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

Virginia regulators approve first customer aggregation application for manufacturer

The “customer aggregation" application allows customers with loads under 5 MW to shop for their retail energy supply. 

By Robert Walton • March 13, 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

FERC tries to thread the needle in debate over markets versus mandates

Is FERC destroying markets in order to save them, Montana Public Service Commission Vice Chairman Travis Kavulla asks.

By Travis Kavulla • March 13, 2018

Not so fast: Battery prices will continue to decrease, but at a slower pace, GTM says

Cost declines for storage systems will slow as raw material prices rise, but deployments will continue apace, according to GTM.

By Peter Maloney • March 13, 2018

New Orleans City Council approves Entergy's 128 MW gas peaker

A trio of lawyers indicated they will challenge the 4-1 vote to advance the controversial project, alleging opponents were denied access to the meeting.

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018

New TVA rate plan includes lower energy prices, grid access charge

The federally-owned utility says its proposed rate structure will "better align wholesale rates with the underlying costs" to serve its 154 local power companies. 

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018

Split FERC approves ISO-NE 2-part capacity market plan

The 3-2 vote reveals key differences in how FERC regulators view state energy policies, a crucial element in a number of issues now before the commission. 

By Gavin Bade • March 12, 2018

PJM pushes plant payment reforms as RTOs file resilience comments at FERC

PJM wants federal regulators to set deadlines for changes to plant compensation, stoking concerns of a low-profile bailout for uneconomic generators.

By Gavin Bade • March 9, 2018

NRG to shutter three California gas plants

NRG subsidiary GenOn said it would shut down the plants for uneconomic reasons, highlighting the struggles natural gas faces in the state. 

By Robert Walton • March 9, 2018

Report: Duke Energy to release climate report under investor pressure

The utility's investors are pushing the company to examine financial exposure from climate change. 

By Robert Walton • March 9, 2018

Energy sector condemns Trump steel, aluminum tariffs

The duties on imported metal commodities will raise prices for power sector infrastructure projects, trade groups said, and could derail Trump's "energy dominance" agenda.

By Peter Maloney • March 9, 2018

Minnesota Power's largest customers oppose new gas plant

The utility plans to partner with  Dairyland Power Cooperative on the $700 million Nemadji Trail Energy Center in Superior, Wis. But some of its biggest consumers are questioning whether the plant is necessary.

By Robert Walton • March 9, 2018

New coal, nuclear generation would have lost money last year, PJM monitor says

The PJM market monitor's annual report, issued Thursday, concludes markets were competitive last year, but produced slightly-higher energy prices than in 2016.

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2018

Are utilities missing out on the opportunity to use old coal sites for solar?

Two coal-to-solar projects show there can be benefits from taking on the costs of coal site remediation and repurposing – but it is a site-by-site question.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 8, 2018

Goodbye Yucca? NRC to review New Mexico nuclear waste storage proposal

Holtec Inc. filed an application last year to construct and operate a consolidated interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Lea County, New Mexico.

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2018

GE aims to enhance solar, wind power performance with new storage platform

The company wants to make inroads into the utility-scale storage market with Reservoir, a modular, four-hour duration battery system.

By Peter Maloney • March 7, 2018

DOE pushing small modular coal plant development

By 2022, DOE wants to design at least two small-scale coal plants with "flexible operating capacity," according to its budget justification. 

By Gavin Bade • March 7, 2018

NM Supreme Court approves coal, nuclear use in PNM's regional haze plan

The case dates to 2011, when the EPA denied New Mexico's plan to address regional haze.

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2018

All in or half there: Maryland Legislature debates two different RPS bills

Lawmakers are debating two bills that would raise the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50% or 100%. Analysts say the 50% increase will likely muster more support than the other measure. 

By Peter Maloney • March 7, 2018

NRC chair outlines reforms for advanced reactor reviews

NRC will develop new processes to review non-light water nuclear plants, such as small modular reactors, and help industry develop new standards, Chairman Kristine Svinicki said. 

By Gavin Bade • March 7, 2018

Cheap fuel, stagnant demand drive down New England wholesale prices

The average annual real-time price for wholesale power in New England last year was $33.94/MWh, the second-lowest in 15 years. 

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2018

Co-op, muni, clean energy groups target capacity reforms in FERC letter

Any reform to capacity markets should prevent over-procurement of generation resources, the groups wrote, while also ensuring clear responsibilities for resource adequacy. 

By Gavin Bade • March 6, 2018

Utilities find groundwater contamination, radioactivity at unlined coal ash sites

The findings come as the Trump administration looks to roll back the Obama-era coal ash rule that compelled utilities to collect groundwater data.   

By Robert Walton • March 5, 2018

Entergy strikes deal to sell Vermont Yankee nuclear facility

The utility said it will have the nuclear plant decommissioned and the site overhauled by 2075, but a deal to sell the plant to NorthStar Group Services Corp. could achieve those goals by 2030.

By Robert Walton • March 5, 2018

PSEG, Exelon cancel capital projects at Salem nuke after legislation stalls

The reliability and efficiency projects were shelved after a bill to financially support the state's struggling nuclear plants was shelved last month. A similar decision may be in the works at PSEG's Hope Creek plant.

By Robert Walton • March 5, 2018