Regulation & Policy: Page
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What's the best role for utilities as EVs proliferate? With Pepco, DC aims to find the right balance
A Public Service Commission order raises questions about how and if third-party charging companies should be regulated.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 7, 2019 -
Deep Dive
As co-ops struggle with stranded fossil fuel assets, Tri-State may finally embrace the energy transition
"Our goal is a transition that lowers rates. It might be hard – but it might be beautiful," the G&T's new CEO told Utility Dive.
By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 7, 2019 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
TrendlineTop 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 -
Waste Connections landfill set to end Puerto Rican coal ash imports
The expected decision comes after months of public frustration in Florida's Osceola County. It will have no bearing on continued coal ash shipments from within the state.
By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 6, 2019 -
Georgia Power coal ash plan mirrors conditions that led to Duke spills: Report
Three of the utility's coal ash disposal sites sit on floodplains and another buries a creek in 97 feet of coal ash.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 6, 2019 -
Arizona commissioner cites 'unacceptable risks' from lithium-ion batteries for large-scale projects
While the cause of the battery storage fire at Arizona Public Service's facility is being determined, Commissioner Sandra Kennedy proposed the use of less economic battery chemistries to ensure safety and reliability.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 6, 2019 -
Bipartisan Senate support for nuclear grows with $7.5B bill to extend life of current fleet
The bill is a continuation of the Senate's focus on supporting new nuclear technologies while improving the economic viability of the current fleet.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019 -
Opinion
Ohio nuclear and coal bailout is a loss for nuclear power and the climate
HB6, which links nuclear power to coal and not renewables, risks undermining the burgeoning bipartisan consensus that nuclear power will play a crucial role in tackling climate change, while attracting to nuclear the ire usually reserved for coal.
By Randolph Bell • Aug. 5, 2019 -
Dominion's 100% renewables tariff could kill Virginia's retail choice ambitions
Competitive retail providers are fighting for customers in the state, alongside a growing number of displeased ratepayers.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019 -
ALJ dismisses Duke attempt to reverse North Carolina coal ash excavation order
Duke will proceed with its appeal of state regulators' finding that complete excavation is the only way to completely protect public health and the environment.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019 -
9th Circuit contradicts FERC in favor of solar developers in California PURPA case
The federal court ruled the state did not have a mechanism in place to effectively implement PURPA, the law intended to drive utilities to purchase power from smaller renewables generators.
By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 2, 2019 -
EPA moves to roll back environmental protection requirements for utility coal ash sites
Companies with coal ash fill projects larger than 12,400 tons must have environmental protections in place, but EPA now only wants those requirements at sites that have geological vulnerabilities, with no upper limit on tonnage.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 31, 2019 -
California's EV transition gets boost with state-automaker deal; Trump threatens to intervene
The deal calls for continued annual reductions of vehicle greenhouse gas emissions through 2026, but a White House official said "the federal government, not a single state, should set this standard."
By Robert Walton • July 30, 2019 -
FERC staff drafts environmental 'pass' for Mountain Valley Pipeline expansion
NextEra Energy's joint venture would add two delivery points to meet Dominion Energy's natural gas supply needs in North Carolina.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 30, 2019 -
Sponsored by Bentley
How advanced project management enables utility compliance
While the emergence of digital tools challenges the status quo, technology also provides an opportunity to significantly improve the speed and accuracy of compliance.
July 30, 2019 -
LaFleur cautions on administrative interference as she exits FERC
The commissioner speaks frankly about a missed opportunity — opening a natural gas pipeline docket in 2016 — and challenges ahead.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 29, 2019 -
FERC orders PJM to postpone capacity auction
The grid operator asked for certainty ahead of its August auction as FERC works on rules that incorporate aggregated distributed resources into the market.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 26, 2019 -
Few US cities on track to meet climate goals: ACEEE
Cities took on more than 265 climate initiatives in 2018, but most aren't adequately tracking their progress, and nearly 35% of cities have not set GHG reduction targets.
By Katie Pyzyk • July 26, 2019 -
Chicago considers municipalizing ComEd
The utility's contract with the city expires at the end of 2020 and city leaders believe they could accelerate decarbonization and lower rates through municipalization.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 25, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Harvesting hybrid solutions from performance-based rates: 'Not all or nothing'
While performance incentives can't "bribe a utility into being something fundamentally different," they can fundamentally reduce the friction of transition.
By Herman K. Trabish • July 24, 2019 -
Federal bill could restore biogas tax credits, bolster organics infrastructure
The expiration of a 30% investment tax credit — responsible for growing the wind and solar sectors — has reduced financing options for anaerobic digesters in recent years.
By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 27, 2019 -
Ohio's nuke and coal subsidies will likely be challenged at the ballot
A coalition of independent energy producers and environmentalists are looking to launch a referendum, which could prevent HB 6 from becoming law until November 2020.
By John Funk • July 23, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Performance-based regulation: Seeking the new utility business model
As the push to upend traditional utility business models grows across the country, new leading efforts are showing results where others missed the mark.
By Herman K. Trabish • July 23, 2019 -
Ohio Gov DeWine signs controversial nuke subsidy bill
The bill creates a $1.1 billion nuclear subsidy and provides $50 million per year in coal plant subsidies.
By John Funk • Updated July 23, 2019 -
Federal, North Carolina, Virginia governments sue Duke over 2014 coal ash spill
The action seeks to hold Duke accountable for environmental harm incurred by the spill, which released 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River.
By Catherine Morehouse • July 22, 2019 -
New York awards record 1,700 MW offshore wind contracts
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced two separate projects being developed by Equinor and Ørsted as the first segment of the state's 9,000 MW offshore wind target.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 19, 2019