Taking Charge: FERC Commissioner Christie on his 'across the board' respect for state authority

"The state regulators know much more about their own states than I did as a Virginia regulator and that I will as a FERC commissioner," said Commissioner Mark Christie in a wide-ranging interview with Utility Dive.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 13, 2021

Former NRC chair questions economic feasibility of new nuclear in US

Former NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane acknowledges the progress of small modular reactor designs from NuScale Power to achieve permitting while flagging supply chain issues for the broader industry.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 12, 2021

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

Biden $1.5 trillion budget proposal includes 27% increase in overall clean energy spending

The proposed budget would ramp up spending on new technologies, including advanced nuclear and hydrogen.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 12, 2021

Granholm: American Jobs Plan will prioritize communities struggling with loss of coal, oil and gas jobs

Some 40% of the benefits of the American Jobs Plan should go to communities affected by the coal, oil and gas industries, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said during Thursday's White House press briefing.

By Emma Penrod • April 9, 2021

Weather-related outages primary cause of Texas blackouts, new ERCOT data finds

At peak, 54% of generator outages in the region were caused by weather-related issues from Feb. 14 through Feb. 19, according to ERCOT's analysis.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 7, 2021

Wyoming bills to slow coal plant closures sent to governor as 4 other states pursue similar steps

The Wyoming legislature has approved a series of bills intended to make closing coal plants more difficult, an action the local Sierra Club says will only delay the inevitable.

By Emma Penrod • April 7, 2021

What a federal just transition strategy should look like

The transition to a low-carbon economy is a national — even global — phenomena and the response should be too, contributors from the World Resources Institute wrote.

By Jillian Neuberger and Devashree Saha • April 5, 2021

Biden $2 trillion infrastructure proposal includes billions in spending on transmission, clean energy

The plan received wide-ranging support from climate and clean energy groups, but Republican leadership opposes its high price tag.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 1, 2021

State of the Electric Utility 2021

The 8th annual State of the Electric Utility Survey Report provides a pulse on industry trends from nearly 500 utility professionals, many at the VP level and above, along with insight from a broad range of industry experts.

By Nami Sumida • April 1, 2021

State of the Electric Utility 2021: Gas doubts rise, DER focus wanes, and 5 other key takeaways

Despite the impacts of COVID-19, the energy transition is stronger than ever, the results of Utility Dive's 8th annual industry survey show.

By Larry Pearl • April 1, 2021

State of the Electric Utility 2021: Accommodating state policies is top priority for FERC, utilities say

Utilities also cited tax credits and other financial incentives as the best way to decarbonize the U.S. power sector, Utility Dive's 8th annual industry survey found.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 1, 2021

Large consumers blame renewables for 2020 declines in C&I power reliability

A new survey finds 44% of companies lose power monthly or more frequently, and the problem is getting worse.

By Robert Walton • March 31, 2021

PG&E plan to reserve temporary generators for wildfire season has groups worried about diesel use

The utility views the temporary generation as an insurance policy in case it needs to power down sections of its system during high fire risk conditions.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 31, 2021

Biden administration sets target for 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030, plans offshore leasing off NY, NJ coasts

The deployment target, which will grow to 110 GW by 2050, is viewed as a "vital piece of the puzzle" by the renewable energy industry.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 30, 2021

How long can a nuclear plant run? Regulators consider 100 years

Just a year after the first nuclear reactors were licensed to operate for up to 80 years, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff and others are talking about the possibility of licensing plants for 100 years.  

By Matthew Bandyk • March 29, 2021

Canada's Supreme Court upholds federal carbon pricing law

The highest court in the country ruled that the greenhouse gas pricing was not a tax but "a regulatory charge," and constitutional in nature, after three provinces challenged the federal government.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 26, 2021

California authorizes summer reliability fixes despite concerns over backup diesel generation

“We’ve developed a number of programs and proposals, some we hope to never have to use,” CPUC President Marybel Batjer said Thursday. 

By Kavya Balaraman • March 26, 2021

Nuclear industry calls for state policy focus as resource outstrips coal generation in US

If existing nuclear plants shut down, "carbon emitting sources will likely fill the gap," Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, said.  

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 25, 2021

What's the biggest role for hydrogen in a clean energy economy? It depends who you ask

Hydrogen could play multiple roles in the clean energy transition, from decarbonizing heavy industry to expanding energy storage, industry experts agree. But visions diverge around questions of use and distribution.

By Emma Penrod • March 25, 2021

FERC open to revisiting MOPR, as grid operators, utilities mull future of wholesale markets

"Although I voted for our MOPR orders, and believe those determinations were supported by the record, I'm not wedded to the policy calls of the past," said Commissioner Neil Chatterjee during a FERC technical conference.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 24, 2021

SoCalGas announces net-zero emission goal by 2045, but some stakeholders remain skeptical

Technologies like renewable natural gas, hydrogen and carbon capture could play a role in getting the utility to that goal, according to Southern California Gas CEO Scott Drury.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 24, 2021

California's last nuclear plant is poised to shut down. What happens next?

A large amount of carbon-free energy will come offline once the Diablo Canyon power plant retires, raising questions around how the state will replace it.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 23, 2021

Southern Company identifies 'likely' nuclear construction delay on Vogtle unit

Vogtle Unit 3's in-service date could be pushed back at least a month from its November 2021 target, which would add $25 million per month in additional costs for Georgia Power.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 22, 2021

Tri-State's clean energy, cost reduction efforts have not quelled member exit interest

At least seven rural electric cooperatives want to know what it would cost to leave the service of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and they say the utility is "stonewalling."

By Robert Walton • March 22, 2021

Glick, Danly spar over gas pipeline reviews as FERC considers project's climate impacts for first time

After Danly urged pipeline companies to intervene more in proceedings, Glick said the same should go "for all the other people that have been screwed by the commission," adding Danly's stance represents "the height of hypocrisy."

By Catherine Morehouse • March 19, 2021