New Mexico regulators approve plan to keep PNM's San Juan coal plant operating

The plan calls for more coal, alongside natural gas and a small amount of solar.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 17, 2015

Ohio's Echogen tapped for 10 MW supercritical CO2 coal demonstration plant

The Ohio-based company will partner with two others and the Electric Power Research Institute to develop the demonstration power plant using "supercritical" carbon dioxide that can provide power more efficiently than traditional power plants.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 17, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

Duke unveils first solar projects owned and operated by its regulated utilities

The 75 MW solar acquisition is driven by North Carolina’s 12.5% by 2021 renewables mandate. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 17, 2015

San Diego City Council approves 100% renewables by 2035 Climate Action Plan

The mandate is expected to cut city emissions 50% and grow the economy, lawmakers said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 17, 2015

El Paso pushes Texas regulators to scale back utility rate hike, reject new solar rate class

Under El Paso Electric's proposed increase, customers would see average monthly bill increase of more than $8 when new rates become effective in 2016.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 17, 2015

Solar federal tax credit extension could boost installations 54%

Amid news that Congress is considering a five-year extension of the solar investment tax credit, GTM Research is predicting a 54% increase in installations through 2020 compared to if the credit program was allowed to lapse.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 17, 2015

Congress strikes deal to extend wind, solar tax credits and lift oil export ban

House Republicans unveiled a broad spending bill Tuesday night includes provisions to extend key tax breaks for wind and solar installations in exchange for lifting the 40-year-old ban on oil exports from the United States.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 16, 2015

Supreme Court likely to defer rule on FERC Order 745 to next year

A decision on FERC's authority over demand response markets is unlikely to arrive in the waning days of 2015, but come mid January all eyes will be on the high court.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2015

ComEd lobbies Illinois lawmakers to develop 6 microgrids

Commonwealth Edison wants to develop a half dozen microgrids in the state, but will need lawmakers to approve its Future Energy Plan, legislation that would fund the northern Illinois projects.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2015

California regulators propose to keep retail rate net metering for solar—with a few changes

The California Public Utilities Commission proposed to keep in place the current solar net metering retail rate renumeration, but tweaked it in an attempt to help utilities recoup costs from residential rooftop solar owners. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 15, 2015

Court ruling lets EPA enforce MATS rule despite Supreme Court rejection

The Enviornmental Protection Agency will be allowed to enforce the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards while it works to fix a flaw in the cost accounting of the regulation identified by the Supreme Court. 

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 15, 2015

More than megawatts: New metrics reveal energy storage's potential

GTM Resarch is now counting MWhs and carbon reductions in its storage market updates, illustrating more of what the technology can do.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 15, 2015

2015: A banner year for energy storage

Energy storage hit many milestones in 2015 and reached its highest level of deployment to date.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 15, 2015

Hawaiian Electric clears rooftop solar backlog, readying it for post-net metering era

Hawaiian Electric Co. approved  2,749 solar applications from its October 2014 backlog, the last remaining customers that will receive the retail rate net energy metering credit in the state.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 15, 2015

AEP strikes settlement deal for Ohio plant subsidy proposal

In an abrupt turn of events, American Electric Power has reached a settlement guaranteeing income from of its nine Ohio generating units in exchange for promises to develop more wind and solar at cease coal use at other facilities.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 15, 2015

SolarCity admits funding outside group targeting Arizona utility regulators

The solar installer called on APS, Arizona’s top electric utility, to disclose the groups it funds as well.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 15, 2015

New Mexico industrial customers protest $1.5M in proposed fuel savings charges

The state's renewable energy laws cap investments for large entities, but a hearing examiner at the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is directing 25 major industrial energy users to pay $1.5 million in fuel savings costs.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 15, 2015

FirstEnergy's plant subsidy proposal could triple fixed charges, critics say

FirstEnergy's plan to guarantee income at two of its power plants includes a proposal to raise fixed charges, which opponents say will lead to higher bills and no incentive to conserve energy.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 15, 2015

The Paris climate deal: What's in it and what does it mean?

Dan Delurey, president of the Wedgemere Group and former CEO of the Association of Demand Response and Smart Grid, offers his key takeaways from the historic COP-21 summit.

By Dan Delurey • Dec. 14, 2015

Paris climate talks end in landmark agreement

195 nations signed on to an agreement Saturday that aims to keep global temperature increases "well below" 2 degrees Celsius.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 14, 2015

How utilities are meeting rising corporate demand for renewables

U.S. companies are bypassing utilities to buy renewables, but three new IOU programs hold promise for power company involvement in the burgeoning sector. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 14, 2015

Texas regulatory staff opposes Hunt's restructuring plan for Oncor

"The proposed transaction is not in the public interest and it recommend that the commission reject the applicants’ application,” wrote a utility rate expert.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 14, 2015

Connecticut regulators approve $3B Iberdrola-UIL merger

Approval of the $3 billion merger is contingent on millons in customer rate credits and commitments to improve services, but one commissioner in his dissent questioned how the merger could benefit the customers. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 14, 2015

Study: CCS technology four times as expensive as originally thought

The first analysis of the "energy loop" in carbon capture and storage facilities led University of Michigan analysts to conclude coal should simply be left in the ground.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 14, 2015

FERC: Atlantic Coast Pipeline must consider alternate routes

Federal regulators want backers of the 564-mile pipeline project to consider routes that would have less of a impact on national forests.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 14, 2015