White House nominates business, utility execs to key DOE positions

Mark Menezes, vice president of federal relations for Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and Paul Dabbar, managing director for mergers and acquisitions for J.P. Morgan, are nominated for top Energy Department positions. 

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2017

Colorado clean energy: 4 reasons the future is bright despite Trump

Earthjustice's Michael Hiatt says renewables and efficiency will continue growing in the state, regardless of federal policy.

By Michael Hiatt • July 21, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

House Republicans vote to simplify pipeline permitting

One measure would name the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the lead agency on pipeline reviews and allow it to set deadlines for other agencies and state regulators.

By Robert Walton • July 21, 2017

Yucca Mountain: High stakes and high hurdles

The Trump administration may be underestimating the battle it faces in trying to revive plans for a national nuclear waste repository in Nevada. 

By Peter Maloney • July 21, 2017

White House outlines plan to dismantle environmental rules

The Clean Power Plan, Waters of the U.S. rule and methane limits for oil and gas drilling are all on the chopping block.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2017

Report: Summer nuke could cost up to $10B more, should be abandoned

The delayed project would create "massive excess capacity" at South Carolina utilities, argues the report from Vermont Law prepared for environmental groups. 

By Peter Maloney • July 20, 2017

Hydro One of Canada to acquire Avista in $5B deal

The deal gives Hydro One a toehold in the U.S. market, but has proved controversial back home.

By Peter Maloney • July 20, 2017

5 new strategies to design more effective utility DER pilots

A new RMI report uses insights from utility pilots and demonstration projects to form a roadmap for the energy transition.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 20, 2017

San Diego Water issues RFP for 500 MW pumped hydro storage project

The San Diego County Water Authority said the project would help integrate more variable generation resources, assisting electric utilities in meeting California's 50% renewables mandate. 

By Peter Maloney • July 20, 2017

Senate subcommittee approves $38.4B to fund ARPA-E, DOE programs in 2018

The proposed funding for the Department of Energy is $629 million above this year's enacted levels and $4 billion more than the White House proposal. 

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2017

House Appropriations Committee trims EPA budget to $7.5B

According to the House Appropriations Committee, the funding bill would "rein in burdensome regulations."

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2017

NARUC 2017: Are the days of cheap natural gas numbered?

Higher demand for gas could spark greater price volatility and spell bad news for the climate, analysts said. 

By Gavin Bade • July 19, 2017

Vermont regulators to examine grid modernization

The staff of the Public Service Board will lead an initial workshop in August.

By Robert Walton • July 19, 2017

Washington regulators approve Microsoft deal to buy clean energy on open power markets

The tech giant will pay a $23.6 million transition fee to Puget Sound Energy.

By Robert Walton • July 19, 2017

New Hampshire PUC halts C&I, residential renewable energy rebates

A flood of applications compelled the state Public Utilities Commission to put two popular renewable energy rebate programs on hold after Sept. 1. 

By Peter Maloney • July 19, 2017

Report: EPA plans to buy out more than 1,200 positions

More than half of the buyouts will be in the agency's headquarters, with the Office of Research and Development facing the deepest cuts.

By Robert Walton • July 18, 2017

California lawmakers send 10-year carbon trading extension to governor

Both the Assembly and Senate yesterday voted to extend the state's cap-and-trade program to 2030, snagging the supermajority of votes needed to pass the measure. 

By Robert Walton • July 18, 2017

A two-step approach to get commercial customers to act on energy efficiency

Persuading customers to act on these upgrades requires utilities to speak the customers' language and convey meaningful non-energy benefits.

July 18, 2017

California Assembly committee clears measure for 100% renewables goal

If the bill becomes law, the state would be the second to strive for 100% renewable energy by 2045. 

By Peter Maloney • July 18, 2017

Perry: 'I haven't seen' DOE grid review draft faulting gas for baseload retirements

A draft leaked Monday finds the impact of renewables on coal and nuclear closures is "minor" compared to low gas prices and stagnant power demand, but changes are likely.

By Gavin Bade • July 17, 2017

Report: Draft of DOE grid study finds renewables not a threat

A leaked copy of the draft report reportedly finds wind and solar are not hurting reliability, but it is unclear whether the language will make it into the final draft. 

By Gavin Bade • July 17, 2017

Senate committee advances Trump's NRC, EPA nominees

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week approved nominees for three open positions at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

By Peter Maloney • July 17, 2017

Beyond TOU: Is more dynamic pricing the future of rate design?

Analysts say sending stronger price signals to residential ratepayers could help reduce peak demand, but consumer advocates are leery.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 17, 2017

Trump nominates Republican energy lawyer McIntyre to head FERC

It's the president's fourth pick to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but the agency remains without a quorum until the Senate schedules a confirmation vote. 

By Gavin Bade • July 14, 2017

California Assembly pulls residential storage rebate bill off agenda, delaying it until 2018

SB 700 aimed to create a 10-year rebate program to boost residential energy storage deployment throughout the state. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • July 14, 2017