Taming the duck: Arizona Public Service seeks 106 MW storage for solar plants

APS is looking for batteries to soak up midday sun and help alleviate its duck curve problem.

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2018

California to consider changing rules for utility wildfire liability

None of the changes would impact fire liability cases currently being dealt with, but changes to the rules could help utilities reduce liability payments in the future.

By Robert Walton • July 5, 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

Solar at New York brownfields, landfills could see boost from updated review process

The state's Department of Environmental Conservation adopted a package of rules allowing a few types of solar installations to forego further scrutiny.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 5, 2018

FERC rejects ISO-NE Mystic waiver, orders quick fuel security reforms

Regulators said ISO-NE's waiver request was too broad, but directed it to file a short-term cost recovery proposal for the natural gas plant, as well as broader market changes. 

By Gavin Bade • July 3, 2018

How FERC's 'unprecedented' PJM order could unravel capacity markets

The landmark June 29 order echoes longstanding arguments from the coal and gas sector, but observers say it could end up a boon for renewables and nuclear.

By Gavin Bade • July 3, 2018

PG&E to replace 3 gas plants with world's biggest battery projects

The projects would eliminate the need to keep three Calpine plants running as reliability must-run resources and shore up congestion issues.

By Peter Maloney • July 3, 2018

EPA finds 20 states don't need more ozone pollution reductions to be 'good neighbors'

The agency has proposed to conclude the 2016 Cross State Air Pollution Rule Update satisfies the "good neighbor" obligations in the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards, rather than updating the rule.

By Robert Walton • July 3, 2018

NRC employees fear reprisals when raising issues, leaked commission study shows

The study, acquired by the Union of Concerned Scientists, shows employees at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission fear a "negative consequence" for utilizing the agency's Differing Professional Opinion program.

By Robert Walton • July 3, 2018

As the power sector transforms, can utilities and customers find common ground on ratemaking?

Rates are based on rate case assumptions about a utility's revenue need, but different ways to calculate that can serve the utility or its customers.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2018

North Carolina AG to challenge Duke rate decision as utility weighs appeal

North Carolina regulators largely rejected a rate increase proposed by Duke Energy, but allowed it to recover most of its coal ash management costs. Both of those decisions could come under fire.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2018

FERC rejects PJM capacity market reform proposals, seeks quick resolution

In a 3-2 decision, the commission rejected PJM Interconnection's proposals to address capacity market failures, and instead initiated an expedited paper hearing to expand the minimum offer price rule.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2018

Powelson to leave FERC deadlocked on gas pipelines, grappling with resilience

Republican FERC Commissioner Robert Powelson said Thursday he will leave in mid-August, giving more weight to the two Democratic members' opposition of natural gas pipeline certifications.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 29, 2018

Supreme Court Justice Kennedy's retirement promises huge battle for greens, others

Kennedy was a key vote in a number of environmental cases, including a 2007 ruling allowing EPA to regulate greenhouse gases, and advocates say his departure has set up "the fight of our lives."

By Robert Walton • June 29, 2018

Missouri approves 100% renewable tariff for Ameren's large customers

The utility will need to obtain separate regulatory approval and interconnect agreements for any owned or procured renewable energy sources supporting the program.

By Robert Walton • June 29, 2018

Emissions cuts most effective at the city level, study says

Cities with energy production and manufacturing had higher carbon dioxide outputs than service-based or tech-focused cities, research from the University of East Anglia says.

By Jason Plautz • June 28, 2018

Can California avert new gas plants with distributed resources? SoCal Ed offers a test case

Regulators will soon decide between two paths regarding SCE's proposed pilot — one where DER remains secondary to natural gas and another where they move to transform the distribution system.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 28, 2018

South Carolina cuts SCE&G rate 15%, imperils proposed Dominion-SCANA merger

The ball is in Dominion's court after the South Carolina legislature voted to cut rates and soften the blow from the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project.

By Peter Maloney • June 28, 2018

Sen. Barrasso searches for CO2 value, not price, to boost carbon capture use

The Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee anticipates that his broadly-supported bipartisan carbon capture bill, which cleared committee unanimously, will pass in the Senate this year.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 28, 2018

South Carolina lawmakers decline to remove limits on solar

Developers and renewable advocates criticized state legislators for cutting the proposal from the budget bill. Major utilities in South Carolina are expected to meet the net metering cap this year.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 28, 2018

Assuring grid reliability in California — a view from Commissioner Randolph

A decade and a half after the energy crisis, market behavior and a changing portfolio have triggered new moves to ensure California has enough affordable generation to meet demand.

By Liane M. Randolph • June 28, 2018

10th in energy efficiency, US is falling in rank because of Trump's policies, ACEEE says

The report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy notes the United States' withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2018

California ISO's long road ahead to turn storage into a transmission asset

Responses to CAISO's "storage as a transmission asset" proposal show there is more work to be done, as developers and investor-owned utilities support opposing cost-recovery options.

By Peter Maloney • June 26, 2018

Fuel cost risk sharing order for Hawaiian Electric seen as 'landmark' clean energy driver

The risk sharing between HECO and its customers is capped at $2.5 million per year to protect the utility from "significant unanticipated increases in fuel prices," while prodding it to reduce prices and fuel use.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2018

Perry stays vague on DOE's coal and nuclear bailout progress

Energy Secretary Rick Perry told reporters that details and a timeline for following the president's directive aimed at saving struggling coal and nuclear plants were not ready to be shared yet.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 26, 2018

EPA wades into FERC pipeline debate, offering GHG assessment tools

The agency, which has been criticized for regulatory rollbacks, gave the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission advice on how to account for climate impacts and monetize emissions for the permitting process of new natural gas infrastructure.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 26, 2018