Regulation & Policy: Page 143


  • US solar industry gets boost with new IRS guidance

    The much-anticipated clarification allows developers to qualify for a 30% tax credit if they can prove that they invested at least 5% of the total expected installation costs by the end of 2019.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 25, 2018
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    Deep Dive

    Utility bankruptcy concerns rise as bill comes due for 2017 California fires

    Some 394 wildfires at the end of 2017 could cost California's IOUs tens of billions, but there are ways to mitigate the financial impact.

    By June 25, 2018
  • High voltage power lines seen from below Explore the Trendline
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    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
  • Study: Sea level rise threatens 2.4M US homes

    UCS found the hardest hit communities will be in Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina. But they didn't simply offer a doom and gloom report without hope for reversing the negative findings. 

    By Katie Pyzyk • June 22, 2018
  • New York unveils roadmap to 1.5 GW storage by 2025

    The state has considerations underway to set a more ambitious long-term energy storage target for 2030.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 21, 2018
  • Daimler facility stores batteries for EVs while providing storage to grid

    Daimler and Mercedes-Benz Energy are providing grid service from an energy storage facility in a former German coal plant.

    By Peter Maloney • June 21, 2018
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    Pexels
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    Exelon, First Solar back bipartisan national carbon tax plan

    Exelon has already contributed $1 million to the proposal, which would replace carbon regulations with a tax that would ultimately result in a monthly dividend returned to all Americans, according to Axios.

    By June 21, 2018
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    Colorado regulators boost Xcel efficiency target 25%

    Xcel subsidiary Public Service Company of Colorado asked the PUC to keep its goal steady at 400 GWh of annual reductions, but regulators are convinced the utility can do more.

    By June 21, 2018
  • Opinion

    'Restructured' by any other name would smell as sweet

    On the subject of energy markets and their functioning, there's no free market electricity competition, with or without the Trump administration's baseload power supply subsidy plan, former FERC Commissioner Tony Clark writes.

    By Tony Clark • June 21, 2018
  • Republicans tout tax law success in hearing on energy sector impacts

    While Republican witnesses cited increased wages, capital expenditures and company growth from the recent changes to the tax code, the lone Democrat witness said the bulk of the benefits are bypassing the middle class.

    By Peter Maloney • June 21, 2018
  • Deep Dive

    In Massachusetts, capacity ownership of distributed resources could determine fate of storage

    Current debates over ownership and control of capacity rights associated with solar and energy storage projects could have a big impact on the trajectory of the technologies in the state.

    By Peter Maloney • June 20, 2018
  • Economic growth is decoupling from power sector carbon emissions, Ceres reports

    The analysis shows that the mercury standards focused on technologies used in coal plants effectively lowered air emissions 86% from 2000 levels after going in effect in 2015.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 20, 2018
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    World on track for 50% renewables by 2050, says Bloomberg energy outlook

    Wind and solar will provide almost 50% of the world's electricity, with hydro, nuclear and other renewables taking total zero-carbon electricity up to 71%.

    By June 19, 2018
  • Remediating fossil fuel sites

    As EPA approves Oklahoma coal ash program, researchers find widespread contamination

    While EPA on Monday approved the first state permit program for coal ash disposal, a review from Ohio Valley ReSource and WFPL showed 'ubiquitous' groundwater contamination in the Ohio Valley.

    By June 19, 2018
  • Maine finds marijuana growers too risky for energy efficiency grants

    Maine Efficiency Executive Director Michael Stoddard cited Attorney General Jeff Sessions' interest in shutting down marijuana operations.

    By June 19, 2018
  • Deep Dive

    Is New Hampshire on the verge of battery energy storage history?

    A Liberty Utilities-stakeholder settlement could put 1,000 behind-the-meter batteries in place and provide a model for the rest of the country.

    By June 19, 2018
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    Alevo
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    Moody's goes negative on regulated utilities for first time, citing tax law impacts

    Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley upgraded the utilities sector to outperform, and an analyst note remarked that utility stocks are primed for defensive investments.

    By Peter Maloney • June 19, 2018
  • 100% renewable energy omnibus clears Massachusetts Senate

    The package of energy bills would also remove net metering caps, increase the storage mandate and void demand charges approved earlier this year for Eversource. 

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 18, 2018
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    Deep Dive

    Should the regulatory two-step give way to a new, performance-based dance?

    Critics say traditional cost-of-service ratemaking is behind the times, but newer models require a complex production from a variety of industry players. 

    By June 18, 2018
  • FERC rejects Mountain Valley challenges, dividing again over climate, pipeline need

    More than a dozen environmental groups petitioned FERC to review its October approval of the 300-mile pipeline, but FERC said its original decision is valid. 

    By June 18, 2018
  • Sierra Club cries foul over PacifiCorp coal study secrecy

    Oregon regulators directed PacifiCorp to review the cost of its coal resources. Now the company wants nondisclosure agreements to review the findings, according to the Sierra Club.

    By June 15, 2018
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    DOE
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    Trump nominates climate doubter Simmons to head DOE renewables office

    Daniel Simmons used to work for the American Energy Alliance, a conservative lobbying group that advocated eliminating the DOE renewables office in 2015. 

    By June 15, 2018
  • Massachusetts utilities conclude contract negotiations to import hydro

    ​The state's electric distribution companies reached agreements with Hydro-Québec and Central Maine Power Company and will file the 20-year contracts with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.

    By June 15, 2018
  • LaFleur defies FERC majority, will consider broad climate impacts of pipelines

    The Democratic regulator said she will consider all facts in FERC cases on pipelines, "even those overlooked by the majority."

    By June 14, 2018
  • Vistra will shrink its generating portfolio before growing it, CEO says

    At a June 12 analyst meeting, Curtis Morgan also said the company is looking at energy storage opportunities and criticized the Trump Administration's plans to support ailing coal and nuclear plants.

    By Peter Maloney • June 14, 2018
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    Oklahoma Gas & Electric secures rate recovery for new gas plant

    The utility has invested almost $400 million in the 462 MW Mustang Energy Center, but customers will see an overall decline in monthly bills.

    By June 14, 2018