost as 100% renewables, grid expansion fail in California

The state isn't yet following Hawaii and its mandate to achieve a 100% renewable electric sector, but the Los Angeles area got an energy storage stimulus.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 19, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

AI in the Power Sector

Artificial intelligence is uniquely positioned to impact the electricity industry from both ends: as the technology driving large load demand growth and as a tool with the potential to make the power system more efficient. 

By Utility Dive staff

An inside look at using energy storage to integrate renewable resources

Soaking up solar power during the day and dispatching it in the evening is often cited as a renewable-enabling use for energy storage, but in practice it's often not so simple.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 18, 2017

Missouri regulators to tackle utility regulations, DERs

The state's Public Service Commission will hold workshops in November and January that target emerging issues in regulation and resource planning.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2017

PJM task force heads into the next stage of capacity market redesign

The grid operator's capacity construct group will begin evaluating 10 proposals for market reforms this week.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 18, 2017

DOE seeks stakeholder input, data for net metering cost-benefit study

Public comments are due by the end of October, and the agency will present the study's findings to Congress. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2017

DOE awards $20M to commercialize new energy technologies

More than 50 projects at 12 national labs will receive funding to help them bridge the gap to commercial use. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 15, 2017

Alectra Utilities CEO: 'Someone's going to cannibalize our business — it may as well be us'

"Someone's going to eat our lunch. They're lining up to do it," CEO Brian Bentz told Utility Dive. Here's how the Canadian utility is moving aggressively into DERs.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 14, 2017

California lawmakers mull using carbon trading revenues for EV incentives

There's $1.5 billion on the table from the state's cap-and-trade program, and a deal could be finalized this week before the Legislature adjourns.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2017

Illinois energy reform set to shape new solar business models for utilities

Rate-based returns on distributed resources could allow utilities to displace traditional investments and drive a community solar boom.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2017

DOE expands SunShot program after hitting original cost goal 3 years early

The new program aims to cut utility-scale solar costs to $0.03/kWh and boost durability and lifetimes in panels. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 13, 2017

Brattle: Regulatory barriers prevent stacking of battery benefits

Even in California's nation-leading storage market, stacking battery benefits still faces regulatory and rate design challenges, a new report finds. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 13, 2017

California Dems look to restart CAISO regionalization with 11th hour amendments

With only days left in the state's legislative session, lawmakers are pushing bills that would create a planning process for a full ISO across the western United States. 

By Gavin Bade , Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

Utilities see benefits in energy storage, even without mandates

Greater operational flexibility, customer savings, frequency response and black start capability were among the advantages cited by utilities in pursuing storage absent any legal requirement.  

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

Vivint, ChargePoint to pair home solar with EV charging

The companies plan to offer a suite of energy tools, including solar arrays, an EV charger, a home battery and an intelligent energy management system.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

Bill to California governor would direct utilities to plan storage, DERs for peak demand

SB 338 would compel utilities to include considerations for peak demand management with storage, efficiency and DERs in their integrated resource plans. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 11, 2017

California energy interests set to square off over Puente natural gas plant

Solar and storage can meet power needs cheaper than outdated capacity analyses suggest, clean energy advocates will tell regulators this week. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2017

Idaho PUC says storage projects only eligible for 2-year PURPA contract

Franklin Energy sought 20-year PURPA contracts for four storage facilities, but regulators said those resources should be granted two-year contracts. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 7, 2017

Massachusetts utilities take divergent approaches to grid modernization

The state Attorney General's Office gave a qualified endorsement to National Grid's plan while roundly criticizing Eversource's plan. But approval of any plan is going to require a lot more work.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 6, 2017

PJM mulls capacity repricing strategies to tackle subsidy programs

Issues under debate include whether repricing should be triggered only when a subsidy occurs in a capacity delivery year and if retriggering would apply to carbon dioxide pricing schemes.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2017

Texas cooperative to build solar-plus-storage project in Liberia

Bandera Electric Cooperative in Texas is building the 70 kW solar-plus-storage project in Totota.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2017

South Australia calls for storage, renewable energy projects

A portion of the Australian province's $150 million (AUD) Renewable Technology Fund is already earmarked for Tesla's 129 MWh storage project. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2017

Neither resilience nor reliability can justify the rescue of outmoded power plants

Advanced Energy Economy's Arvin Ganesan and Dylan Reed urge the DOE to use clean energy technologies to achieve the aims of its grid study. 

By Arvin Ganesan, Dylan Reed • Sept. 5, 2017

AEP Ohio proposes $10M electric vehicle program

The utility's proposal was developed in cooperation with the Electric Vehicle Charging Association, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio staff and environmental groups.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 5, 2017

SEPA: US utilities added 257 MWh of storage in 2016

California, Ohio and Indiana led the way with storage installations in 2016, according to a new Smart Electric Power Alliance report.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2017