New Orleans City Council approves Entergy's 128 MW gas peaker

A trio of lawyers indicated they will challenge the 4-1 vote to advance the controversial project, alleging opponents were denied access to the meeting.

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018

Northern Pass dealt fresh setback as siting board delays rehearing decision

The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee is unlikely to decide whether to restart its review of Northern Pass before May, meaning Massachusetts could choose a different project to meet clean energy goals.

By Robert Walton • March 12, 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

FERC chair discloses brain tumor, surgery, says he will continue work

Chairman Kevin McIntyre was diagnosed with a "relatively small" brain tumor last summer, he said in a statement, but received "successful surgery" and will continue to work full time. 

By Gavin Bade • March 12, 2018

Split FERC approves ISO-NE 2-part capacity market plan

The 3-2 vote reveals key differences in how FERC regulators view state energy policies, a crucial element in a number of issues now before the commission. 

By Gavin Bade • March 12, 2018

Are renewable portfolio standards on the way out? Three ballot initiatives say otherwise

Michigan, Arizona and Nevada could see major political fights over proposals to boost renewable energy standards. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 12, 2018

PJM pushes plant payment reforms as RTOs file resilience comments at FERC

PJM wants federal regulators to set deadlines for changes to plant compensation, stoking concerns of a low-profile bailout for uneconomic generators.

By Gavin Bade • March 9, 2018

New York announces $1.4B renewables funding as largest single state commitment

The money will go to 22 utility-scale solar farms, three wind farms and a hydroelectric facility, which will add almost 1,400 MW in renewable capacity to the state.

By Robert Walton • March 9, 2018

Energy sector condemns Trump steel, aluminum tariffs

The duties on imported metal commodities will raise prices for power sector infrastructure projects, trade groups said, and could derail Trump's "energy dominance" agenda.

By Peter Maloney • March 9, 2018

Sempra nabs Texas regulatory approval to buy Oncor

After numerous rejections, Oncor finally has a suitor that satisfies the state Public Utility Commission. Sempra hopes to close the sale this year. 

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2018

DOE pushing small modular coal plant development

By 2022, DOE wants to design at least two small-scale coal plants with "flexible operating capacity," according to its budget justification. 

By Gavin Bade • March 7, 2018

NRC chair outlines reforms for advanced reactor reviews

NRC will develop new processes to review non-light water nuclear plants, such as small modular reactors, and help industry develop new standards, Chairman Kristine Svinicki said. 

By Gavin Bade • March 7, 2018

All in or half there: Maryland Legislature debates two different RPS bills

Lawmakers are debating two bills that would raise the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50% or 100%. Analysts say the 50% increase will likely muster more support than the other measure. 

By Peter Maloney • March 7, 2018

Puerto Rico regulators, federal oversight board wrestle for control of PREPA

Puerto Rico's utility regulators say the Financial Oversight and Management Board is trying to wrest control of the island's utility and its energy future.

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2018

Co-op, muni, clean energy groups target capacity reforms in FERC letter

Any reform to capacity markets should prevent over-procurement of generation resources, the groups wrote, while also ensuring clear responsibilities for resource adequacy. 

By Gavin Bade • March 6, 2018

The flip side of FERC's landmark storage order: A call for states to take action

State action will be essential to reach the full potential of FERC Order 841, The Brattle Group says in a new report.

By Peter Maloney • March 6, 2018

Tackling the perverse incentive: Utilities need new cost recovery mechanisms for new technologies

If utility regulators change key accounting rules, utilities could ratebase contracted cloud computing and DER services, cut customer costs and benefit stakeholders.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 6, 2018

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

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