Southwest Power Pool moves to boost reliability, storage amid CEO resignation

The buildout of cheap renewables and the large queue of battery storage projects prompted stakeholders to ask SPP to study the reliability impacts of a grid with less conventional generation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 1, 2019

FERC staff drafts environmental 'pass' for Mountain Valley Pipeline expansion

NextEra Energy's joint venture would add two delivery points to meet Dominion Energy's natural gas supply needs in North Carolina.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 30, 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

US utility deals reach $12.3B in Q2 2019, renewables growth expected to drive more

The overall volume of deals continues to decline, but analysts expect state and city mandates to drive more.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2019

Apple leads second-biggest year for commercial solar installations: SEIA

Power purchase agreements and off-site installations play an important role as more companies add solar capacity.

By Max Witynski • July 25, 2019

Ørsted to develop offshore wind manufacturing hub to service East Coast

The staging area would enable offshore wind construction throughout the region, particularly for Ørsted’s 120 MW offshore wind farm off the border of Maryland and Delaware.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 24, 2019

Duke Energy Renewables acquires 200 MW Texas solar project, largest in its fleet

Energy from the project will be sold through a 12-year hedge agreement, the first time the Duke subsidiary has used such a financing mechanism for solar.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2019

Maine regulators blast utility rate hike, customer service 'deficiences' in local op-ed

The Public Utilities Commission is investigating Central Maine Power's implementation of a new $56 million billing system as regulators promised to "take action."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 23, 2019

New Hampshire Supreme Court strikes down appeal for Northern Pass transmission permit

Gov. Chris Sununu, R, a long-time supporter of the project, says "it is time to move on," to other transmission projects that will bring clean energy to New England.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 22, 2019

New York awards record 1,700 MW offshore wind contracts

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced two separate projects being developed by Equinor and Ørsted as the first segment of the state's 9,000 MW offshore wind target.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 19, 2019

13,000 without power following explosion at Madison Gas & Electric substation

The transmission company that owns and operates the equipment responsible for both fires says it identified a potential problem at the Blount Street substation during a routine inspection just days before the fire occurred.

By Max Witynski • Updated July 23, 2019

Colorado regulators cancel Black Hills Energy TOU pilot amid concerns for low-income customers

The PUC chairman suggested combining TOU with demand side management could better empower low income customers to take control of their bills.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 17, 2019

Tendril targets utility customer care trend, merges into a new platform

The company shifted its strategy from acquiring market leaders to providing end-to-end service to customers through a more integrated load management platform.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 16, 2019

National Grid acquires renewables developer Geronimo for $100M

The Minnesota-based wind and solar developer seeks to expand ownership of renewables projects through the balance sheet and experience with large-scale energy projects of the utility's business unit.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 16, 2019

AEP plans $2B, 1.5 GW wind purchase in Oklahoma

The company recently added 724 MW of wind and battery generation to its contracted competitive portfolio, and proposed adding more than 9,100 MW of new wind and solar.

By Robert Walton • July 16, 2019

Engaging the "selectively engaged" energy consumer

Deepen relationships and improve utility CSAT by engaging the ‘selectively engaged’ 40%.

July 16, 2019

Cause of weekend NYC outage still unknown; ConEd to investigate why grid failed to isolate probem

72,000 customers on the West Side of Manhattan lost power Saturday evening, on the anniversary of the much-larger 1977 outage.

By Robert Walton • July 15, 2019

VW and Ford expand partnership on EVs, AVs

Volkswagen will invest $2.6 billion in Argo AI, signaling the latest collaboration between major automakers adapting to new mobility trends. 

By Jason Plautz • July 15, 2019

NV Energy will utilize power shutoffs to reduce wildfire risks

The strategy is similar to utilities' approach in California. While high winds are typically the main force behind a proactive power shutoff, NV Energy says "no single factor" will drive its decisions.

By Robert Walton • July 15, 2019

Private equity investment in storage expected to increase as ECP buys Convergent

Experts say private equity fund Energy Capital Partner's acquisition of an energy storage developer is a validation for the sector and could lead to more investments going forward.

By HJ Mai • July 12, 2019

Democratic AGs press for PJM CEO focused on climate, states' rights

Maryland, Delaware and D.C.'s attorneys general want the grid operator to have a president who won't treat state clean energy preferences as "out-of-market distortions."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 11, 2019

Utility post-merger savings: Data can enable or impede them

The benefits of scale and standardization exist for those companies that intend to grow through acquisition, but they must be ready to adopt a less collegiate approach to the integration of their targets.

By David Price • July 9, 2019

PNM proposes gas, solar+storage mix as cheapest option to replace San Juan coal plant

The utility also modeled fossil fuel-free scenarios, but is not interested in making the large investment in battery technology that would be required.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 3, 2019

Xcel Minnesota plans to retire 2.4 GW of coal, critics say natural gas has too big a role in IRP

The utility's preferred plan also includes more than 700 GWh of annual energy efficiency savings, but environmental advocates say it will never fully decarbonize if it is "taking one step back for every two steps forward.”

By Robert Walton • July 3, 2019

Chubb is first insurer to cut ties with coal, utilities say impact minimal

The coal industry received another blow as Chubb became the first big U.S. insurer to stop selling policies or investing in coal-related activities.

By HJ Mai • July 2, 2019

Volkswagen launches EV car-sharing program

WeShare consists of entirely electric vehicles, a rarity in car-sharing programs, and doesn't require users to drop off vehicles at fixed locations.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 1, 2019