NextEra files for rehearing of 'arbitrary and capricious' Oncor deal rejection in Texas

Instead of accepting financial conditions Texas regulators want on the $18 billion acquisition, NextEra is charging that they broke the law in denying the deal last month.

By Gavin Bade • May 8, 2017

EPA chief Pruitt to recuse himself from lawsuits he brought as Oklahoma AG

Pruitt brought legal action against the federal EPA 14 times in his previous role as attorney general of Oklahoma. 

By Gavin Bade • May 8, 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

Report: Wind energy sets 8-year record as installations swell in Q1

A new report released by the American Wind Energy Association says the industry "switched on more megawatts in the first quarter than in the last three quarters."

By Krysti Shallenberger • May 8, 2017

TVA Watts Bar-2 nuke to shut until summer amid safety culture concerns

The pump problem prompting the nuclear reactor's shutdown is not a safety concern, the utility says, but the plant had more employee complaints to the NRC than any other U.S. nuke last year.

By Peter Maloney • May 8, 2017

After a series of court wins, the question remains: Can Trump bring back coal?

Litigation delays at the D.C. Circuit last month bolstered Trump's campaign to undermine environmental regulations, but analysts say coal's decline is due to more "fundamental" issues. 

By Robert Walton • May 8, 2017

California ISO preps solar-heavy grid for total eclipse this summer

CAISO expects to see a 4,194 MW reduction in solar generation during the 82-minute eclipse on August 21.

By Peter Maloney • May 8, 2017

California's SGIP opens to strong demand for storage incentives

Tesla and AMS lead in allocations for large-scale storage in the first round of SGIP allocations. 

By Peter Maloney • May 5, 2017

Pressed by nuke subsidies, Dynegy to decide by year-end whether to leave Illinois market

If nuclear supports continue, Dynegy CEO Bob Flexon told a FERC conference that coal generation in MISO Zone 4 will "vanish."

By Peter Maloney • May 5, 2017

EPA chief Pruitt: Coal plants necessary to ensure grid reliability

Pruitt's comments hit on a familiar theme of national security, giving an indication to how the administration may be approaching an ongoing review of baseload power supply.

By Robert Walton • May 5, 2017

As utilities embrace DERs, pilot projects emerge as key element of compromise

Utility DER pilots are helping build familiarity with new technologies and resolve sector disputes over distributed energy policies. 

By Herman K. Trabish • May 4, 2017

Bucking Trump, US cities press ahead on clean energy, climate goals

More than two dozen cities now have renewable energy commitments, putting them on the front lines of climate action in the Trump era. 

By Jackie Snow • May 4, 2017

Green designs: Corporate demand pushes new generation of utility green tariffs

Utilities are rolling out more sophisticated, lucrative green tariffs to satisfy corporate sustainability goals. Can they prevent key accounts from defecting to independent suppliers? 

By Herman K. Trabish • May 4, 2017

Fanning: Southern needs $3.7B from Toshiba to finish Vogtle nuke

And even with that guarantee, Southern's CEO is unsure whether the utility can complete construction of the Georgia plant. 

By Peter Maloney • May 4, 2017

California PUC finalizes new 500 MW BTM battery storage mandate

The new utility mandate for 500 MW of behind-the-meter and distribution-connected storage is separate from private deployments under the state's SGIP incentive program, which re-opened Monday.

By Peter Maloney • May 4, 2017

The carbon consensus: Generators, analysts back CO2 price at FERC technical conference

Putting a price on carbon was just about the only common ground power sector stakeholders could find in two days of discussion on wholesale market reforms.

By Gavin Bade • May 3, 2017

Mississippi Power delays start date for Kemper plant, raises costs again

The Kemper IGCC project is slated to come into service by the end of the month, the utility told Mississippi regulators. 

By Peter Maloney • May 3, 2017

FirstEnergy pins hopes on Ohio nuclear support, federal baseload review

Even if Ohio nuclear supports are approved, FirstEnergy's CEO says its two plants may need to go through a bankruptcy proceeding and be sold to another operator. 

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2017

Safety first: A microgrid project in Brooklyn tackles lithium-ion fire fears

A microgrid project in Brooklyn demonstrates progress in New York's efforts to adopt safety guidelines for lithium-ion energy storage installations.

By Peter Maloney • May 2, 2017

Anxiety common, consensus elusive over power market reforms at first day of FERC conference

At FERC's technical conference, stakeholders expressed worries over the long-term viability of the wholesale market model. But the federal agency's hands are tied until it has a quorum. 

By Gavin Bade • May 2, 2017

San Diego water authority wants proposals for 500 MW of pumped storage

The water authority is looking for more detailed proposals after 18 responses to a previous RFP issued earlier this year. 

By Peter Maloney • May 2, 2017

Last-minute congressional budget compromise saves EPA, ARPA-E funding

The budget compromise reached by Congress over the weekend only trimmed the U.S. EPA's budget 1% and boosted funds for clean energy research.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2017

Despite high-profile denials, power sector M&A strength to continue

As utility companies grow larger, some see a new paradigm emerging for power sector consolidation. 

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2017

Deadline dodged, Southern, SCANA weigh wresting nuclear plants from Westinghouse

Southern Co. and SCANA extended construction agreements with Westinghouse on Friday, saying they will use the time to evaluate whether they should take control of nuclear construction themselves. 

By Gavin Bade , Peter Maloney • May 1, 2017

FERC's Honorable to step down when term expires in June

The Obama appointee's decision could leave FERC with only one regulator if the Senate does not confirm any nominees before her departure.

By Gavin Bade • April 28, 2017

DC Circuit halts Clean Power Plan case in win for Trump

The decision comes one day after the court also delayed oral arguments over the EPA's MATS standards as the administration reviews Obama-era environmental rules.  

By Robert Walton • April 28, 2017