North Carolina regulators push back Atlantic Coast Pipeline decision

State regulators said the project's application lacked key information on how the pipeline's route would impact streams and wetlands. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2017

PJM task force heads into the next stage of capacity market redesign

The grid operator's capacity construct group will begin evaluating 10 proposals for market reforms this week.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 18, 2017

Updated: EPA to reconsider portions of Obama-era coal ash rule

The agency granted a polluter petition to reconsider the rule, a move environmentalists call "a ploy to scrap the protections entirely."

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 15, 2017

Baseload compensation a high priority for FERC, Chatterjee tells Congress

Threats to reliability could cause federal regulators to change plant compensation, the acting FERC chair told House lawmakers in a hearing that also touched on climate change and renewables integration.  

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 15, 2017

Mountain Valley Pipeline faces new scrutiny, citizen lawsuits

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection wants to reevaluate the pipeline, and citizen groups are suing to block the use of eminent domain for a project they consider unnecessary.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2017

EPA delays rule limiting toxic metal discharges from coal plants

The rule limiting heavy metal discharges from coal plants into lakes and rivers had been set to go into effect in 2018, but will now be delayed two years.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2017

Virginia Supreme Court upholds utility rate freeze law

Utilities say the five-year freeze protects customers from Clean Power Plan compliance, but consumer advocates argue it allows power companies overcharge ratepayers without regulatory review. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 15, 2017

DOE awards $20M to commercialize new energy technologies

More than 50 projects at 12 national labs will receive funding to help them bridge the gap to commercial use. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 15, 2017

Alectra Utilities CEO: 'Someone's going to cannibalize our business — it may as well be us'

"Someone's going to eat our lunch. They're lining up to do it," CEO Brian Bentz told Utility Dive. Here's how the Canadian utility is moving aggressively into DERs.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 14, 2017

ERCOT: Natural gas composed 50% of August generation

Nuclear generation also rose to 9% of the state's resource mix, but was still well below its 11% mark in August 2016. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 14, 2017

Judge rejects lawsuit targeting mine operations, coal plant on Navajo land

Environmental groups previously filed a lawsuit aimed at shutting down the Navajo Mine and the Four Corners Power Plant in New Mexico.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2017

DOE expands SunShot program after hitting original cost goal 3 years early

The new program aims to cut utility-scale solar costs to $0.03/kWh and boost durability and lifetimes in panels. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 13, 2017

Illinois energy reform set to shape new solar business models for utilities

Rate-based returns on distributed resources could allow utilities to displace traditional investments and drive a community solar boom.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2017

EIA: Coal production increases will continue through 2018

Coal production in August was 8% higher than the same time in 2016. Year-over-year increases are expected this year and next.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2017

Michigan advocates fear rollback of retail electric choice program

The Michigan Public Service Commission is considering requiring alternative suppliers to procure the electricity they sell from in-state generators.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2017

Federal court grants EPA stay on Utah regional haze decision

Last year, the EPA ordered Rocky Mountain Power to install pollution controls on two coal-fired power plants in Utah. The agency is now reconsidering that plan.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2017

FERC evaluating enhanced baseload compensation, Chatterjee writes

The acting FERC chair would have told a cancelled House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that his commission is evaluating "compensation for providing [reliability] services," Axios reports. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 12, 2017

California Dems look to restart CAISO regionalization with 11th hour amendments

With only days left in the state's legislative session, lawmakers are pushing bills that would create a planning process for a full ISO across the western United States. 

By Gavin Bade , Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

West Virginia agency vacates water permit for Mountain Valley Pipeline project

The state Department of Environmental Protection said the decision will allow the agency to "re-evaluate the complete application."

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2017

Mississippi Power fails to reach PSC settlement over Kemper costs again

State regulators already extended a settlement deadline in August after its staff and the utility failed to reach a settlement over Kemper costs. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project gains air quality plan approval from Pennsylvania officials

Williams Partners, the pipeline's primary sponsor, will use Emission Reduction Credits to comply with the offset requirements of state law.  

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2017

Half of Florida still without power as Irma churns into Southeast

Federal officials say storm recovery and power restoration will involve the "largest ever mobilization of line restoration workers in this country."

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2017

California energy interests set to square off over Puente natural gas plant

Solar and storage can meet power needs cheaper than outdated capacity analyses suggest, clean energy advocates will tell regulators this week. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2017

DOE grid study offers no panaceas to struggling nuclear and coal plants

Ray Gifford, a former Colorado regulator and partner at Wilkinson, Barker and Knaur law firm, says the study's modest findings highlight the tension between energy policies. 

By Ray Gifford • Sept. 11, 2017

Bill to California governor would direct utilities to plan storage, DERs for peak demand

SB 338 would compel utilities to include considerations for peak demand management with storage, efficiency and DERs in their integrated resource plans. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 11, 2017