Renewables developers 'gaming' PURPA should force reforms, utilities tell Congress

Testimony to a House Energy & Commerce subcommittee comes as lawmakers draft revisions to the 40-year-old law.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 7, 2017

Idaho PUC says storage projects only eligible for 2-year PURPA contract

Franklin Energy sought 20-year PURPA contracts for four storage facilities, but regulators said those resources should be granted two-year contracts. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 7, 2017

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

Dominion hits pause on North Anna nuclear plant development

The utility's decision follows Duke's move to pull the plug on two nuclear projects after South Carolina utilities abandoned construction of the V.C. Summer nuclear expansion. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 7, 2017

Cyberattacks raise risk of access to US power system, Symantec says

The attacks in Europe and the U.S. could lead to hackers gaining control of power system operations, the security firm said.   

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 6, 2017

Rethinking the meaning of 'reliability' and 'resiliency' in the wake of DOE grid reliability study

Smart Electric Power Alliance's Tanuj Deora urges the DOE to consider all solutions when assessing grid reliability and resiliency. 

By Tanuj Deora • Sept. 6, 2017

PJM mulls capacity repricing strategies to tackle subsidy programs

Issues under debate include whether repricing should be triggered only when a subsidy occurs in a capacity delivery year and if retriggering would apply to carbon dioxide pricing schemes.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2017

Massachusetts utilities take divergent approaches to grid modernization

The state Attorney General's Office gave a qualified endorsement to National Grid's plan while roundly criticizing Eversource's plan. But approval of any plan is going to require a lot more work.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 6, 2017

Is the bloom off the RegD rose for battery storage in PJM?

Changes in PJM's frequency regulation have soured the market for battery storage there.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2017

South Australia calls for storage, renewable energy projects

A portion of the Australian province's $150 million (AUD) Renewable Technology Fund is already earmarked for Tesla's 129 MWh storage project. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2017

Transmission: The unsung hero of the DOE grid reliability study

New and better power lines can help integrate clean energy resources, but insiders say longstanding planning issues are blocking expansion. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 5, 2017

Neither resilience nor reliability can justify the rescue of outmoded power plants

Advanced Energy Economy's Arvin Ganesan and Dylan Reed urge the DOE to use clean energy technologies to achieve the aims of its grid study. 

By Arvin Ganesan, Dylan Reed • Sept. 5, 2017

Utilities knew of Summer nuke problems months before termination, audit claims

Santee Cooper and SCANA resisted the release of the internal audit, which warned them of significant construction issues in early 2016.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 5, 2017

DOE grid study helps set the table at FERC

Former FERC Commissioner Tony Clark analyzes how the Energy Department's grid study impacts the agency.

By Tony Clark • Sept. 1, 2017

Carbon emission reductions proposed for New Mexico power plants

Presented to state regulators this week, the proposal calls for a 4% annual reduction in power plant carbon dioxide emissions through 2040.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 1, 2017

Clean Power Plan guidance wrong, 13 states tell EPA

The states say EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt sent incorrect legal advice to states regarding compliance deadlines for the Clean Power Plan.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 1, 2017

Utilities empowered to help shape how coal ash is regulated

Josh More, an environmental attorney, analyzes how utilities can make it easier for state regulators over coal ash guidance.

By Josh More • Aug. 31, 2017

SCE&G, Santee Cooper face more litigation over Summer nuclear project abandonment

South Carolina consumers have filed a second lawsuit against SCE&G over its decision to abandon expansion of the V.C. Summer nuclear facility. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 31, 2017

Carbon calculus: More states are adding carbon costs to utility planning guidelines

Colorado and Minnesota were two states that added or updated carbon costs to utility planning guidelines this year. Now others are following suit. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 31, 2017

DOE grid study will shift and accelerate energy regulatory initiatives

R Street Institute's Devin Hartman analyzes the DOE's grid study's impact on regulatory agencies and nationwide energy initatives. 

By Devin Hartman • Aug. 31, 2017

A new, worse approach to pipeline regulation for FERC

Travis Kavulla, the vice chairman of the Montana Public Service Commission, examines FERC's role in regulating carbon emissions. 

By Travis Kavulla • Aug. 31, 2017

Ninth Circuit denies NGO challenge to PG&E's Gateway plant

Sierra Club and Wild Equity Institute had challenged an operating permit for the 530 MW gas-fired plant over endangered species concerns.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 31, 2017

No anti-competitive behavior in RGGI secondary market, report finds

Market monitor Potomac Economics found no anti-competitive behavior in the secondary market for carbon dioxide allowances under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 31, 2017

Resilience or flexibility? DOE's grid report lays bare the struggle between past and future

Energy Innovation's Mike O'Boyle analyzes how the DOE grid study's recommendations could help flexibility.

By Mike O'Boyle • Aug. 30, 2017

Policymaker support key to offshore wind prospects in US

A Department of Energy report found the resource could cost-effectively deliver twice the nation’s electricity needs, but experts say it needs the right policy support. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 30, 2017

Illinois nuclear subsidies unlawful, EPSA, generators tell appellate court

A brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit alleges that the ZEC program is preempted by the Federal Power Act and violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 30, 2017