Regulation & Policy: Page
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Report: Trump budget seeks 72% cut to DOE clean energy research
Electric vehicle research would take an especially big hit, The Washington Post reports, cut to $56 million from $307 million.
By Gavin Bade • Feb. 1, 2018 -
For utilities, the new corporate tax cuts are a double-edged sword
Reports from Brattle and Moody's say tax cuts will squeeze utility cash flows, potentially hurting credit quality.
By Peter Maloney • Feb. 1, 2018 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
TrendlineData 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 -
California Gov. Brown outlines plan for 5M ZEVs by 2030
A new report from think tank Next 10 says the governor's goal "could be inhibited if charging infrastructure doesn't keep pace."
By Kristin Musulin • Jan. 31, 2018 -
Trump touts end of 'war on beautiful, clean coal' in State of the Union
The president's short energy statement hints at the administration's shifting definition of "clean" when it comes to coal.
By Gavin Bade • Jan. 31, 2018 -
Pruitt: No decision yet on carbon endangerment finding challenge
The EPA administrator is still weighing whether to conduct a "red team, blue team" review of climate science, he told a Senate committee Tuesday.
By Gavin Bade • Jan. 30, 2018 -
DOE report touts small modular reactors, but hurdles remain
The department highlights the resiliency of SMRs for federal facilities, recommending their use by the Tennessee Valley Authority at a site in Oak Ridge, Tenn., adjacent to a national nuclear and security facility.
By Peter Maloney • Jan. 30, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Energy storage has an upstream swim in the Pacific Northwest
The dominance of low cost hydropower in the region, along with policies that favor large power plant development over distributed energy resources, present challenges for the resource.
By Peter Maloney • Jan. 30, 2018 -
Arizona regulator proposes 80% clean energy mandate, 3 GW storage target
The Clean Peak Standard from Arizona regulator Andy Tobin would require utilities to deliver an increasing portion of their renewable energy during peak demand hours.
By Gavin Bade • Jan. 30, 2018 -
Deep Dive
The best laid plans of state regulators are now aimed at building a better distribution system
Regulators are pushing utilities to plan for the rising penetrations of distributed energy resources, but they're doing it in many ways.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 30, 2018 -
New Jersey to rejoin RGGI in new executive order
Former Gov. Chris Christie withdrew the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in 2012, causing it to fall behind on emission targets.
By Peter Maloney • Jan. 29, 2018 -
FirstEnergy: Davis-Besse nuke will soon close absent Ohio subsidies
The leader of the utilities committee in the Ohio Senate said separately he has no plans to move a plant subsidy bill.
By Gavin Bade • Jan. 26, 2018 -
EPA loosens Clean Air Act rules for major pollution sources
The agency is rescinding the "once in, always in" policy that made major pollution sources permanently subject to tougher emission control standards.
By Gavin Bade • Jan. 26, 2018 -
Ohio Supreme Court sides with FirstEnergy in $43M renewable credit refund case
The court said the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio erred in a 2013 order directing the utility to return the money to ratepayers, finding it would amount to "unlawful retroactive ratemaking."
By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Will utilities keep investing in solar after Trump's tariffs?
The answer is yes, but the solar sector will also look to state mandates and incentives to keep businesses running.
By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 25, 2018 -
Maine's governor puts the kibosh on new wind power in the state
Gov. Paul LePage's executive order puts a moratorium on new wind turbines and creates a commission to review past and future wind projects.
By Peter Maloney • Jan. 25, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Will the country's first mandatory residential demand charge slow the Massachusetts solar boom?
Opponents of the charge, approved as part of an Eversource rate case, say it could harm the growth of solar and other distributed energy resources by significantly increasing costs for customers.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 25, 2018 -
Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant could warrant subsidies, draft report says
However, the draft report also found that retiring the nuclear plant could cost ratepayers as much as $5.5 billion to replace its zero emission generation with renewable resources.
By Peter Maloney • Jan. 23, 2018 -
FERC lauds grid performance in bomb cyclone; PJM pushes price formation in hearing
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing to assess the performance of the bulk grid system during January.
By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 23, 2018 -
Deep Dive
6 months after target adoption, Massachusetts sees energy storage growth, challenges
Hurdles remain in integrating the technology in the state and into the wider ISO New England.
By Peter Maloney • Jan. 23, 2018 -
Deep Dive
Getting to 'head-spinning' low prices for U.S. offshore wind
Projected additions to U.S. offshore wind capacity are expected to drive the emergence of the domestic support system the sector needs to drive prices closer to other generation options.
By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2018 -
Puerto Rico governor moves to privatize utility PREPA
The nation's largest public utility, long beset by underinvestment and mismanagement, has been under fire for its response to Hurricane Maria.
By Gavin Bade • Jan. 23, 2018 -
Trump issues 30% tariff on solar panel imports
The Trump administration issued a 30% tariff on crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and cells, which will decline over a four-year span.
By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 22, 2018 -
FERC approves PennEast pipeline in 4-1 vote, Glick dissents
Pipeline owners aim to start construction this year, but still must obtain environmental permits from New Jersey, where local sentiment against the project remains strong.
By Gavin Bade • Jan. 22, 2018 -
Deep Dive
10 trends shaping the power sector in 2018
FERC turns to resilience, utilities embrace storage and renewables face new obstacles. Here's what we're watching in the year ahead.
By Gavin Bade • Jan. 22, 2018 -
Virginia lawmakers seek to end Dominion rate freeze
The bipartisan effort would also return some funds to customers, due to the recent tax system overhaul and lower corporate rates.
By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2018