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

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

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

Updated: Senate tees up Pruitt EPA vote as judge orders release of nominee's emails

An Oklahoma judge's order to release 3,000 documents related to Pruitt's correspondence with the fossil fuel industry is not expected to delay a final vote on his nomination to lead the EPA. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 16, 2017

Generators file federal court complaint against Illinois nuclear credits

Calpine, Dynegy and others argue payments to Illinois nuclear plants intrude on FERC's authority to regulate wholesale power markets. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 16, 2017

Illinois regulators approve ComEd's smart meter data sharing program

The new program will give third party providers access to anonymous energy usage data for all zip codes where the utility has smart meters.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 16, 2017

NARUC 2017: A little less climate and a lot more infrastructure

Donald Trump's election has shifted state regulators' focus from carbon regulation to pipelines.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 16, 2017

Delaware picks energyOrbit to track the state's energy programs

The company's cloud-based platform will track and report progress on efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 15, 2017

How federal tax reform could complicate prospects for renewable energy

Republican plans to upend the tax code present both benefits and pitfalls for wind and solar power, financial analysts say.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 15, 2017

Xcel taps Sunverge, Northern Reliability to test solar+storage in Denver

Xcel Energy will run residential and utility-scale battery pilots to better understand how they can help integrate renewable energy.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 15, 2017

Residential storage can undercut benefits of rooftop solar, says new study

A new study in Nature Energy finds storing rooftop solar can increase emissions and energy consumption.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 14, 2017

What Neil Gorsuch, Trump's Supreme Court nominee, could mean for energy policy

Gorsuch doesn't have a huge body of energy legal decisions, but rulings regarding Chevron deference and the Commerce Clause shed some light on how he could affect the industry. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 14, 2017

Virginia lawmakers pass bill for new utility pumped hydro storage facilities

HB 1760, passed nearly unanimously, would push for streamlined regulatory approval for one or more utility-owned pumped hydro projects.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 14, 2017

Prices plummet in ISO-NE capacity auction, raising questions about new generation plans

The grid operator easily filled its capacity quota for 2020 and 2021, leading some groups to question whether planned gas plants should be constructed. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 14, 2017

Report: Puerto Rico Gov. Rossello wants to renegotiate PREPA debt restructuring bill

A year after a debt restructuring deal for the island's utility was finalized, the new governor has signaled he may ask some bondholders to accept less money.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 14, 2017

California regulators to consider shuttering Aliso Canyon gas storage facility

The gas storage facility was the site of the nation's worst-ever methane leak, which curtailed fuel supplies to area generators. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 13, 2017

Navy developing 44 MW solar+storage facility on Kauai

The project would make the Barking Sands missile testing facility a net zero military installation, according to the Navy.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 13, 2017

Colorado lawmakers seek to restrict potential energy storage charges from utilities

A bill introduced in the Colorado state Senate would limit residential energy storage charges from utilities for storage systems up to 25 kW. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 10, 2017

Research spotlight: Solar cost shift negligible, DER valuation efforts advancing slowly

New studies from LBNL and Rhodium detail the latest findings in distributed energy resource valuation.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 10, 2017

EEI promises collaboration with Trump administration on energy, tax policy

Edison Electric Institute officials also said the trend toward cleaner power will continue as prices for natural gas, renewable energy and new technology fall.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2017

Connecticut lawmakers prepare legislation to support Millstone nuclear plant

The bill to support the 2,110 MW nuclear plant is expected to recall zero-emission credit schemes in New York and Illinois. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 10, 2017