Regulation & Policy
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California releases final root cause analysis of August rolling blackouts
Renewables and storage advocates said the report shows California should invest more aggressively in long-term energy storage, to ensure power from intermittent resources, such as solar, can be available during peak hours.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2021 -
Duke fights to get SEEM proposal in front of FERC as North Carolina regulators mull authority
The utility argued state regulators do not need to approve its proposal to form a centralized energy exchange market before Duke files it with federal regulators.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 14, 2021 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by tommaso79 via Getty Images
TrendlineRate Design Reform
From Netflix-like subscriptions to EV-specific policies that encourage charging during off-peak hours, stakeholders are pursuing a variety of rate design options to meet the power sector's emerging challenges and opportunities.
By Utility Dive staff -
Screenshot via CES
Biden advisor: US 'lost critical time' in climate change fight
National Economic Council Director-Designate Brian Deese said reentering the Paris agreement will be a top priority of Biden's administration, but more must be done to curb emissions.
By Chris Teale • Jan. 14, 2021 -
Deep Dive
2021 Outlook: 10 power sector trends to watch
A new administration under a new party is one of many signs that 2021 will look different for policymakers, regulators, utilities and other stakeholders, but the continuation of some older trends is expected as well.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 13, 2021 -
Deep Dive
2021 Outlook: The DER boom continues, driving a 'reimagining' of the distribution system
The rise of distributed resources will require a renewed distribution system that gives utilities more visibility of what's going on at the customer level to cut costs and protect reliability.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 12, 2021 -
Opinion
Microgrids are coming — will they increase inequities?
The resources must not be deployed mainly for the benefit of higher-wealth communities, the author writes.
By Ed Smeloff • Jan. 11, 2021 -
Opinion
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission needs a reboot
The need for a new approach is especially evident with gas pipeline approvals as FERC continues to rely on a flawed assumption that the existence of a contract to supply gas implies "public need" for a pipeline, the author writes.
By Ashish Solanki • Jan. 08, 2021 -
Renewables, storage stocks soar as Democrat-led Congress improves environment for green investments
In response to favorable investment conditions, renewables and energy storage companies' stocks — including Sunrun, Tesla, Bloom Energy, Eos Energy and First Solar — have seen significant gains lately.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 08, 2021 -
Democrats to take Senate majority after Georgia victories. Here's how it could impact the power sector.
Analysts and stakeholders say the implications of a Democrat-majority Senate could be consequential for renewables and electric vehicle deployment, as well as broader carbon reduction policies.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 07, 2021 -
Washington state adopts rules to guide utilities to coal-free status by 2025, carbon-free by 2045
The rules will help implement the state's 2019 clean energy law, which requires utilities to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and source 100% of their energy from renewable or non-carbon emitting sources by 2045.
By Emma Penrod • Jan. 07, 2021 -
Massachusetts Gov. Baker vetoes climate legislation, citing unsupported mandates
The bill sets a statewide net zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, includes new renewable energy targets and efficiency standards, and codifies environmental justice provisions into state law.
By Robert Walton • UPDATED: Jan. 15, 2021 at 10:09 a.m. -
Pixino
EPA finalizes science rule expected to have limited effect on power sector, but NGOs still see threat
Legal experts say that because the rule is procedural, and not subject to the Congressional Review Act, the Biden administration can "kill it" easily.
By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 06, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Two barriers to utility and customer savings with flexible loads and how regulators can help
Utilities, regulators and load flexibility authorities say better distribution system control technologies and compensation are needed to increase the use of flexible customer-sited resources.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 06, 2021 -
Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by Petmal via Getty Images
Top Utility Trends of 2020
Amid significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the power sector's transition to a cleaner, more distributed future continues.
By Larry Pearl • Jan. 05, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Want to know how to pick an energy market? Watch the Mountain West power providers
Xcel Colorado just joined California’s imbalance market, SPP will offer imbalance services, and researchers have proposed a Colorado-centric system. But what do power providers want?
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 04, 2021 -
Getty Images
FERC approves tariff for Southwest Power Pool's Western imbalance market
Regulators concluded the new market, which plans to launch in February, will "yield diverse benefits to the participating utilities and customers" in the regional interconnection.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 04, 2021 -
Deep Dive
The search for the next net metering policy takes center stage in California
California’s utilities and solar advocates agree a forward-looking successor tariff must use the state’s nation-leading rooftop solar penetration to address its increasingly dynamic system needs with storage.
By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 23, 2020 -
The image by Sarah Nichols is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Northeast states, DC sign MOU to reduce transportation emissions
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, DC, are the first jurisdictions to implement the Transportation and Climate Initiative's cap-and-invest program.
By Kristin Musulin • Dec. 23, 2020 -
Adeline Kon/Utility Dive
DOE plan to fast track storage technologies aims to slash prices to $0.05/kWh for stationary storage
The agency is aiming to cut the cost of 300-mile range EV battery packs to $80/kWh by 2030.
By Emma Penrod • Dec. 22, 2020 -
Federal stimulus includes wind, solar tax credit extensions, adds first US offshore wind tax credit
The legislative package will also reduce the costs of short-term, long-term, seasonal, and transportation energy storage technologies through a $1.08 billion investment over five years.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 22, 2020 -
Industry, ratepayer advocates push for cautious approach to California's summer 2021 reliability preparation
A big concern is that the CPUC proceeding has jumped ahead to figuring out procurement for summer 2021 without better understanding the need, if any, for these resources, Mark Specht, energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said.
By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 22, 2020 -
Adeline Kon/Utility Dive
Energy executives call for dramatic increase in federal funds for hydrogen, carbon capture research
To achieve decarbonization, the American Energy Innovation Council said the energy sector requires financial and government support of emerging technologies.
By Emma Penrod • Dec. 21, 2020 -
FERC chief Danly's bid to investigate CAISO over August blackouts rejected by Glick, Chatterjee
FERC Chair James Danly proposed issuing a section 206 proceeding to determine whether the market needs modification ahead of next summer.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 18, 2020 -
Retrieved from Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
FERC's Clements: 'Grave threat' of climate change will 'underlie my approach as a commissioner'
Regulators are obligated to ensure just and reasonable rates and avoid unfair discrimination, but the factors that influence those decisions "have become significantly more numerous and complex" over the past few decades, she said.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 18, 2020 -
The image by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Biden taps North Carolina DEQ Secretary Regan for EPA
Under Regan's watch at the DEQ, Duke Energy agreed to the largest coal ash cleanup in U.S. history.
By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 18, 2020
