The 'small miracle' that may lead to California's net metering successor

Sooner or later, retail rate net metering must go, stakeholders agree. But solar advocates say later, while utilities say sooner, and therein hangs the tale.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 8, 2018

Energy tax credits included in Senate budget deal

Tax credit extensions for nuclear plants and a number of natural gas and renewable energy technologies are in the Senate package, but are likely to face opposition in the House.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

Court filings stave off Sabal Trail pipeline shutdown, for now

The D.C. Circuit was set to put the pipeline on hold this week, but last-minute filings from FERC and pipeline owners appear to have bought the project some time. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018

China wants compensation for US solar panel tariffs as industry braces for job losses

A string of countries have started filing challenges at the World Trade Organization over a recent decision by the Trump administration to impose tariffs on solar equipment. China is the latest. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 7, 2018

AES prepares for layoffs at US utilities as part of wider restructuring effort

The energy company is pushing to shrink its carbon footprint and pivot to cleaner energy resources. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 7, 2018

Virginia Gov. Northam lends support to Dominion rate reform bill

The state Attorney General and consumer advocates oppose the bill, saying it would allow Dominion to charge customers twice for renewable energy projects. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 7, 2018

EIA: Low prices, rising production to boost gas generation through 2050

While natural gas grows the most on an absolute basis in EIA's projections, reaching 39% of U.S. energy production in 2050, nonhydroelectric renewable energy grows the most on a percentage basis.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 6, 2018

SMRs a 'game-changer' for troubled US nuke industry, DOE tells Congress

The U.S. nuclear industry is at a "tipping point" after years of "historic downward pressure," officials told lawmakers, but new, smaller reactive designs could be the sector's savior. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 6, 2018

FERC asks DC Circuit to delay issuing order to halt Sabal Trail pipeline

FERC wants 45 more days to finalize orders that would reinstate construction certificates for the pipeline after a court ruling threw out the agency's climate accounting for the project. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 6, 2018

Mississippi regulators approve Kemper settlement, affirming end to ratepayer recovery

The settlement, reached in December, will reduce the amount Mississippi Power can recover from ratepayers to $112.6 million. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 6, 2018

FPL's Turkey Point becomes first nuclear plant to seek second license renewal

The renewal would extend the life of the reactors for an additional 20 years, which the utility claims will save ratepayers "billions" down the road. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 6, 2018

New York could be headed for the country's most ambitious energy storage goal

With a new energy storage bill and the governor's recent announcement, New York could set a goal above 1.5 GW by 2030.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 6, 2018

FERC issues final Sabal Trail EIS, potentially avoiding hold on project

The commission could allow construction to restart with a separate order, but has yet to issue it. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 6, 2018

How leading utilities are planning for distributed energy resources

DER growth can be a blessing or a curse. New software platforms can help with preparation. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 6, 2018

NextEra sues NEI after refusing to renew trade group membership

NextEra Energy and Entergy both moved to exit the nuclear trade group last month after NEI advocated for approval of a DOE coal and nuclear subsidy proposal. 

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • Feb. 5, 2018

Tesla to outfit 50K Australian homes with solar+storage for 250 MW virtual power plant

The electric car company wants to build what it calls the world's largest virtual power plant, harnessing 250 MW of solar power and 650 MWh of energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 5, 2018

White House withdraws Hartnett White nomination for CEQ

Democrats had pledged to oppose other key confirmations, including the No. 2 slot at EPA, unless the controversial nominee was pulled. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 5, 2018

DC Circuit rejects bid to block Mountain Valley pipeline construction

An environmental group argued FERC uses tolling orders to avoid judicial oversight of its pipeline siting decisions. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 5, 2018

ISO-NE players split over 2-part capacity auction proposal

New England power stakeholders filed comments on the new capacity auction proposal last week at FERC. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 5, 2018

FERC's resilience order may suggest reliability tweaks, rather than novel solutions

Determining whether resilience is a stand-alone concept or just a component of reliability has real world implications, Duke University's Kate Konschnik and Brian Murray write.

By Kate Konschnik & Brian Murray • Feb. 2, 2018

New Hampshire rejects Northern Pass transmission, throwing project into doubt

The decision is sparking concern in Massachusetts, which just last week selected the project to help meet state clean energy goals. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 2, 2018

Sempra secures support of all stakeholder parties to Oncor transaction

The energy company says the settlement agreement includes ratepayer protections left out of previous failed bids to purchase the Texas utility.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 2, 2018

Lawmakers from 9 states vow to put a price on carbon

Officials are hoping to tackle emissions and carbon tax issues at the state level. Thus far only one state, California, has put an economy-wide cap on carbon dioxide emissions.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 1, 2018

DC Circuit ruling could halt Sabal Trail pipeline construction

In a rebuke to FERC's pipeline approval process, judges declined to review an August ruling that the agency did not properly assess carbon impacts of the pipeline. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 1, 2018

In 2017, solar policy debates took the industry's future to higher ground

Utility leaders and solar advocates are struggling at state commissions across the country to answer hard questions about solar’s value to customers and the distribution system.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 1, 2018