NYISO: Despite efficiency, DER gains, new transmission needed for low-carbon grid

Efficiency and DERs are pushing down load, the grid operator said in a new report, but system upgrades will be needed to meet state clean energy goals. 

By Gavin Bade • July 7, 2016

Anatomy of a nuke closure: How PG&E decided to shutter Diablo Canyon

In a policy environment that prizes renewables, PG&E saw no cost-effective route to keeping the giant nuclear plant open.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

Virtual Power Plants

Virtual power plants and their ability to balance energy supply and demand are increasingly sought by utilities as electricity demand increases, but their lack of standardization remains a barrier.

By Utility Dive staff

New York Green Bank aims to grow portfolio by two-thirds next year

The bank aims to spur innovative reneweable energy projects that would otherwise have trouble attracting investment. 

By Peter Maloney • July 7, 2016

California dreaming: Utilities uneasy with regulator's vision to remake their business model

Commissioner Florio wants a fundamental rethinking of utility revenues and distributed resources, but his proposal has critics on all sides.

By Peter Maloney • July 6, 2016

Sonnen teams up with Enbala, combining storage with grid management

The integration of Enbala software could help utilities control and aggregate numerous distributed energy resources on their systems. 

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2016

NextEra decision looming, Hawaii lawmakers consider suing Gov. Ige over PUC appointment

The governor appointed a commission lawyer to the regulatory post without legislative approval ahead of a decision on the largest business deal in Hawaii history. 

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2016

Vermont regulators implement rules for 75% renewables target

Vermont's Public Service Board has implemented rules for 75% by 2032 renewables target, stipulating at least 1% needs to come from distributed resources. 

By Peter Maloney • July 1, 2016

A FERC challenge: Opening up electricity markets to advanced energy technologies

Grid operators should allow distributed resources and demand response to be priced for their unique attributes in organized markets, Arvin Ganesan and Suedeen Kelly argue in this guest post.

By Arvin Ganesan and Suedeen Kelly • June 30, 2016

Virginia Gov. McAuliffe issues executive order to cut GHG emissions

The governor directed state agencies to find a way to cut emissions from the power sector that does not need approval from the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

By Peter Maloney • June 30, 2016

After Diablo Canyon: PG&E CEO Tony Earley on renewables, DERs and California's energy future

The same resources pushing the giant nuclear plant offline will be key to the utility's future in a low carbon economy. 

By Gavin Bade • June 30, 2016

'Something's got to give': Why Wall St is uneasy with the renewable energy boom

Tax credit extensions are fueling huge renewables growth, but financiers are uneasy with how the buildout is manifesting itself.

By Peter Maloney • June 29, 2016

District of Columbia Council unanimously approves bill for 50% renewable energy mandate

The bill would also provide for 1,500 MW of new local wind and solar power, advocates said. 

By Peter Maloney • June 29, 2016

Energy storage slowdown in Q1 an 'anomaly' as sector expected to regain momentum

A dip in the non-residential market dented numbers for the beginning of 2016, GTM Research reports, but new growth opportunities are emerging.

By Peter Maloney • June 28, 2016

AMS will install 12 MWh of Tesla batteries at Cal State to cut usage, mitigate Aliso Canyon leak

California State University is looking to storage to cut peak demand and help mitigate for potential supply disruptions due to the nation's worst-ever methane leak.

By Peter Maloney • June 28, 2016

Dialogue before dispute: Clean energy groups call on regulators for uniform rate design approach

As distributed resources transform the electric grid, regulators in every state are struggling to design fair rates that encourage innovation. More than 30 stakeholder groups have now come together to recommend a unified set of principles to guide those deliberations.

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2016

BMW to deploy used EV batteries in residential storage market

BMW announced plans to work toward deploying used EV batteries in the residential storage market.

By Peter Maloney • June 27, 2016

The new EV playbook: How utilities can gain from the coming boom in electric vehicles

Electric vehicles can offer power services at bargain prices if charging is done when and where utilities need it, a new RMI report notes. But getting the grid to that point is easier said than done.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 27, 2016

FERC upholds right of cooperatives to buy from independent generators

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has upheld the right of cooperatives to buy power under PURPA.

By Peter Maloney • June 27, 2016

California PUC issues revised self-generation rules favoring storage

The California Public Utilities Commission has revised the rules for its SGIP program.

By Peter Maloney • June 27, 2016

California regulators update interconnection rules for renewables

The decision would cap some costs associated with a utility making upgrades to accommodate the new resources, allowing developers greater capital certainty.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2016

The DER pivot: Grid Edge Forum illustrates utility shift toward a distributed grid

Momentum is gathering behind a utility sector turn to distributed energy resources, attendees at the annual conference said this week. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 23, 2016

Solar plus storage: With SolarCity deal, Tesla aims to speed clean energy transition

Elon Musk wants to create an all-in-one sustainable energy company to shape a "non-weird future." Will shareholders let him?

By Gavin Bade • June 22, 2016

How storage can help solve the distributed energy 'death spiral'

A new Navigant paper lays out three examples of how storage can facilitate the transition to a more distributed grid.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 21, 2016

Morgan Stanley: Australian utilities underestimate disruptive power of solar+storage

With electricity prices rising, storage costs falling and solar incentives phasing out, the stage could be set for significant load defection in Australia as consumers increasingly deploy their own batteries and PV.

By Peter Maloney • June 21, 2016

ConEd virtual power plant shows how New York's REV is reforming utility practices

Usually thought of as a zero-sum game, the REV docket is finding ways to allow utilities, third parties and customers all benefit from the deployment of distributed resources. 

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2016