Brattle: Nevada could cost-effectively deploy 1 GW of energy storage by 2030

The state is revamping the planning process for its utilities, and the Public Utilities Commission is considering establishing an energy storage target.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2018

Coal lobby pleased as Trump nominates ally McNamee to FERC

The Department of Energy official is expected to align closer with White House priorities than former Commissioner Robert Powelson, who stepped down in August. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 4, 2018

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

FERC authorizes expansion of US-Mexico pipeline

Kinder Morgan expects the new expansion capacity to come online in 2020. The rise in natural gas exports to Mexico comes as President Trump pushes for the United States to achieve "energy dominance."

By Robert Walton • Oct. 3, 2018

Connecticut agencies say Millstone 'at risk' as Dominion seeks boost in clean energy RFP

If the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority agrees Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant is 'at risk,' it could receive above-market rates in Connecticut's solicitation for zero emission resources.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 3, 2018

PJM recasts capacity repricing in market reform filing at FERC

The generator is trying for a second time to boost revenues for coal and gas generators in its capacity market after federal regulators threw out its market rules in June.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 3, 2018

Ahead of FERC storage order deadline, new rules begin to take shape in PJM

PJM Interconnection's straw proposal gives a glimpse into how energy storage might participate more in wholesale markets.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 2, 2018

S&P downgrades Georgia Power's partners in Vogtle nuclear project

After hammering out a last-minute agreement to keep the nuclear project alive, the munis and cooperative utilities in the Vogtle nuclear project are hit with downgrades.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 2, 2018

EPA MATS rollback threatens DOE carbon capture priorities, critics warn

Allowing utilities to stop using pollution scrubbers mandated under the EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards could raise the price for coal plants to adopt carbon capture, proponents of the technology said. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 2, 2018

PJM: FirstEnergy can shut 4 GW of fossil plants without harming reliability

FirstEnergy warned of blackouts if its plants retire, but the grid operator said it has plenty of time to address the lost capacity.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2018

McDermott gets go-ahead for $937M Texas power plant

McDermott International said its contract for the natural gas plant project, which is expected to generate 750 jobs at peak construction, is between $500 million and $750 million.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 2, 2018

When PJM's capacity market stops working for consumers is it time to leave?

Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Brien Sheahan urges states with renewable energy mandates or nuclear subsidies to reevaluate their participation in the largest U.S. electricity market.

By Brien J. Sheahan​ • Oct. 2, 2018

ISO-NE to focus on market solutions for winter energy security in 2019

ISO New England is considering an "interim compensation treatment for periods associated with reliability reviews for fuel security," the grid operator says in its 2019 Annual Work Plan.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2018

Report: As EPA rewrites mercury rules, new cost-benefit approach could curtail future regulations

The proposed rewrite of Obama-era pollution standards does not consider "co-benefits," The New York Times reports, which could set a precedent for less stringent emissions rules in the future. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 1, 2018

DOE moves to slash cost of carbon capture for coal-fired power plants

The White House is not letting up on its efforts to turn around the decline of coal-fired power plants, allocating $30 million for research into carbon dioxide capture technologies.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 1, 2018

Federal court again upholds state nuclear subsidies, this time in New York

The decision is the second in a month affirming state clean energy policies and boosts pressure on FERC to decide how it will treat the subsidized resources. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 28, 2018

'Not your grandma's DER': Distributed resources modernize, prove value to grid

Portfolios of DER are finally operating and showing how customer-sited resources can be of great value to utilities and system operators.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 27, 2018

Judge approves $850M FirstEnergy payment to bankrupt generation subsidiary

Environmental Defense Fund wants to ensure the payment to FirstEnergy Solutions goes toward the cost of remediating the coal and nuclear plants the company plans to close.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 27, 2018

Columbia Gas explosions prompt Massachusetts to hire gas system evaluator

The safety assessment follows a series of explosions in Northern Massachusetts earlier this month that killed one person and set fire to more than 70 homes.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 27, 2018

Generators pan ISO-NE price taker proposal for fuel secure plants

The ISO-NE proposal to prop up plants with onsite fuel supplies would cause "massive suppression of prices" and displace more than a gigawatt of otherwise economic resources, critics wrote in comments. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 27, 2018

Vogtle nuclear plant owners agree to continue construction

The decision to keep building the sole nuclear project under construction in the U.S. is a win for lead owner Southern Co. and a boon for the fragile domestic nuclear sector. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated Sept. 26, 2018

NuScale sees 'pivotal' step in selecting manufacturer for small modular reactor

Completing more of the construction work off-site — one of the benefits of so-called small modular reactors —​ was one recommendation from a recent report on the nuclear industry by the MIT Energy Initiative.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 26, 2018

TVA not violating Clean Water Act at Gallatin coal ash pond, 6th Circuit rules

Coal ash in unlined pits may be seeping into groundwater, but the court concluded the Clean Water Act is not the proper vehicle to address the issue.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 26, 2018

Vogtle nuke deadline extended again to 5 p.m.

The owners faced a Tuesday deadline to agree on cost-sharing terms for the plant, but extended their negotiation period three times.

By Gavin Bade , Peter Maloney • Updated Sept. 25, 2018

Dominion to sell its stakes in 3 merchant plants for $1.3B

Despite the decision to sell two gas plants, Dominion retains a strong commitment to the resource for its future generating portfolio.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 25, 2018

How FERC can protect customers and respect state energy policy authority in its PJM capacity market proceeding

FERC's PJM capacity market order must be implemented in a way that preserves the authority of the 13 states and D.C. to pursue clean energy and protects customers from billions in higher utility bills.

By Ann McCabe and Miles Farmer • Sept. 25, 2018