California passes landmark 100% clean energy goal

The bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk would direct state agencies to begin planning to supply 100% of retail electricity sales with carbon-free resources by 2045.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 30, 2018

Renewables push CAISO prices lower, threaten inflexible generation

A new report finds uneven price distribution in utility-scale solar disproportionately affects baseload generation, such as coal and nuclear. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 28, 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

Colorado approves Xcel plan to retire coal, shift to renewables and storage

The plan will see the utility retire 660 MW of coal power and invest $2.5 billion in renewable energy, part of Xcel's "steel for fuel" strategy.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018

FERC says SCE can't treat storage customers differently in service

Southern California Edison sought authority to curtail electricity service to storage customers first during times of peak demand, but FERC said that would be "unduly discriminatory."

By Gavin Bade , Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018

California passes bill to coordinate EV charger planning

The bill would grant authority to the California Energy Commission to assess charging infrastructure build-out in an attempt to meet the state's ambitious EV goals.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 28, 2018

Playing with wildfire: California lawmakers outline utility liabilities in new report

What can state legislators accomplish in the last days of voting regarding the exposure that investor-owned utilities face to wildfire damages?

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 28, 2018

Face the heat: Should EV incentives be restructured for battery degradation?

A new study advocates scaling electric vehicle incentives based on how quickly batteries wear out, but critics say it misses the bigger picture. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 28, 2018

Vistra Energy to close small waste coal plant in PJM

The 51 MW plant in McAdoo, Pa., is in the heart of coal country but loses money and has a "negative financial outlook," according to Vistra Energy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

Generators ask FERC to mandate capacity market for CAISO

California's market rules should be thrown out because they do not allow generators to recoup their costs, The Electric Power Supply Association said last week.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 27, 2018

Pollinator habitats: The bees' knees of rural solar development

Pollinator-friendly solar is a blossoming trend that saves maintenance costs and makes utility-scale solar more appealing to agricultural communities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 27, 2018

Minnesota regulators unanimously reject Centerpoint's renewable natural gas program

The utility says it remains "committed to the importance of bringing a renewable natural gas option to our customers."

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated July 29, 2019

19 mayors commit to make all buildings net-zero carbon by 2050

The declaration precedes the Global Climate Action Summit, where leaders from around the world will be encouraged to collaborate on strategies for decreasing GHG emissions.

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 24, 2018

Philadelphia sets path to reduce GHG emissions 80% by 2050

Other steps include initiatives to install rooftop solar and incentives for more efficient building thermal systems.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 24, 2018

PacifiCorp, Idaho Power agree to make CAISO their reliability coordinator

As the California grid operator draws closer to filing at FERC for approval of its Reliability Coordinator services, two more utilities have signed on following a commitment by the Balancing Authority of Northern California in July.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 24, 2018

New York unveils new toolkit to drive solar on brownfields

The procurement guidelines aim to spur community solar development on landfills and other underutilized land, advancing the state's 50% renewable generation goals.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 24, 2018

US Conference of Mayors condemns EPA Clean Power Plan replacement

Columbia, SC Mayor Steve Benjamin said cities "can’t do it alone" when it comes to tackling climate change, and urged more federal help.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 24, 2018

Are regulators starting to rethink fixed charges?

Fixed rate reductions in Q2 of this year may indicate regulators are more conscious of low and moderate income customers as well as investments in energy efficiency and distributed energy resources. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 23, 2018

Court ruling a setback for EPA efforts to undermine coal ash rule

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit concluded Obama-era coal ash rules, which the Trump administration seeks to weaken, did not go far enough to protect the environment.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2018

Dems question FERC over chief of staff role in coal, nuke bailout

Sen. Maria Cantwell and Rep. Frank Pallone say statements made by FERC Chief of Staff Anthony Pugliese "call into question the impartiality and independence of the Commission."

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 23, 2018

Pennsylvania industrial energy users say follow Minnesota on rate design

As Pennsylvania considers sweeping changes to utility distribution rate structures, some of the state's largest customers are calling for regulators to move cautiously and utilize tools other states have developed.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2018

Tucson Electric proceeding lays groundwork for customer solar+storage rate

Residential solar advocates wonder what sort of solar-plus-storage rate can sweeten the deal for TEP customers in the "post net metering paradigm."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 22, 2018

EPA's new ACE rule is a coal lifeline 'disguised as a GHG regulation,' critics say

Changes to the EPA's New Source Review process could allow coal plants to stay open longer — if operators choose them over cleaner technologies.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 22, 2018

California legislators smooth closure path for state's last nuclear plant

The state assembly approved legislation that clears the way for closure of Diablo Canyon, providing $350 million for an employee retention fund and $85 million to make up for lost property taxes, among other provisions.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 22, 2018

Duke moves to stop FirstEnergy Solutions from exiting Ohio co-op

Consumer advocates worry that a bankruptcy court decision allowing FES to withdraw from the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, which operates a pair of coal plants, could raise prices for retail consumers.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2018

Smart meter readings are a valid 'warrantless search,' court rules

Smart meter opponents challenged the public utility of Naperville, Ill., over its data collection, which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit deemed as warrantless, but not unreasonable.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2018