Regulation & Policy

  • Aerial view of the Silver Peak Lithium Mine, showcasing a vast desert landscape with a network of rectangular evaporation ponds in varying shades of blue and green. These geometric pools are interlaced with earthen pathways and surrounded by arid terrain, illustrating the industrial scale of lithium extraction in a remote environment.
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    DOE cancels $700 million in battery and manufacturing project grants

    A DOE spokesperson said the projects had missed milestones and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
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    FERC rejects NV Energy plan to allow free exit from interconnection study

    Geothermal projects have surged to 3.3 GW in NV Energy’s interconnection queue, which grew 30% in the last three months.

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
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    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
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    NorthWestern plans ‘large load’ tariff for Montana data centers

    Advocates say the utility plans to serve at least three data centers that could scale up to a load of 2,250 MW — nearly twice its current peak. NorthWestern said it is in talks with potential data center customers but has no agreements.

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
  • Nissan and Volkswagen electric cars sit parked at a Charge Point EV charging station.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    To keep power affordable, regulators must rethink who pays — and when

    A growing body of evidence shows that widespread residential electrification can actually reduce average rates, but only under the right conditions, write Becky Li and Joe Daniel of RMI. 

    By Becky Li and Joe Daniel • Oct. 20, 2025
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    Residential electricity prices surge ahead of C&I rates: Berkeley Lab

    State behind-the-meter policies and renewable portfolio standards appear to increase electricity prices, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers said.

    By • Oct. 20, 2025
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    As cyber threats grow, utilities say lapsed information-sharing law stymies security

    The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 has expired, and utilities say the U.S. faces a “more complex and dangerous security environment” as a result.

    By • Oct. 20, 2025
  • Aerial view showing solar panels on the roof of an apartment building.
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    by Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    States sue EPA over canceled Solar for All grants

    In the third lawsuit filed about the grants this month, 22 states and the District of Columbia contend the agency illegally revoked $7 billion in clean energy funds awarded to local governments.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 17, 2025
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    FERC orders MISO to clarify how merchant projects will be included in transmission planning

    Also, the agency aims to issue a colocation decision this year while its staffing has plunged 11%, FERC Chairman David Rosner said Thursday at an open meeting.

    By • Oct. 17, 2025
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    Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
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    Opinion

    PJM customers will benefit from cooperation, not conflict, within the electric industry

    Distribution utilities and generators in the PJM region have come to blows over a potential generation shortage, writes Terry Fitzpatrick, a former chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

    By Terry Fitzpatrick • Oct. 16, 2025
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    21 Democratic House members press PJM for interconnection reforms

    The lawmakers called on the PJM Interconnection to bolster rules for energy storage and grid-enhancing technologies while considering options such as “connect and manage.”

    By • Oct. 16, 2025
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    California delays rulemaking timeline for climate disclosure laws to 2026

    The state said the delay was due to the “large volume of public comments” it received. Many utilities were included on a “preliminary” list of covered entities published last month.

    By Zoya Mirza • Updated Oct. 15, 2025
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    DOE closes $1.6B loan commitment for AEP transmission rebuild

    The loan guarantee will help an American Electric Power subsidiary rebuild around 5,000 miles of transmission lines across Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

    By • Oct. 16, 2025
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    VPP Convergence Project aims to educate states on virtual power plants

    Tesla, Sunrun, Leap, Voltus and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners are involved in the effort.

    By • Oct. 15, 2025
  • Two people on the roof of a house holding a solar panel. One uses a drill to attach the panel to the roof. Behind the roof are trees and other homes.
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    Opinion

    How community benefits agreements can reduce project delivery risk

    Working with communities to develop energy or other projects can help developers deliver on-time and on-budget, and with a strong foundation of local support.

    By Sameera Fazili, Pronita Gupta and Doug Bloch • Oct. 15, 2025
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    Public disclosures of AI risk surge among S&P 500 companies

    A report by The Conference Board shows companies are flagging concerns about cyber and reputational risk as they increase deployment.

    By David Jones • Oct. 15, 2025
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    PJM’s market monitor urges FERC to review Amazon data center’s effect on costs, reliability

    The issue centers on an unprecedented agreement between PECO Energy and Amazon Data Services that aims to protect utility customers from costs related to a planned data center complex in Pennsylvania.

    By • Oct. 15, 2025
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    Opinion

    Losing power, losing billions: How offshoring grid materials weakens America

    Critical materials are the United States’ Achilles’ heel in the race to expand, modernize and intelligently manage the electric grid, writes Peak Nano CEO Jim Welsh.

    By Jim Welsh • Oct. 14, 2025
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    Art Wager via Getty Images
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    Harris County, Texas, sues EPA over canceled Solar For All funds

    County officials say the loss of $54 million in clean energy grants jeopardizes staffing, planning and partnerships built around the program, forcing major adjustments to local operations and budgets.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 14, 2025
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    FERC approves SPP ‘provisional load’ interconnection review process

    With 26.4 GW in large load study requests since 2020, the Southwest Power Pool is developing options for data centers, manufacturing plants and other loads to connect to the grid.

    By • Oct. 14, 2025
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    California to invest $226M in offshore wind ports amid federal cuts

    State and industry leaders argued that the funds are needed to establish California as a hub for floating offshore wind.

    By Emma Penrod • Oct. 14, 2025
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    Deep Dive

    Grid planners and experts on why markets keep choosing renewables

    “If natural gas was the cheapest option to meet the peak, the markets would select it,” said Sean Kelly, co-founder and CEO of forecast provider Amperon and a former energy analyst.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • Electric power lines run next to a highway.
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    The image by versageek is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Opinion

    To keep energy affordable, Virginia must embrace power line innovation

    Regulators should ensure electric utilities pursue transmission innovations rather than simply reinvesting in older technologies, writes Jeff Dennis, executive director of the Electricity Customers Alliance.

    By Jeff Dennis • Oct. 9, 2025
  • President Donald Trump, joined by Republican lawmakers, holds a gavel after signing the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act into law
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    Eric Lee via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Navigating the One Big Beautiful Bill era in US power markets

    In today’s volatile climate, success will hinge less on predicting the future and more on preparing for it, say the authors from energy consulting firm E3 in this detailed original analysis of federal policy. 

    By Kushal Patel, Gregory Gangelhoff, Tali Perelman and Amber Mahone • Oct. 8, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
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    Senate confirms FERC nominees, giving agency Republican majority

    Laura Swett and David LaCerte join a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission working to maintain grid reliability amid rising electric demand driven by data center development.

    By • Oct. 8, 2025
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    Investor-owned utilities call for ending ‘overreliance’ on PJM capacity market

    “Narrowly focusing on design changes to PJM markets has left customers exposed to reliability risks and cost uncertainty,” the Edison Electric Institute’s Drew Maloney said.

    By • Oct. 8, 2025