California needs 2.5 GW of new generation for reliability — keep gas out of that

Instead of continuing to rely on out-of-date and harmful power plants, the CPUC needs to prioritize price-competitive renewable alternatives, writes Vote Solar's Ed Smeloff.

By Ed Smeloff • Sept. 24, 2019

Texas wind poised to outstrip coal generation with 87 TWh in 2020, report projects

Wind generators will outpace coal as the price of the renewable energy continues to fall, although natural gas will still generate the largest share of the state's power, Rystad Energy said.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 23, 2019

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

Northeastern utilities aim to 'crush and flatten' system peaks as DERs boost grid efficiency

DER providers and utilities have found shared market interests in New England, leading to cooperative BYOD programs that provide a range of benefits for customers and the power system.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 23, 2019

Nike opens new distribution center running on 100% renewable energy

The 1.5-million-square-foot center is located in Ham, Belgium, expanding the company's existing European Logistics Campus on the site.

By Morgan Forde • Sept. 23, 2019

Amazon buys 100K electric vans as part of net zero carbon goals

The e-commerce company revealed its total carbon footprint was 44.4 million metric tons in 2018, and it wants to achieve carbon neutrality 10 years ahead of the Paris Climate Accord's 2050 goal. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 20, 2019

Ex-Tesla exec wants to increase utility control of DERs, and has a smart panel to do it

The new electric panel combines smart metering capabilities with remote control of energy use in residences, while easing installation of solar, energy storage and EV chargers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 20, 2019

FERC proposal would 'gut' PURPA, could lower rates utilities pay to solar developers

The proposed rule would allow states to set the avoided cost rate based on changing market conditions, which would lessen small solar's ability to compete in the market, renewable energy groups contend.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Oct. 8, 2019

FERC oversight battle heats up as Colorado regulators blast Tri-State petition

The state's Public Utility Commission has taken steps to regulate Tri-State's electric resource planning, and worries the utility views federal regulation as an escape hatch for its coal-heavy generation mix.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 19, 2019

Virginia Gov. Northam orders 100% carbon-free power by 2050

The governor's order also calls for the state to reach 30% renewable energy and reduce its power consumption 10% below 2006 levels by 2022.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 18, 2019

Duke Energy commits to 100% carbon-free power by 2050

The utility said it plans "to advocate for sound public policy that advances technology and innovation...[including] advanced renewable energy, longer-lasting storage and new nuclear technologies."

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 18, 2019

Arizonans could save $3.5B with quicker coal to solar+storage transition, report finds

Research commissioned by the Sierra Club examined 11 coal units slated for closure in 2035 or later. Moving that timeline up to 2023 would result in significant savings, it found.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2019

PJM capacity market plan to increase costs $8.4B, market monitor estimates

PJM's plan, currently before FERC, is more of a worst-case scenario regarding cost increases, according to Monitoring Analytics, which is uniquely positioned to calculate the precise cost.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 18, 2019

ConEd, 8 other utilities challenge Trump's energy rule, repeal of Clean Power Plan

The companies say EPA's repeal was premised on faulty readings of the Clean Air Act when it determined they could not go 'beyond the fenceline' to reduce carbon emissions.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 17, 2019

DOE directs $35M for carbon storage projects eligible for extended tax credit

The funding opportunity is the latest of three initiatives totaling $110 million this year to strengthen the coal sector and provide cleaner emissions.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 16, 2019

MOPR Madness: 2 wrongs don't make a right

Regardless of the exact cost of PJM's plan to address state subsidy impacts on its capacity market, the amount is large and unnecessary, Electricity Consumers Resource Council's Devin Hartman writes.

By Devin Hartman • Sept. 13, 2019

California proposes 2.5 GW procurement, gas plants extensions to ensure reliability

More than 4 GW of gas plants in the state are expected to retire by 2021, but the CPUC wants to extend their environmental compliance dates until new resources are brought online.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 13, 2019

New England grid operator sees potential for year-round power constraints

Despite a tight supply-demand balance, ISO-NE said it expects to operate a reliable and affordable electric grid through transmission investments and a reliance on energy efficiency.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2019

Louisiana utilities to pay less for rooftop solar power under new net metering rules

The changes will also allow utilities to recover any lost revenues from the excess power provided by rooftop solar, "a pretty remarkable turn," says one opponent.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 13, 2019

Michigan urges MISO, PJM to improve regional reliability after Consumers compressor station fire

In a letter to the grid operators, the state's governor and head regulator called for quicker interconnection processes to improve regional resource diversity and a reexamination of demand response capabilities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 12, 2019

Renewables, storage poised to undercut natural gas prices, increase stranded assets: RMI

If all proposed gas plants are built, 70% of those investments will be rendered uneconomic by 2035, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 11, 2019

Pacifcorp sees 2 GW coal retirements, $599M savings by 2040 in latest planning scenarios

The utility continues to model coal retirement scenarios and has narrowed its preference to five options that include early coal shutdowns, new transmission, and wind and solar resources as part of its integrated resource plan.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

Carbon capture bill gets bipartisan push to include in must-pass defense legislation

Senate Armed Services Chairman Jim Inhofe included the bill, which would enable lower emissions in coal- and gas-fired generation, in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 11, 2019

Tri-State joins suite of new participants in Southwest, California energy imbalance markets

The California ISO and Southwest Power Pool each recently announced new members. SPP's Western Energy Imbalance Service market is expected to begin operations in 2021. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

As utilities scramble to manage explosive DER growth, is power grid autonomy a solution?

The U.S. electric grid could face hundreds of millions of distributed resource deployments in the near future. But optimizing these data points may exceed human ability.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 11, 2019

NERC finds first remote hacker interference on US grid from cyberattack

A March cyberattack resulted in a denial of service condition at a "low-impact" control center and multiple remote generation sites, according to newly released analysis.

By HJ Mai • Sept. 9, 2019