DC Circuit Court rejects challenge to EPA particulate pollution rules

North Carolina waited too long to push back on implementation of a 2006 federal fine particulate rule known as the PM2.5 standard.

By Robert Walton • July 9, 2015

Boulder files with regulators to acquire Xcel assets in bid to form municipal utility

The application, filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, focuses only on serving customers in the city and does not seek to take over any generation assets.

By Robert Walton • July 9, 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

NY regulators open REV discussion on value of grid edge technologies

A new white paper issued alongside the state's Reforming the Energy Vision seeks to understand the costs and benefits of distributed resources, efficiency and new system platforms.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

EPA head McCarthy defends Clean Power Plan, slams proposed cuts in Capitol Hill visit

The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the Supreme Court's decision to reject its Mercury and Air Toxics Standards is not an indication of what may happen to the Clean Power Plan.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

Dominion Virginia moving ahead with controversial unlined coal ash storage pit

The utility and Virginia environmental regulators say the pit is safe, but environmentalists doubt an unlined pit can stop toxic leakage.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 8, 2015

Senate Democrats preparing energy bill, potential counter to bipartisan efforts

A bipartisan effort to develop energy legislation is still ongoing, but Senate Democrats are also preparing their own package.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

President Obama announces plans to make solar more accessible to middle, low-income customers

A new 300 MW target for federally subsidized housing, a new community solar partnership, and independent solar commitments are all part of the President's announcements.

By Gavin Bade • July 7, 2015

New Georgia law cuts electric car rebates, raising concern about utility EV programs

The law ends a $5,000 EV tax credit and raises today’s $2.77 per gallon gas price to $2.86.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2015

How California's biggest utilities plan to integrate distributed resources

New plans filed with state regulators show where DERs should go and how much they are worth to utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2015

Ameren Illinois joins call for MISO capacity auction scrutiny

The utility joined others in asking federal regulators to help explain a price spike in Zone 4 during a controversial capacity auction that will lead to higher bills for its customers.

By Robert Walton • July 7, 2015

Michigan Senate bills would keep electric choice, eliminate renewable & efficiency mandates

A proposal would maintain the state's 10% energy choice law, but with added restrictions to ensure alternative suppliers maintain adequate capacity.

By Robert Walton • July 7, 2015

California regulators mandate major residential electric rate reform

The new rate structure will have only two tiers and mandates that utilities put more focus on time-of-use rates.

By Gavin Bade • July 6, 2015

Oklahoma sues to block EPA Clean Power Plan

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency alleging the Clean Power Plan will threaten both the reliability and affordaibility of power in the state.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2015

Ohio Gov. Kasich vetoes property tax exemption for power plants

Ohio Gov. John Kasich bucked the generation sector in issuing a line item veto of a budget item exempting power plants from proprety tax.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2015

Dominion questions solar, praises coal, decries carbon rules in IRP filing

Dominion has filed its Integrated Resource Plan with Virginia regulators, but warned that the federal government's Clean Power Plan leaves the company in a state of uncertainty.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2015

ITC offering transmission rights for Lake Erie Connector line

Line would tranverse Lake Erie to exchange electricity resources between Canada and PJM markets

By Herman K. Trabish • July 6, 2015

What the Supreme Court MATS ruling means for utilities and the EPA Clean Power Plan

The mercury rules will likely survive, legal experts say, but the fate of the agency's looming carbon regulations is less certain.

By Gavin Bade • July 2, 2015

White House rejects biomass as carbon neutral

In a policy statement opposing House efforts to undermine environmental reforms, the Obama administration said it opposed efforts to declare forest biomass fuels as 'carbon neutral.'

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2015

HECO files with regulators to cut solar net metering rates in half

HECO also wants to up the minimum monthly bill to cover a cost shift it says costs $53 million per year.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2015

Connecticut regulators signal they may reject Iberdrola-UIL merger

Regulators issued a draft decision denying the deal, citing concerns over how the combined utility would be managed.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2015

Missouri regulators reject Grain Belt Express transmission project

The decision leaves project organizers to ask the federal government for eminent domain in order to move ahead with the $2 billion project.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2015

Austin Energy gets record low solar bids at under 4 cents/kWh

Solar bids are getting cheaper so quickly that the utility is asking its oversight arm to slow down approvals so it can get the best deal possible.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2015

What happened when NRG Energy disrupted its own business model

The country’s biggest independent power producer is going retail with rooftop solar, EV chargers, and connected consumer products.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015

Obama calls for 20% renewables by 2030 as Brazil, China join in new climate goals

The United States, Brazil and China all announced climate change initiatives yesterday, calling for conservation, emissions reductions and more non-hydro renewable resources.

By Robert Walton • July 1, 2015

Maine lawmakers override Gov. LePage's veto of value of solar bill

Huge bipartisan majorities send “Ratepayer Focused Strategy” for solar to state regulators, while LePage looks increasingly weak.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015