17 states sue EPA over emissions rules for plant startups, shutdowns

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's office called the federal government's rejection of state implementation plans a "clear violation of state's rights."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2015

Hawaii consumer advocate files opposition HEI-NextEra merger

Advocates’ office emphasizes NextEra’s failure to justify benefits of the deal for Hawaii.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 11, 2015

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

Note to utilities: Here's why 2015 is the 'tipping point' for community solar

The year of community solar is here: “As utilities wake up to the value proposition, it will increasingly shape the market.”

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 11, 2015

DOE: U.S. wind grew 8% in 2014 with prices dropping to all-time lows

New market report shows wind at almost 5% of U.S. electricity generation.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 11, 2015

Alliant Energy reverses stance, agrees to net meter third party solar

The change opens the door for an Iowa solar boom led by third party financing.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 11, 2015

Massachusetts Governor proposes to expand net metering caps

Gov. Charlie Baker has filed a bill to bolster solar development beyond the state's goal of 1,600 MW by 2020.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 10, 2015

Judge: SCE violated rules in talks with regulators over SONGS

Fines for ex parte communications on the San Onofre closure could reach $34 million.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 10, 2015

Is 28% renewables by 2030 possible without the wind PTC?

Wind’s capability to provide its share may hinge on whether Congress extends its tax credit.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 8, 2015

Will the Clean Power Plan actually change anything in the power sector?

Critics have been hammering the plan all week for being too modest in its emissions goals. Do they have a point?

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 7, 2015

Is New Hampshire solar racing toward a brick wall?

The failure of state legislators to extend the net metering cap could hurt solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 7, 2015

CA utilities, solar installers on same page in renewables mandate lobbying

Usually opponents in policy debates, both groups want rooftop solar counted toward the state's renewables standards.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 7, 2015

Report: Wind energy siting regulations need more consistency

The Center for Rural Affairs.examined wind regulations in four states and found widely varying rules and regulations - even within an individual state.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 7, 2015

Battle lines drawn as Senate panel, 16 state coalition line up against Clean Power Plan

The battle is widely expected to conclude in the Supreme Court. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 6, 2015

APS must ask for its solar fee increase in a rate case, Ariz. judge rules

The utility's next rate case, a request for a boost from $0.70 per kW to $3 per kW for solar owners, must wait until 2016.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 6, 2015

Devil's in the details: What's in the EPA's final Clean Power Plan

The EPA made significant changes to state baselines, efficiency, nuclear power and more, but its biggest move could be the release of a federal implementation plan.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 5, 2015

Efficiency block cut in final Clean Power Plan designed to ease legal worries

Conventional wisdom has the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan eventually landing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. But experts say the final regulations appear to have been tweaked to survive just such a challenge.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 5, 2015

CA utilities call for solar remuneration cuts, fixed and demand charges

The solar industry wants retail rate net metering until 2019 to compensate for tax credits due to expire.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 5, 2015

Tres Amigas developer: SPS pullout of deal 'not that significant'

The proposed $1.6B plan to link the three U.S. grids still has legs, its devloper says.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 5, 2015

Rushing to bring solar online, Hawaii approves 4 utility scale projects

The Public Service Commission rejected one solar farm and approved four others proposed by the Hawaiian Electric Co.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 5, 2015

How Maryland regulators redefined energy efficiency – in 33 pages

It's a short, elegant piece of policy work that fundamentally changed how the state views and values energy efficiency. And now utilities must figure out how to respond.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 5, 2015

New industry report outlines way forward for coal

A new report issued jointly by the Coal Utilization Research Council and Electric Power Research Institute emphasizes the new technologies needed to improve the environmental performance of coal.  

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2015

With $1M given, NextEra among largest donors to Jeb Bush Super PAC

The national power producer exercises its free speech granted by Citizens United decision.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2015

Senate energy bill set for a floor fight after bipartisan support in committee

Energy committee leaders think they've put together a package that can pass both houses, but a contentious floor fight could doom the first broad energy bill in almost a decade.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2015

Arizona utilities set to meet 2016 renewables mandates with solar

Tucson Electric, meanwhile, has asked state regulators to define community shared solar as distributed generation.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2015

Arizona readies consumer protections for solar leasing as installers protest

The new rules reinforce disclosures, guarantees and contract limits in existing law.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 3, 2015