Geothermal's surprise: Cheap renewables could keep states from achieving climate goals

Planners must think beyond the levelized cost for renewables to the value that each resource brings to the grid.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 27, 2020

NextEra aims to capitalize on PTC extension, repower wind in 2020

The company missed its Q4 earnings estimate but its developer arm excelled, beating fourth quarter earnings from 2018, and increasing its pipeline of projects to the largest it's ever been.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 27, 2020

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

US utility M&A fell to $43B in 2019, but renewable tax incentive phaseout could re-establish interest: PwC

PricewaterhouseCoopers analysts say they expect more large deals in 2020 after utility mergers and acquisitions fell for three consecutive years.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 27, 2020

PG&E strikes deal with bondholders, but Newsom reiterates objections

The agreement awaits final approval from the bankruptcy court, but would have the bondholders' committee withdraw their competing reorganization proposal and support PG&E's instead.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 23, 2020

Amazon, Lime part of new alliance to accelerate EVs

The Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance will demand production of new EV models and infrastructure, especially in the delivery and shipping sectors. 

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 23, 2020

Arizona Public Service sets 100% clean energy target, but doesn't rule out carbon capture for gas plants

Renewables advocates cheered the announcement but called for earlier coal closures and more specifics on community support, and for state regulators to set a 100% clean energy standard.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2020

2020 Utility Dive Outlooks: What's in store for coal, gas, renewables, DER and beyond

2020 promises to be another busy year across the U.S. power sector as the energy transition gathers more steam.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 23, 2020

8minute forms equity partnership with Capital Dynamics for largest US solar + storage project

The facility will deliver 400 MW of solar and 1,200 MWh of energy storage to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power at a fixed solar cost under $0.02 per kilowatt-hour.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 23, 2020

PepsiCo to get all its US electricity from renewable sources

The maker of its namesake soda, Gatorade and Doritos plans to reach the target later this year. America accounts for nearly half of its total global electricity consumption.

By Christopher Doering • Jan. 16, 2020

Google, NV Energy renewable megadeal includes rare storage component

The deal includes 350 MW of solar and up to 280 MW of energy storage, but storage deals for corporate buyers often don't pencil out, an analyst said, because the renewable generation is already fairly cheap.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2020

Bipartisan bill aims to end Dominion's monopoly in Virginia

Dominion and other utilities oppose efforts to deregulate retail markets, saying it can increase costs, but similar bills are expected this year in Florida, Colorado and other states.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 8, 2020

Judge tells Michigan regulators to send DTE back to drawing board on its long-term resource plan

The Administrative Law Judge criticized the utility's calculations of its energy needs and rejected its plan for failing to issue a mandatory Request for Proposals to solicit accurate prices for renewable resources.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 3, 2020

JEA rejects multibillion-dollar buyout offers from Duke, NextEra and 7 others

City officials were skeptical of the plan as the municipal utility spent millions on the potential sale.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 2, 2020

PG&E CEO promises 'shorter, fewer' shut-offs continuing for the next 5 years

The utility's bankruptcy will not jeopardize California's clean energy goals or increase costs for customers, PG&E President and CEO Bill Johnson told lawmakers.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 20, 2019

Judge approves PG&E wildfire settlements, bringing utility closer to exiting bankruptcy

The settlements resolve two crucial components of PG&E's bankruptcy — its liabilities to committees representing wildfire victims and insurance companies.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 18, 2019

Investigations of ComEd, Exelon lobbying threaten Illinois energy transition

Lawmakers and clean energy advocates vow to continue fighting for the state's landmark clean energy bill despite a "black cloud of corruption."

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 17, 2019

Newsom's rejection throws wrench in PG&E bankruptcy process

California Governor Gavin Newsom's letter to PG&E Corp. CEO Bill Johnson and responses from state lawmakers indicate the potential for political micromanagement of PG&E's reorganization.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 17, 2019

First Energy Solutions bankruptcy judge must reconsider FERC authority on contracts: 6th Circuit

The bankruptcy court must now consider FERC's objections to FES breaking contract with Ohio Valley Electric Cooperative, which could mean a round of briefs and possibly a hearing, just as the company's bankruptcy case wraps up.

By John Funk • Dec. 16, 2019

Northern California's wildfire season is effectively over. What's next for PG&E?

While PG&E did not cause another catastrophic wildfire in Northern California this year, it still has to deal with risky infrastructure, the likelihood of prolonged power shut-offs and the specter of municipalization.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 11, 2019

NorthWestern Energy unveils plan to buy 25% of Colstrip coal unit for $1

Utility officials noted that building a gas-fired plant with the same capacity could cost about $240 million while wind + storage "could cost several billion dollars and still not provide equivalent capacity."

By Robert Walton • Dec. 11, 2019

Utility of the Year: Hawaiian Electric

The "bleeding edge" company is taking a multi-faceted approach to tackling key challenges in the utility sector, using a range of tools to achieve its objectives.

By Larry Pearl • Dec. 9, 2019

The Utility Dive Awards for 2019

The annual awards highlight the biggest trends in innovation in the electric utility sector: from penciling out electrification efforts to pioneering new revenue streams for distributed resources.

Dec. 9, 2019

Executive of the Year: Mary Powell, Green Mountain Power

Powell is leaving her post at the end of the year, but created a new playbook for the investor-owned utility to continue to prioritize customer choice.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 9, 2019

Vineyard Wind wins 804 MW bid for offshore wind in Connecticut

The developer had submitted proposals to deliver up to 1,200 MW in the state.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 6, 2019

California proposal rejects wildfire premium in PG&E, other utilities' ROE

Regulators said recent state legislation removed the need for a premium by eliminating wildfire risk exposure for investor-owned utilities.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 4, 2019