A storage bubble? High investment in nascent industry sows fears of a battery bust

Market reforms and continued innovation will be needed to see storage reach its potential, experts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 3, 2017

Report: Vermont utility not likely targeted by Russian hackers

Burlington Electric previously said malware found on one of its computers was connected to Russian hackers, but The Washington Post reports that story was in error. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 3, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

How will Rick Perry run the Department of Energy?

Some Texas energy veterans fondly remember an engaged, pro-business governor, while others say his approach is more "pay-to-play."

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 3, 2017

Massachusetts DOER will set energy storage mandate targets by July

A law signed in August required the Department of Energy Resources to determine if a storage mandate is prudent for the state, which it did on Dec. 27.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 3, 2017

Duke completes sale of its Latin American assets for $1.2B

The sale to China Three Gorges reflects Duke's new focus on its regulated U.S. businesses.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 3, 2017

California Gov. Brown taps 2 new utility regulators

The six-year terms of commissioners Michael Florio and Catherine Sandoval expire this month.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 2, 2017

Updated: Vermont utility not likely infiltrated by Russian hackers, contrary to earlier reports

U.S. officials found traces of malware belonging to Russian operatives on a Burlington Electric computer, though it was not connected to the power grid. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 2, 2017

New York PSC rejects challenges to nuclear subsidy program

Regulators said they would not grant a rehearing on the nuclear supports, but would look again at eligibility issues for other zero-carbon resources. 

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 29, 2016

Rooftop solar permits in Honolulu fell 40% in November

Solar permits for the first 11 months of the year were also down 32% from the same period in 2015.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 23, 2016

Illinois regulators approve new ATC transmission line, substation

The American Transmission Co. line would run between Illinois and Wisconsin, but still needs approval from the latter state. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 23, 2016

4 US governors roll up sleeves to tackle grid modernization

The National Governors Association said Kentucky, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington will be working on a new project to modernize the electric sector in those states.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 23, 2016

The top 5 solar policy trends of 2016

Net metering and rate design weren't the only sticky subjects for solar this year.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 22, 2016

Nevada PUC approves restoring retail net metering to Sierra Pacific customers

A year after ending retail net metering, a new-look PUC restored it for about 1,500 customers in the north of the state.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 22, 2016

How the Illinois energy reform 'fixed' the state's RPS, promising a renewables boom

A convoluted renewables standard stalled investment for years, but the new law aims for over 4 GW of wind and solar through a streamlined program.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 22, 2016

Kansas regulatory staff recommends rejection of Great Plains-Westar merger

Staff of the Kansas Corporation Commission cited financial risk to customers in their filing, which could scuttle the merger if approved by commissioners. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 22, 2016

LS Power-led consortium wins first Order 1000 transmission project in MISO

The $50 million transmission project is the first to be awarded in MISO under FERC's Order 1000, which aims to spur transmission buildout. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 22, 2016

MISO integrates first solar project into its wholesale market

The Midcontinent ISO has many solar arrays, but only North Star is currently participating in its wholesale market.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 21, 2016

Updated: Arizona regulators end retail net metering in value-of-solar proceeding

But regulators put off setting rooftop solar compensation rates, saying that will happen in upcoming rate cases. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 21, 2016

Hawaii cooperative achieves non-profit status in bid to challenge HECO power service

Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative said it can save Big Island residents $234 million if it takes over for the incumbent utility. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 21, 2016

2016: A 'transitional year for storage,' industry set to break records

Diverse storage deployment and investments on pace to surpass last year's numbers, analysts say. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

How Microsoft and a Wyoming utility designed a data center tariff that works for everyone

Collaboration on corporate rate design makes Black Hills Energy "a banner for what utilities should be," but work remains to be done on renewables procurement. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 20, 2016

Renewables challenge natural gas plants on price in latest Lazard analysis

Wind and solar are now well within the cost range of combined cycle plants, but still need generators or storage to support them on the grid.  

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

ComEd pushes ahead with Bronzeville microgrid, despite lack of legislative backing

Funding for the microgrid was left out of Illinois' mammoth energy bill, but ComEd says it will ask regulators to allow it to recover some of the costs. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

Second time the charm? Washington Gov. Inslee proposes new $25 carbon tax in budget

Voters rejected a carbon tax in last month's election, but the governor included a similar proposal in a draft of the state's two-year budget plan. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2016

Greens protest Portland General Electric's plans to replace retired coal unit with natural gas

Environmental groups say the retrofit violates the spirit of a plan approved earlier this year to end fossil fuel use.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2016