As Vogtle Unit 3 starts commercial operation, Unit 4 gets NRC approval to begin fuel loading

Vogtle Unit 3 is the first newly constructed commercial nuclear reactor in the U.S. in more than 30 years. Unit 4 is expected to enter into service in the fourth quarter of 2023 or first quarter of 2024.

By Larry Pearl • July 31, 2023

Southern California Edison eyeing ‘substantial investments’ in grid resilience and reliability, CEO says

From 2025 through 2028, SCE projects annual capital deployment of around $8 billion — double what it was six years ago — with over 85% of its investments going into the distribution grid.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 31, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Decarbonization

Companies and governments are pushing to reduce carbon emissions, prompting questions about how to best increase the use of zero-emitting resources amid interconnection, transmission and other challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

The business of energy providers and suppliers: Today’s pressures, tomorrow’s optimism

Energy providers worldwide are operating in a constantly evolving marketplace, and these changing conditions present both challenges and opportunities.

July 31, 2023

First Solar plans $1.1B solar panel factory

The clean energy manufacturer is adding its fifth U.S. site as it looks to leverage Inflation Reduction Act tax credits. 

By Kate Magill • July 28, 2023

AEP plans to sell stakes in Duke, Berkshire transmission joint ventures amid focus on core utilities

The plan to sell off its shares in transmission companies co-owned with Duke Energy, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Evergy continues AEP’s exit from non-utility assets.

By Ethan Howland • July 28, 2023

Xcel to pursue cost-cutting measures after unfavorable rate case, mounting Marshall Fire litigation

While the company plans to fight both the rate case decision and the Marshall Fire lawsuits, CFO Brian Van Abel said it also aims to cut costs by about 3% to meet earnings goals in the second half of 2023.

By Emma Penrod • July 28, 2023

PG&E Corp. CEO touts efforts to prevent fires, but some say it’s ignoring the most effective measure

PG&E’s wildfire prevention efforts “dramatically changed our risk exposure and the fundamental safety of our system,” CEO Patti Poppe said on the company’s earnings call Thursday. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated Aug. 1, 2023

NextEra seeing signs of wider renewable energy recovery, company leaders say

Solar panel and battery prices have begun to decline, and renewables stand to gain a third class of customers as the U.S. establishes a hydrogen industry, NextEra Energy CEO John Ketchum said.

By Emma Penrod • July 27, 2023

Fervo Energy sees ‘breakthrough’ in enhanced geothermal technology, opening path for firm, clean power

The successful use of fracking techniques at a project in Nevada expands the potential for geothermal across the West, according to Tim Latimer, Fervo CEO.

By Ethan Howland • July 21, 2023

Energy Northwest, X-energy sign joint development agreement for up to 12 small modular reactors

Energy Northwest expects to develop the 960 MW project at a site adjacent to the Columbia Generating Station and bring the first Xe-100 module online by 2030.

By Larry Pearl • July 20, 2023

AES Indiana plans 200-MW/800-MWh energy storage at retiring coal plant

The project would use existing interconnection rights. “As renewables proliferate, finding ideal interconnections is getting, and will continue to get, more difficult,” an AES official said.

By Ethan Howland • July 20, 2023

‘Waste-to-value’ development firm Nexus PMG targets biochar, energy following $50M infusion

Nexus PMG has raised its first major growth equity round from institutional backers. The funding will help grow its advisory business as well as subsidiaries Nexus W2V and Pathway Energy. 

By Jacob Wallace • July 13, 2023

DTE Electric agrees to speed Michigan coal plant retirements, renewable and energy storage buildout

DTE will add 3.8 GW of renewables and 780 MW of energy storage by 2030 under a settlement agreement released Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • July 13, 2023

Evergy capital plan rises 64% in 4 years, reflecting surge in US utility spending: Kansas regulatory staff

S&P Global expects record-setting capital spending by utilities starting this year, partly in response to federal clean energy and infrastructure policy.

By Ethan Howland • July 12, 2023

New solar venture to invest up to $1.5B on domestic operation, beginning with Colorado factory

VSK Energy aims to develop a vertically integrated solar manufacturing operation in the U.S. to help reduce reliance on other countries for key components. 

By Megan Ruggles • July 7, 2023

Minnesota PUC approves Xcel’s plan to install a 10-MW/1,000-MWh Form Energy battery system

The utility company expects the long-duration energy storage project will be operating by the end of 2025. It will be paired with 710 MW of solar at the site of a coal-fired power plant that is being retired.

By Ethan Howland • July 7, 2023

Roughly $7B federal loan could offer PG&E ‘cheap money’ to upgrade electric grid in California

If approved, the loan would fund projects related to resiliency, building and vehicle electrification and distributed energy resources, according to a utility spokesperson. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 6, 2023

Duke Energy in $364M deal to sell unregulated distributed generation business to ArcLight affiliate

Duke plans to use the proceeds from the sale to strengthen its balance sheet as it eyes $36 billion in spending on regulated assets over the next five years.

By Ethan Howland • July 5, 2023

$6.6B Mountain Valley Pipeline gets green light to finish construction

The much-delayed pipeline got permission from federal regulators to move ahead after years of legal challenges.

By Julie Strupp • July 5, 2023

AEP’s SWEPCO gets approval to buy 1 GW of wind, solar from Invenergy for $2.2B

Including tax credits, the projects are expected to save $1.38/MWh compared with business as usual.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2023

As Texas sweats, its electric grid has remained stable, in part due to renewables

The Public Utility Commission of Texas continues to develop a new dispatchable reliability reserve service and approved an 83% pay raise for the board of the state’s grid operator on June 29.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2023

Energy workforce grew 3.8% last year; clean energy jobs increased in every state: DOE employment report

Clean energy technologies were the source of almost 87% of net new jobs in the power generation sector, according to the 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report.

By Robert Walton • June 29, 2023

Activist investor Elliott seeks new NRG Energy CEO, revamped company strategy

NRG said its board fully supports CEO Mauricio Gutierrez. “We are confident that our [strategic] plan will deliver substantial additional near- and long-term value,” a spokesperson said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • June 28, 2023

Arizona Public Service reaches settlement with ACC, will raise rates to recover Four Corners investment

The utility will also be allowed to earn a higher return on equity after a court determined regulators overstepped their authority in lowering the ROE to punish the utility for customer service issues. 

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2023

Utilities including AEP and Duke are unloading renewables, other assets

Duke is selling its 3.4-GW commercial renewable energy business for $2.8B while AEP is selling nearly 1.4 GW of wind and solar assets in a deal worth $1.5B, among other sales announced by utilities this year.

By Larry Pearl • June 23, 2023