Regulation & Policy: Page 3


  • A wind turbine in a field at dawn on June 28, 2024 in Nolan, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Gone with the Wind: Ordinances in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi discourage renewable investments

    When counties adopt smart, balanced rules, they protect property rights, attract investment and avoid costly legal fights. Blanket bans just stall economic growth and limit local control.

    By Simon Mahan and Jamie Moody • Aug. 18, 2025
  • A cluster of downtown buildings.
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    BSPollard via Getty Images
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    Duke Energy proposes merging its Carolina utilities, driving $3.2B in estimated savings

    Combining Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress would lead to more efficient system planning and operations, according to the company.

    By Aug. 15, 2025
  • High voltage power lines seen from below Explore the Trendline
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    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
  • White House names Democrat Rosner to lead FERC

    Agency observers expect the White House will replace Rosner once two pending Republican FERC nominees — Laura Swett and David LaCerte — are seated at the commission.

    By Aug. 14, 2025
  • A power plant sits on a dry plain.
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    George Frey via Getty Images
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    $3.1B annual cost estimated for fossil fuel plants DOE won’t allow to retire

    One coal plant owner told the SEC it spent $29 million in the first 38 days of an Energy Department order to keep it online.

    By Updated Aug. 18, 2025
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    Courtesy of ISO New England
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    Opinion

    ISO-NE should make its governance transparent, accessible and accountable

    With a leadership change coming in January, ISO New England has a chance to launch a new era of governance that engages with the communities it serves.

    By Mireille Bejjani and Steven Botkin • Aug. 13, 2025
  • President Trump speaks from the oval office.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    DOE taps 10 advanced reactor companies for expedited nuclear pilot

    Oklo and its subsidiary, Atomic Alchemy, are developing three out of the 11 projects DOE selected.

    By Aug. 13, 2025
  • Two men stand near a river with power plant smokestacks in the background.
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    Jeff Swensen via Getty Images
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    EPA plans to revise coal-fired power plant wastewater rules

    The plan is part of a broad Trump administration effort to ease environmental rules affecting the power sector. Previously, the EPA estimated the rule would cut pollution from coal-fired power plants by more than 660 million pounds a year.

    By Aug. 13, 2025
  • Donald Trump, holding a gavel, celebrates his signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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    Samuel Corum via Getty Images
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    Renewable power purchase agreement prices rising in wake of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

    The average price of new wind and solar power purchase agreements is up 4% since the OBBBA’s passage. Almost a third of developers surveyed said they plan to suspend or cancel projects as a result of the reconciliation bill.

    By Emma Penrod • Aug. 13, 2025
  • Deep Dive

    Multidirectional flows of power and information are the grid’s future

    In the frenzy to meet rising energy demand, utilities and others often overlook the value of power system innovations, industry participants say.

    By Aug. 12, 2025
  • Symbolic of Sino-American relations, the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the Republic of China fly together on flag poles next to each other on a sunny, windy day.
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    US to maintain lower tariff rates on China imports for 90 more days

    China also extended its suspension of additional retaliatory duties against U.S. goods, maintaining current rates until November.

    By Max Garland • Aug. 12, 2025
  • An aerial view of houses next to large industrial buildings.
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    Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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    PJM launches fast-track push to set rules for adding data centers

    Amid surging data center development, PJM stakeholders will explore options for adding large loads to the grid without threatening reliability. PJM aims to file a proposal at FERC by the end of the year.

    By Aug. 12, 2025
  • Wind turbines spin with solar panels in the foreground.
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    4kodiak via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Managing new political risk for renewable energy projects

    Clean energy developers face multiple risks from the Trump administration — but there are pathways for easing them.

    By Jason Kosek and Peja Breuler • Aug. 11, 2025
  • FERC’s Christie steps down, leaving agency with three members

    The White House plans to name Commissioner David Rosner, a Democrat, as interim chairman, according to reports. One former FERC official speculated that the administration wants a majority that will support colocating data centers at power plants.

    By Aug. 11, 2025
  • Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor sits in the Capitol with a flag behind her.
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    Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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    Lawmaker, AARP call for nationwide utility commission reforms to stop rising electric bills

    A coalition of consumer and environmental advocates said public service commissions have become too closely aligned with utility interests. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., reintroduced legislation this week to prohibit utility companies from using ratepayer dollars to fund political lobbying and advertising.

    By Emma Penrod • Aug. 8, 2025
  • Senator Chuck Grassley is seen in a close-up at a committee hearing.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    In wind and solar dispute, Sens. Grassley, Curtis delay Trump nominees

    “The idea is, when you do this, it will get a certain amount of attention from the administration," said Tim Hagle, a political scientist at the University of Iowa.

    By , Aug. 7, 2025
  • Transmission towers run through fields of blooming flowers
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    In blow to some battery operators, Texas maintains non-spin reserve threshold

    Experts said the decision could reduce non-spin reserves on the state’s electric grid and push some players out of state.

    By Brian Martucci • Aug. 7, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a copy of a 2025 National Trade Estimate Report as he speaks during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Mapping Trump’s tariffs by trade balance and geography

    Duties on over 90 countries’ imports are slated to rise above a previous 10% baseline tariff implemented by the U.S. Here are three graphics illustrating the changes.

    By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 6, 2025
  • Men sit at desks with computer screens.
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    Permission granted by PJM Interconnection
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    Opinion

    We at PJM need realistic solutions, not politics, to take on energy challenges

    Some public narratives have presented an inaccurate picture of the PJM Interconnection’s role in cost-effectively keeping the lights on. Here are the facts.

    By Aftab Khan • Aug. 6, 2025
  • Steam billows from a cement cooling tower next to a power plant.
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    The image by Peretzp is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    PSE&G large load pipeline jumps 47%, to 9.4 GW, much of it speculative

    Most of the demand is from data centers, but the New Jersey utility only expects about 10% to 20% of the interconnection inquiries to come to fruition, Ralph LaRossa, CEO of Public Service Enterprise Group, the utility’s parent company, said Tuesday.

    By Aug. 6, 2025
  • Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum speaks during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on January 16, 2025.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Interior halts offshore wind leasing, claims industry was favored by Biden administration

    Secretary Doug Burgum rescinded designated offshore wind energy areas and directed the department to prioritize capacity density when permitting energy projects on federal lands.

    By Aug. 5, 2025
  • U.S. President Donald Trump holding a signed executive order imposing tariffs
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    Andrew Harnik/Getty via Getty Images
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    5 court cases that could derail Trump’s tariffs

    One of the critical proceedings challenging Trump's tariff use began last week. Judges sounded skeptical of the administration's arguments. 

    By Antone Gonsalves • Aug. 4, 2025
  • An array of solar panels in a field.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Move fast, adapt faster: A distributed generation playbook for turbulent times

    Distributed generation can go from development to construction to operation in months, not years, even under compressed timelines.

    By Goksenin “Goksi” Ozturkeri • Aug. 4, 2025
  • President Donald Trump signs an executive order at the White House on July 31, 2025.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    The US will install these country-specific tariffs Aug. 7

    President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday officially codifying rates for over 60 trading partners while pushing back implementation by seven days.

    By Philip Neuffer • Aug. 1, 2025
  • data center construction, CBRE, Virtiv, Tecogen
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    halbergman via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Aggregations and data centers: If a resource shows up when the grid is straining, make it count.

    Allow AI data centers to participate in grid stress management, and the capital will flow to the solutions that enable flexible, grid-supportive outcomes.

    By Arushi Sharma Frank • July 31, 2025
  • Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell answers questions from reporters
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Fed holds main rate steady, overriding two dissenting votes

    The mix of a cooling labor market and stubborn, above-target inflation has posed a dilemma for the central bank while breaking unanimity among policymakers.

    By Jim Tyson • July 31, 2025