As momentum for hydrogen builds, electric utilities chart multiple paths forward

Utilities interested in the hydrogen market are considering the fuel for carbon-free generation and for new business models on the horizon.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 18, 2021

Nuscale to consider Xcel to operate its advanced nuclear reactors

The discussions could indicate Xcel's efforts to "keep its nuclear assets in the game," one expert said, and ease the path to full operations for NuScale's small modular reactor clients.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 17, 2021

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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

Illinois regulators launch probe of ComEd in wake of bribery scandal

The Illinois Commerce Commission is investigating whether ComEd stuck ratepayers with the bill for patronage hires and other money spent in a bribery case involving one of the state's most powerful politicians.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 16, 2021

PSEG unloads fossil fuel plants for $1.9B in push toward decarbonization

PSEG is taking another big step towards cleaning up its grid, with the New Jersey utility announcing plans on Thursday to sell a 6,750 MW portfolio of fossil-fuel plants for $1.92 billion.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 13, 2021

Dominion planning 'largest clean energy submission to date' in Virginia filing

In its second quarter earnings call, CEO Robert Blue said the utility is aggressively pushing forward clean energy solutions, spending $17 billion on zero-carbon generation and storage over the next five years.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 9, 2021

DHL Express orders 12 electric aircraft in step toward zero-emission logistics

The company will use the electric aircraft for regional feeder routes starting in the U.S., primarily for the Southeast and West Coast.

By Max Garland • Aug. 9, 2021

Duke Energy's renewable portfolio hits 10,000 MW as utility reports Q2 earnings

The utility is on its way to more than double its renewable power portfolio by the end of the decade, executives said Thursday.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 6, 2021

State, federal efforts too late to save Exelon's Illinois nuclear plants, CEO Crane says

Exelon's leadership has months to decommission the Byron and Dresden plants in Illinois, which CEO Chris Crane described as "the right economic decision" absent legislation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 6, 2021

Entergy touts hydrogen as tool to meet industrial customers' green goals

On the utility's second quarter earnings call, CEO Leo Denault said it is working to offer industrial clients "some of the cleanest electricity in the country."

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 6, 2021

AES, Google moonshot factory, to partner on grid virtualization platform

The companies will work together on technology that could eventually give a real-time virtualization of the grid as it integrates renewables and distributed resources. 

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 4, 2021

First Solar CEO highlights 3.3 GWdc manufacturing expansions in Ohio, India ahead of next gen module

The new Ohio plant will allow the company to "develop a new product at the intersection of efficiency, energy yield ... cost competitiveness and advantaged environmental attributes," CEO Mark Widmar said.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 3, 2021

Tesla works with suppliers to source alternative chips for EVs amid semiconductor shortage

The approach helped the automaker produce and deliver 200,000 electric vehicles in Q2, but it warned the workaround could be difficult to sustain.

By Max Garland • Aug. 2, 2021

SEC may require climate risk disclosures in expanded 10-Ks: Gensler

SEC Chair Gary Gensler says a company, when filing mandatory climate risk disclosures, may need to measure carbon emissions across its “value chain.”

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 2, 2021

As climate risk disclosures loom, US utilities must not evade accountability

U.S. utilities, through their trade groups, are pressing the SEC for weak climate disclosure policies that contradict advice from leading authorities, the authors write.

By Howard Crystal and Ilana Cohen • Aug. 2, 2021

Xcel plans to roll out 10,000 MW of renewable energy in Minnesota, Colorado by 2030

Xcel Energy is accelerating plans to cut its carbon emissions in Minnesota, the utility's home base, and is also gearing up for a major transition, with longtime CEO Ben Fowke slated to retire on Aug. 18.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 30, 2021

PG&E forecasts 'probable' loss from July Dixie fire as CEO Poppe highlights plan to bury power lines

Company executives provided details during Thursday's Q2 earnings call on their sweeping plan to bury 10,000 miles of power lines underground in an attempt to reduce wildfire risk in PG&E's service territory.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2021

Booming demand for renewable energy financing could result in tax equity shortage, experts say

The alignment of policy and corporate goals is driving even greater demand for renewable energy, according to speakers at a Tuesday panel, but there may not be enough financing — or financing professionals — to meet demand.

By Emma Penrod • July 28, 2021

Tesla further delays Semi production amid component shortages

UPS has the largest single pre-order for 125 Semis, but the logistics provider said it is "waiting on the market."

By S.L. Fuller • July 28, 2021

Musk: Supply chain issues creating 'significant unmet demand' for Tesla Megapack storage battery

In its Q2 earnings call, Tesla reported 1.2 GWh of storage deployment but warned that a global chip shortage "remains quite serious.”

By Jason Plautz • July 27, 2021

NextEra adds 1,840 MW renewables and storage to more than 15 GW backlog in Q2

NextEra Energy is nearing the halfway mark in its campaign to roll out 30 million solar panels across Florida by 2030, the multistate utility said Friday in its second quarter earnings report. 

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 26, 2021

AEP seeing 'credible interest' from potential buyers of Kentucky Power subsidiary, CEO says

AEP is ramping up its push to build more renewable generation, executives said Thursday, as the company detailed an increase in second quarter earnings amid a rebounding economy and interest in its Kentucky subsidiary.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 23, 2021

FirstEnergy agrees to pay $230M fine for bribing Ohio officials to bail out two nuclear plants

Ohio groups called the fee a "drop in the bucket," despite it being the largest federal criminal penalty ever to be collected in the Southern District of Ohio, surpassing the $200 million fee imposed on Exelon subsidiary ComEd in 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 23, 2021

Avangrid touts green hydrogen proposals under DOE initiative, raises 2021 earnings outlook

Avangrid filed several proposals with the Department of Energy, including a plan to build a 20 MW electrolyzer and hydrogen storage complex in Connecticut, to be powered by offshore wind and other renewable sources.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 22, 2021

Austin housing project offers Tesla large-scale test bed to address challenges with energy products

A planned community of homes with Tesla's Solar Roof and Powerwalls could offer new insights into the company's energy future. 

By Jason Plautz • July 21, 2021

Avangrid, PNM report progress with merger critics as criminal probe of Iberdrola raises new questions

As the utilities work to win over the remaining critics of their proposed $8.3 billion merger, the New Mexico hearing examiner wants more information about a criminal investigation into the activities of Avangrid's parent company.

By Scott Van Voorhis • July 21, 2021