Pruitt faces bipartisan criticism over White House plan to gut EPA

Members of a House appropriations subcommittee told EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt that proposed cuts to the agency's budget are unlikely to survive. 

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2017

SMUD's holistic DER planning process could set new standard for utilities

Even solar advocates are praising the distributed resource planning done by Sacramento's municipal utility.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

DOE will shutter office focused on international clean energy development

The Department of Energy confirmed plans to close the Office of International Climate and Technology, saying it duplicated agency efforts on clean energy and the environment. 

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2017

Utility CEOs to DOE: Hands off state energy policies, grid planning

Members of EEI's board say they want the DOE's baseload review to embrace the power mix transformation, not inhibit it.

By Gavin Bade • June 15, 2017

A new study defends ARPA-E in wake of Trump's proposed budget cuts

A congressionally mandated study found the Department of Energy's APRA-E secured $1.25 billion in private funding and 74 patents so far. 

By Peter Maloney • June 15, 2017

Massachusetts bill would compel utilities to consider non-wires alternatives

Under H. 1725, utilities would have to submit any plans for system upgrades to a newly created Grid Modernization Board, which would evaluate the viability of NWAs.

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • June 14, 2017

Will California's 100% renewables goal survive the political process?

With current clean energy goals in sight, liberal lawmakers are pushing the state to ratchet up its ambitions. But utility companies could prove a powerful roadblock.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 14, 2017

BP: Global coal consumption drops to lowest level since 2004

Wind and solar power, on the other hand, accounted for nearly one-third of the increase in primary energy use last year.

By Peter Maloney • June 14, 2017

Energy storage hits record growth in Q1 2017, but slowdown likely

Energy storage deployment grew nearly 1,000% in Q1 2017. But a new GTM Research report says that pace will probably not last the rest of the year. 

By Peter Maloney • June 13, 2017

EEI 2017: The utility sector's business case for deep decarbonization

Utility executives have discovered that cleaning up their power mixes and electrifying other sectors is their best chance at strong growth. But it's easier said than done. 

By Gavin Bade • June 13, 2017

US could lag on battery research if Trump's proposed budget clears, researchers warn

Budget cuts to the Department of Energy could result in an outflow of U.S. research talent to countries with better-funded programs, such as China, Japan and South Korea. 

By Peter Maloney • June 13, 2017

Wordwide appetite for power sector M&A is rising, new reports find

An EY survey says 59% of power and utility CEOs expect to pursue an M&A deal this year.

By Peter Maloney • June 12, 2017

Study: Texas residential rates cheaper in some competitive areas compared to non-competitive zones

A report from the Center for Energy Studies finds retail residential rates are approaching the wholesale price, indicating utilities are working to cut costs.

By Robert Walton • June 12, 2017

Vivint Solar will return to Nevada if Gov. Sandoval signs net metering bill

The solar company is the latest to announce its return to the state. Tesla and Sunrun also announced similar plans to resume sales last week. 

By Robert Walton • June 12, 2017

Dominion: Decision on a new North Anna nuke reactor years away

A utility official said more policy certainty is necessary before continuing construction on the proposed reactor

By Peter Maloney • June 12, 2017

Minnesota Power proposes a $700M 'renewable energy enabling' gas plant

The utility partnered with Dairyland Power Cooperative to build a $700 million gas-fired combined-cycle plant with a capacity of 525-550 MW. 

By Peter Maloney • June 12, 2017

Trump's Clean Power Plan replacement now at OMB

Details of the CPP rollback remain unknown, but submission to the Office of Management and Budget means the plan could be public in a matter of weeks. 

By Robert Walton • June 9, 2017

National nuclear, gas interests target Ohio plant subsidy debate

Exelon and API are seeking to sway debate over proposals to subsidize two FirstEnergy nuclear plants. 

By Peter Maloney • June 9, 2017

Texas PUC plans August workshop on generators' market reform proposal

Gas generators are concerned that persistently low prices in ERCOT markets could force plants offline, threatening reliability.

By Robert Walton • June 9, 2017

NRC head asks Congress for $30M to restart Yucca Mountain review

The Trump budget proposal would also set aside funds for a licensing review, but the nuclear waste repository faces continued opposition from local lawmakers. 

By Peter Maloney • June 9, 2017

Texas regulators finalize rejection of NextEra bid to purchase Oncor

NextEra refused to bend to conditions regulators laid out in an initial merger rejection last month, leading the Public Utilities Commission to hold fast to its original decision.

By Robert Walton • June 8, 2017

Connecticut House fails to pass Millstone nuke support bill

Dominion has threatened a "strategic assessment" of the plant's viability if a support bill fails, but lawmakers could take the measure up again in an extended budget session.  

By Gavin Bade • June 8, 2017

LG subsidiary will install 40 MW of batteries on Guam

The two storage facilities are expected to help reduce intermittent power outages and integrate more solar energy for the U.S. territory. 

By Peter Maloney • June 8, 2017

Georgia Power, Westinghouse again extend deadline for Vogtle agreement

The companies are now shooting to finalize a deal to allow the Southern Co. subsidiary to take over construction of Vogtle by Friday.

By Peter Maloney • June 8, 2017

CAISO considers making Aliso Canyon gas reliability measures permanent

A straw proposal indicates the grid operator remains concerned about reliability risks caused by a leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility.

By Robert Walton • June 8, 2017