Utilities find groundwater contamination, radioactivity at unlined coal ash sites

The findings come as the Trump administration looks to roll back the Obama-era coal ash rule that compelled utilities to collect groundwater data.   

By Robert Walton • March 5, 2018

IRS: Residential storage eligible for ITC when charged by onsite solar

The ruling applies only to an individual storage facility, but shows how the agency may interpret home battery eligibility for the 30% solar investment tax credit.

By Gavin Bade • March 5, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

Time-travel, utility-style: Outlines of the utility of the future appear

Rocky Mountain Institute experts identify price, data and interconnection as the keys to success for the utility of the future, whether it's an expanded monopoly or a distribution system platform.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 5, 2018

Carbon tax fails — again — in Washington

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee says the Senate does not have enough votes to pass the measure, but he expects a price on carbon at some point in Washington's future.

By Robert Walton • March 2, 2018

EPA moves to give states more leeway on coal ash

A new proposed rule includes many changes EPA previewed in a November court document, including alterations to groundwater monitoring and protection standards, cleanup and closure rules and location restrictions for ash pits.

By Gavin Bade • March 2, 2018

The 'stealth NOPR?' PJM CEO says market reforms are no bailout for coal

Some experts are concerned pending reforms in the nation’s largest electricity market could have similar results to a Trump administration subsidy plan rejected by federal regulators.

By Gavin Bade • March 1, 2018

FERC staff: Eversource, Avangrid did not withhold pipeline capacity

An October report from the Environmental Defense Fund asserted the two utilities had artificially constrained capacity on the Algonquin pipeline, driving up power prices in New England.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 28, 2018

Five energy industry trends of tomorrow impacting companies today

Energy is a long game, and all stakeholders have made a long-term affirmation that we are headed toward a more renewable future, REC Solar Senior Vice President Alan Russo writes.

By Alan Russo • Feb. 28, 2018

Report: Cities of all sizes can achieve sustainable energy solutions

The NRG report found that leading cities shared four main tactics in their efforts to boost sustainable energy: dedicating staff resources, employing unique assets, finding funding and accessing expertise.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 27, 2018

PJM: Reliability strong during January cold snap, but pricing reforms needed

The nation's largest electricity market performed well during January's "bomb cyclone," its grid operator said, but a spike in uplift charges reveals the need for pricing reforms. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2018

SEU 2018 survey: Utilities shaken, not moved, by Trump policies

Utility Dive's fifth annual State of the Electric Utility survey shows a sector committed to the clean energy transition, but wary of policies coming out of Washington.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 27, 2018

Team of rivals: Utilities, enviros unite to push electric vehicles

Old adversaries from the rooftop solar fights are finding common ground on transportation electrification.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 26, 2018

Let the US EPA coal ash rule procedures work

Environmentalists are raising concerns about risks to groundwater from coal ash, making this an opportune time to clarify EPA’s 2015 coal combustion residual rule, attorney Brent Fewell writes.

By Brent Fewell • Feb. 26, 2018

Solving our energy grid problems requires a data sharing economy

Solving energy grid problems in New York, Puerto Rico and beyond will depend on innovative leaders who are willing to foster standards and knowledge sharing, according to Lisa Salley, vice president of Global Industry Services at the American Petroleum Institute.  

By Lisa Salley • Feb. 23, 2018

Michigan, Louisiana press utilities to return tax savings to customers

The federal corporate tax rate dropped to 21% in January, but some utilities are still billing customers as though the rate is 35%.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2018

FirstEnergy CEO says generation subsidiary headed for bankruptcy protection

Chuck Jones said he would be "shocked" if the company's merchant generation business did not file for bankruptcy protection by the end of March.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 23, 2018

California energy agency predicts rising power demand

The California Energy Commission on Feb. 21 released its updated demand forecast, which sees higher consumption driven by electric vehicles and climate change. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2018

Customer empowerment upheaval forces California into hold on renewables

Customer choice aggregation is sweeping through California, putting almost everything about the state’s already groundbreaking power delivery into doubt.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 22, 2018

Florida PSC staff pushes approval of FPL gas plant over opposition

The commission will vote March 1 on whether to approve a 1,163 MW gas plant — far larger than opponents say is necessary to cover demand.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2018

EPA moves to reject CT complaint over Brunner Island plant emissions

Connecticut had filed a complaint with the agency arguing that cross-state pollution from the plant was putting it in violation of ground-level ozone standards. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 22, 2018

Public Citizen says PJM violated FPA with political contributions

PJM says the nearly $500,000 it gave to the governors associations of both political parties was merely for membership fees. The liberal watchdog says that still violates the Federal Power Act.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 21, 2018

LaFleur warns against PJM plan altering 'fundamental' energy market mechanics

The federal regulator said her agency should "think very hard" before it alters which resources can set market prices during an address that also touched on grid resilience and the growth of Western energy markets.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 21, 2018

University of Georgia study is disconnected from grid economics

R Street Institute's Devin Hartman says a new study fails to accurately weigh the contrasts between wholesale markets and monopoly utility regulation. 

By Devin Hartman • Feb. 21, 2018

DOE 'would never use' emergency order for uneconomic plants, Walker says

"It's never come to my attention, nobody's talked about it, nobody in my department is doing anything with it," DOE Assistant Secretary Bruce Walker said of a potential 202(c) order to prop up coal plants. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 20, 2018

Utility-backed Mississippi bill to limit power of attorney general

The measure, attached to a bill authorizing the Public Service Commission's continued operation, would limit the ability of the state Attorney General to challenge rates.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 20, 2018