SolarCity adds Tesla battery to its new solar-plus-storage home product

The new offering will provide backup power now and be a grid services tool in the future, company officials say.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 6, 2015

Hawaiian Electric delays energy storage project

The utility confirmed that a plan to install 200 MW of battery storage will be delayed a year and is likely to come online in 2018.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Distributed Energy Resource Growth

Distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar, battery storage and electric vehicles, are experiencing significant growth in the U.S. as the power sector evolves to a cleaner, less centralized future.

By Utility Dive staff

HECO files with regulators to cut solar net metering rates in half

HECO also wants to up the minimum monthly bill to cover a cost shift it says costs $53 million per year.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2015

What happened when NRG Energy disrupted its own business model

The country’s biggest independent power producer is going retail with rooftop solar, EV chargers, and connected consumer products.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015

Georgia Power unveils rooftop solar installation offering

The utility will not yet offer leasing or loan financing and the solar arrays "will not be rate based assets," an executive told Utility Dive.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015

Maine lawmakers override Gov. LePage's veto of value of solar bill

Huge bipartisan majorities send “Ratepayer Focused Strategy” for solar to state regulators, while LePage looks increasingly weak.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015

Large utilities yawn as Iowa Gov. Branstad signs solar incentive bill

The governor signed a bill last week to expand solar incentives, applies only to systems with a capacity no greater than 1.5 MW, leaving some to question if investor-owned utilities will utilize the incentive.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2015

Study: More than half of large US businesses generate power on site

Businesses are increasingly focused on keeping down energy costs, and a growing number are generating some portion of their own electricity needs.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2015

Despite declaring energy sales illegal, Duke will connect solar array owned by third party

Energy advocates and the regulated utility are on a collision course over rules restricting the sale of energy by third parties.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2015

GTM: Solar generation could be 50% higher than federal data shows

The rapid growth of rooftop solar has made accounting for the total resource base difficult.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2015

Minn. PUC approves Xcel-solar industry deal on community shared solar

State regulators limit co-located projects to 5 MW while Xcel promises to speed approvals.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 29, 2015

Grid Edge Live 2015: The trends behind the explosion in distributed resources

Billions will go to DERs in the next three years, driven by changing policies and new utility opportunities.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 29, 2015

EPA, Alabama Power reach deal to close, convert coal plants, invest in EV chargers

The agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice and the utility builds on a previous settlement reached nearly a decade ago.

By Robert Walton • June 29, 2015

New York Gov. Cuomo releases REV roadmap, seeks deep GHG cuts

A new state energy plan would mandate 50% renewables and cut building energy use 23% by 2030.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 29, 2015

How utilities are leveraging new software to help customers go solar

A new Clean Power Research product helps customers choose the right size and rate for rooftop solar, and pick the right finance plan.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 25, 2015

Xcel, Minnesota solar co's reach compromise on community solar size, placement

Regulators could decide today how to limit the state's community solar program, possibly capping co-located projects at 5 MW.

By Robert Walton • June 25, 2015

GTM: US microgrid capacity set to double by 2020

Driven by the falling cost of storage and state subsidies, microgrids are spreading around the country and within five years will incorporate more than 25% renewable power.

By Robert Walton • June 25, 2015

Report: Solar's value is nearly 17 cents/kWh, utilities under-compensating

Eight of 11 studies reviewed by Environment America found the value of solar energy was higher than the average local residential retail electricity rate.

By Robert Walton • June 25, 2015

How California plans to integrate distributed resources into its ISO market

California’s ISO will be the first to open its market to rooftop PV, batteries and EVs, but there's much to do before the first bids can come in.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 24, 2015

SolarCity seeks utility partners for grid modernization programs

The biggest U.S. solar installer says it can work with utilities to smooth demand and regulate voltage. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 23, 2015

TEP drops net metering reform push, will wait for rate case

The new rate request will also include cost recovery for a natural gas plant, solar plants, and grid infrastructure.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 23, 2015

Why Tesla won't disrupt utilities

In this guest post, E Source fellow Jay Stein examines the impact of stationary storage technologies on the utility business model.

By Jay Stein • June 22, 2015

Inside Duke Energy's renewables strategy

The nation's largest utility is looking to renewables — both utility-scale and distributed — as potential sources of growth for decades to come.

By Gavin Bade • June 22, 2015

Iowa utilities refuse to net meter TPO solar arrays, testing state supreme court ruling

Solar installers say the refusal to provide net metering renumeration is hampering growth statewide.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 22, 2015

Report: Microgrids are 'central pillars of today's local energy revolution'

A group that tracks and encourages microgrid projects has written a white paper aimed at educating mayors and city leaders how new energy technologies can benefit their communities.

By Robert Walton • June 22, 2015