EPA outlines $27B in clean energy grants as Biden administration remains open to national green bank

The funds will be available through a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund program authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, with distribution focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2023

To protect families from surging energy bills, stop the foot-dragging on energy efficiency for furnaces

Wasting less energy to heat our homes can protect millions of Americans, especially lower-income households, against surging fossil fuel costs that will burst budgets for many families over the coming months.

By Richard Eckman • Feb. 14, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

US issues Inflation Reduction Act guidance to drive billions to low-income and coal communities

At least $4 billion of the tax credits under the expanded Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit program must go to projects at closed coal mines or retired coal-fired power plants.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 14, 2023

NextEra, renewable trade group urge FERC to keep competitively bid East Texas transmission project alive

Entergy supports the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s plan to cancel the $115 million project, which has been delayed by a right-of-first-refusal law.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 14, 2023

NRC issues first update of 2010 regulatory guide to strengthen cybersecurity at nuclear plants

The revision incorporates references to industry guidance on identifying and protecting critical digital assets. It also clarifies guidance on comprehensive protections for cybersecurity.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 13, 2023

FERC approves Western Resource Adequacy Program for regional capacity sharing

Utilities such as Arizona Public Service, PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy will be able to share capacity through the program that takes effect in 2025.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 13, 2023

Adapting T&D investments to climate projections is the strategic choice

The energy system is one of many critical infrastructure sectors impacted by these disasters—growing in importance as dependence on electricity increases.

By Andrew Phillips, EPRI vice president of T&D Infrastructure • Feb. 13, 2023

Decarbonization by most utilities ‘uneven’ as they expand emissions targets: report

Utilities have set different carbon-reduction targets that include net-zero, carbon-neutral, carbon-free, greenhouse gas-free and relative emissions reductions.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 9, 2023

How utilities can prepare for Inflation Reduction Act impacts via bipartisan infrastructure law planning

There is potential for utilities to substantially boost their clean energy efforts, upgrade infrastructure, and improve customer satisfaction, but they must start by developing an integrated plan of action.

By Michael Jung • Feb. 8, 2023

House Republicans target SEC climate risk rule

Having taken control of the U.S. House, Republicans are redoubling efforts to thwart the Biden administration’s sustainability initiatives.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 7, 2023

Minnesota bill mandating 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 heads to governor’s desk

The bill also calls for utilities to generate at least 55% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 7, 2023

Connecticut drafts a performance-based regulation system following utilities’ storm response

 A new regulatory system would provide “meaningful financial opportunities and penalties” for electric utilities with “guardrails” to protect customers, according to a staff proposal at the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 6, 2023

FERC grants Great River transmission incentives as commissioner decries consumer impacts

FERC Commissioner Mark Christie Tuesday called for revisiting the agency’s incentives for transmission projects, which he said shift costs and risks to consumers.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 3, 2023

Solar group urges FERC to unlock MISO’s ancillary services market for intermittent resources

Allowing wind, solar and hybrid resources to sell ancillary services would increase their revenue, improve reliability and lower overall system costs, the Solar Energy Industries Association said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 2, 2023

Getting politics out of utility bills

Public utility commissions should explicitly bar utilities from spending customers' money on politics, using clear and common-sense definitions of political activity. 

By David Pomerantz • Feb. 1, 2023

‘No regrets’ approach to big batteries, green hydrogen and grid reliability urgently needed, analysts say

Advanced batteries and green hydrogen promise long-duration energy storage solutions for “net zero” system reliability, but only regulatory policy and market support can fulfill that promise, industry stakeholders say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 31, 2023

An open letter to the Department of Energy: Enough with the technical assistance

Well-meaning as they may be, EPA and DOE, which are tasked with distributing the funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and bipartisan infrastructure law, can be painfully oblivious to the needs of recipients.

By Alicia Brown • Jan. 30, 2023

A dirty little secret in our clean energy evolution … it’s really hard to bill customers on the modern rates we need to decarbonize

There have been changes in how we manage the grid, consume energy and engage customers. But what about changes in how utilities bill their customers? This area demands attention.

Jan. 30, 2023

ISO-NE to begin dispatching growing fleet of ‘front-of-meter’ solar resources in boost to reliability

The change, set to take effect in December, could also lower power prices in some areas, sending more accurate investment signals, according to the grid operator.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 27, 2023

6 reasons why grid access charges should not be part of utility rates

Although GACs are extremely effective in recovering utility fixed and demand costs and reducing cross-subsidies, they do so regressively, posing a serious risk to the sustainable diffusion of rooftop solar technology.

By Ahmed S. Alahmed • Jan. 26, 2023

EPA proposes rejecting DTE, SRP and other generator requests to keep using coal ash basins

Any final deadlines to stop putting coal ash in unlined basins could be delayed if they would cause power plants to shut and threaten grid reliability, according to the EPA.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 26, 2023

2023 US Power Sector Outlook

2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.

By The Utility Dive Team • Jan. 25, 2023

NuScale Power’s small modular reactor design is first in US to get NRC approval

With the NRC’s certification of the NuScale design, “SMRs are no longer an abstract concept,” an assistant secretary of energy said.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 24, 2023

FERC enters 2023 with a new leader, a vacant seat and an agenda topped by transmission and grid reliability

“The commission will not sit on our hands on any important matters that need to move forward,” acting Chairman Willie Phillips said last week.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 24, 2023

Constellation, NRG and other generators urge FERC to reject PJM’s mid-capacity auction rule change

The PJM Interconnection’s proposal to change its market rules could set a precedent for all wholesale markets, companies and trade groups told the federal agency Friday.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2023