Omnibus spending bill rejects Trump EPA, DOE cuts

EPA spending would remain stable under a Congressional budget bill released Wednesday night, while DOE clean energy funding would increase by nearly $1.5 billion.

By Gavin Bade • March 22, 2018

Wind and solar costs continue to drop below fossil fuels. What barriers remain for a low-carbon grid?

Energy Innovation's Michael O'Boyle and Silvio Marcacci outline the barriers to high-penetration wind and solar in the least-cost era.

By Michael O'Boyle, Silvio Marcacci • March 21, 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

Perry: DOE budget cuts don't mean a 'reduction in results'

The Secretary of Energy could not find a bad thing to say about programs his budget seeks to eliminate during an appearance before a Senate committee Tuesday.

By Gavin Bade • March 21, 2018

Nearly 1/3 of planned gas peakers at risk from energy storage, GTM finds

While it could take a while to compete with existing peakers, storage costs are dropping at a rate that could start making it competitive with new peaking plants in about five years.

By Peter Maloney • March 20, 2018

New business models may be the next frontier in lower energy storage costs

Often overlooked in discussions about the declining price of energy storage are business models that aim to lower capital expenses.

By Peter Maloney • March 20, 2018

California's dream of a regional power market faces the risks of a Trump FERC

California's proposed regional electricity market could could generate up to $1.5 billion in annual benefits and reduce GHG emissions up to 10%, but it could be subverted.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 20, 2018

Multiple concerns drive MISO, utilities to seek rehearing on FERC storage order

Some utilities say FERC overstepped its jurisdiction by mandating that distribution-connected storage be able to provide both retail and wholesale services.

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • March 20, 2018

CEC: California EV chargers will add 1 GW of peak demand by 2025

A new report from the California Energy Commission also details the "Dragon Curve" — expected electricity demand effects of electric vehicle growth. 

By Gavin Bade • March 20, 2018

UPDATED: FERC provides 30 more days to submit comments to resilience docket

Resilience filings from each U.S. grid operator will take time to respond to, energy trade groups said, and fall at an "unusually busy time in the Commission’s calendar."

By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2018

A complicated calculus keeps the remaining coal fleet alive

The U.S. coal fleet is half the size it was 10 years ago. How are the remaining plants hanging on?

By Peter Maloney • March 19, 2018

NERC names WECC head Robb as new CEO

Robb's appointment comes after the high-profile resignation of NERC's last CEO following an office sex scandal and family violence arrest. 

By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2018

FERC moves to ensure utility tax savings get passed on to customers

The agency wants to build a body of work showing the impact of the tax overhaul bill passed into law last December.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 15, 2018

In the New South, customer demand is showing utilities the dollars and sense in solar

With load flat to declining, utilities in the Southeast are investing in almost no new generation but can't resist customer demand for renewables and the new solar economics.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 15, 2018

FERC splits on climate review as it reissues Southeast Market Pipelines approval

A D.C. Circuit Court ruling had threatened to shut down the projects due to FERC's greenhouse gas accounting, but the Wednesday order ensures operations will continue.

By Gavin Bade • March 15, 2018

New York, New Jersey governors launch investigations following storm response

A New Jersey senator reintroduced legislation that would increase fines against a utility whose performance during a service disruption is found to be less than effective by the Board of Public Utilities.

By Peter Maloney • March 15, 2018

Arizona regulators move to place gas plant moratorium on utilities

The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a 9-month moratorium on new gas plants 150 MW or larger, directing utilities to examine renewable energy and storage instead.

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2018

Powelson 'very nervous' about long-term reliability in ISO-NE

FERC Commissioner Robert Powelson expanded on his opposition to ISO-New England's two-part capacity auction proposal at a Washington energy forum on Wednesday. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 15, 2018

PG&E, Edison International investors welcome California pledge to update utility liability rules

Share prices of the two companies rose after Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders issued a plan to "protect all Californians from the threat of natural disasters and climate change."

By Peter Maloney • March 14, 2018

Pruitt loosens NSR guidelines for modified plants

The move is intended to spur expansions of industrial plants, but environmental groups say it opens a loophole in the Clean Air Act for facilities to pollute more. 

By Gavin Bade • March 14, 2018

Federal appeals court hears arguments in New York nuclear subsidy case

New York regulators argued their nuclear subsidies do not step into federal wholesale market jurisdiction. 

By Gavin Bade • March 13, 2018

New York petitions EPA to force emissions reductions in 9 states

The state wants federal regulators to require power plants and large industrial sources to reduce emissions hurting its air quality. It is a longstanding fight for New York, which is suing the agency in a separate action.

By Robert Walton • March 13, 2018

FERC tries to thread the needle in debate over markets versus mandates

Is FERC destroying markets in order to save them, Montana Public Service Commission Vice Chairman Travis Kavulla asks.

By Travis Kavulla • March 13, 2018

Not so fast: Battery prices will continue to decrease, but at a slower pace, GTM says

Cost declines for storage systems will slow as raw material prices rise, but deployments will continue apace, according to GTM.

By Peter Maloney • March 13, 2018

Is a residential three-part rate the way to a modern grid or bad news for utility customers?

Utilities, DER advocates and policymakers found some consensus on principles but big differences on demand charges in a think-tank-led debate.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 13, 2018

FPL adds 40 MWh battery to solar array, claiming largest combined system

Florida Power & Light says it will dispatch the battery at the 75 MW Babcock Ranch solar farm when the plant's output dips or in times of peak demand.  

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018