Civil Rights Commission eyes North Carolina coal ash in environmental justice probe

The Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was at a hearing in North Carolina last week focused on the impacts of coal ash on predominantly low-income, minority communities. 

By Shalina Chatlani • April 12, 2016

Initial bids for Kansas utility Westar Energy due this week

Canadian investment firms, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and rival utility Ameren have all been rumored as potential suitors for the Kansas utility, which has generated acquisition interest since last year.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

SolarCity taps ex-FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff as chief policy officer

SolarCity recently left Wellinghoff's home state of Nevada after regulators issued a decision to roll back net metering rates. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 8, 2016

SolarCity closes $150M securitization for commercial solar+storage

SolarCity continued a string of securitizations with a $150-million financing from Credit Suisse.

By Peter Maloney • April 8, 2016

Community solar poised for growth as utilities gain confidence, familiarity

Two new reports detail a bright future for community solar as utilities and developers gain experience and realize the resource's potential.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 7, 2016

Iowa House passes bill to toughen eminent domain rules for transmission developers

The bill would prevent utility regulators from granting eminent domain rights for a project unless 75% of landowners in its path approved.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 7, 2016

Indiana cooperative to offer leases on pilot community solar array

Member-customers expected to save $1,600 over the 20 year term lease term

By Herman K. Trabish • April 7, 2016

'Wake up worrying': NextEra-Hawaiian Electric merger in doubt as regulators near decision time

NextEra's bid to buy Hawaiian Electric has failed to inspire state energy stakeholders, but the merger proceeding isn't a popularity contest.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 6, 2016

Report: Installed solar costs dropped 5% as consumers search for best value

EnergySage, an online marketplace for solar, released a report that also showed solar customers moving from leasing deals to solar loans. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 6, 2016

As RPS importance declines, 3 factors help drive growth for utility-scale solar

For the first time, most utility-scale solar development this year won't be driven by renewable portfolio standards. Instead, voluntary utility procurement, PURPA contracts and corporate interest are boosting the market, along with some nascent activity in the merchant generation space.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 5, 2016

SunEdison's financial woes could scuttle storage deal with Imergy in India

SunEdison's financial troubles could threaten Imergy's battery roll-out in India.

By Peter Maloney • April 4, 2016

Report: SunEdison plans to file for bankruptcy

SunEdison is planning to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it also faces an investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 4, 2016

How DOE is leveraging federal authority to ease transmission development

The Dept. of Energy is exercising powers that allow it to speed siting and construction of interstate transmission, but not everyone is pleased.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 4, 2016

Is Nest thermostat's future with Google on shaky ground?

The company isn't releasing specific sales numbers, but analysts say it appears revenue from the Nest thermostat is lagging behind expectations.

By Robert Walton • April 1, 2016

Florida Supreme Court approves language for utility-backed solar amendment

The approval means the amendment pushed by the utility-backed Consumers for Solar Choice will land a place on the 2016 ballot in November. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 1, 2016

NRG Energy says Ivanpah output on track to meet its contracts

NRG Energy said the concentrating solar plant, the largest in the world, is on track to meet its output goals. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 1, 2016

Chicago's REV: How ComEd is reinventing itself as a smart energy platform

ComEd wants to be the platform for a dynamic and distributed grid, but how they'll earn revenue on it remains an open question. Utility Dive spoke with CEO Anne Pramaggiore to learn more. 

By Gavin Bade • March 31, 2016

Massachusetts solar sector boosts pressure on lawmakers to lift net metering cap

Eversource Energy is about 200 kW from hitting the caps on private and public projects, fueling desperation among the solar sector pressuring lawmakers to lift the cap. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 31, 2016

Edison International launches consultancy for 'energy as a service'

Edison International, which owns Southern California Edison, announced a new business venture called Edison Energy aimed at helping the largest energy users manage their consumption.

By Robert Walton • March 30, 2016

Minnesota rural co-ops tack on high fixed charges on solar customers

Minnesota's rural electric cooperatives are adding fixed charges which can total as much as $50 dollars for solar customers. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 30, 2016

Arizona public utility data shows some savings with demand charge

But other customers paid significantly more if they did not alter their energy usage during peak demand. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 29, 2016

Louisiana PSC approves Cleco takeover

After initially rejecting the deal, state regulators approved the acquisition of Cleco by an international consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 29, 2016

'Eternal vigilance': DC regulators on the Exelon-Pepco merger and what's next for the PSC

After a 2-1 vote to create the nation's largest utility company, Utility Dive obtained exclusive interviews with regulators on opposing sides of the decision. Here's what they had to say. 

By Gavin Bade • March 29, 2016

Analysts: SunEdison may face $1.4B default if it doesn't file report

The major clean energy developer has already postponed the filing of its report twice.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 28, 2016

Texas PUC approves Hunt-Oncor acquisition, but questions linger

It could take up to a year for the restructuring plan's full implications to become clear.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2016