California utilities finding their way on renewables integration

High levels of renewables can make utilities look good but also strain their systems, with potential solutions requiring vetting by regulators.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 16, 2017

California solar pilot shows how renewables can provide grid services

A utility-scale solar pilot project demonstrated how solar can compete with natural gas over grid services and cost. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 16, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.

By Utility Dive staff

Responsible gas utility planning meets irresponsible market analysis

Thomas Kiley, CEO of the Northeast Gas Association, writes Eversource and Avangrid did nothing wrong on the Algonquin pipeline, where a new report accuses them of artificially withholding capacity.

By Thomas Kiley • Oct. 16, 2017

FERC approves Atlantic Coast, Mountain Valley, rejecting broader pipeline review

The orders filed late Friday argue FERC should act only on individual applications, stressing that regulators are "not engaged in regional planning."

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 16, 2017

Utilities take note: Next generation utility-led community solar is emerging

Utilities are offering new community solar customer segments with no upfront costs and combining it with demand response and storage.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 16, 2017

Nevada regulators to investigate impacts of energy choice in preparation for 2018 vote

The state residents will vote on a constitutional amendment giving customers the right to choose their power supplier in 2018. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 16, 2017

FERC, Barclays near settlement over $435M fine for US market manipulation

Federal regulators in 2013 ordered Barclays to pay a $435 million fine and disgorge almost $35 million in profits for manipulating electricity prices in California between 2006 and 2008.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2017

New Mexico regulators move forward on clean energy standard

The state Public Regulation Commission plans to hold workshops on a proposed clean energy standard that would reduce carbon emissions 4% annually through 2040.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 16, 2017

Chatterjee: FERC may boost coal, won't 'blow up the market'

The acting chairman said FERC could take a variety of actions on the Department of Energy's proposed cost rule, including extending consideration beyond next month or rejecting it entirely. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 13, 2017

Luminant to close 2 more Texas coal plants despite Trump support

The utility has announced plans to close three coal plants, despite the Trump administration's moves to bolster the resource and repeal the Clean Power Plan. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 13, 2017

Washington utilities need to consider storage in resource planning, regulators say

The state utility regulators issued a policy statement outlining expectations for utilities to invest in and incorporate storage into resource planning.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 13, 2017

Oregon utilities, regulators grapple over major renewables investments

Portland General Electric reduced its proposed $1 billion wind investment plans 40%, and PacifiCorp is still on the fence. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 13, 2017

Perry on DOE NOPR pricetag: 'What's the cost of freedom?'

The comment was one of many in which the former Texas governor questioned existing assessments of grid reliability, saying the NOPR is needed to preserve power service in emergencies. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2017

North Korea likely targeted US power companies in spear phishing campaign, firm says

Cybersecurity firm FireEye said it detected and stopped spear phishing emails sent to U.S. electric companies by known cyber actors likely affiliated with the North Korean government. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 12, 2017

Coal generation to grow as natural gas prices rise, new EIA report says

But the agency sees natural gas rising to 32% in 2018, while coal remains steady at 31%. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 12, 2017

Virginia prepares RFP for EV charging network

The state is allocating $14 million for electric vehicle charging stations from its portion of the Volkswagen settlement. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 12, 2017

Transmission developers power forward in West as move to single market inches along

New lines are moving ahead and new deals are being closed, despite political pushback against California’s plan for a new regional market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 12, 2017

California Gov. Brown signs bill directing utilities to plan storage, DERs for peak demand

The new law, SB 338, requires utilities to develop carbon-free alternatives to gas generation for meeting peak demand in their integrated resource plans. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2017

Updated: First Solar wades into solar trade case fight, supports Suniva, SolarWorld

The thin-film developer would benefit from tariffs, and is a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association, which opposes the remedies. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 11, 2017

DOE limits NOPR to RTOs with capacity markets as FERC denies extension request

The version of the DOE's proposed rulemaking filed in the Federal Register contains a subtle but significant shift in which regions would be covered by the cost recovery rule. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 11, 2017

Updated: North Carolina questions Atlantic Coast Pipeline environmental plan

In a letter, state officials noted the erosion and sediment control plan submitted by the developers was inadequate.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 11, 2017

25% of remaining US coal fleet headed for retirement or conversion, new report says

Another 17% of the remaining coal fleet is uneconomic, according to a new Union of Concerned Scientists report.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 11, 2017

Eversource, Avangrid artificially constrained gas pipeline capacity for years, report argues

Withholding of pipeline capacity cost New England electricity customers $3.6 billion over the past three years, researchers estimate. Eversource called the report a “complete fabrication.”

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 11, 2017

A bipartisan view on modernizing the US electric grid

Congress must incentivize power industry innovations yielding cleaner and more customized energy services, the Republican and Democratic co-chairs of the Grid Innovation Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives write.

By Robert E. Latta, Jerry McNerney • Oct. 11, 2017

How did Florida utilities do with Irma outages, PSC asks customers

The Public Service Commission invited customers to submit comments on how long it took to restore their power and how well their utility kept them informed throughout Hurricane Irma.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 11, 2017