Earthjustice pushes California regulators to dismiss Calpine gas plant application

Earlier this month, Calpine asked regulators to suspend its application for the 255 MW Mission Rock Energy Center, citing a lack of energy demand and changes to state policies as primary factors. 

By Robert Walton • March 26, 2018

Update: Arizona Gov. Ducey signs bill to undermine RPS ballot proposal

The measure will minimize financial penalties for utilities that fail to meet renewable energy targets, muting a ballot proposal pushing 50% renewable energy by 2030. 

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

Energy groups see $1.3 trillion omnibus as repudiation of Trump priorities

The budget bill, approved by the House and Senate on Thursday, would boost clean energy funding at DOE and increase appropriations for co-ops to expand rural broadband service.

By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2018

Microsoft inks largest corporate solar PPA for 315 MW project in Virginia

The company said the purchase would advance its goal of reaching 60% renewable energy for its data centers by early 2020.

By Peter Maloney • March 23, 2018

PJM greenlights FirstEnergy to deactivate coal plant units at Pleasants Power Station

The company had proposed transferring the power plant from one subsidiary to another, but regulators attached a slate of conditions FirstEnergy would not accept.

By Robert Walton • March 22, 2018

On the duck's 10th birthday, here's how to keep it from eating the power system

Before anybody saw how fast solar would grow, researchers described what it would do to the grid and started working on solutions now being implemented.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 22, 2018

Duke issues climate report, charts path to reduce coal use by 2030

While the report says a zero-coal scenario is possible, the utility currently plans to trim coal use to 16% by 2030 by heavily investing in natural gas.

By Robert Walton • March 22, 2018

Omnibus spending bill rejects Trump EPA, DOE cuts

EPA spending would remain stable under a Congressional budget bill released Wednesday night, while DOE clean energy funding would increase by nearly $1.5 billion.

By Gavin Bade • March 22, 2018

Virginia governor promises to veto legislation aimed at blocking carbon caps

Gov. Ralph Northam wants Virginia to be the first Southern state to cap carbon emissions, but Republicans argue his plan oversteps his authority and could lead to higher electric bills.

By Robert Walton • March 21, 2018

Nearly 1/3 of planned gas peakers at risk from energy storage, GTM finds

While it could take a while to compete with existing peakers, storage costs are dropping at a rate that could start making it competitive with new peaking plants in about five years.

By Peter Maloney • March 20, 2018

EIA: Gas generation dropped 7.7% in 2017 while coal declined 2.5%

The U.S. added significant wind and solar resources last year as the use of fossil fuels for power generation declined.

By Robert Walton • March 20, 2018

California's dream of a regional power market faces the risks of a Trump FERC

California's proposed regional electricity market could could generate up to $1.5 billion in annual benefits and reduce GHG emissions up to 10%, but it could be subverted.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 20, 2018

Bill would bar GHG-emitting resources for Diablo Canyon replacement

Conservationists say the phase-out of California's last nuclear plant is an opportunity for green energy, and that regulators did not go far enough to ensure that progress when they approved the shutdown in January.

By Robert Walton • March 19, 2018

NERC names WECC head Robb as new CEO

Robb's appointment comes after the high-profile resignation of NERC's last CEO following an office sex scandal and family violence arrest. 

By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2018

A complicated calculus keeps the remaining coal fleet alive

The U.S. coal fleet is half the size it was 10 years ago. How are the remaining plants hanging on?

By Peter Maloney • March 19, 2018

Massachusetts governor seeks Clean Peak Standard with $1.4B bond bill

Under the proposal, electricity suppliers would need to increase the usage of clean energy during peak demand periods. Another bill sets a new storage target of 1,766 MW by 2025 and 5 GW of offshore wind by 2035.  

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2018

In the New South, customer demand is showing utilities the dollars and sense in solar

With load flat to declining, utilities in the Southeast are investing in almost no new generation but can't resist customer demand for renewables and the new solar economics.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 15, 2018

FERC splits on climate review as it reissues Southeast Market Pipelines approval

A D.C. Circuit Court ruling had threatened to shut down the projects due to FERC's greenhouse gas accounting, but the Wednesday order ensures operations will continue.

By Gavin Bade • March 15, 2018

Arizona regulators move to place gas plant moratorium on utilities

The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a 9-month moratorium on new gas plants 150 MW or larger, directing utilities to examine renewable energy and storage instead.

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2018

New York, New Jersey governors launch investigations following storm response

A New Jersey senator reintroduced legislation that would increase fines against a utility whose performance during a service disruption is found to be less than effective by the Board of Public Utilities.

By Peter Maloney • March 15, 2018

Powelson 'very nervous' about long-term reliability in ISO-NE

FERC Commissioner Robert Powelson expanded on his opposition to ISO-New England's two-part capacity auction proposal at a Washington energy forum on Wednesday. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 15, 2018

NRC cites Entergy for false inspection records at Grand Gulf nuke plant

Federal regulators say workers did not perform required rounds to check equipment and plant conditions, and then reported they had.

By Robert Walton • March 14, 2018

FPL's proposed nuke units unlikely 'in the foreseeable future,' Miami mayor says

The utility will continue with the permitting process, but cheap gas means the economics of an expansion don't make sense.

By Robert Walton • March 14, 2018

Pruitt loosens NSR guidelines for modified plants

The move is intended to spur expansions of industrial plants, but environmental groups say it opens a loophole in the Clean Air Act for facilities to pollute more. 

By Gavin Bade • March 14, 2018

Calpine gets cold feet over proposed California gas plant

The energy company cited a lack of demand and new state energy policies as part of the reason for its request. The filing comes after news surfaced that NRG plans to shutter three gas plants in the state. 

By Robert Walton • March 13, 2018