Sonoma Clean Power launches EV initiative to build 500 new charging stations

The public utility's board approved a $3.5 million green energy slate of programs, including initiatives aimed at boosting EV charging locations. The goal is to put at least 10,000 EVs on the road. 

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2016

ERCOT: Texas gears up for proposals to integrate DERs

The state disbanded a task force focused on conceptual issues for integrating distributed energy resources and will now focus on bringing them into the market.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 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

Construction manufacturer Caterpillar enters microgrid and storage market

Caterpillar has launched microgrid suite that combines solar, storage and Caterpillar generators.

By Peter Maloney • May 9, 2016

ComEd jumps on the demand charge train with new Illinois proposal

Residential demand charges have been most popular in the Southwest, but the Chicago-based utility features them prominently in a new legislative push.

By Peter Maloney • May 9, 2016

Tesla reports 25 MWh of storage capacity delivered in Q1 2016

A shareholder letter highlights demand for the Powerwall residential storage device and acknowledges delays in some deliveries.

By Peter Maloney • May 6, 2016

Updated: Exelon says 2 nuke plants on the line in sweeping new Illinois energy bill

The Next Generation Energy Plan, announced yesterday, would touch virtually every aspect of the state's power industry. Without it, Exelon plans to retire two challenged nuclear plants.

By Peter Maloney • May 6, 2016

Weeks after law's passage, New Hampshire utilities near net metering cap for large solar

The ink has barely dried on a new law in New Hampshire raising net metering caps and already, one utility says it's nearly maxed out on large projects.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 6, 2016

Hawaii lawmakers to reconcile competing proposals for renewables, storage incentives

These proposals aim to ensure low-income families could purchase distributed generation systems and a tax break for energy storage for up to 25% of the costs. 

By Herman K. Trabish • May 5, 2016

4 drivers of solar growth utilities need to know

Record solar growth forecasted in 2016 will rely on four key themes and one unifying trend, GTM Research says.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 5, 2016

CA companies Verengo, Swell companies team up for residential solar-plus-storage

Verengo Solar and Swell Energy is the latest partnership aiming to penetrate the market for residential energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • May 5, 2016

SolarCity unveils new software services for utilities, grid operators

The solar developer wants to help utilities deploy fully-dispatchable renewable resources and control DERs on their systems. 

By Gavin Bade, Herman Trabish • May 5, 2016

DOE's new $25M solar fund seeks development of distributed energy grid solutions

The ENERGISE program, part of the Department of Energy's SunShot initiative, seeks to fund grid technologies to manage high penetrations of distributed energy on utility systems.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 4, 2016

ACC approves TEP plans for renewables, storage, but not utility-owned solar

Arizona regulators approved an expansion in renewable energy investments and two storage pilot projects, but deferred a decision on utility-owned rooftop and community solar projects to TEP's general rate case.

By Gavin Bade • May 4, 2016

Puerto Rico energy storage project tests load shifting capabilities of hybrid batteries

An energy storage project in Puerto Rico will test the ability of hybrid batteries to shift load in response to the territory's storage mandate. 

By Peter Maloney • May 3, 2016

Oklahoma utility proposes demand charges to cover distributed energy costs

Oklahoma Gas & Electric is seeking approval to change its rate structure in order to adapt to accommodate distributed resources.

By Peter Maloney • May 3, 2016

Inside the deal that averted a net metering ballot showdown in Arizona

After intervention by the governor, plans for dueling ballot initiatives have given way to mediated negotiations between APS and SolarCity.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 3, 2016

At 16.4 MW, largest U.S. rooftop solar array will utilize LA muni's feed-in-tariff

The project, planned by developer PermaCity, is slated for four warehouses in the San Pedro community.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 3, 2016

Maine lawmakers fail to override LePage veto of solar incentive bill

House lawmakers voted 96-52 for the bill on Friday morning, falling two short of the necessary margin to overrule the governor. 

By Herman K. Trabish • May 2, 2016

Iowa electric co-op looks to buy RECs to go '100% carbon-free'

The Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative in Iowa plans to reduce its carbon footprint to zero.

By Peter Maloney • April 29, 2016

Aquion installs storage for microgrid at California winery and farm

Aquion Energy is supplying its aqueous hybrid ion batteries for the project, which will use Ideal Power's 30-kW multi-port power conversion system to help make the California winery and farm more self-sufficient. 

By Peter Maloney • April 29, 2016

Florida muni delays net metering decision until November election cycle

Staff on Jacksonville's public utility is looking to reduce net metering, but agreed to delay a decision until a utility-backed solar ballot initiative makes its way through the election cycle. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 29, 2016

Texas co-op signs deal for 15 MW of distributed community solar

 Pedernales Electric Cooperative will contract for power from 998 kW customer sited-arrays and sell to individual solar buyers.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

New York City launches Solarize program targeting 350 MW of new distributed solar by 2025

Solarize campaigns, started in Portland in 2009, help communities leverage group buying power to go solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

Community Storage Initiative touts diverse backers, including EEI, NRECA, APPA

The group is calling for more information sharing and collaborative development of distributed storage solutions.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2016

Tesla's 2016 storage sales to SolarCity could dwarf entire US behind-meter market for 2015

A filing from Tesla indicates it expects to sell substantially more behind-the-meter storage capacity to SolarCity in 2016 than the entire U.S. market deployed last year, GTM Research reports.  

By Peter Maloney • April 26, 2016