Rooftop solar is now cheaper than the grid in 42 American cities

Homeowners in some of the largest U.S. cities can get a better return from rooftop solar than from a pension fund or the S&P 500, a new study found.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2015

Tennessee clears transmission line to deliver Oklahoma wind to Southeast

The Plains & Eastern HVDC transmission line adds local clearance to DOE’s draft EIS approval.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

FERC approves Great Northern transmission line to link Manitoba hydro and Minnesota wind

The line will be built by Canadian and U.S. utilities and will connect to MISO.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2015

Michigan, We Energies agree to solution for U.P. power woes

The accord will allow the planned Integrys merger to move forward without opposition from Michigan.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2015

IRENA: U.S. can 'affordably' get to 27% renewable generation

With current policies, the U.S. energy mix will only reach 10% renewables by 2030 according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2015

Study: Consumers motivated by sustainability, not cash, to save energy

Researchers at UCLA show environmental benefits, not savings, push the most energy conservation.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 14, 2015

EIA forecast: Lower natural gas prices, increased renewables in 2015

Growth in electricity prices nationwide will drop to 1.1% from 2014’s 3.1%, EIA forecasted.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2015

Xcel solar project meets resistance in Minnesota

Locals fear the NextEra Energy’s 62 MW installation will hurt land values.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2015

Wind generation hits records, mitigates price spikes during cold snap

Wind energy shows it can help regulate power prices during extreme weather events.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2015

ICF: Coal's future grim as power markets face fuel, regulatory uncertainty

Natural gas will continue to dominate the new generation mix.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2015

IPL asks Indiana regulators to raise fixed charges

IPL becomes the latest example in a nationwide trend to reshape rate structures.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2015

Predictions 2015 Part 2: 7 insider views on the utility business

Utilities, policymakers, researchers and more tell us what will change the way power companies do business in 2015.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 12, 2015

New details emerge regarding origins of HECO-NextEra deal

NextEra CEO Jim Robo believed the renewable energy giant could bring its expertise to HECO's service territory.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 12, 2015

Northeast Utilities rebrands itself as Eversource Energy

The new name will go into effect Feb. 2.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 9, 2015

EEI: Utilities spent a record $37B on new T&D in 2013

A new EEI survey shows 2013 transmission spending to meet new needs up 14.2%.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 2015

IHS: Global solar PV to reach 53 GW in 2015, Calif. to become global leader

China, Japan, and the U.S. remain leaders and grid-tied solar plus storage will triple this year.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 2015

Stem closes funding round with committment from Exelon finance arm

The funding will allow Stem to expand its predictive analytics energy optimization platform.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2015

The new guide to the nation's best solar policies — and how to emulate them

It takes a suite of good policies to significantly boost solar, but every state is "different and special and changing."

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 2015

Boulder releases muni finance data showing electicity price increases

The city has published a cash flow analysis of its municipalization plans but will not have to release software that helped develop its models.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 7, 2015

Cape Wind hit with new setback as two utilities back out of PPAs

National Grid and NStar say the project failed to meet its financing and construction deadline.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2015

Arizona's utility-owned solar programs: The new business models utilities are looking for?

APS will pay a monthly fee to solar hosts solar and TEP will reward them through rates.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2015

Missouri utilities propose new fixed charges to cover infrastructure costs

KCP&L and Empire Electric want new charges to mitigate fixed and variable charge “distortions.”

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2015

Exelon needs to nearly double power prices to keep Ginna nuclear plant open

New York regulators' tolerance of unprofitable plants will be tested in the coming months.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2015

Winter weather pushes PJM prices to nearly $300/MWh

A mass of Arctic air has brought bone chilling temperatures to large portions of the eastern United States.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 6, 2015

AEP weighing sale of merchant generation business

The Ohio-based utility could sell as many as seven generation facilities, reports say.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 6, 2015