Georgia bill would prevent PSC from altering utility IRPs

Clean energy advocates say restricting regulatory oversight of integrated resource plans would hamper wind and solar and raise costs for consumers. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2017

Senate poised to confirm Trump picks for Energy, Interior this week

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Trump's pick for Interior, is expected to be confirmed this week, with a vote on former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) to head the Department of Energy slated soon after. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.

By Utility Dive staff

New York's nuclear subsidies contradict economic principles

The state's participation in a regional cap-and-trade program will preclude emissions benefits from keeping nuclear plants online, argues the R Street Institute's Devin Hartman. 

By Devin Hartman • Feb. 27, 2017

How California's utilities are mapping their grids for distributed resources

Utilities and DER companies are working together on new methods to understand where the grid can handle more customer-sited resources.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 27, 2017

Texas PUC staff: NextEra-Oncor deal needs more consumer protections

Commission staff said NextEra's possession of a large merchant generation fleet could pose risks for utility ratepayers if it buys Oncor. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2017

Reports: Trump budget proposal would slash EPA funding

Past statements by Trump officials have indicated the administration could seek to reduce the EPA's staff by as much as two-thirds. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2017

California regulators recommend approval of 1,040 MW gas plant from AES

The Alamitos gas plant will displace less efficient generation and help integrate more renewables, the California Energy Commission said in a proposed decision.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 27, 2017

Green groups: Indian Point nuke can be replaced with other carbon-free resources

Efficiency and transmission upgrades can help New York replace the Indian Point nuclear facility without turning to fossil fuels, according to a new study.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2017

SolarCity to focus on profitability, not growth in 2017 after Tesla buyout

Though Tesla reported a loss, the SolarCity deal brought $214 million in cash to bolster cash flows. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 24, 2017

Pushing for scalability, utilities look to new hybrid models for microgrid deployment

Utilities are searching for standardized microgrid models that allow both end users and the wider grid to benefit.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 23, 2017

Pruitt email release confirms new EPA chief's close ties to fossil energy industry

Thousands of new email correspondences reveal Pruitt worked closely with the industry in his role as Oklahoma's Attorney General to oppose Obama administration environmental rules. 

By Robert Walton, Gavin Bade • Feb. 23, 2017

Connecticut girds for nuclear power debate as critics line up against Millstone support bill

A bill in the works would allow nuclear power to bid into the state's renewable energy solicitations, a move independent generators say would undermine competition in wholesale markets. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2017

Ohio lawmaker plans to introduce bill making renewable standards voluntary

Gov. John Kasich (R) vetoed a bill last year that would have made the state's mandatory renewable and energy efficiency standards voluntary until 2019. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2017

North Dakota amended bill seeks to halt wind development for two years

The bill also recommends the state tackle a management study on its long term energy plan in the interim. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2017

Updated: California lawmaker proposes to target 100% renewables by 2045

The bill would also set California's current 50% renewables mandate deadline at 2025, instead of 2030. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2017

Report: Trump executive orders to target Clean Power Plan, coal production, water rules

Media reports indicate President Trump will roll back the CPP, Waters of the U.S. rule and coal leasing restricitions in a series of executive orders.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 22, 2017

In first speech as EPA head, Scott Pruitt says rulemaking should be 'tethered to the statute'

Newly-confirmed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt focused on the "rule of law" in his first speech to staffers, saying the EPA must "engender the trust of those at the state level."

By Robert Walton • Feb. 22, 2017

Study throws cold water on residential solar-plus-storage economics

A Rochester Institute of Technology study says a customer must face high electricity bills and unfavorable net metering or feed-in policies for grid defection to work. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 21, 2017

Herding cats: California PUC President Picker on the new DER Action Plan

A new regulatory roadmap aims to guide the power sector into the distributed energy future, but is everyone along for the ride? 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 21, 2017

2017 Maui Energy Conference investigates energy systems through the prism of resilience

This year’s Maui Energy Conference will use resilience and sustainability as the backdrop to discuss the challenges faced by utilities and the other energy stakeholders.

Feb. 21, 2017

Connecticut DEEP rejects two utility storage pilots as too costly

Eversource and Avangrid were sent back to the drawing board on two substation-sited storage projects. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 21, 2017

Updated: Senate confirms Scott Pruitt to lead EPA

Pruitt pledged to uphold agency authority to regulate carbon in his confirmation hearing, but walked those statements back in an interview after the vote. 

By Robert Walton, Gavin Bade • Feb. 17, 2017

Bill would increase Nevada renewable energy mandate to 80% by 2040

AB 206 would eliminate the solar carve-out in the current 20% RPS, but would allow utilities to count residential solar toward their clean power goals. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 17, 2017

Prospects improve for Minnesota gas plant bill after groups drop opposition

Two business and consumer advocacy groups say they will no longer actively oppose a bill authorizing Xcel Energy to construct a gas-fired power plant without regulatory review. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2017

War, peace and innovation: Solar policy in 2016

Solar policy debates will continue to rise as stakeholders debate rate design and net metering compensation.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 16, 2017