Erring on the side of trampling on states' rights

Lately, when given the choice between co-existing with state authorities and simply steamrolling those authorities, FERC has consistently pursued the latter, the author writes.

By Jessica Bell • Feb. 10, 2020

CPUC proposed decision avoids new fixed charges due to concerns over customer backlash

California regulators are "gravely concerned" about the possibility of customer backlash at a fixed charge, according to the proposed decision.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 7, 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

To tackle climate change, it's all hands on deck in Virginia

In the absence of leadership from the White House, communities, businesses, advocacy organizations and elected officials at every level need to commit to ambitious action right now, three Democrat politicians in Virginia write. 

By Donald McEachin, Jennifer McClellan and Levar Stoney • Feb. 6, 2020

Glick: FERC actions 'freeze out' states, court would overturn MOPR order

FERC faces several rehearing requests on its December decision, including from PJM, regarding the balance between state and federal interests.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 6, 2020

Who's afraid of 100%?

A lower-cost outcome is more likely if we commit to a 100% rather than just 80% carbon-free electricity sector as that will provide additional certainty for innovations and cost reductions, the Brattle Group's Jurgen Weiss writes.

By Jurgen Weiss • Feb. 6, 2020

Indiana House passes controversial bill making coal plants harder to retire

HB 1414 was amended in the House to add a sunset clause of May 2021, which critics say makes the bill's purpose even more murky.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 5, 2020

GE Hitachi enters federal licensing process for new small modular nuclear reactor design

GE Hitachi claims its BWRX-300 will be cheaper on a capital cost basis than both conventional nuclear power reactors and other SMRs.

By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 5, 2020

New York aims to kick off solicitation for up to 2.5 GW of offshore wind in 2020

The proceeding would be the state's second large scale solicitation of the resource, and could lead to state procurements of up to 4.3 GW of offshore wind.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 5, 2020

State regulators need cyclical reviews to get the most out of utility performance incentive mechanisms: Report

Upending utility business models is more easily done with complementary state policies and continuous improvement of incentives, according to Energy Innovation and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 4, 2020

How ConEd and National Grid are experimenting with energy storage in New York

Consolidated Edison is in the middle of several major projects to advance the state's distributed grid, while working to add 300 MW of energy storage by 2023.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 3, 2020

Retaining outmoded monopolies and coal plants keeps Indiana in the Dark Ages

Policies like HB 1414 could force the state's residents to pay for outmoded power plants and stick the cost of the energy transition on captive customers, rather than letting markets work, the author writes.

By Devin Hartman • Feb. 3, 2020

CPUC proposes guidelines for safety shut-offs, finds 'serious deficiencies' with PG&E reporting

The proposal would require utilities to restore service 24 hours after "the conclusion of conditions that necessitate a de-energization event."

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 3, 2020

New Mexico approves PNM exit from San Juan coal plant, but CCS could still save facility

The utility will be able to abandon the plant through securitization, providing grants to workers laid off by the closure, but a local carbon capture company could keep the plant going.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 2, 2020

House Dems put climate at center of $760B infrastructure plan

The Moving Forward Framework would invest heavily in roads, transit and water systems, with efforts to cut emissions woven throughout.

By Chris Teale • Jan. 31, 2020

Can the US power sector significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2040? Not according to EIA

Energy sector analysts say EIA's annual projections have consistently been more conservative, overstating sector emissions, and utility groups are optimistic for greater carbon reductions from power generation and transportation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 30, 2020

FERC's backlog of rehearing requests and the legal 'purgatory' of opposition to the PJM MOPR order

Language in the Federal Power Act prevents stakeholders from litigating a FERC order until regulators rule on rehearing requests, a decision that can face lengthy delays.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2020

Oncor, other Texas utilities aim to avoid enforcement power for proposed cybersecurity monitor

Oncor said regulators should delete from the proposed rule all provisions that would give the monitor authority to "require utilities to submit to assessments or respond to information requests."

By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 2020

Report: 108M Americans face unhealthy air quality

Air quality breached health limits for more than 100 days in 89 cities in 2018, according to a new analysis of EPA pollution records.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 29, 2020

New Jersey outlines sweeping plans to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said the state was not on track to meet its pollution reduction goals, prompting the release of his "Energy Master Plan" to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 28, 2020

Geothermal's surprise: Cheap renewables could keep states from achieving climate goals

Planners must think beyond the levelized cost for renewables to the value that each resource brings to the grid.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 27, 2020

Forward Clean Energy Markets: A new solution to state-RTO conflicts

The Brattle Group has developed a new concept to competitively procure clean energy commitments in a technology-neutral fashion and complement other wholesale power market products, including capacity.

By Sam Newell, Kathleen Spees and Johannes Pfeifenberger • Jan. 27, 2020

NextEra aims to capitalize on PTC extension, repower wind in 2020

The company missed its Q4 earnings estimate but its developer arm excelled, beating fourth quarter earnings from 2018, and increasing its pipeline of projects to the largest it's ever been.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 27, 2020

Wisconsin utility plans to retire 345 MW of coal early as controversial natural gas plans remain in flux

Dairyland Power Cooperative is shutting down a coal plant in anticipation of a new natural gas project coming online, but the facility continues to face regulatory hurdles across Minnesota and Wisconsin.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 27, 2020

FERC's McNamee not seeking 2nd term as commissioner

Commissioner Bernard McNamee will step down from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Sept. 4, he announced Wednesday.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 6, 2020

When states pick expensive policies under the guise of 'states' rights,' consumers pay

The inconsistency between state choices and wholesale power markets has reached a boiling point, and it's time someone closed the lid, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.

By Todd A. Snitchler • Jan. 23, 2020