Report: North Carolina utilities, regulators behind the curve on storage

A new report from a North Carolina clean energy group outlines the main barriers holding back wider deployment of storage technologies. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 6, 2015

New Hampshire regulators cut renewables rebates by a third to preserve program

Program funding dropped from $17 million to $4 million as utilities deployed more renewables, decreasing their payments to a fund that financed the rebate scheme. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 5, 2015

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

Austin Energy approved for 300 MW utility solar buy under 4¢/kWh

The contracts are expected to be the cheapest ever for Texas solar, the utility says. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 5, 2015

Cost of Service? Arizona's solar saga takes on the valuation question

As APS backs a cost-of-service study to define the cost shift for non-solar customers, experts say such a move could set a nationwide precedent for solar's value. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 4, 2015

Updated: Exelon, DC mayor reach settlement on Pepco merger

The deal would still need to be approved by the D.C. Public Service Commission, which rejected the initial merger proposal in August.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 2, 2015

Colorado delays decision on Boulder municipal plan

The Public Utilities Commission narrowed the focus to a question of regulated monopolies and asked both sides to file briefs, delaying the case. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2015

NextEra indicates it won't go through HECO merger process twice

After already throwing “significant funds” and “many thousands of employee hours” into the merger with Hawaiian Electric, NextEra says it wouldn't go through a competitive bidding process if regulators block its acquisition. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 2, 2015

House energy committee passes grid modernization bill

The Energy and Commerce Committee passed the measure by 32-20 in a bipartisan vote to protect crucial infrastructure from 21st century threats such as grid security, severe weather and moderizing grid infrastructure. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2015

EPA to issue finalized regulations on ozone emissions

The new 70 parts per million limit on ozone pollution pleases neither public health experts nor industry groups. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 1, 2015

To ITC or not to ITC: What happens if solar's federal tax incentives aren't extended

Without the ITC, the loss of potential solar capacity is equal to the total amount currently installed in the U.S., a new report finds.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2015

What's at stake in the FirstEnergy and AEP Ohio power plant subsidy hearings

The marathon regulatory sessions could have far-reaching consequences for the region's fuel mix and electricity market structure.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 1, 2015

Georgia Power to close 29 ash ponds to comply with EPA regs

Within the next six months, Georgia Power will develop a schedule to close all of its ash disposal ponds in the state to comply with the U.S. EPA regulations. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 1, 2015

Ohio lawmakers, governor at odds over renewables and efficiency freeze

A legislative committee has recommended extending the state's temporary freeze on renewables and efficiency mandates indefinitely, a proposal Gov. John Kaisich (R) calls "unacceptable."

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 30, 2015

Hunt files $18B bid with Texas regulators to buy Oncor

Hunt's proposal seeks to convert Oncor into a real estate investment trust, a structure that's already raised eyebrows in the power sector.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 30, 2015

Is this the end for Boulder's municipal utility plan?

Colorado regulators will rule today on a recommendation to dismiss the city of Boulder's plan to form a municipal utility.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2015

SoCalEdison unveils new storage buys and RFO for distributed energy

The utility's request for offers officially names storage as an "eligible preferred resource."

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 30, 2015

Duke settles North Carolina coal ash case for $7M

Environmentalists say regulators capitulated to the utility's demands, and Duke says the penalty doesn't amount to a fine.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 29, 2015

CPUC puts PG&E electric vehicle charging program on hold

The commission will hold more hearings to determine the impact of utility EV charging investments on private charger builders and customers without electric cars.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 29, 2015

Exelon in talks with DC mayor on merger settlement

The city, which in August rejected the Pepco-Exelon merger, confirmed it is involved in "substantive discussions" with both companies that could lead to a settlement and new application.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2015

EPA files with appeals court to fix MATS, states request its elimination

The D.C.Circuit Court will decide whether June's Supreme Court decision means the EPA can merely fix MATS, or whether the rule must be thrown out entirely.

By Gavin Bade and Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2015

CPS Energy tackles the cost shift by building solar on its own terms

San Antonio muni CPS Energy has designed a utility solar program it believes is a winner for the customer, the installer and the utility – and will work for IOUs, too.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 29, 2015

How storage will shape the future of concentrated solar power

CSP may not be the hottest topic in the solar or storage sectors, but its backers point out that it offers large scale renewable generation that is in many cases fully dispatchable.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 29, 2015

Clean energy advocate casts doubt on data PNM used to back San Juan power plant proposal

New Energy Economy told state regulators it appears Public Service Co. of New Mexico used a "fictitious baseline" to support its operating proposal for the San Juan generating station.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2015

North Carolina hits milestone with 1 GW of solar

The state hits a major solar capacity milestone amid a heated battle between  renewables advocates and lawmakers over the state's renewable energy policies. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2015

APS withdraws controversial solar grid fee request

Arizona Public Service filed a request to withdraw from a hearing over its request for a $21 grid access fee, but only if the Arizona Corporation Commission moves forward with cost-of-service hearings in time for APS'  2016 rate case. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 28, 2015