MIT researchers see a 'window of opportunity' for non-battery storage

Pumped hydro and compressed air storage can add value to renewable energy projects today, researchers found, but that could change as wind and solar drop further in price.

By Peter Maloney • July 12, 2016

'Universal access': How PSEG CEO Ralph Izzo aims to make efficiency, DERs available to all consumers

Izzo wants utilities to supply DER solutions to consumers not served in the current marketplace.

By Gavin Bade • July 12, 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

Senate set to vote to convene conference committee on energy bill

House Republicans have reportedly agreed not to push for controversial provisions that could trigger a veto from President Obama.

By Gavin Bade, Robert Walton • July 12, 2016

Report: NextEra-HEI decision delayed by regulatory infighting

A majority opinion on the acquisition was reached last month, a Hawaii news station reports, but regulators could not agree on the wording of the order before Gov. Ige appointed a new commissioner, throwing the process into flux.

By Gavin Bade • July 11, 2016

California PUC directs SDG&E to buy more renewables despite RPS compliance

The utility is compliant with current targets under the state's clean energy standard, but did not buy enough capacity in a recent renewable energy auction, regulators said. 

By Peter Maloney • July 11, 2016

Solar spokesperson Bryan Miller no longer at Sunrun, TASC

Miller's advocacy style gained him a high profile in the power sector.

By Krysti Shallenberger • July 8, 2016

FBI questions Arizona utility officials, watchdog group in 2014 election investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed the head of the Checks and Balances Project, a clean energy watchdog group, after similar conversations with regulatory officials and utility executives over the 2014 election cycle.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2016

Sonnen cuts battery system cost 40% to serve self-consumption market

Seeing an opportunity in changes to net metering policies, Sonnen has introduced a cheaper battery without backup power features.

By Peter Maloney • July 8, 2016

Solar developer FLS Energy wants rehearing on Montana PURPA rate suspension

FLS Energy said the decision, if standing as issued, would prevent their projects from going foward. 

By Peter Maloney • July 8, 2016

Minnesota Power refiles plan to lower industrial customer rates

Rejected earlier this year, the amended filing reduces the rate impact on residential customers and places limits on the number of industrial facilities which can take advantage of the lower power prices.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2016

Come together? DER aggregation sparks more confusion than consensus in power sector

Utilities and DER providers have divergent opinions on how the aggregation of distributed resources will develop, according to a recent GTM survey.  

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2016

PacifiCorp entry to Western EIM could boost carbon emissions, critics say

The Sierra Club said a preliminary study by California ISO modeling scenarios to include PacifiCorp in the Western Energy Imbalance Market failed to detail long-term impacts from the utility's coal fleet. 

By Peter Maloney • July 7, 2016

NYISO: Despite efficiency, DER gains, new transmission needed for low-carbon grid

Efficiency and DERs are pushing down load, the grid operator said in a new report, but system upgrades will be needed to meet state clean energy goals. 

By Gavin Bade • July 7, 2016

Anatomy of a nuke closure: How PG&E decided to shutter Diablo Canyon

In a policy environment that prizes renewables, PG&E saw no cost-effective route to keeping the giant nuclear plant open.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2016

New York Green Bank aims to grow portfolio by two-thirds next year

The bank aims to spur innovative reneweable energy projects that would otherwise have trouble attracting investment. 

By Peter Maloney • July 7, 2016

New Mexico senator to roll out tax credit for energy storage

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) plans to introduce legislation next week that would create a tax credit for energy storage, modelled after similar credits for wind and solar. 

By Peter Maloney • July 6, 2016

California dreaming: Utilities uneasy with regulator's vision to remake their business model

Commissioner Florio wants a fundamental rethinking of utility revenues and distributed resources, but his proposal has critics on all sides.

By Peter Maloney • July 6, 2016

Inside the first municipal solar-plus-storage project in the US

The Village of Minster tackled a solar-plus-storage project to diversify its portfolio and now looks to build a microgrid to protect its key C&I customers from power outages. 

By Herman K. Trabish • July 5, 2016

Five years in, Boulder's municipalization fight could be drawing to a close

Boulder is in negotiations with Xcel Energy on clean energy options that could end its bid to create a municipal utility. But the city hasn't given up yet.

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2016

After avoiding default, Puerto Rico utility secures 26% rate hike to help cover restructuring

The higher rates are expected to help the utility survive as regulators consider longer-term reforms. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • July 5, 2016

EPA cites 4 counties for SO2 pollution under round 2 of sulphur designations

Burning coal has contributed to unsafe levels of sulphur dioxide pollution in four more U.S. counties, the EPA announced last week.

By Gavin Bade • July 5, 2016

NextEra decision looming, Hawaii lawmakers consider suing Gov. Ige over PUC appointment

The governor appointed a commission lawyer to the regulatory post without legislative approval ahead of a decision on the largest business deal in Hawaii history. 

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2016

California power regulation market doubled to 800 MW a day in first quarter

Total payments for power regulation services quadrupled to $400,000 per day in the first three months of 2016.

By Peter Maloney • July 1, 2016

Vermont regulators implement rules for 75% renewables target

Vermont's Public Service Board has implemented rules for 75% by 2032 renewables target, stipulating at least 1% needs to come from distributed resources. 

By Peter Maloney • July 1, 2016

North Carolina Gov. McCrory set to sign revised coal ash bill

The compromise legislation would hand control of coal ash management back to McCrory's DEQ.   

By Shalina Chatlani • July 1, 2016