SDG&E 'ahead of the curve' to meet California's 50% RPS with help from storage

Ahead of schedule in meeting RPS targets, San Diego Gas & Electric looks to storage and energy efficiency to accommodate more renewables.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016

Updated: Supreme Court rules in FERC's favor in Hughes v. Talen power case

Not all incentive programs supporting in-state generation are illegal, the court ruled, but Maryland's initiative stepped on FERC's exclusive jurisdiction over wholesale market rates.

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

FERC seeks input from ISOs on possible market barriers to energy storage

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has given wholesale market operators until May 2 to docment barriers that may exist to adding energy storage resources to their grids.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016

'Graceful transition': ISO-NE's CEO on how wholesale markets can ease decarbonization

A well-designed capacity market can help ensure reliability at high levels of renewable energy penetration, argues ISO-New England's Gordon van Welie.

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016

New York, Connecticut under fire for use of RGGI funds

New York and Connecticut have come under fire for proposals to use funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions for uses other than efficiency and clean energy.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016

SEIA President Rhone Resch steps down after 12 years

The national trade group for solar companies grew from 65 members to more than 1,000 under Resch's leadership.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2016

North Carolina regulators reject solar third party ownership test case from green group

Duke Energy welcomed the decision, which sees it preserve its status as a monopoly electricity provider in its service area.  

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2016

Senate could vote this week on broad energy bill amendments

Voting on individual energy amendments could begin today, followed by a broader decision on The Energy Policy Modernization Act.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2016

Utilities should join us in working toward a 21st century rate design

A consumer advocate, solar lobbyist and environmental activist say utilities should join opt for collaboration, not confrontation, in designing new rate structures. 

By John Howat, Rick Gilliam, Samantha Williams • April 18, 2016

Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Gas cancel LNG import terminal agreement

Hawaiian Electric wants to import gas as a cheaper alternative to fuel oil, but critics call it a distraction from efforts to get to 100% renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2016

Will LA's historic gas leak knock Hollywood's lights out this summer?

California's energy agencies are pushing a slew of measures to compensate for the Aliso Canyon gas leak, but the larger issue of the state's natural gas reliance remains.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2016

Maine lawmakers near approval of solar incentive bill, but still lack votes for veto override

Gov. Paul LePage, a frequent critic of renewable energy policies, is expected to veto the bill. 

By Gavin Bade, Herman Trabish • April 15, 2016

Senate reaches deal to forge ahead with sweeping energy bill

Holds by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) have been lifted, allowing debate on the broad energy measure to move forward.

By Robert Walton • April 15, 2016

Video: NV Energy-backed group launches media campaign to keep solar net metering rates

A new statewide ad buy aims to counter efforts from solar installers to overturn lower net metering rates approved by regulators at the end of last year.

By Gavin Bade, Herman Trabish • April 15, 2016

Kicking the can: Massachusetts solar law buys time, but full incentive plan remains elusive

Massachusetts' new law lifts solar caps that stalled growth, but plans for a comprehensive incentive system are still in their early stages.

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 14, 2016

Wind installed more capacity than any other generation source in 2015, industry says

Increasing buy-in from non-utility customers marked strong growth for the sector last year.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 14, 2016

Report: One-third of solar installers offer energy storage, number set to rise

More than a fourth of the installers not offering storage told researchers they plan to offer it this year.

By Peter Maloney • April 14, 2016

Inside Hawaiian Electric's new plan to get to 100% renewables

Liquefied natural gas, the NextEra merger and the role of DERs are the major sticking points emerging from the utility's new power supply plan.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 14, 2016

Idaho Power will be sixth utility to join CAISO's western Energy Imbalance Market

The market allows for real-time balancing of supply and demand across utility systems in the West, helping control costs and integrate more renewable energy.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 13, 2016

Utility-backed solar group raised over $7M to counter TPO proposal in Florida

While money troubles sunk the proposal that would have legalized third party ownership, the utility-backed measure created to counter it is cleared to appear on the ballot.  

By Herman K. Trabish • April 13, 2016

How Minnesota is approaching grid modernization as a vertically-integrated state

A new PUC report outlines the state's vision for grid modernization and previews coming regulatory debates.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 13, 2016

Stakeholders debate expanding storage's role in MISO markets

Discussions under way at MISO could expand storage into the medium-term market.

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2016

Minnesota report points to flaws in Xcel's community solar installations

An independent engineer appointed by the PUC says the utility mishandled cost estimates, interconnection processes, and cooperation with developers in a community solar project.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 12, 2016

Civil Rights Commission eyes North Carolina coal ash in environmental justice probe

The Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was at a hearing in North Carolina last week focused on the impacts of coal ash on predominantly low-income, minority communities. 

By Shalina Chatlani • April 12, 2016

'Straight uphill': Power sector reforms face tough path in gridlocked Illinois legislature

Three utility-backed bills to support, nuclear generation, renewables and efficiency did not pass in the last session of the General Assembly. Stakeholders are now trying to role them into a single law.

By Peter Maloney • April 12, 2016