Colorado regulators affirm decision rejecting part of Boulder's muni plan

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is allowing the city and Xcel Energy to develop solutions to allow Boulder's planned municipal power agency to move forward.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2016

FERC proposed decision would cut MISO transmission returns about 2%

A proposed decision would cut the rate of return for transmission-owning utilties in the Midwest from more than 12% to 10.3%, possibly resulting in refunds.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 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

Alaska Railbelt utilities progress on forming single transmission operator

A half dozen utilities serving the bulk of Alaska's population are working to develop a single entity responsible for the railbelt region's transmission system.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2016

Final report due on Duke's NC coal ash ponds after draft labels most 'high priority'

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality must release a final assessment fo all 32 of Duke Energy's coal ash ponds by Dec. 31, and a draft report finds 27 would need to be closed by 2019.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 30, 2015

California US House Rep rolls out carbon pricing bill

Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-D) has introduced the Consumers Rebate to ban Emissions and Boost AlTernative Energy (REBATE) Act which aims to put a price on carbon from coal and natural gas. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 29, 2015

California's Salton Sea offers 1,800 MW of geothermal potential

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory study finds that the Salton Sea's potential geothermal baseload generation can serve California, Arizona and Nevada's renewables mandates. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 29, 2015

Puerto Rico electric utility reaches debt restructuring deal with creditors

 Puerto Rico's public utility finalized a deal to restructure its debt, cutting obligations by more than $600 million. 

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 28, 2015

Rocky Mountain Power seeks to shorten Utah PURPA contracts

Rocky Mountain Power, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway-owned PacifiCorp, says Utah's required 20-year contracts for PURPA qualified contracts is too long. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 28, 2015

New York regulators vote to upgrade 'antiquated' transmission system

The proposed upgrades will provide $1.20 in benefits for every $1 spent, regulators say.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 23, 2015

Storage in 2016: Utility-scale, long-duration markets take the lead

Behind-the-meter storage grew by a factor of 16 in 2015, but next year expect to see front-of-the-meter applications continue to make up the lion's share of new deployments.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 22, 2015

Nevada regulators approve new net metering policy, creating separate rate class for solar users

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved a new set of regulations for net metering, which eliminates a demand charge proposed by Warren Buffett's NV Energy, but rolls back retail rate net metering remuneration among other changes. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 22, 2015

New York utilities propose REV changes to speed demonstration project approvals

Investor-owned utilities want regulators to streamline the process for approving demonstration projects, including having more say in how the projects are evaluated. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2015

South Atlantic states lag in utility-scale solar with NC, GA as bright spots for growth

Solar booms in North Carolina and Georgia make the states rank nationally in solar deployment, but their region still lags behind the Southwest. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 22, 2015

U.S. wind industry hits 70 GW capacity mark, celebrates tax credit extension

The extended incentives are expected to drive 19 GW of growth and make wind cost-competitive by 2020.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 22, 2015

Omnibus appropriations bill gives billions for energy research

The U.S Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the nation’s largest supporter of research in the physical sciences, was funded at a record $5.35 billion.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2015

Editor's Picks: The biggest Utility Dive stories of 2015

2015 was a time of change like no other in the electric power sector. Here's a recap of the year as told by some of our most important stories. 

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 22, 2015

DOE touts new efficiency standards for commercial AC, furnaces as largest in history

The U.S. Department of Energy announced new efficiency standards for commercial air conditioners and furnaces, which are expected to save businesses $167 billion on their utility bills over the next three decades.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2015

DOE to begin consent-based process for storing nuclear waste, officials say

Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz told Platts the agency will spearhead a "consent-based process" to find a location for spent nuclear waste.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2015

Obama vetoes measures to block Clean Power Plan

The president used a “pocket veto," returning the legislation back to Congress unsigned. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2015

Solar ballot measure battle in Florida likely postponed to 2018 election

Funding troubles and a lack of signatures means that Floridians for Solar Choice will likely need to wait for the 2018 ballot to get their proposal in front of voters. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 21, 2015

MISO: Clean Power Plan costs largely hinge on natural gas prices

Compliance could cost as little as $5.8 billion or exceed $100 billion, according to the grid operator, contingent on which strategy is chosen.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 21, 2015

Mississippi co-op offers threatens to sue regulators unless they lower net metering rate

The South Mississippi Electric Power Association says the Mississippi Public Service Commission can’t set rates for electric co-ops. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 21, 2015

Historic Los Angeles methane leak puts natural gas emissions under scrutiny

A massive natural gas leak in southern California raises questions over the electricity sector's increased utilization of the resource for power generation.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 21, 2015

New Pepco merger worries for Exelon: GSA opposes deal while report exposes lobbying

According to filings with the D.C. government, Exelon hired the head of a political action committee supportive of Mayor Muriel Bowser to lobby her office on the proposed acquisition of Pepco.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 18, 2015

UPDATED: Congress passes $1.1T omnibus spending bill with solar, wind tax credit extensions

The tax extensions, part of a deal brokered to fund the government and lift the oil export ban, is expected to be approved by the Senate today.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 18, 2015