SDG&E issues call for 140 MW of renewables, DERs, demand-side resources

The utility has issued an RFO for storage, renewables, distributed generation, energy efficiency and demand response resources to comply with CPUC procurement targets.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 9, 2016

Charts: How will the Clean Power Plan stay affect the utility power mix transition?

Utilities will keep adding renewables and natural gas, but what happens to the Clean Power Plan could have a big effect on just how much of both are brought online in the coming years.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 8, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.

By Utility Dive staff

California utility IID halts net metering incentives after hitting 5% cap

Imperial Irrigation District says it is still accepting applications, but installers say solar is a hard sell without the generation incentives.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 8, 2016

Connecticut legislature to mull slew of energy bills, including boosting renewables

Connecticut lawmakers are considering a raft of legislation on sources fom solar and nuclear to energy produced from trash.

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2016

Updated: Exelon, Pepco file proposal to save merger

After District of Columbia officials rejected conditions on a merger deal outlined by the PSC last week, Exelon and Pepco have filed a new proposal they hope will satisfy both the regulators and city leaders.

By Gavin Bade , Krysti Shallenberger • March 7, 2016

Oregon passes utility-scale solar incentives to support 50% RPS

The proposal, overshadowed last week by the larger bill its aims to support, would provide $0.005/kWh for 2 MW to 10 MW installations.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 7, 2016

After record year, U.S. energy storage forecasted to break 1 GW capacity mark in 2019

Energy storage installations were up 243% in 2015 compared with 2014, according to new GTM Research/Energy Storage Assoc. report.

By Peter Maloney • March 7, 2016

Clean coalition: How utilities and greens teamed up to pass Oregon's 50% RPS

A unique combination of threat and opportunity brought Oregon’s investor-owned utilities to the negotiating table, but not everyone is pleased with the results.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 7, 2016

BLM issues new guidelines to streamline Western solar development

Identifying Solar Energy Zones aims to shorten development timelines and protect sensitive environments from effects of solar plant construction. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 5, 2016

Virginia governor vetoes bill to give legislators say over CPP plan

The measure would have been an "unacceptable breach of Virginia’s constitutional separation of powers," Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said, after he vetoed Senate Bill 21.

By Robert Walton • March 4, 2016

Exelon, Pepco will fight on for merger deal against mounting odds

The companies will ignore an earlier, self-imposed deadline of March 4 and continue work on the merger leading up to a March 11 deadline from D.C. regulators. 

By Gavin Bade • March 4, 2016

Florida regulators approve first community solar program for Gulf Power

The Southern Co. subsidiary’s program will let customers without suitable roofs buy solar and receive bill credits — for a fee.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 4, 2016

New York REV shows utilities and regulators how to manage change

In this guest post, Eleanor Stein, a former PSC judge and REV project manager, offers insight on how coordination between utilities, regulators, and the public can boost trust in the regulatory process.

By Eleanor Stein • March 3, 2016

ARPA-E 2016: 4 takeaways from the Energy Innovation Summit and 1 grand narrative

Clean Power Plan's freeze could pose big hurdles for clean energy tech investment in the U.S. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 3, 2016

Chief Justice rejects state request to block MATS implementation

Chief Justice John Roberts decided to act unilaterally on the stay petition, The Hill reports, rather than allowing the full court to rule, which could have led to a 4-4 split after the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia last month. 

By Gavin Bade • March 3, 2016

EIA: Solar to lead utility-scale capacity additions in 2016, followed by gas, wind

The forecasted 9.5 GW of solar capacity additions would be slightly higher than the 9.4 GW added in the three previous years combined.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 3, 2016

Oregon bill to curb coal, set 50% RPS heads to governor after Senate passage

Gov. Kate Brown is expected to sign the bill to set a 50% renewable energy standard and eliminate coal from the state's power mix. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 3, 2016

As Xcel pushes non-wire alternatives, solar+storage pilot sparks utility ownership debate

Everyone loves that Xcel Minnesota is considering DERs instead of traditional infrastructure, but not that the utility wants to own them itself.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 3, 2016

Solar fight turns to presidential-style bare-knuckle campaign tactics

The presidential election season means hardball politics, but TASC's Bryan Miller argues utilities have used dirty tactics to stifle rooftop solar for years.

By Bryan Miller • March 2, 2016

ARPA-E 2016: Sector leaders look to capitalize on 'the best of times for innovation in energy'

At ARPA-E's annual innovations summit, Moniz, Gore and other energy insiders say the stars are aligning for clean energy, but utilities must be on board.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 2, 2016

Mass. Sen. Markey to push extension of 30% ITC for offshore wind to 2025

Long lead times for offshore wind facilities means many developers can't take advantage before current incentives phase out in the early 2020s. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 2, 2016

Oregon bill to curb coal use, set 50% renewables mandate heads to Senate after House passage

After an earlier version of the bill was caught up in weeks of partisan wrangling, backers say they expect a quick passage in the Senate before the end of the week.  

By Herman K. Trabish • March 2, 2016

NJ Senate committee passes bill for 80% renewable energy standard

A nearly identical bill passed the full New Jersey Senate last year, but failed to come to a vote in the lower house.

By Robert Walton • March 2, 2016

North Carolina approves 2 of Duke's 3 proposed gas units, opponents vow appeal

Critics, wary of increasing reliance on natural gas, are already indicating they will appeal the state's decision, saying Duke "never had to substantiate its claim that customer demand will soar."

By Robert Walton • March 2, 2016

The sector favorite: Storage tops utility tech picks for second year running

Utility Dive's third annual survey of electric utility professionals shows even greater interest in energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • March 1, 2016