FERC opens transmission, ROE inquiries as regulators spar again over climate

Pointed exchanges over climate change policy at FERC's monthly meeting may indicate that approvals for new natural gas infrastructure are again on hold at the commission.

By Gavin Bade • March 22, 2019

Experiment without penalty: Can regulatory 'sandboxes' foster utility innovation?

The sandbox concept allows innovators to experiment without the usual regulatory impediments and long delays associated with traditional oversight, writes Illinois Commerce Commission Chair Brien Sheahan.

By Brien J. Sheahan and Jimmie Zhang • March 21, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.

By Utility Dive staff

FERC chief of staff Pugliese steps down

Anthony Pugliese stoked controversy last year for making political comments in the media and implying FERC was working with the Department of Energy on a support package for coal and nuclear plants.

By Gavin Bade • Updated March 21, 2019

California ALJ proposes statewide renewable energy procurement for utilities

Integrated resource plans submitted by the state's utilities and CCAs would not reduce greenhouse gases enough to meet state goals, an Administrative Law Judge ruled Monday.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 20, 2019

Plant bailout back on tap as Perry, coal interests reportedly derail FERC nomination

After months of lying dormant, discussion about a plant bailout in Washington this week may indicate the White House is preparing another effort to save retiring generators. 

By Gavin Bade • March 20, 2019

Nevada legislators introduce 100% carbon-free bill, with provision to include all energy providers

The legislation also mandates a 50% renewable portfolio standard, which voters in the state preliminarily approved as a ballot initiative in November.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 20, 2019

A utility regulatory process for the 21st century gets a test run in Hawaii

A set of regulatory workshops advanced a more collaborative process among stakeholders and a reduced utility role to more quickly facilitate the power sector's transformation.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 19, 2019

State of the states: 4 reasons that red plus blue makes green economics

While the Green New Deal proposal has sparked an important national conversation, the next wave of innovative energy legislation will likely come from red and blue state capitols.

By Malcolm D. Woolf • March 19, 2019

Kansas regulators reject mandating smart meter opt-out programs

The State Corporation Commission also determined the use of smart meters "cannot pose a threat to a customer's personally identifiable information," and would not create health risks or fire hazards. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 19, 2019

EPS Ep. 9: DOE renewables chief vows support for office amid proposed budget cuts

Assistant Secretary Dan Simmons used to work for an organization that advocated the elimination of the office he currently heads. Now he says he supports DOE's renewable energy mission.

By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2019

Trio of federal energy storage bills avoid tax credits

The legislation comes amid rising interest in the technology, with an increasing number of state targets, a new House bipartisan storage caucus and increased funding in the President's latest budget request.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 19, 2019

Modernizing regulation for the fourth Industrial Revolution

Utility regulations need to meet customer needs while continuing to ensure clean, affordable, safe and reliable electric service. For that to happen, traditional regulatory structures and processes need to adapt.  

By Nick Lanyi • March 19, 2019

Maine renews net metering as lawmakers prep new clean energy, utility reform bills

Policymakers are mulling aggressive actions to change the state's energy landscape, including purchasing Maine's two investor-owned utilities and converting them to a customer-owned model.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 18, 2019

Kentucky rolls back net metering, bucking recent pro-solar trend elsewhere

Legislation approved Thursday contrasts with two recent wins for solar deployment in Maine and Arkansas, where both business and ratepayer advocates favored eliminating market barriers.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 18, 2019

As first US utility-scale offshore wind project nears approval, supply chain, permitting come into focus

Despite a lack of domestic components and a complex permitting process, Vineyard Wind is confident in its ability to move forward this summer with construction of its 800 MW project off the coast of Massachusetts.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 18, 2019

Dominion strikes deadline day utility deal to keep Millstone nuke operating

The company warned that New England's sole nuclear generator could retire if a contract for its output was not signed by March 15. 

By Gavin Bade • March 15, 2019

How Arkansas eliminated third-party solar barriers in a red state

Third-party finance limitations and project size caps impeded solar growth in Arkansas, but lowering market barriers drew support from bipartisan lawmakers and business interests, pushing utilities to compromise.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 15, 2019

Chatterjee: Transmission could be resilience docket solution

The FERC chairman's remarks at CERAWeek represent a shift from past emphasis on generator fuel supplies in the resilience debate. 

By Gavin Bade • March 14, 2019

As US solar expands, states increasingly tackle compensation and community project complexities

Years of debate by "nerds in beige rooms" has led to today's booming solar market, but solar policy is becoming even more complicated.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 14, 2019

McNamee still mulling resilience docket recusal

In his first comments to the press since his confirmation, the Republican regulator said he is working with ethics officials to determine if the resilience docket too closely resembles a plant bailout plan he crafted in 2017.

By Gavin Bade • March 14, 2019

The devil's in the details: Policy implications of 'clean' vs. 'renewable' energy

In the U.S., researchers who analyzed 40 different decarbonization pathways found that a system inclusive of clean energy will be much cheaper than a system based entirely on renewables.

By Lee Beck and Jennifer T. Gordon • March 14, 2019

Perry says federal coal and nuke bailout not dead, but encourages states to act

The Secretary of Energy supports "thoughtful" state subsidy programs, but said he was not aware of discussions in Pennsylvania, where a lawmaker says DOE staff told him a federal bailout was not forthcoming.

By Gavin Bade • March 14, 2019

NYSERDA targets retail and bulk storage incentives as state aims for 3 GW by 2030

The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority's plan allocates $130 million and $150 million to the retail and bulk storage markets, respectively.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 13, 2019

Kansas City, Missouri, pledges carbon-free government by next year

The city council voted unanimously to get its electricity from renewable sources, develop a community solar farm and buy more electric vehicles.

By Chris Teale • March 13, 2019

Three's company: New Mexico joins California, Hawaii in approving 100% clean energy mandate

The bill requires the state to phase out all natural gas and coal-fired plants by 2045, signifying a major shift in energy priorities since a new governor and a new crop of legislators took office in January.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 13, 2019