PJM CEO urges FERC to move on resilience as Trump coal bailout looms

A market-based rule for grid resilience would be preferable to a federal bailout, the head of the nation's largest wholesale power market told senators Thursday.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 15, 2018

New tool helps states identify EV policies that work, and those that don't

Vehicle purchase incentives have the most impact, according to the National Association of State Energy Officials rubric, while some popular policies may not be particularly effective.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2018

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

DC's aggressive clean energy bill gets initial hearing

The bill would require the District to use 100% renewable energy by 2032. Currently, the city is on track to get 50% of its energy from renewable sources in that time.

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 11, 2018

What Nevada can learn from Virginia's experience with electric deregulation

Virginia State Senator Frank Wagner says he watched electric rates rise from deregulation across the East Coast in the 90s and warns Nevada voters to avoid the same fate in November.

By Frank Wagner • Oct. 11, 2018

PG&E lines caused 2017 Cascade fire that killed 4, state officials say

The utility did not violate state regulations, CAL FIRE said, but California's insurance laws can hold it financially liable even if it did not break the law. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 10, 2018

DOE energy storage grants look to the day when renewables rule the grid

DOE program aims at low cost, long duration storage to meet grid needs when renewable penetration rises above 50%.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 9, 2018

Are regulators hindering EV acceleration?

Utilities and regulators are starting to scale up charging infrastructure, but are finding it takes private vendor and utility "coopetition" to build the interoperable EV charging networks needed to satisfy drivers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 9, 2018

Montana case could set FERC precedent for paired storage treatment under PURPA

A utility and developer are battling at FERC over whether wind-plus-storage facilities qualify under the federal law, which compels utilities to purchase power from small renewable generators. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 9, 2018

UN: We have 12 years left to take action on climate change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require "unprecedented changes" in a highly-anticipated report.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 8, 2018

Dominion, SCANA inch closer to merger with North Carolina PSC staff deal

A settlement with regulatory staff puts the merger on firm ground in the state, but the real drama remains in South Carolina, where Dominion wants customers to pay for part of SCANA's failed nuclear project. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2018

Michigan regulators clear Consumers PURPA rates, green tariff programs

Solar advocates say the avoided cost rates, on hold since November, will bring more certainty for potential investors.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 8, 2018

Arizona regulator wants to adopt 80% clean energy plan before gas moratorium ends

Commissioner Andy Tobin wants to have the Arizona Energy Modernization Plan adopted as a final rule by the middle of February — significantly faster than typical rulemaking proceedings.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2018

Mountain Valley stalled, Atlantic Sunrise cleared for service in busy pipeline week

The diverging fortunes of the two Appalachian projects illustrate the struggle between environmental advocates and natural gas companies over the siting and construction of new pipelines.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 5, 2018

How rising global temperatures will affect 6 major cities

The earth is on a trajectory to warm 3-4°C by 2100. This heat map details how that rise in temperatures will affect major metropolitan hubs.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 5, 2018

Brattle: Nevada could cost-effectively deploy 1 GW of energy storage by 2030

The state is revamping the planning process for its utilities, and the Public Utilities Commission is considering establishing an energy storage target.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2018

Washington regulators approve tight rules on community solar

Some community solar advocates are raising concerns about the regulatory tape small entities could face in order to establish new projects.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 4, 2018

Proposed Pepco substation highlights DC's grid modernization battle

Pepco's proposed substation faces pushback from district residents and environmentalists as the utility looks to modernize the capital's grid in response to changing demand and population growth. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 4, 2018

Coal lobby pleased as Trump nominates ally McNamee to FERC

The Department of Energy official is expected to align closer with White House priorities than former Commissioner Robert Powelson, who stepped down in August. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 4, 2018

Connecticut agencies say Millstone 'at risk' as Dominion seeks boost in clean energy RFP

If the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority agrees Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant is 'at risk,' it could receive above-market rates in Connecticut's solicitation for zero emission resources.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 3, 2018

FERC's electric enforcement process is a procedural quagmire in need of reform

After repeated losses, FERC may consider reforming its electric enforcement procedures, but any changes could look a lot different than you think. Poorly conceived reforms could lead to an existential crisis in Federal Power Act enforcement.

By Wesley J. Heath • Oct. 3, 2018

PJM recasts capacity repricing in market reform filing at FERC

The generator is trying for a second time to boost revenues for coal and gas generators in its capacity market after federal regulators threw out its market rules in June.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 3, 2018

Ahead of FERC storage order deadline, new rules begin to take shape in PJM

PJM Interconnection's straw proposal gives a glimpse into how energy storage might participate more in wholesale markets.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 2, 2018

S&P downgrades Georgia Power's partners in Vogtle nuclear project

After hammering out a last-minute agreement to keep the nuclear project alive, the munis and cooperative utilities in the Vogtle nuclear project are hit with downgrades.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 2, 2018

EPA MATS rollback threatens DOE carbon capture priorities, critics warn

Allowing utilities to stop using pollution scrubbers mandated under the EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards could raise the price for coal plants to adopt carbon capture, proponents of the technology said. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 2, 2018

When PJM's capacity market stops working for consumers is it time to leave?

Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Brien Sheahan urges states with renewable energy mandates or nuclear subsidies to reevaluate their participation in the largest U.S. electricity market.

By Brien J. Sheahan​ • Oct. 2, 2018