With AEP deal, private equity continues gobbling up utility plants

Private equity was the winner, once again, in an auction of four AEP plants totaling 5,200 MW.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 20, 2016

Mass. Gov. Baker signs climate change executive order

The order aims to design a comprehensive approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state, setting interim emissions reduction target goals. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2016

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

DC Circuit primer: All you need to know ahead of the Clean Power Plan's pivotal court date

The CPP is almost certainly headed to the Supreme Court, but its fate there could depend on a 10-judge hearing next week.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 19, 2016

FRCC: Florida reserve margin to remain over 20% as state leans on gas generation

Despite a rising population and increased reliance on gas, Florida reliability coordinators expect sufficient generation supply for the next decade.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 19, 2016

Massachusetts state report recommends 600 MW energy storage target

A report ordered by state lawmakers and released by the Department of Energy Resources says a storage target for utilities could help cut peak demand and reduce ratepayer costs.  

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 19, 2016

Updated: Nevada regulators approve NV Energy, SolarCity grandfathering proposal

About 32,000 existing solar customers will now have access to retail rate net metering until 2036.

By Krysti Shallenberger, Gavin Bade • Sept. 16, 2016

Missouri PSC approves $11.3B Fortis acquisition of ITC

The deal would be transformative for Canadian Fortis, making U.S. assets account for 62% of the company’s revenues.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 16, 2016

SCE taps Tesla for 80 MWh storage project to deal with Aliso Canyon gas shortage

For a time, the Tesla project is expected to be the largest lithium ion battery storage project in operation.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 16, 2016

New NRECA head pushes Congress to consider co-ops in energy bill conference

Only eight weeks on the job, the new NRECA CEO Jim Matheson is in Washington to push his members' interests as Congress debates a broad energy bill.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 15, 2016

When it comes to renewables, customers are like watermelon seeds

Adam Browning, executive director of Vote Solar, urges utilities to consider the demands of customers—and large corporations—when it comes to investing in renewables. 

By Adam Browning • Sept. 15, 2016

Reporter's notebook: How conflict and collaboration shape utility policy in the age of renewables

Utility Dive's Herman K. Trabish reflects on a decade of debates between utilities and renewable energy advocates, finding some of the most productive work comes outside official regulatory proceedings. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 15, 2016

DOE announces another $107M in solar funding under SunShot Initiative

SunShot's goal is to help the solar industry push unsubsidized costs down to $0.06/kWh by 2020.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 15, 2016

Nevada court overturns fixed charges, lower net metering rates for existing solar customers

The court upheld the new rates and charges for future solar customers, however, accepting NV Energy's assertion of a solar cost shift.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 15, 2016

NV Energy strikes solar grandfathering deal with SolarCity, regulatory staff

NV Energy has filed a proposal with state regulators that would allow customers who installed rooftop solar on or before Dec. 31, 2015 to access retail rate net metering.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 14, 2016

Nevada energy company submits $38M bid for TVA's unfinished Bellefonte nuke

Phoenix Energy of Nevada wants to use the site to develop its magnetic induction generation technology, which it claims has zero emissions. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 14, 2016

Greening demand response: California mulls big changes for DR to meet climate goals

A new proposal at the CPUC would limit fossil fuel resources in demand response, but big questions remain about the utility's role in administering DR programs. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2016

Retooling regulation: Clean air and clean energy demand an integrated oversight regime

As regulated utilities confront the need for new business models, RAP analysts say it's time for energy and environmental regulators to do the same. 

By Ken Colburn and Chris James • Sept. 13, 2016

Growing pains: Hawaii solar sector howls as grid-supply incentives hit caps

Hawaii's grid-supply tariff has already hit its caps, and the self-supply option is cost-prohibitive for most residents. The resulting installation slowdown could set up a new fight at the PUC.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 13, 2016

DOE, DOI: New US offshore wind strategy could create 86 GW market by 2050

The Departments of Energy and the Interior chose the completion of the first U.S. offshore wind facility to release a new governmental strategy document for the industry.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 13, 2016

APS sues Arizona regulator for financial subpoena

Arizona Public Service Co. is suing a state regulator for subpoenaing documents related to the 2014 election cycle.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2016

Time running out for major Congressional energy bill passage as presidential election looms

Last week, lawmakers in the House and Senate convened the first meeting of a joint committee to iron out differences in the two chambers' energy bills.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2016

Nuclear backers: California legislature, not PUC, should review Diablo Canyon closure

The pro-nuclear group Environmental Progress says the state regulatory body is in a "crisis of legitimacy" and wants lawmakers to decide the fate of the massive nuclear plant instead. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 12, 2016

Newly-released text messages draw scrutiny to APS relationship with AZ consumer advocate

Text messages show a consultant for the Residential Utility Consumer Office collaborating with a utility executive to shape the state's Value of Solar docket, but they say it's all part of the job. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 9, 2016

EPA finalizes cross-state pollution rule for ozone-causing nitrogen oxides

The final rules for 22 states are less stringent than environmentalists hoped. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 8, 2016

As solar price drops, utility interest spurs growth in non-traditional markets

Solar markets outside the U.S. Southwest are picking up steam thanks to steady price declines across all segments, new reports from LBNL found. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 8, 2016