Federal appeals court backs North Dakota in cross-border pollution case with Minnesota

A federal appeals court has sided with North Dakota in a suit against Minnesota law seeking to ban cross-border CO2 emissions.

By Peter Maloney • June 20, 2016

Montana PSC suspends PURPA rates for small solar farms

Until a new rate is decided, developers will need to negotiate with power providers for rates on a case-by-case basis. 

By Peter Maloney • June 20, 2016

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

Updated: DC regulators deny rehearing on Exelon-Pepco merger; opponents plan to sue

Opponents have 60 days to file a challenge with the D.C. Court of Appeals after regulators refused to take up the Exelon-Pepco merger again.

By Krysti Shallenberger, Davide Savenije • June 17, 2016

FERC issues order on price formation fixes for organized markets

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finalized a rule establishing new shortage pricing and transaction settlement interval requirements for organized markets.  

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 16, 2016

Beyond rate reforms: Bundling strategies could resolve net metering battles

While no silver bullet is found in a single strategy, an NREL study suggests bundling several approaches could address both solar and utilities' concerns about rooftop solar. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2016

California local renewables are getting robbed, but CAISO can help

Over 40 stakeholder organizations have been urging CAISO to eliminate transmission charges on local generation, which does not use transmission lines, writes Clean Coalition's Craig Lewis. 

By Craig Lewis • June 16, 2016

Pepco merger done, Exelon CEO Chris Crane wants market reforms to save nuclear fleet

The first six months of Exelon’s year saw it become the largest utility in the country, but also announce the early closure of two nuclear plants.

By Gavin Bade • June 16, 2016

Study: Falling cost of solar and wind could limit energy storage profitability

A recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology examines economics of combining storage with renewable resources.

By Peter Maloney • June 15, 2016

'Should have started yesterday': Why better transmission planning is urgently necessary for tomorrow's grid

The power mix is changing fast and it will cost ratepayers if transmission planners don’t catch up quickly, according to a new report from the Brattle Group.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 15, 2016

PPAs or RECs? New York policymakers debate how to reach 50%-by-2030 renewables goal

In a technical conference held last week, New York policy makers debated the best way to meet the proposed Clean Energy Standard, which calls for utilities to transition away from fossil fuels. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 15, 2016

Study: Coal ash waste sullies groundwater in 5 states

A new study documenting coal ash contamination in groundwater provides new scientific footing in the ongoing debate over the effects of coal ash contamination. 

By Shalina Chatlani • June 15, 2016

Minnesota regulators to review solar charges by rural co-ops

Solar advocates say the grid connection fees for rooftop solar arrays in Minnesota are too high. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 15, 2016

CPUC approves extra demand response in wake of Aliso Canyon gas leak

The CPUC last week approved the 2017 demand response budgets for California's IOUs, along with special funding to address potential natural gas shortages in the SCE service area this summer. 

By Gavin Bade • June 15, 2016

FERC revokes market-based rate authority for Berkshire Hathaway companies

Twenty Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidaries in four balancing authority areas out West failed to rebut presumptions of horizontal market power. 

By Peter Maloney • June 14, 2016

Oregon DEQ to study cap and trade program

Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality is studying creation of a cap and trade program that would link with other programs in the West and Canada.

By Peter Maloney • June 14, 2016

Con Ed rolls out $15M virtual power plant project for REV

At least 300 homes will be equipped with leased solar panels and lithium-ion battery storage in the Queens and Brooklyn areas of New York City. 

By Peter Maloney • June 14, 2016

With CPP on ice, utilities seek organized market reforms to save baseload plants

Utilities in the Midwest are concerned retiring coal and nuclear plants too early leaves the grid vulnerable to price spikes and reliability problems.

By Gavin Bade • June 14, 2016

Georgia Power to accelerate coal ash pond closures

All 29 of the utility's ponds will stop recieving coal ash waste within three years. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 14, 2016

Carolinas industry group seeks to change up the utility business model

A trade group rolled out a white paper outlining ways to change the way utilities operate in North Carolina. 

By Peter Maloney • June 13, 2016

Apple files with FERC to sell energy in wholesale markets

Apple could be looking to leverage its renewables portfolio by filing as an energy provider.

By Peter Maloney • June 13, 2016

Supreme Court voids Puerto Rico's debt restructuring law, keeping PREPA deal in place

The decision means the island's financially embattled electrical utility PREPA will likely keep its current restructuring deal in place. 

By Krysti Shallenberger, Davide Savenije • June 13, 2016

Greater than the sum: How aggregation is making storage into a software business

Grouping customer-sited batteries can deliver the same benefits as grid-scale storage, DNV-GL says.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 13, 2016

Net metering talks break down in Arizona

A mediated negotiation over net metering rates between the Arizona Public Service Co. and SolarCity has ended after one day.

By Robert Walton • June 13, 2016

The Rural Utilities Service: How the USDA is building a clean energy future for rural America

The USDA's RUS has backed rural communities since the 1930s and now has billions to dole out for renewables and efficiency projects for underserved populations.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 10, 2016

Dominion reveals coal ash stored at Chesapeake is 3 times previous estimate

A new document filed in an ongoing lawsuit between Sierra Club and Dominion Virginia Power revealed more than 3 million tons of coal ash are stored at three Virginia locations, well above the Sierra Club's previous estimate of 1 million tons. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 10, 2016