Georgia Power coal ash plan mirrors conditions that led to Duke spills: Report

Three of the utility's coal ash disposal sites sit on floodplains and another buries a creek in 97 feet of coal ash.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 6, 2019

Bipartisan Senate support for nuclear grows with $7.5B bill to extend life of current fleet

The bill is a continuation of the Senate's focus on supporting new nuclear technologies while improving the economic viability of the current fleet.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 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

California grid operator asks FERC for broader authority to maintain system reliability

The California ISO has asked federal regulators for the authority to issue reliability-must-run designations for a range of needs, beyond the local capacity needs the program typically serves.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 5, 2019

Dominion invests $1.1B in offshore wind, watches Northeast developments

The utility's non-regulated generation business is developing two turbines off the coast of Virginia, with plans to develop more as prices drop.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 5, 2019

Ohio nuclear and coal bailout is a loss for nuclear power and the climate

HB6, which links nuclear power to coal and not renewables, risks undermining the burgeoning bipartisan consensus that nuclear power will play a crucial role in tackling climate change, while attracting to nuclear the ire usually reserved for coal.

By Randolph Bell • Aug. 5, 2019

Dominion's 100% renewables tariff could kill Virginia's retail choice ambitions

Competitive retail providers are fighting for customers in the state, alongside a growing number of displeased ratepayers.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019

Colorado regulators propose rules governing Tri-State resource planning

Tri-State Generation & Transmission is moving to become federally regulated, but says it will participate in the Colorado rulemaking process.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 5, 2019

ALJ dismisses Duke attempt to reverse North Carolina coal ash excavation order

Duke will proceed with its appeal of state regulators' finding that complete excavation is the only way to completely protect public health and the environment.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019

Enbridge natural gas pipeline explosion kills 1, injures 5 in Kentucky

A rupture on the almost 9,000 mile Texas Eastern Transmission pipeline caused the Thursday explosion.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 2, 2019

9th Circuit contradicts FERC in favor of solar developers in California PURPA case

The federal court ruled the state did not have a mechanism in place to effectively implement PURPA, the law intended to drive utilities to purchase power from smaller renewables generators.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 2, 2019

Think closing power plants is less risky than opening them? That's a mistake

As the energy sector transitions to cleaner sources of electricity, hundreds of existing U.S. power plants and well over 100 gigawatts of capacity are facing decommissioning and dismantling, posing a variety of challenges.

By William Riggins • Aug. 2, 2019

GE Renewables notches $184M Q2 loss, despite strong revenue growth

The company cited a host of reasons for the loss, including increased research and development spending, and project execution issues, particularly in Asia.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2019

EPA moves to roll back environmental protection requirements for utility coal ash sites

Companies with coal ash fill projects larger than 12,400 tons must have environmental protections in place, but EPA now only wants those requirements at sites that have geological vulnerabilities, with no upper limit on tonnage.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 31, 2019

Wholesale electricity market design for rapid decarbonization: Adding new long-term markets to today's spot markets

Part two of this opinion series proposes a hybrid solution to support clean energy investment and reliably decarbonize the power system at least cost.

By Steve Corneli, Eric Gimon, Brendan Pierpont • July 30, 2019

Ameren cancels 157 MW wind project, citing transmission upgrade costs

The Missouri project would have required "unacceptably high" expenses that the utility said it didn't want to push on to ratepayers.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 30, 2019

Wholesale electricity market design for rapid decarbonization: A decentralized markets approach

What wholesale market design would provide the best framework for integrating reliably and at least cost the new, clean resources that will be needed to de-carbonize the power system?

By Rob Gramlich and Michael Hogan • July 29, 2019

4th Circuit Court vacates permits for Dominion's Atlantic Coast Pipeline

The court found the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's expedited decision-making did not sufficiently consider environmental protection.

By Robert Walton • July 29, 2019

FERC orders PJM to postpone capacity auction

The grid operator asked for certainty ahead of its August auction as FERC works on rules that incorporate aggregated distributed resources into the market.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 26, 2019

US utility deals reach $12.3B in Q2 2019, renewables growth expected to drive more

The overall volume of deals continues to decline, but analysts expect state and city mandates to drive more.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2019

PSEG on track to reduce emissions 80%, will divest all remaining coal interests

The New Jersey utility said it is making progress and envisions a zero-carbon future, "assuming advances in technology and public policy."

By Robert Walton • July 25, 2019

FERC creates LNG export division, following spike in development applications

The move has drawn criticism from environmental groups that say the agency should focus on climate impacts of natural gas instead.

By Robert Walton • July 25, 2019

Chicago considers municipalizing ComEd

The utility's contract with the city expires at the end of 2020 and city leaders believe they could accelerate decarbonization and lower rates through municipalization.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 25, 2019

Tri-State files for FERC regulation, Delta-Montrose to exit in 2020

Delta-Montrose Electric Association and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association say they have negotiated a fair exit fee, though the amount will not be made public until next year.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2019

Ørsted to develop offshore wind manufacturing hub to service East Coast

The staging area would enable offshore wind construction throughout the region, particularly for Ørsted’s 120 MW offshore wind farm off the border of Maryland and Delaware.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 24, 2019

Federal bill could restore biogas tax credits, bolster organics infrastructure

The expiration of a 30% investment tax credit — responsible for growing the wind and solar sectors — has reduced financing options for anaerobic digesters in recent years.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 27, 2019