Ohio legislators wrangle over nuke subsidy bill as FES misses fuel supply target

Senate leaders have questioned the validity of a June 30 deadline for ordering nuclear fuel rod assemblies, which FES said was necessary to refuel the Davis-Besse nuclear plant next year.

By John Funk • July 2, 2019

Utilities press FERC to allow cloud-based storage to increase data security, reliability

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation is crafting a standard to enable utilities to use cloud-based solutions as opposed to onsite data servers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 2, 2019

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Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

Chubb is first insurer to cut ties with coal, utilities say impact minimal

The coal industry received another blow as Chubb became the first big U.S. insurer to stop selling policies or investing in coal-related activities.

By HJ Mai • July 2, 2019

Diversifying the Northeast power mix: Is offshore wind + storage key to the region's reliability?

As more New England states roll out offshore wind mandates, bringing the technology to scale is a portfolio priority.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2019

Comparing America's grid operators on clean energy progress: PJM is headed for a climate disaster

The nation's largest grid operator is fueling a continued gas boom, despite growing data that such generation is perilous for the climate and unnecessary to serve customers, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

By Miles Farmer and Amanda Levin • July 2, 2019

Ohio Senate nuke subsidy bill drops clean air pretense, but keeps diminished renewable standard

The Energy and Public Utilities Committee of the Ohio Senate will hold a rare Saturday morning hearing this weekend, but has not yet announced when it will vote on its rewrite of House Bill 6.

By John Funk • June 28, 2019

Nuclear power industry heading toward smaller, cheaper, faster build designs: ClearPath

Advanced small modular reactors could be a game changer that helps the nuclear industry survive in the 21st century, according to the clean energy non-profit.

By HJ Mai • June 28, 2019

Hawaii launches phase 2 of rate modernization initiative, focused on revenue incentives

State regulators will continue to construct a portfolio of performance-based regulation tools for the state's investor-owned utilities.

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2019

Senate passes carbon capture infrastructure bill

The bipartisan USE IT Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act and enables important pipeline infrastructure for carbon dioxide capture as well as investments in other technology research.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 28, 2019

Oregon approval of aggressive EV goals overshadowed by climate bill drama

Senate Bill 1044 requires that nine out of 10 new vehicles sold in Oregon be electric by 2035, but its passage has been overshadowed by the fight over broader climate legislation.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2019

Senators target 50% national renewable energy standard by 2035, zero-carbon by 2050

The bill would set annual utility benchmark requirements starting in 2020 and allow states that already meet or exceed the federal standard to opt out.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 27, 2019

NERC CEO: Western RC transition is 'single largest risk of reliability in front of us'

Jim Robb said Wednesday that certifications will culminate in five separate reliability coordinators in the Western Interconnection around the start of 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 27, 2019

EPA recommends Georgia become 2nd state to run its own coal ash permit program

Oklahoma is the only state currently operating its own program as part of the Trump EPA's agenda to give more flexibility on coal ash regulations.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 26, 2019

California regulators propose 2 GW new peak capacity to address reliability concerns

The state's Public Utilities Commission has launched a procurement track that could include renewables, storage, demand response and other resources, while limiting imports.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019

Ohio Senate struggles to revise nuclear subsidy bill amid intense political maneuvering

The last-minute compromise comes as senators are presented with two reports that predict the House version would drive Ohio power prices up and potentially block new manufacturing.

By John Funk • Updated June 26, 2019

Illinois directs Vistra to retire 2 GW coal by 2020

Under the recent orders, Vistra Energy will need to retire the units by the end of the year and NRG Energy's Midwest Generation subsidiary will need to address groundwater contamination at four Illinois plants.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 24, 2019

Consumers failed to meet thousands of electric and gas line deadlines, prompting Michigan safety query

The utility "failed to satisfy its statutory obligation" to mark underground lines said the Public Service Commission, and now owes state regulators an explanation.

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2019

To compete in the global battery arms race, the US must spur its domestic market, analysts say

Industry experts say the United States has to create incentives for lithium-ion battery products to encourage manufacturers and decrease its dependence on Chinese imports.

By HJ Mai • June 24, 2019

FERC expands cybersecurity reporting standards to include non-disruptive incidents

The changes to cyberthreat reporting will provide "a more accurate picture of the rapidly changing cyber threat landscape" and secure the bulk power system, according to commission staff.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 21, 2019

Bipartisan bill targets federal nuke PPA by 2024, advanced reactor demos by 2025

The bill requires the federal government to enter into a power purchase agreement by 2024 with a reactor that received an NRC license after 2018, with an emphasis on "first-of-a-kind or early deployment nuclear technologies."

By HJ Mai • June 20, 2019

New York passes 100% clean energy bill, but advocate calls it a 'partial victory'

NY Renews, a nonpartisan coalition and major advocate for the legislation, says a final version of the bill weakens the original intent, "to directly invest resources in vulnerable communities." 

By Robert Walton • Updated June 20, 2019

EPA issues Clean Power Plan replacement as coal bailout remains sidelined

"Fossil fuels will continue to be a key part of the energy mix," EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said at a press conference Wednesday.

By Robert Walton • June 19, 2019

New Jersey adopts rules to rejoin RGGI, heading to 100% clean energy by 2050

The state has adopted two rules — one that establishes the mechanism to come back to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the other how it will spend the proceeds from carbon allowance auctions.

By HJ Mai • June 18, 2019

Congress pushes for storage, renewables to have same private investment incentives as fossil fuels

Two bipartisan bills introduced last week would shift tax policies to incentivize clean energy and carbon capture technologies.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2019

Should EV charging stations be regulated as utilities? Kentucky joins majority in saying no

The state's EV market is small, but interest is growing — and providing regulatory certainty can encourage more deployment, say proponents.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2019