Study: Merchant generation industry ‘in crisis’ across US

Low gas prices, stagnant demand and subsidized renewables are not allowing merchant generators to recover fixed costs, according to Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP and the Power Research Group.

By Robert Walton • June 22, 2017

DOE grid study deadline delayed as Perry defends budget proposal

As Secretary Perry testifies in Congress about the budget, a DOE spokesperson said the controversial grid study's release is delayed until July. 

By Robert Walton • June 22, 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

House clears bill extending nuclear production tax credit

The measure would cost $16 million over 10 years and remove the requirement that a nuclear plant must be in service by 2020 to receive the tax credit.

By Peter Maloney • June 22, 2017

Perry defends proposed DOE cuts, baseload review at House hearing

The Secretary of Energy voiced support for "not just our nuclear plants but any plants able to run that baseload."

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2017

Maui company aims for Hawaii's self-supply market with all-day storage option

HiVE Energy says its residential and commercial batteries can provide a full day of storage, making them appealing for Hawaii's non-export solar tariff. 

By Peter Maloney • June 21, 2017

Report: Renewable energy is no threat to power reliability

The research, performed by Analysis Group, attempts to mirror a study of the United States power grid ordered by Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2017

The state of wholesale power markets: What's wrong with proposed changes in Eastern RTOs?

In part 2 of the series, Energy Innovation's Robbie Orvis and Eric Gimon critique proposals for capacity auction changes and carbon adders

By Robbie Orvis, Eric Gimon • June 20, 2017

Utility planning: Integrating distributed energy resources for a more robust future

Developing more comprehensive planning activities that accurately assess the role of DERs allows utilities to get out in front of business challenges, empowering them to capitalize on opportunity.

June 20, 2017

White paper finds customers are better off with competitive energy markets

Prices in states with competition and choice have trended downward while monopoly prices rise, writes RESA's Darrin Pfannenstiel.

By Darrin Pfannenstiel • June 19, 2017

Does the PJM capacity auction mark the end of the new-build generation cycle?

Analysts say low capacity prices could indicate the end of a plant-building boom, but there are still pockets of opportunity for generators. 

By Peter Maloney • June 19, 2017

New PJM white papers aim to integrate state power policies into wholesale markets

The grid operator is floating carbon pricing and two-part capacity auctions to help mitigate for the market impacts of renewable energy mandates and nuclear subsidies. 

By Gavin Bade , Robert Walton • June 19, 2017

New England, California could see tight spots with reliability this summer, says FERC

The agency's annual summer reliability report highlighted possible reliability concerns in regions such as California, New England and Texas. 

By Peter Maloney • June 19, 2017

Clean energy group: Vogtle nuke will cost $29B, should be abandoned

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy says the cost of Georgia Power's nuclear plant expansion will rise by $9 billion by the time the project is completed. 

By Peter Maloney • June 19, 2017

Nevada governor vetoes popular RPS, community solar bills

The renewable portfolio standard would have mandated 40% renewables by 2030 and included a carveout for energy storage. 

By Robert Walton • June 19, 2017

DOE selects 6 tech companies to help US develop exascale supercomputer

The program supports R&D in hardware technology, software technology and application development, with the goal of delivering at least one exascale-capable system by 2021.

By Justine Brown • June 16, 2017

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

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

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

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