Storage gets boost as 100% renewables, grid expansion fail in California

The state isn't yet following Hawaii and its mandate to achieve a 100% renewable electric sector, but the Los Angeles area got an energy storage stimulus.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 19, 2017

An inside look at using energy storage to integrate renewable resources

Soaking up solar power during the day and dispatching it in the evening is often cited as a renewable-enabling use for energy storage, but in practice it's often not so simple.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 18, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

How utility pilot programs are driving renewable energy integration

SCE and APS want to use electric vehicles, water heaters and demand response to help add more wind and solar to the grid.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 18, 2017

FERC overrules New York permit denial for Millennium gas pipeline

The decision could signal that Trump's FERC appointees are more open to reversing state regulatory decisions on fossil fuel infrastructure. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2017

No, resiliency arguments won't save coal

DOE’s grid study misses the main future threats to system reliability and resiliency, SparkLibrary's cofounder Alex Gilbert argues. 

By Alex Gilbert • Sept. 18, 2017

PJM task force heads into the next stage of capacity market redesign

The grid operator's capacity construct group will begin evaluating 10 proposals for market reforms this week.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 18, 2017

SCE nuclear waste settlement highlights growing problem for shuttered plants

Southern California Edison will spend up to $4 million to explore the feasibility of finding an alternative storage site for spent fuel from the San Onofre nuclear plant.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 18, 2017

Updated: EPA to reconsider portions of Obama-era coal ash rule

The agency granted a polluter petition to reconsider the rule, a move environmentalists call "a ploy to scrap the protections entirely."

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 15, 2017

Baseload compensation a high priority for FERC, Chatterjee tells Congress

Threats to reliability could cause federal regulators to change plant compensation, the acting FERC chair told House lawmakers in a hearing that also touched on climate change and renewables integration.  

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 15, 2017

Arizona regulator Doug Little appointed to DOE

Little will become the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental and External Affairs at the Energy Department in October.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2017

DOE awards $20M to commercialize new energy technologies

More than 50 projects at 12 national labs will receive funding to help them bridge the gap to commercial use. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 15, 2017

Virginia Supreme Court upholds utility rate freeze law

Utilities say the five-year freeze protects customers from Clean Power Plan compliance, but consumer advocates argue it allows power companies overcharge ratepayers without regulatory review. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 15, 2017

EPA delays rule limiting toxic metal discharges from coal plants

The rule limiting heavy metal discharges from coal plants into lakes and rivers had been set to go into effect in 2018, but will now be delayed two years.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2017

DOE seeks stakeholder input, data for net metering cost-benefit study

Public comments are due by the end of October, and the agency will present the study's findings to Congress. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2017

Alectra Utilities CEO: 'Someone's going to cannibalize our business — it may as well be us'

"Someone's going to eat our lunch. They're lining up to do it," CEO Brian Bentz told Utility Dive. Here's how the Canadian utility is moving aggressively into DERs.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 14, 2017

Tax equity financing for renewable energy healthy, but with risks: CohnReznick

The company sees good deal flow and an expanding pool of investors, but potential tax changes present an element of risk.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 14, 2017

Illinois energy reform set to shape new solar business models for utilities

Rate-based returns on distributed resources could allow utilities to displace traditional investments and drive a community solar boom.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2017

Brattle: Regulatory barriers prevent stacking of battery benefits

Even in California's nation-leading storage market, stacking battery benefits still faces regulatory and rate design challenges, a new report finds. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 13, 2017

Michigan advocates fear rollback of retail electric choice program

The Michigan Public Service Commission is considering requiring alternative suppliers to procure the electricity they sell from in-state generators.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2017

FERC evaluating enhanced baseload compensation, Chatterjee writes

The acting FERC chair would have told a cancelled House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that his commission is evaluating "compensation for providing [reliability] services," Axios reports. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 12, 2017

California Dems look to restart CAISO regionalization with 11th hour amendments

With only days left in the state's legislative session, lawmakers are pushing bills that would create a planning process for a full ISO across the western United States. 

By Gavin Bade , Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

Half of Florida still without power as Irma churns into Southeast

Federal officials say storm recovery and power restoration will involve the "largest ever mobilization of line restoration workers in this country."

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2017

Mississippi Power fails to reach PSC settlement over Kemper costs again

State regulators already extended a settlement deadline in August after its staff and the utility failed to reach a settlement over Kemper costs. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

Utilities see benefits in energy storage, even without mandates

Greater operational flexibility, customer savings, frequency response and black start capability were among the advantages cited by utilities in pursuing storage absent any legal requirement.  

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 12, 2017

Bill to California governor would direct utilities to plan storage, DERs for peak demand

SB 338 would compel utilities to include considerations for peak demand management with storage, efficiency and DERs in their integrated resource plans. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 11, 2017