Regulation & Policy

Charlotte, North Carolina, becomes largest US city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff

The city council approved a 35-megawatt project to generate 24% of its municipal electricity, making it the most populous U.S. city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff.

By Chris Teale • Feb. 25, 2020

Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch warns of unintended consequences in Atlantic Coast Pipeline case

Justices Neil Gorsuch echoed developer arguments in his questioning, warning that a lower court decision could 'invite pipelines' in Western national parks.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 25, 2020

Opinion

FERC takes steps to modernize PURPA, but will it do more harm than good?

Proposed changes to the funding mechanics for Qualified Facilities under the law could negate or reverse the cost reductions the renewable energy sector has benefited from in the past few years.

By Tanya M. Larrabee • Feb. 25, 2020

New York governor proposes renewable energy permitting office to speed projects

If adopted, the 30-day budget amendment would "dramatically" speed up the permitting and construction of renewable energy projects, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2020

Final EPA coal ash proposal could allow some ponds to go unlined, despite DC Circuit ruling

The agency found its latest proposal could save utilities between $41 million and $138 million per year, siding with industry to give more "flexibility" on what kind of liners adequately protect human health and groundwater.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 24, 2020

Opinion

Cap coal ash in place? Duke and others have learned better

Forward-thinking utilities recognize that their communities and increasingly-stringent standards require more than leaving coal ash in polluting pits and have moved their coal ash to dry lined storage, the author writes.

By Frank Holleman • Feb. 24, 2020

FERC deals blow to New York renewable, storage projects, adding hurdles to NYISO capacity market

The commission's Feb. 20 orders join actions in PJM and ISO New England that "go after clean energy policies," Commissioner Richard Glick said after announcing his dissents.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 21, 2020

Largest New England coal plant clears ISO-NE capacity auction, will stay online until 2024

Critics say the plant, which runs at just 10% of its capacity from a decade ago, is a sign the auction favors incumbent generators over new, clean resources.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 20, 2020

Deep Dive

Slowed pay-off from billions in AMI investment puts the technology's future in doubt

Regulators have approved billions for utilities to roll out advanced metering infrastructure, but they expected new customer and system benefits, not just lower utility operation costs.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 20, 2020

Opinion

Breaking rooftop solar's distortions: SMUD readies community program for California building mandate

"Contrary to assertions by the rooftop solar industry that we do not support solar, all Neighborhood SolarShares does is offer a choice to home builders," writes Sacramento Municipal Utility District CEO Arlen Orchard.

By Arlen Orchard • Feb. 19, 2020

Jeff Bezos commits $10B to climate. How should he spend it?

The funding announcement "dwarfs other philanthropy in this realm," and could go toward anything from an amplified Beyond Carbon campaign to a mass electric vehicle rollout, stakeholders said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 2020

California PUC proposes pilot programs to decarbonize buildings

The proposed decision outlines programs to incentivize near-zero emission technologies in residential buildings and build the market for low-emission space and water heaters.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 18, 2020

RTOs need better market signals for using gas, analysts say, as ISO-NE preps related rule

NARUC stakeholders discussed how grid operators and regulators facilitate communication between natural gas pipeline services and electric system needs.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 18, 2020

Deep Dive

Utilities don't see stranded assets as a top risk. Should they?

Despite growing concerns that "bullish" utility investments in natural gas may lead to stranded assets amid rapid decarbonization, just 18% of utility employees surveyed by Utility Dive view those risks as a top concern.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 14, 2020

Virginia approves 100% clean energy legislation, pushing state toward 2.4 GW storage, RGGI

The Virginia Clean Economy Act gives the state extra powers to block new natural gas-fired power plants.

By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 14, 2020

Coal ash, Atlantic Coast Pipeline remain a headache for Duke as it expands 5 year spending by $6B

Not allowing the utility to fully recover costs around its $8-9 billion coal ash cleanup could prove "detrimental" to the utility's balance sheet, CEO Lynn Good said on the company's Q4 earnings call.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 13, 2020

Faced with potential 2020 Sanders, Warren fracking bans, Vistra CEO expects industry impact to be minimal

"Our coal plants are no more economic today than when the president took over," Vistra Energy's Curtis Morgan said, adding the Trump administration has ultimately just led to stronger state clean energy policies.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 12, 2020

Sustainability tops utility concerns, as SEU survey sees discrepancies on cybersecurity, stranded assets

Some 50% of utility respondents to Utility Dive's State of the Electric Utility Survey expect their organization to significantly increase the amount of grid-scale solar by 2030, a stronger forecast than for any other resource.

By Larry Pearl • Feb. 12, 2020

Will APS face retail competition in Arizona? Regulators issue diverging proposals

Under one proposal, monopoly utilities would not be allowed to allowed to provide direct electric service to customers, but under the other proposal, they could.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 12, 2020

California proposes 10-year transportation electrification planning process for SCE, other IOUs

The plans would also outline how utilities are handling incremental load from electrified transportation, and "clear, long-term market signals that encourage the development of third-party business opportunities."

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 11, 2020

FirstEnergy CEO says he's ready to help Ohio lawmakers deal with FERC's PJM MOPR ruling

Charles Jones told financial analysts during the company’s latest earnings call that Ohio’s state government is generally unhappy with the results of electric utility deregulation, including PJM’s market system.

By John Funk • Feb. 11, 2020

Utilities, regulators overlook recycling revenue options amid rising state tensions over coal ash: NARUC

Cost continues to be a major concern for regulators and utilities, but the report authors note the potential for beneficial use has yet to be fully explored.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 11, 2020

FERC's Order 841 'essential' for energy storage to cut emissions, attorneys general argue

FERC's order requiring storage to participate in wholesale markets is undergoing a challenge in federal court, and attorneys general of California, D.C., Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island are siding with federal regulators.

By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 11, 2020

PG&E, other California utilities file plans to invest billions in wildfire mitigation through 2022

The utilities are also working on reducing the impact of safety power shut-offs on their customers, Phil Herrington, Southern California Edison’s senior vice president of transmission and distribution, told Utility Dive.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 10, 2020

Opinion

Erring on the side of trampling on states' rights

Lately, when given the choice between co-existing with state authorities and simply steamrolling those authorities, FERC has consistently pursued the latter, the author writes.

By Jessica Bell • Feb. 10, 2020