California regulators tee up changes to utility distributed storage programs

A proposed decision from an Administrative Law Judge would direct utilities to allow independently owned projects to compete with utility-owned proposals when procuring distributed storage.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 28, 2019

EPA enforcement shift will allow coal plants to pollute more, former air official says

EPA's decision to de-prioritize enforcement of the New Source Review standards will allow plants to make upgrades without oversight, a former director of the agency's Air Enforcement Division told Congress.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 27, 2019

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

New York utilities propose cybersecurity protocols for third parties

New York's investor-owned utilities want the Public Service Commission to confirm they can require third-party grid players to sign data security commitments or have their access restricted.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2019

New York utilities, NYISO to collaborate on allowing storage in state's wholesale and retail markets

Following through on its approval of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 1.5 GW by 2025 target, the Public Service Commission laid out priorities for a working group on integration and market design for energy storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 26, 2019

DTE's wind-only option spurs Michigan regulators to approve revised green pricing program

The revisions address regulator concerns over cost and pricing transparency and will allow DTE Electric residential and small commercial customers to elect how much renewable energy they use.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 26, 2019

Virginia regulators deny Walmart request to leave Dominion utility service

The State Corporation Commission said the loss of power demand from more than 160 stores would raise rates too much for residential customers who cannot choose their electricity provider.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 26, 2019

SEU 2019 survey: Uncertainty mounts in the clean energy transition

Utilities are still moving to a cleaner, more distributed power system, but our annual survey shows they are increasingly unsure about what types of regulation and market structures they want to foster the transition.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 26, 2019

Designing Liberty Utilities' New Hampshire residential storage program

A closer look at the decision to pair distributed energy storage with time-of-use rates.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 25, 2019

Enabling storage integration through market-driven procurements

Early renewables procurements that reverse traditional auctions with one utility buyer and multiple renewables-plus-storage sellers have lowered storage costs and grown capacity.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 25, 2019

Massachusetts house speaker introduces plan to allocate $1B for efficiency, renewables

The plan would give communities easier access to funds to install energy storage, solar grids, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and more.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 25, 2019

LaFleur, Chatterjee pledge no 'prejudging' of LNG exports after Calcasieu Pass compromise

The two regulators clashed Thursday over Chatterjee's statement that a climate change compromise for the Louisiana LNG facility could pave the way for more export approvals in the future. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 22, 2019

Missouri regulators open docket to tackle EV infrastructure

The move from the Public Service Commission comes after an appeals court ruled utilities can recover their investment for electric vehicle chargers.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 22, 2019

FERC reaches 'breakthrough' compromise to approve LNG export facility

Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur joined FERC's Republicans in a climate compromise that could pave the way for a dozen more LNG export terminal approvals. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 22, 2019

Seattle mayor proposes EV readiness requirement for all new buildings

Jenny Durkan said they should be equipped for EV charging, and a certain number of new parking spaces must have the wiring and outlets to be ready for chargers.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 21, 2019

APS to install 850 MW of storage, 100 MW of solar in major clean energy buy

The utility also signed a seven-year contract for natural gas peaking capacity, which it hopes will be replaced by renewables and storage in the mid 2020s. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 21, 2019

EPA: Carbon emissions from power plants rose in 2018 amid higher electricity demand

The report is the second in as many months to forecast a reversal of years of emissions cuts from the U.S. power sector.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 21, 2019

De-energize and DERs: The tough options wildfires pose for California utilities

California IOUs’ wildfire mitigation plans will cost billions and take years, but distributed generation can give customers power during protective shutoffs.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 20, 2019

Supreme Court Clean Water Act case could have big impact on coal ash disposal

A case, which the High Court accepted Monday, regards whether pollution that travels through groundwater is subject to the federal law — a key issue for utilities operating coal ash facilities.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 20, 2019

EPS Ep. 7: Demystifying the Green New Deal with Greg Carlock

The Data for Progress research director says non-renewable resources and market-based policies can have a role in a Green New Deal — as long as they serve the aims of deep decarbonization and economic justice. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 20, 2019

Maine governor ends wind moratorium as lawmakers tee up net metering return

Gov. Janet Mills, D, signed an executive order Feb. 14 terminating the moratorium issued by former GOP Gov. Paul LePage last year.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 20, 2019

FERC reasserts authority over PG&E contracts in bankruptcy court filing

PG&E may want to exit older renewable energy contracts as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, but FERC argued it must separately win approval from the agency to alter their terms.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 19, 2019

DOE proposal to change how it sets efficiency standards creates new hurdles, advocates say

Updates to the Process Rule would give manufacturers a "carte blanche to write the rules for how efficiency is measured," according to Appliance Standards Awareness Project's Andrew deLaski.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2019

PJM to ask FERC to invalidate its energy market rules after stakeholder impasse

The grid operator's controversial five-point proposal includes changes that will boost the real-time and day-ahead markets by allowing larger, less flexible units to set prices.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 15, 2019

Vineyard Wind submits 1,200 MW proposal to New York's 800 MW offshore wind RFP

The New York State Energy Research and Development authority received 18 bids from four companies for its inaugural offshore wind solicitation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 15, 2019

New England efficiency advocates raise alarm over potential capacity market changes

According to a filing by Advanced Energy Economy, the grid operator for New England is considering making changes to how energy efficiency providers measure their capacity.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2019