Regulation & Policy
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U.S. nuke rules soured acquisition interest from European utilities, former NRC regulator says
Former NRC Commissioner Jeffrey Merrifield shared his insight while testifying during a House hearing on four nuclear bills, including one that would push DOE to focus on more highly enriched fuels.
By Gavin Bade • May 22, 2018
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Deep DiveGetting paid to charge a battery is an attractive but limited opportunity, analysts say
While Tesla's Australian energy storage facility apparently made a windfall from negative prices, analysts say such prices are too rare to be reliable.
By Peter Maloney • May 22, 2018
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San Francisco to fully electrify bus fleet by 2035
Mayor Mark Farrell announced last month a goal to zero out the city’s net emissions by 2050. Transportation reportedly makes up 46%.
By Jason Plautz
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Deep DiveLast year's weather, wildfires heighten utilities' storm hardening efforts
Utilities are taking measures to address those physical threats, but the number of outages has been slowly creeping up, as has the number of people affected.
By Peter Maloney • May 21, 2018
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Wind power poised for record year, despite initial tax law concerns
Clarity on tax policy and countdown to expiration of the production tax credit are combining to drive a significant increase in the U.S. wind power project pipeline.
By Peter Maloney • May 21, 2018
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NextEra to buy Gulf Power, gas assets from Southern for $6.5B
NextEra has long wanted more regulated utility assets but failed to close two high-profile acquisitions in recent years.
By Gavin Bade • May 21, 2018
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Federal government halts linework on Puerto Rico's grid
FEMA has ended the restoration portion of its mission to repair Puerto Rico's grid two weeks ahead of the official start of hurricane season.
By Robert Walton • May 21, 2018
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Divided FERC restricts climate impacts in pipeline reviews
FERC will now only consider emissions associated with a specific proposed pipeline, rather than a broader approach to factor in a project's impact on production and consumption of natural gas.
By Gavin Bade • May 18, 2018
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Public power utilities face growing risk from renewables shift, says Moody's
Credit risks for utilities with a higher share of coal power in their generating mix, such as municipal utilities, center on the potential for stranded assets.
By Peter Maloney • May 18, 2018
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Deep DiveCalifornia regulators see signs of a new energy crisis — can they prevent it?
As the state's customer choice movement expands, energy sector stakeholders continue to struggle with what CPUC President Michael Picker calls "scar tissue" from the 2000-2001 energy crisis.
By Herman K. Trabish • May 18, 2018
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Utilities join with Tesla to sue EPA over fuel standard rollback
The D.C. Circuit case filed earlier this month is another indication that utilities are beginning to lean into the fight over electric vehicles.
By Gavin Bade • May 18, 2018
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Illinois can do without Vistra coal plants, greens claim
Shutting eight plants in Southern Illinois and replacing them with other options could save up to $14 billion, says a new report by Vibrant Clean Energy for NRDC and Sierra Club.
By Robert Walton • May 18, 2018
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FERC chair restarts PURPA review, pledging 'open mind'
Federal energy regulators also approved a new pipeline proposal and reviewed summer reliability conditions at their May open meeting.
By Gavin Bade • May 17, 2018
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EPA air chief praises House efforts to alter New Source Review
The agency is working on its own rulemaking process to change the power plant permitting program.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 17, 2018
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APS: Controversial RFP does not violate Arizona gas moratorium
Reliability concerns about energy storage prompted Arizona Public Service to limit its role in a pending contract request, executives said.
By Gavin Bade • May 17, 2018
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New York proposes strict carbon emission limits for existing power plants
The rule is expected to allow New York to achieve one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature energy pledges — to phase out coal entirely by 2020 while still maintaining reliable and affordable power.
By Robert Walton • May 16, 2018
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Georgia Power backs incumbent in PSC election, AJC reports
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tricia Pridemore has received tens of thousands of dollars in support of her campaign to remain on the Public Service Commission.
By Robert Walton • May 15, 2018
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Deep DiveHigh values are blowing in offshore winds; policymakers may need more
In some locations, energy, capacity and REC prices could give offshore wind the edge over onshore wind, but policymakers need to see economic benefits.
By Herman K. Trabish • May 15, 2018
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DOE unveils 'integrated strategy' to reduce utility cyberthreats
While major attacks have so far been thwarted, officials say hackers are getting better, faster.
By Robert Walton • May 15, 2018
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Nevada regulators allow utilities to own EV charging stations
The Public Utilities Commission also approved funding for storage and a low income solar program.
By Robert Walton • May 15, 2018
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Deep DiveCompetitive solar-plus-storage moves closer to reality
Incentives and economics result in more pairings of solar power and energy storage.
By Peter Maloney • May 14, 2018
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'Stunning' APS RFP could violate Arizona gas moratorium, critics say
The request for 800 MW of peaking capacity limits renewables and energy storage to 100 MW, which clean energy advocates say could run afoul of a regulatory pause on gas investments.
By Gavin Bade • May 14, 2018
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Entergy says it had no knowledge of paid support for New Orleans gas plant
The utility's internal investigation pins the blame on The Hawthorn Group, a public relations firm with a history of reportedly questionable involvement in comment processes.
By Gavin Bade • May 11, 2018
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Pruitt NAAQS memo part of broad strategy to weaken air regs, lawyers say
Pruitt's "four-pronged" strategy includes changes to science advisory boards and framing major regulatory shifts, like Thursday's memo, as discretionary policy decisions, a UCLA professor said.
By Gavin Bade • May 11, 2018
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House hands off nuclear waste storage bill to Senate
Legislators approved a bill seeking to advance the permanent storage of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. But Sen. Dean Heller has already declared it "dead on arrival in the Senate."
By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 11, 2018