How utilities can get in on the solar job bonanza

Solar energy offers immense growth opportunities, and utilities could play "a great role" if they get their acts together.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2015

6 thought leaders on the future of utility business models & regulation

Industry insiders explain what they think will shape the utility of the future.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 28, 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

FERC: ISO-NE must find market-based reliability solution for winter months

Generators are worried the ISO was not moving quickly enough to enhance grid reliability for the punishing New England winters.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 28, 2015

San Francisco mayor calls for community choice aggregation program

Mayor Lee has opposed a CCA program passed by the city Board of Supervisors up to this point.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 27, 2015

What utility execs think the future holds

Utility Dive's survey of over 400 U.S. electric utility executives reveals old challenges and new opportunities for the industry.

By Davide Savenije • Jan. 27, 2015

California PUC fines PG&E $530,000 for safety violations

Among the violations, PG&E failed to immediately excavate and examine pipelines that showed signs of potential corrosion.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 27, 2015

West Virginia senator will use subcommittee chair to fight EPA regulations

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito intends to use the chairmanship of the Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee to fight the Obama Administration's coal policies.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 27, 2015

ERCOT: Wind topped 10% of Texas generation for first time in 2014

The Bush-Perry spending plan of more wind and more transmission for wind is paying off, observers say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 26, 2015

Hawaiian Electric's plan to end solar net metering, explained

HECO says it needs a new valuation structure to fairly compensate rooftop solar as penetration increases across the state.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 26, 2015

House GOP will propose changes to EPA coal ash rules

The changes are aimed at giving more certainty to job creators, and ultimately determining that coal ash is not a hazardous waste.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 26, 2015

Citing EPA regulations, Virginia bill would freeze Dominion rates until 2020

The proposal would exempt Dominion Virginia Power from base rate oversight until 2020.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 26, 2015

Vermont considers bolstering renewables standard

Proposed changes would stop utilities from essentially double-counting their renewable generation, backers say.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 26, 2015

Forecasts: Coal will be less than a third of U.S. generation by 2030

But the coal industry says rising natural gas prices will turn the nation back to their fuel.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2015

Study: 40% RPS for Minnesota would add $6.2B in investment

The Union of Concerned Scientists says renewables deployment would expand to nearly 6 GW in the state.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2015

Inside the coming showdown over rooftop solar in Indiana

GOP backers say HB 1320 would boost solar, but renewables advocates say it would misdirect lawmakers, regulators and consumers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2015

Florida legislators bring bills to boost solar, limit utilities' billing power

Bipartisan clean energy activism in the Sunshine State gives legislators cover to take on utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 22, 2015

APS drafted anti-solar leasing letter signed by Ariz. legislators

Ariz. representatives are suspicious of solar installers' lease provisions and market practices. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 22, 2015

Wellinghoff and Tong: A common confusion over net metering is undermining utilities and the grid

'Cost-shifting' and 'not paying your fair share' are not the same thing, Jon Wellinghoff and James Tong write in a guest post.

By Jon Wellinghoff and James Tong • Jan. 22, 2015

Why utilities across the nation are embracing community solar

Power companies are quickly discovering how their customers can go solar without getting off the grid.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 22, 2015

Nebraska senators propose state wind tax credit to replace federal PTC

New EPA pollution rules will drive wind demand and grow Nebraska’s economy, backers say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 21, 2015

Bipartisan coalition pushes to expand net metering in Montana

Solar advocates want energy independence, but opponents call solar a “melanoma” and say it has created too many problems elsewhere.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 21, 2015

Where the electric vehicle boom is happening and how utilities can take advantage

In the chicken-egg equation of what will drive the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles, states are offering increasing incentives for the constructive of charging stations.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 21, 2015

Obama highlights climate change, renewables, nat gas in State of the Union

A confident President Obama reiterated his commitment to EPA regulations aimed at fighting global warming.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 21, 2015

FERC OKs raising PJM offer cap to $1,800/MWh for short-term winter pricing

Raising the cap will help ensure high winter costs do not force generation offline.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 21, 2015

New proposed net metering reforms could boost Missouri's solar industry

An expanded eligible system size and shift from monthly to annual true-up would increase solar’s value.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 20, 2015