New York needs 4 GW of storage by 2030 to meet REV goals, advocacy group says

Advocacy and advisory group NY-BEST also calls for standardized safety requirements, locational pricing in new report. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 19, 2016

TVA mulls sale of unfinished Bellefonte Nuclear Plant

Tenessee Valley Authority is considering selling the unfinished Bellefonte Nuclear Plant. Construction began more than four decades ago.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2016

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

Washington Senate pass bill to fund possible Colstrip coal units closure

The measure does not set dates for any coal retirements, but allows Puget Sound Energy to create a fund for the eventual shutdown of coal plants closed after 2023.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2016

NARUC 2016: What the SCOTUS stay and Scalia's death mean for the Clean Power Plan

The plan is likely to be delayed about two years, if it is upheld, injecting new uncertainty into utility planning processes.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 18, 2016

Xcel Energy pushes for study of early closure for Prairie Island nuclear plant

Though there are concerns that taking nuclear power offline would raise carbon emissions, Xcel Energy is calling for a discussion into the early closure of its Prairie Island facility.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016

Study: Atlantic Coast Pipeline could cost Virginia counties $7.9B

The pipeline system, running from West Virginia to North Carolina, will cost about $5 billion to construct, but a new study finds four counties in Virgina could wind up with billions in losses.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016

Maryland challenges Dominion's coal ash water disposal plan in Virginia

The state of Maryland has filed an appeal of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's decision to approve Dominion's plan to drain treated coal ash water into rivers.  

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2016

Updated: Puerto Rico Gov. signs utility restructuring bill after legislative approval

Differences with a Senate version passed last week will have to be ironed out before Feb. 23, when a debt agreement reached with the utility's creditors expires.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2016

Supreme Court preps for hearings on Maryland power subsidies case

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments next week over how the state of Maryland negotiated subsidies for a natural gas power plant built to ensure there is adequate supply to meet demand.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 16, 2016

How utility executives see the future of the electricity business

Here are some of the key findings from Utility Dive's third annual State of the Electric Utility report.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 16, 2016

Oregon lawmakers propose carbon tax, coal phase-out

The bills would phase out coal, increase renewables and enact a carbon tax. But Oregon is currently in a short legislative session, and some say more time is needed to consider such significant changes.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2016

Alaska utilities to purchase stake in ConocoPhillips gas field

Municipal Light & Power and Chugach Electric Association will need authorization from Alaska regulators for the $152 million deal.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2016

EEI: Utilities moving from coal, toward gas & renewables regardless of CPP stay

Carbon emissions from the power sector are already down about 17% since 2000, according to Edison Electric Institute officials. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to delay implementing the Clean Power Plan will not reverse those efforts.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2016

Bad power deals cost Maine $38M, governor says

 "Socialists love to subsidize new wind and solar,"  said Maine Governor Paul LePage (R). 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2016

8 trends shaping the grid of the future

A Deloitte study finds "alternative energy’s shift to the mainstream is largely complete and likely irreversible."

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 11, 2016

Sunverge Energy to roll out solar management system

Sunverge Energy says its next generation solar integration system will be available this summer.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 11, 2016

States mull next steps after Clean Power Plan freeze

For the most part, even states opposed to the Clean Power Plan were working on compliance strategies. But with the Supreme Court delaying the law's implementation, tough decisions must now be made.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 11, 2016

Feds approve 2 new nuclear reactors in Texas

NRG Energy is the dominant partner in the expansion, but the generator said several years ago that it was not pursuing development of the project. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2016

Report: Dominion dumped 33.7 million gallons of untreated coal ash water in Quantico Creek

The utility is working on a plan to manage 200 million gallons of coal ash, but critics question whether drainage into Quantico Creek fell within water permits the utility obtained.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2016

Supreme Court puts Clean Power Plan on hold

In a surprise move, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to stay the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan until the D.C. Circuit Court reviews it and appeals to the high court are exhausted. 

By Davide Savenije , Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 9, 2016

How Austin Energy is looking to manage solar-plus-storage on its grid

Austin Energy has been awarded a $4.3 million grant to implement a DERMS system aimed at integrating solar power into its grid.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 9, 2016

Report: Eastern Interconnect working group's research showed deeper decarbonization possible before CPP

In 2010, 39 states and 26 major utilities said they could cut carbon emissions 42% by 2030, according to a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2016

NY governor orders investigation of Entergy's Indian Point nuclear plant

The nuclear plant is leaking contaminated water, with monitoring wells showing "alarming levels" of radiation.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2016

Why natural gas investments could spell trouble for electric utilities

Natural gas is cheap right now, and utilities are rushing in. But if prices rise, consumers could wind up footing the bill — and if utilities overbuild, carbon compliance may be at risk. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 8, 2016

Sacramento muni cancels 400MW pumped storage project

Costs and environmental delays helped to scuttle SMUD's plans for a 400-MW pumped storage project in northern California.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 8, 2016