Low gas, renewables prices spur Idaho Power to phase out most coal generation

The utility's most recent long-term plan calls for shutting down two units at the Jim Bridger coal facility early. 

By Robert Walton • July 7, 2017

AES closes $2B financing for 1.2 GW gas plant with storage

Southern California Edison signed a 20-year power purchase agreement for the project awarded through a 2014 competitive solicitation.

By Peter Maloney • July 7, 2017

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

North Carolina wind moratorium threatens hard-won solar compromise

Duke Energy and solar advocates worked for months on reforms to PURPA, third-party ownership and net metering. A last-minute hold on new wind projects could unravel the whole bill. 

By Herman K. Trabish • July 6, 2017

Shell wades into the power sector with bid for Texas retail provider MP2 Energy

The retail power supplier boasts a diverse energy portfolio, including wind, solar and gas, as well as 550 MW of demand response capacity in Texas.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2017

Coal interests square off against proposed Illinois gas plant

Houston-based EmberClear wants to build a 1.1 GW combined-cycle plant near Springfield, IL, but opponents say it will threaten an existing coal plant.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2017

EIA: Gas plant construction costs fell 30% in 2015

The average cost to install utility-scale solar systems and wind turbines also fell 21% and 12% respectively between 2013 and 2015. 

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2017

NEI: Nuclear plants not 'penetrated' by cyberattacks

A DHS and FBI joint report last week said nuclear reactors were among the targets of a hacking campaign that dated back to May.

By Peter Maloney • July 6, 2017

Pressed duck: Clipping the curve with energy storage

Building on Arizona's cheap solar-plus-storage PPA could present a new way to mitigate the duck curve, but the utility that signed it is skeptical. 

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2017

After Kemper, new 'clean coal' plants face long odds

Carbon capture technology works, but new plants are unlikely while gas prices are low and carbon remains unregulated.

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2017

DC Circuit strikes down Trump delay of EPA methane rule

The Trump EPA can still rewrite Obama-era standards on methane emissions, but it must do so with existing rules on the books, the court ruled Monday.

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2017

Southern, Wartsila team up on new flexible gas-fired plants

The companies signed an MOU last week to develop two gas plants as large as 450 MW each.

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2017

Texas regulators say it's time to move past NextEra's bid for Oncor

The Public Utilities Commission of Texas has now rejected NextEra's $18.7 billion bid for a third time. 

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2017

Exelon notifies NRC of plans to close the Three Mile Island nuclear facility

The utility announced plans to shutter the 852 MW nuclear plant by September 2019 after it failed to clear the PJM capacity auction in May.  

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2017

Massachusetts targets 200 MWh of energy storage by 2020

The state passed an energy storage mandate more than a year ago and told energy regulators to craft the final target. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 30, 2017

Senate fast-tracks new version of bipartisan energy reform bill

Legislation crafted by the leaders of the Senate Energy Committee is back on the table after stalling in a conference committee with the House last year. 

By Gavin Bade • June 30, 2017

And then there was one: FERC Commissioner Honorable steps down today

FERC Commissioner Colette Honorable's departure leaves only one regulator at the agency and three nominees pending in the Senate. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 30, 2017

Enbridge halts $3.2B Access Northeast natural gas pipeline for now

Developers say the Northeast region needs more natural gas, but how to pay for a large pipeline expansion is the big question.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2017

New Jersey rejects wetlands permit for PennEast gas pipeline

Company officials say they are still moving forward on the 120-mile line that would originate in northeastern Pennsylvania and run to a Transco pipeline interconnection in New Jersey. 

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2017

Trump announces nuclear policy review in DOE speech

The president culminated his "Energy Week" with a speech touting deregulation and announcing a series of federal energy initiatives. 

By Gavin Bade • June 29, 2017

Gas plants or renewables? New LBNL study helps utilities compare the risks

A financial tool based on probabilities could make generation investments easier for utilities and IPPs.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 29, 2017

Default looms as Puerto Rico utility restructuring deal fails

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority's oversight board rejected a $9 billion restructuring deal this week, leaving the utility few options beyond a court-supervised bankruptcy proceeding.

By Peter Maloney • June 29, 2017

Citing 'Hughes v. Talen,' court rejects challenge to Connecticut's renewable RFP

The Allco case's interpretation of Hughes — the first from a federal court — is likely to have implications on challenges to nuclear subsidies in Illinois and New York. 

By Peter Maloney • June 29, 2017

Southern suspends work on Kemper coal gasification units

The announcement comes days after Mississippi regulators asked the utility to prepare a plan for the plant to run solely on natural gas.

By Gavin Bade • June 28, 2017

Energy Week: Perry touts all-of-the-above strategy in push for 'energy dominance'

The DOE head reiterated support for baseload generation ahead of the release of a highly-anticipated power sector review.

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 28, 2017

ISO-NE lays out retirement options for Dominion's Millstone nuke

The plant has capacity obligations to continue generating through May 2021, but the ISO said Dominion could transfer those to a third party.

By Peter Maloney • June 28, 2017