Amid rancorous solar rate debate, APS first non-California utility to surpass 1 GW of solar capacity

APS says it has invested a total of about $2 billion in solar power.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 12, 2016

Solar split: How a new petition is dividing rooftop and utility-scale installers in SEIA

Rooftop installers want a bigger voice in the trade group, but leaders on both sides stress unity is still the priority. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 12, 2016

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

Spanish researchers explore molten silicon for more efficient solar energy storage

Molten silicon could be prove to be a cheaper and more abundant storage medium than the molten salt used in most CSP plants.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 11, 2016

Pew: Renewable energy enjoys wide support while fossil fuels divide national opinion

The overwhelming majority of Americans support development of more wind and solar energy, but less than half want new fracking, coal mining or offshore drilling.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2016

Stem connects Hawaii's largest behind-the-meter storage at theme park

Hawaii's plentiful solar generation and high electricity prices make storage especially appealing, but large BTM batteries are catching on in other states as well.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 10, 2016

Report: Fuel cell maker Bloom Energy quietly files IPO

The company reportedly filed a private IPO under a process sometimes used to attract interest for an acquisition. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 10, 2016

Maryland's REV: How utility regulators plan to tackle business model, DER reforms

New York and California have begun broad reviews of how the utility sector operates, but both those states operate their own marketplace. Maryland must deal with PJM, potentially complicating its transformation.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2016

Report: RWE renewables spinoff Innogy targets US in global expansion plans

Innogy, listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange for the first time last week, is eyeing electric vehicle charging and grid modernization efforts in the U.S., according to a German weekly.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2016

Solar group: Georgia Power not on track to meet 100 MW solar target by year's end

The Georgia Solar Energy Industries Association says the utility stopped evaluating and awarding projects last month.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 7, 2016

Hawaii solar sector on the 'brink of collapse' as employment dips 42%

Hawaiian Electric Co. has reached caps on the grid-supply program that replaced net metering, meaning new customers no longer have an option to sell excess capacity back to the grid. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 7, 2016

As the solar industry matures, business gets a little more complicated

While solar got a much-needed boost when Congress extended the 30% ITC, state policy changes are slowing down the residential market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 6, 2016

DOE: Electric, hybrid vehicles to make up 6% of auto sales by 2025

Combined, those sales will account for about 0.5% of U.S. energy demand.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2016

Power sector politics: 5 state energy races to watch this November

Solar incentives and consumer choice dominate down-ballot energy races this cycle. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 3, 2016

Nevada task force recommends restoring net metering as PUC welcomes 2 new regulators

Part of a raft of reforms pushed by Gov. Sandoval's New Energy Task Force, the recommendation came just days before two new gubernatorial appointees started work at the state regulatory commission.

By Peter Maloney, Gavin Bade • Oct. 3, 2016

DOE: Plummeting clean energy costs accelerating renewable 'revolution'

 According to a new report, wind and solar PV accounted for over two thirds of all new generating capacity installed last year.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2016

Tesla, AMS ink 34MWh storage deal with California water system

Water systems account for nearly 20% of the total electricity and 30% of non-power plant related natural gas consumed in California. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 29, 2016

National Grid to test first distribution service platform under REV

The utility paired up with Opus One Solutions to create markets, tariffs and operational systems for resources at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2016

Following New York's lead, Maryland targets electric distribution transformation

Utility regulators plan to zero in on renewables and electric vehicle integration, rate design and affordability.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2016

Massachusetts floats new solar tariff structure in incentive program redesign

The new program would replace current incentives with tariffs designed to reduce risk and provide more predictable revenue streams for developers.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 28, 2016

NYC targets 100 MWh energy storage by 2020

The new energy storage target will help New York City reach its goal to cut emissions 80% by 2050.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 26, 2016

Demand charges vs. TOU rates: The great Arizona rate design experiment

APS wants to be the first utility with mandatory demand charges for residential customers, but critics say time-of-use pricing provides similar benefits and is easier for consumers to adopt. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 26, 2016

Hawaiian regulators approve time-of-use rate pilot to aid solar integration

In an effort to shift electricity usage to daytime, Hawaii's PUC has approved a time-of-use rate program for HECO.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 22, 2016

US, Canada utilities aim to link three microgrids in $12.4M cross-border project

Two Canadian utilities and one in Maine are working to trade power between three microgrid projects in a transactive energy scheme. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 22, 2016

How Southern California Edison's new rate case would transform the grid

SCE wants to spend $2.3 billion to ready its grid for distributed resources. Here's what that money would buy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 21, 2016

First wave-powered energy in U.S. pumped into Hawaii's grid

A U.S. Navy program is testing wave-powered devices off the coast of Oahu.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 21, 2016