Retaining outmoded monopolies and coal plants keeps Indiana in the Dark Ages

Policies like HB 1414 could force the state's residents to pay for outmoded power plants and stick the cost of the energy transition on captive customers, rather than letting markets work, the author writes.

By Devin Hartman • Feb. 3, 2020

Xcel 'sees opportunities across our system' to change coal operations: CEO Fowke

The utility is "definitely looking at" dispatching its coal more intermittently across the Southwest, CEO Ben Fowke said during the company's Q4 earnings call.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 3, 2020

Utilities sign 5.3 GW wind PPAs in 2019, hitting new record: AWEA

Utility and corporate deals drove 8.7 GW of wind installations in 2019, according to the trade group.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 31, 2020

New Mexico approves PNM exit from San Juan coal plant, but CCS could still save facility

The utility will be able to abandon the plant through securitization, providing grants to workers laid off by the closure, but a local carbon capture company could keep the plant going.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 2, 2020

Can the US power sector significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2040? Not according to EIA

Energy sector analysts say EIA's annual projections have consistently been more conservative, overstating sector emissions, and utility groups are optimistic for greater carbon reductions from power generation and transportation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 30, 2020

FERC's backlog of rehearing requests and the legal 'purgatory' of opposition to the PJM MOPR order

Language in the Federal Power Act prevents stakeholders from litigating a FERC order until regulators rule on rehearing requests, a decision that can face lengthy delays.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2020

Coal plants increasingly operate as cyclical, load-following power, leading to inefficiencies, costs: NARUC

Increased wind, solar and natural gas generation is forcing coal-fired plants to run their units in a way they were not designed to, or shut down.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 29, 2020

PG&E is betting heavily on microgrids. But can it move away from fossil fuels?

The utility is proposing to deploy 300 MW of temporary generation in areas that are vulnerable to public safety power shut-offs. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 28, 2020

Geothermal's surprise: Cheap renewables could keep states from achieving climate goals

Planners must think beyond the levelized cost for renewables to the value that each resource brings to the grid.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 27, 2020

Wisconsin utility plans to retire 345 MW of coal early as controversial natural gas plans remain in flux

Dairyland Power Cooperative is shutting down a coal plant in anticipation of a new natural gas project coming online, but the facility continues to face regulatory hurdles across Minnesota and Wisconsin.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 27, 2020

When states pick expensive policies under the guise of 'states' rights,' consumers pay

The inconsistency between state choices and wholesale power markets has reached a boiling point, and it's time someone closed the lid, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.

By Todd A. Snitchler • Jan. 23, 2020

Proposed bill would include large hydro, nuclear in California's renewable portfolio standard

The proposed legislation would also temporarily suspend the state's renewable portfolio standard so utilities could focus investments on infrastructure and vegetation management.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 23, 2020

Arizona Public Service sets 100% clean energy target, but doesn't rule out carbon capture for gas plants

Renewables advocates cheered the announcement but called for earlier coal closures and more specifics on community support, and for state regulators to set a 100% clean energy standard.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2020

2020 Utility Dive Outlooks: What's in store for coal, gas, renewables, DER and beyond

2020 promises to be another busy year across the U.S. power sector as the energy transition gathers more steam.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 23, 2020

A path forward for New England to a low-carbon future: Why a capacity market still matters

Significant work remains to integrate state decarbonization policies into the ISO New England and its wholesale markets, the author writes.

By Dan Dolan • Jan. 22, 2020

FERC MOPR order may have 'paradoxically unintended consequences': PJM

FERC's December order "might have made the process more administrative, more uncertain than it needs to be," a PJM official told stakeholders in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.  

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020

Ameren, Xcel, Dominion, Duke among most at-risk from changing climate: Moody's

Extreme heat and flooding, along with water scarcity and more severe hurricanes related to climate change, present long-term risks to utility assets, the credit rating agency found.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020

Indiana's Hoosier Energy to retire its 1,070 MW coal plant by 2023

The plant makes up over half the utility's current generation mix and did not previously have a set retirement date.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020

New York regulators recommend charging infrastructure plan expected to deliver $2.6B in net benefits

The program will cover up to 90% of costs for "make-ready" charging stations to lower cost barriers for developers.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 21, 2020

Georgia bill would require companies to treat coal ash like municipal solid waste

The proposed legislation would impose stricter regulations on coal ash cleanup, requiring landfills holding the waste to have bottom liners and leachate collection systems.

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 17, 2020

California launches rulemaking to manage transition away from natural gas

The California Public Utilities Commission will look into updating current reliability standards, as well as long-term contracting and tariff change rules.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 17, 2020

US hit record $55.5B renewables investments in 2019

A slow start to 2019 ended with a flurry of offshore and onshore wind investments led by the U.S., China and Europe.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 17, 2020

2020 Outlook: US renewable resources on steady course for increased deployment

"In 2020, there’s sort of a 'come on in, the water's warm' element of excitement and momentum" around renewable energy procurement, one analyst said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2020

Indiana bill would require Trump administration or state regulator blessing to retire coal plants early

The bill would prevent utilities from retiring plants early or otherwise decreasing operations unless explicitly directed by the federal government, not counting the Environmental Protection Agency.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 16, 2020

Tri-State announces major renewables shift with 1 GW in new projects, but questions remain

Tri-State announced a total of six new wind and solar projects and a forecast of 50% renewables use by its members by 2024, along with plans to abandon a proposed coal plant in Kansas.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 16, 2020