Regulation & Policy


  • A large data center seen from above
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    Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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    Ohio regulators approve AEP data center interconnection rules

    The Ohio PUC ordered the utility to file updated tariffs and lift a moratorium on connecting new data centers as soon as possible.

    By July 10, 2025
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Avoid the ‘standing’ land mine in FERC appeals

    The Entergy Arkansas case involving a Midcontinent Independent System Operator proposal highlights how standing works — and the risk of failing to prepare to meet its threshold requirements.

    By Jackson A. Myers and Zakary Kadish • July 10, 2025
  • Solar and wind generation in the desert. Explore the Trendline
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    adamkaz via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    The Energy Transition to Renewables

    Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.

    By Utility Dive staff
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    Courtesy of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania
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    Opinion

    PHMSA grants work for America. Let’s keep them funded.

    By repairing and replacing gas pipelines, the federal program helps municipal and community-owned utilities lower energy costs, create jobs and cut emissions, but its funding expires next year.  

    By Dave Schryver • July 9, 2025
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    Samuel Corum via Getty Images
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    Trump seeks tighter restrictions on wind and solar with executive order

    The order seeks to “ensure that policies concerning the ‘beginning of construction’ are not circumvented” by wind and solar projects.

    By July 9, 2025
  • Electric transmission lines covered in smoke from a wild fire.
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    GomezDavid via Getty Images
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    Power providers urge FERC to reject PacifiCorp adding $1.7B in wildfire liabilities to transmission rates

    The Berkshire Hathaway utility’s plan to recover its potential liabilities is illegal and would create rate shock, according to a complaint at the federal agency.

    By July 9, 2025
  • A power plant seen against a blue sky with an American flag in front and a sign that says "Joliet Station 7&8 Generating Station"
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    PJM market monitor urges FERC to set conditions on $12B NRG, LS Power deal

    Without the conditions, the independent market monitor said it would oppose the transaction because it would increase NRG’s ability to affect electricity and capacity prices.

    By July 8, 2025
  • Two little girls draw on a table with a candle during a power outage
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    Marizza via Getty Images
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    Load growth, plant retirements could drive 100x increase in blackouts by 2030: DOE

    The U.S. Department of Energy on Monday published a methodology for assessing grid reliability, but clean energy advocates say it likely exaggerates the risks of blackouts.

    By July 8, 2025
  • White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump rolls out tariffs for Japan, South Korea, others ahead of Aug. 1 deadline

    Several countries on the list are major suppliers to the U.S. of battery components and electrical transformers.

    By Philip Neuffer • July 7, 2025
  • An entrance to a Madison Avenue JPMorgan Chase building is shown, with revolving doors and a person walking in the foreground.
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    Michael M. Santiago / Staff via Getty Images
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    JPMorgan launches carbon market blockchain app

    In a bid to boost data standardization and transparency, the bank is working with three global carbon registries to test the viability of tokenizing the voluntary carbon market.

    By Lamar Johnson • July 7, 2025
  • Electric power lines running across a hilly landscape.
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    Bilanol via Getty Images
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    FERC rejects MISO, SPP plan to broaden scope of interregional transmission planning

    One dissenting commissioner said regulators "should not stand in the way of simple solutions" that would improve study accuracy.

    By July 7, 2025
  • Hydrogen renewable energy production pipeline.
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    audioundwerbung via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    How regulators can protect hydrogen customers while enabling innovation

    By asking key questions, regulators can distinguish between fruitful and wasteful hydrogen projects. And by taking a holistic view and engaging with others, they can bring stability to the industry.

    By Dan Esposito and Mike O’Boyle • July 2, 2025
  • Containers of batteries sit in a desert next to a field of solar panels.
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    The Desert Photo via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Whatever happens with the IRA, energy storage is here to stay

    The electric grid needs flexibility, speed and stability. Energy storage offers all three.

    By Arun Muthukrishnan • July 1, 2025
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    Young777 via Getty Images
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    New Jersey seeks 1 GW of transmission-scale storage

    The Garden State’s solicitation is part of a plan to have 2 GW of storage by 2030.

    By Brian Martucci • July 1, 2025
  • Cameras set up outside the U.S. Supreme Court
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Federal agencies, including FERC and DOE, revoke environmental review rules

    The agencies eliminated all references to consider climate change, environmental justice and other key environmental issues in their permit reviews, Earthjustice said.

    By July 1, 2025
  • A view of cooling towers at a nuclear power plant.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Trump attacks on NRC independence pose health, safety risks

    The exodus of key personnel at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will jeopardize its ability to oversee the nuclear power fleet and slow the licensing of new facilities to a crawl.

    By Edwin Lyman • June 30, 2025
  • Workers in fluorescent work vests on a scaffold are dwarfed by giant data center under construction
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    Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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    Affordability a ‘formidable challenge’ as load shifts to tech, industrial customers: ICF

    The consulting agency expects electricity prices to rise as much as 25% in some regions through 2030 due to necessary grid expansion, wildfire hardening and other infrastructure projects.

    By Brian Martucci • June 30, 2025
  • A worker on a transmission tower.
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    Tony Savino via Getty Images
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    State utility regulators urge FERC to slash ROE transmission incentive

    Limiting the 0.5% extra return on equity to three years — or ending it — could lower utility income by millions annually, the utilities say.

    By June 30, 2025
  • Two men look at a stack of air conditioners in boxes.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    FERC’s Christie calls for dispatchable resources after grid operators come ‘close to the edge’

    “You never know about the next time, and there's going to be a next time,” Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Mark Christie said about grid operators' ability to avoid blackouts this week.

    By June 27, 2025
  • A power plant sites next to a river.
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    Permission granted by Consumers Energy
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    Eight utility regulators challenge DOE order keeping Michigan coal plant open

    The department’s invocation of emergency powers to interfere with state and regional utility planning is unprecedented, according to the challenge.

    By June 26, 2025
  • An engineer walks by solar panels with wind turbines in the background.
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    image via Getty Images
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    $1.4B in new clean energy factories, projects canceled in May: E2

    Nearly $15.5 billion in clean energy investments have been canceled since the beginning of the year, representing 30 canceled, closed or downsized projects.

    By Lamar Johnson • June 25, 2025
  • Longworth Congressional Building
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Utilities, energy developers back Senate’s more lenient tax credit timeline

    A powerful coalition of trade associations and energy groups thanked senators for rolling back some of the House version’s deepest cuts, but the two chambers will need to agree on a final bill.

    By Brian Martucci • June 25, 2025
  • Rows of solar panels in a field.
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    adamkaz via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    As the GHG Protocol eyes the homestretch in its Scope 2 revisions, are the right voices being heard?

    A requirement for hourly matching and the dramatic narrowing of the geographies in which companies can make clean energy investments could stifle the voluntary market.

    By Roger S. Ballentine • June 25, 2025
  • Smoke billowing from smoke stacks in front of skyscrapers.
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    baranozdemir via Getty Images
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    US, global cities tout emissions reductions

    Local U.S. officials say they’re driving emissions goals from the ground up since the Trump administration’s withdrawal from key international climate events and agreements.

    By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 24, 2025
  • President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order in the Oval Office of the White House
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Nuclear regulators lighten microreactor restrictions

    The new policy includes a broader set of directives to advance an emerging class of transportable, factory-made reactors.

    By Brian Martucci • June 24, 2025
  • Asheville Combined Cycle Station
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    Courtesy of Duke Energy
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    DOE grants Duke Energy authority to exceed power plant permit limits during extreme heat

    The emergency order will help reduce the risk of blackouts in the Southeast brought on by high temperatures, the department said.

    By June 24, 2025