FERC MOPR order may have 'paradoxically unintended consequences': PJM

FERC's December order "might have made the process more administrative, more uncertain than it needs to be," a PJM official told stakeholders in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.  

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020

California ALJ boosts PG&E costs 70% for failures in program to prevent damage to underground equipment

A previously proposed $65 million settlement for violations of the utility's locate-and-mark practices was “too low for the number, duration and severity," according to ALJ Peter Allen who increased the amount to $110 million.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 22, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Ameren, Xcel, Dominion, Duke among most at-risk from changing climate: Moody's

Extreme heat and flooding, along with water scarcity and more severe hurricanes related to climate change, present long-term risks to utility assets, the credit rating agency found.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2020

Rhode Island governor wants state to be fastest to 100% renewable energy

Democrat Gina Raimondo signed an executive order to have all the state's energy supplied by renewable sources by 2030, but NGOs and industry are concerned about the lack of a multi-sector approach or any legal backing.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 21, 2020

FERC gets around: PJM super MOPR — an around-market solution for the around-market solutions

FERC's PJM decision is not an attack on clean energy. It is an indictment of a regulatory construct that is crumbling, write the authors.

By Raymond L. Gifford and Matthew S. Larson • Jan. 21, 2020

New York regulators recommend charging infrastructure plan expected to deliver $2.6B in net benefits

The program will cover up to 90% of costs for "make-ready" charging stations to lower cost barriers for developers.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 21, 2020

Georgia bill would require companies to treat coal ash like municipal solid waste

The proposed legislation would impose stricter regulations on coal ash cleanup, requiring landfills holding the waste to have bottom liners and leachate collection systems.

By E.A. Crunden • Jan. 17, 2020

California launches rulemaking to manage transition away from natural gas

The California Public Utilities Commission will look into updating current reliability standards, as well as long-term contracting and tariff change rules.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 17, 2020

DOE energy efficiency thresholds will endanger appliance standards, critics say

Trump says he wants to make dishes "beautiful" again, but efficiency advocates warn his administration is gutting regulations that could save billions in energy costs.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 17, 2020

New York says new renewables financing option to reduce developers' financial risk, save $4.6B

In addition to updating how renewable energy projects in the state are funded, the Public Service Commission directed $2 billion in utility energy efficiency and building electrification spending.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 17, 2020

2020 Outlook: US renewable resources on steady course for increased deployment

"In 2020, there’s sort of a 'come on in, the water's warm' element of excitement and momentum" around renewable energy procurement, one analyst said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2020

Indiana bill would require Trump administration or state regulator blessing to retire coal plants early

The bill would prevent utilities from retiring plants early or otherwise decreasing operations unless explicitly directed by the federal government, not counting the Environmental Protection Agency.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 16, 2020

How much — and how fast — will Colorado change its utility business model?

Xcel Energy's Colorado utility cautions that implementing performance-based regulation too quickly could "jeopardize" the state's progress toward clean energy.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 16, 2020

Early utility regulator retirement gives Wisconsin opportunity to move on third party solar impasse

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a renewable energy proponent, will have the chance to shift the state's utility regulatory body toward his agenda after Commissioner Mike Huebsch's early retirement.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020

New Jersey sets high standard with passage of EV incentive bill, advocates say

In his State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy promised to unveil a comprehensive roadmap in two weeks detailing how the state would reach its goal of a 100% clean energy economy by 2050.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 15, 2020

Ash ponds: Keep calm and close in place

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to closing coal ash ponds, the author writes, cautioning against jumping to preordained conclusions on how to address the coal generation byproduct.

By Steven A. Burns is a partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources practice. • Jan. 15, 2020

2020 outlook: Natural gas faces regulatory, environmental scrutiny but still wants role in carbon-free grid

Aggressive natural gas investments in recent years may bring the sector to its tipping point. But some stakeholders say the fuel still has an important role to play in a decarbonized future.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020

What would a $10 per ton carbon price mean for the Northeast?

A higher carbon price could affect manufacturing output and employment in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative states, according to a new report — especially in energy-intensive industries like cement and aluminum. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 14, 2020

Kansas considering securitization for aging coal plants, but caution urged

Is "securitization fever" catching on in Kansas?

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 14, 2020

2020 Outlook: 10 trends driving the US power sector

From utilities to states to grid operators, the energy transformation is accelerating, but significant challenges remain.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 13, 2020

Renewable advocates highlight 'most effective' path to net-zero emissions as House releases clean energy framework

The CLEAN Future Act is set to be introduced by House Democrats later this year.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 10, 2020

Trump infrastructure proposal impacts 'virtually every' federal decision on environment: DOI Secretary

Coal, gas and wind groups praised the changes to a key project permitting policy, saying environmental reviews badly need streamlining, but NGOs fear the proposal omits critical considerations and creates ambiguity.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 10, 2020

Illinois Chamber: Clean Energy Jobs Act will inflict billions in increased costs on ratepayers

The business trade group is concerned with the bill's proposal to prioritize the use of Exelon's nuclear plants to meet Illinois' capacity needs, saying it will secure Exelon's financial future at the expense of ratepayers' electricity bills.

By Todd Maisch • Jan. 9, 2020

Xcel Minnesota: Running coal seasonally will save customers millions, reduce emissions

Clean energy advocates say economic and environmental savings could be replicated nationwide if utilities were to take similar steps.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 8, 2020

California's 2020 legislative session: The 'wild, Wild West' of bills targeting PG&E

State lawmakers say they will focus on regulating the utility's operations and reducing the impacts of its widespread public safety power shut-offs.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 8, 2020