Tesla CEO Musk knew SolarCity was in trouble but still pushed for acquisition, lawsuit alleges

Tesla bought SolarCity in 2016 for $2.6 billion, but newly-unsealed documents claim "almost immediately after the acquisition closed, SolarCity's auditors E&Y confirmed that SolarCity was, in fact, insolvent."

By Robert Walton • Sept. 24, 2019

PG&E blasts $24B fire compensation plan as it risks losing control of reorganization

Wildfire victims teamed up with bondholders to propose a new plan in addition to the utility's proposed $17.9 billion settlement for fire claims.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 23, 2019

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

Orsted taps GE for 50% more efficient turbines in New Jersey, Maryland offshore wind projects

The Danish company's use of the 12 MW Haliade-X units is expected to move the global offshore wind market toward larger turbines, "which mean lower electricity costs for taxpayers and ratepayers," an industry expert said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 23, 2019

Amazon buys 100K electric vans as part of net zero carbon goals

The e-commerce company revealed its total carbon footprint was 44.4 million metric tons in 2018, and it wants to achieve carbon neutrality 10 years ahead of the Paris Climate Accord's 2050 goal. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 20, 2019

Google jumps to top of corporate renewable ladder, with 1.6 GW buy

The purchase includes 18 deals across three continents that make it the largest corporate acquisition of renewables ever, the company claims.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2019

FERC oversight battle heats up as Colorado regulators blast Tri-State petition

The state's Public Utility Commission has taken steps to regulate Tri-State's electric resource planning, and worries the utility views federal regulation as an escape hatch for its coal-heavy generation mix.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 19, 2019

DTE issues renewables RFP, targeting ownership, not PPAs

DTE Energy's request for proposals targets wind and solar resources coming online between 2021 and 2023 — ​a stretch of time when the utility has proposed to add up to 775 MW of renewables.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 17, 2019

PG&E reaches $11B insurance settlement over wildfire claims

Pacific Gas & Electric announced it reached a settlement with insurers related to the 2017 Northern California wildfires and 2018 Camp Fire. The $11 billion settlement is significantly lower than the $20 billion insurers say they were owed.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2019

Sunrun partnership enhances HECO's ability to tap into DER systems when power demand spikes

The developer has teamed up with OATI to offer 4.3 MW of capacity and fast frequency service to the Hawaiian Electric Company through 1,000 solar+storage systems across Oahu residences.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 12, 2019

Pacifcorp sees 2 GW coal retirements, $599M savings by 2040 in latest planning scenarios

The utility continues to model coal retirement scenarios and has narrowed its preference to five options that include early coal shutdowns, new transmission, and wind and solar resources as part of its integrated resource plan.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

Santee Cooper forecasts coal phaseout, 1 GW new solar as base case for potential sale

The state-owned utility prepared the forecast at the direction of South Carolina legislators who are considering selling the company to pay off debt from the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

PG&E reorganization plan includes $17.9B for wildfire claims, but funding remains uncertain

A more detailed reorganization plan must be filed with a federal bankruptcy court by Sept. 29, with a key question being how Pacific Gas & Electric will fund it.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 10, 2019

San Francisco offers PG&E $2.5B for city's grid

The city's offer is part of a plan to develop a municipal provider and came three days before the bankrupt utility is expected to propose a path to solvency.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 9, 2019

Arizona's chief utility regulator pressures APS to cut political spending

A lack of action by Arizona Public Service and its parent company, Pinnacle West, could impact the utility's next rate proceeding, according to Arizona Corporation Commissioner Bob Burns.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 9, 2019

Cleco, SWEPCO shift coal plant use, target 2.8 GW renewables in latest resource plans

Southwestern Electric Power and Cleco Power, which co-own the Dolet Hills power plant, have adjusted the generator to seasonal dispatch in light of increasing costs for the fuel and other factors.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 6, 2019

Tri-State subject to FERC regulation as it adds non co-op member

Tri-State has expressed concerns over growing calls for increased state oversight of its facilities and rates, noting there is political pressure for such a move in New Mexico and Colorado.

By Robert Walton • Updated Sept. 6, 2019

Dominion to invest $277M in unauthorized revenue from 2018 in offshore wind, smart meters

The utility says state lawmakers have approved investments where it intends to spend the over-collection. A ratepayer advocate says the utility is "cheating Virginia customers."

By Robert Walton • Sept. 3, 2019

Delayed since 2016, Constitution Pipeline scores win on New York water permit

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week reversed a previous decision, breathing new life into the Williams Cos. project and leaving backers cautiously optimistic.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 3, 2019

Santee Cooper to shutter half its coal over next decade

Santee Cooper's incoming CEO, Mark Bonsall, is steering the utility in a new direction with plans to lower carbon emissions.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2019

Wildfires in Alaska? A historic drought has local utility scrambling

Fires burning to the north and south of Chugach Electric Association's territory prompted the utility to make operational changes and step up vegetation maintenance.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 28, 2019

PG&E may answer the billion dollar grid modernization question

A step-by-step regulatory process in California confronts the technical challenges and "obscene expenses" of distributed resource investments.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 26, 2019

TVA board approves long-term plan adding 14 GW solar by 2038

The board also called for the addition of simple cycle gas units to follow the variable loads created by renewable energy additions.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 23, 2019

Vistra to shutter 4 Illinois coal plants, totaling over 2,000 MW

The closures are necessary to stay compliant with changes to Illinois' Multi-Pollutant Standard Rule, but the utility says changing economics made the early retirements "inevitable."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2019

FirstEnergy Solutions' bankruptcy plan hits snag as judge presses utility to resolve union contracts

FES wants to scrap FirstEnergy labor contracts, including pensions for long-time nuclear plant workers, while emerging from bankruptcy with up to $1.1 billion in cash, witnesses say.

By John Funk • Aug. 22, 2019

Virginia regulators allow customers to exit Dominion service for 100% renewables offerings

The utility was ordered to restart processing exit applications in August from customers this summer, as its own 100% renewable energy plan is pending before regulators.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Sept. 19, 2019