Sen. Heinrich proposes 30% investment tax credit for ‘regionally significant’ transmission projects

The Grid Resiliency Tax Credit Act would provide incentives for transmission projects, critical subcomponents and grid-enhancing technologies.

By Robert Walton • June 2, 2023

Treasury issues further guidance for IRA’s $10B tax credit incentivizing clean energy manufacturing

The 48C investment tax credit and a related manufacturing tax credit, 45X, are “very substantial” credits that many companies aren’t aware of, said Moss Adams partner and certified public accountant Peter Henderson.

By Diana DiGangi • June 1, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Rate 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

DOE targets nuclear fusion pilot plant design in 5 to 10 years as it announces $46M in funding

The money will go to eight companies and is part of an agencywide initiative to accelerate the viability of commercial fusion energy in partnership with the private sector.

By Stephen Singer • June 1, 2023

PJM, PSEG, others urge FERC to reject generator pleas to drop Winter Storm Elliott non-performance penalties

“These failures could have had life and death consequences had events played out differently,” the PJM Interconnection said. “PJM operators preserved reliability while contending with unprecedented difficulties."

By Ethan Howland • May 31, 2023

Biden set to sign debt limit bill with permitting reform as lawmakers eye more energy infrastructure legislation

“The siting and permitting elements of the package make important improvements that will help to expedite the process for building new — and updating existing — energy infrastructure,” EEI’s Brian Wolff said.

By Ethan Howland • Updated June 2, 2023

$400M for low-emission school buses available from EPA grant program

The zero- and low-emission school bus funding has a “particular focus on reducing air pollution in disadvantaged communities overburdened by dirty air," said David Cash, EPA New England regional administrator.

By Stephen Singer • May 30, 2023

A new Colorado law makes it a top site for clean hydrogen developers, but it’s not a model for federal rules

We do not advocate that the U.S. Treasury adopt Colorado’s approach. Rather, it should base its decision on careful economic analysis and phase in more rigorous GHG accounting over time.

By Will Toor • May 25, 2023

Energy Department cancels $200M Microvast battery grant

Republican lawmakers accused the Houston-area battery maker of having ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

By Sara Samora • May 24, 2023

Energy permitting reform divides environmental, clean energy groups as it remains in debt limit talks

While three clean energy trade groups wrote to House and Senate leaders May 22 urging bipartisan transmission permitting legislation, some NGOs say easing energy permitting could undermine environmental goals.

By Stephen Singer • May 24, 2023

The generators who cry ‘wolf’: How competitive wholesale markets handle generator bankruptcy

Generators with competitive operating costs that enter bankruptcy have every incentive to remain in business and to produce as much energy as they can whenever they can earn more than their variable costs.

By Mike Hogan • May 24, 2023

Mass. agency dismisses 2 battery storage projects, citing lack of legal clarity over ‘generating facility’

“As a matter of physics, batteries do not actually store electrical energy,” the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board said.

By Stephen Singer • May 23, 2023

California’s ‘zonal’ approach could revamp clean energy planning, shrink interconnection queue: experts

The strategy is part of the California Independent System Operator’s latest transmission plan, which calls for 45 projects estimated to cost $7.3 billion.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 23, 2023

Collecting data to support energy-burdened communities poses unique challenges, experts say

Census data isn’t collected often enough to reflect neighborhood demographic shifts, while asking communities to self-report can present additional burdens, panelists said at a Wednesday clean energy summit.

By Diana DiGangi • May 22, 2023

Exelon, other generators urge PJM to reject proposal to reduce ‘capacity performance’ penalties

The proposal would undermine reliability when more frequent extreme weather and falling capacity margins make it more important for resources to meet their capacity commitments, the companies said.

By Ethan Howland • May 19, 2023

How a federal program meant to help communities buy zero-emission buses instead favors fossil fuels: report

A legal requirement added to the Federal Transit Administration program in 2015 led to the disparity, advocacy organization Transportation for America said.

By Dan Zukowski • May 18, 2023

EPA proposes rules that could require utilities to clean up ‘legacy’ coal ash ponds, landfills

About 280 coal ash sites owned by utilities such as Arizona Public Service, PacifiCorp and Xcel Energy would face federal regulations under a proposal published Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • May 18, 2023

Georgia’s Plant Vogtle is a $35B boondoggle. We need new and better solutions for a carbon-free grid.

Urgent utility business model reforms are needed to create a 21st-century, people-centered grid that delivers affordable fossil-free solutions.

By Patty Durand • May 18, 2023

As Sen. Carper releases permitting reform proposal, White House vows to update NEPA rules

Carper’s proposal joins a crowded field of legislative approaches to streamlining energy permitting reform.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2023

Carolina market reforms would increase grid reliability and reduce customer costs

Opening the energy market in the Carolinas to more competition translates to more options to meet customer preferences and, in turn, supports economic development prospects throughout both states.

By Reese Rogers • May 17, 2023

FERC’s Christie pushes review of power markets, deregulation ahead of agency’s PJM, ISO-NE scrutiny

The Electric Power Supply Association defended power markets, saying their shortcomings are driven by federal and state energy policies, not the markets themselves.

By Ethan Howland • May 16, 2023

South Carolina could save electricity customers up to $362M a year by joining RTO: The Brattle Group

The current Southeast Energy Exchange Market is limited in benefits compared to a regional transmission organization, the consulting firm said in a report to a legislative committee.

By Diana DiGangi • May 15, 2023

Manchin aims to bring energy infrastructure permitting reform bill to Senate floor for vote by August

However, there are “yawning gaps” between Republican and Democratic permitting reform priorities, according to research firm ClearView Energy Partners.

By Ethan Howland • May 12, 2023

NRC grants Holtec interim license for N.M. nuclear waste storage that faces governor’s opposition, lawsuit threat

The state approved a law in March banning nuclear fuel storage, and courts may need to decide if federal approval preempts state law.

By Patrick Cooley • May 11, 2023

EPA proposes power plant greenhouse gas limits with carbon capture, ‘green’ hydrogen main compliance options

The proposal won’t hurt grid reliability, with an estimated 22 GW of coal-fired capacity retirements offset by roughly the same amount of gas-fired additions, the agency said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • May 11, 2023

Biden ‘doesn’t love everything in the bill,’ but calls for Congress to pass Manchin’s energy permitting reforms

The White House on Wednesday laid out its priorities for permitting reform, including faster deployment of critical electric transmission, and acknowledged the need for compromise.

By Robert Walton • May 11, 2023