Pruning the thorns in transmission and generator interconnection reform

The clean transition no longer lacks capital, but it suffers from regulation that discourages its efficient use, the authors write.

By Jennifer Chen and Devin Hartman • March 8, 2022

NRC seeks public comment on nuclear plant decommissioning rule

A rule several years in the making is moving ahead as more nuclear plants close. 

By Jason Plautz • March 7, 2022

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

2021 deals position US to be a global hydrogen leader: BloombergNEF

While records were broken for U.S. clean energy investment last year, the Energy Information Administration says more policy action will be needed for renewable sources to surpass natural gas and petroleum in the U.S. by 2050.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 4, 2022

How to reform net energy metering the right way

Economist Ahmad Faruqui proposes a path for California's NEM reform that he says would realize the goals of utilities without sacrificing the state's rooftop solar market.

By Ahmad Faruqui • March 4, 2022

Sens. Manchin, Barrasso slam FERC's 'political agenda' on natural gas, say it will stifle development

However, natural gas capacity approvals have surged during Richard Glick's tenure as head of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • March 4, 2022

Ohio ratepayer advocate asks FERC to end RTO return on equity 'adder' for AEP, Duke, FirstEnergy

The request last week comes amid a more pro-consumer orientation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, an equity analyst says.

By Ethan Howland • March 3, 2022

California sets biomethane targets for utilities in bid to reduce short-lived climate pollutants

Representatives for Earthjustice, however, raised concerns that the utility commission did not conduct a thorough assessment of the cost effectiveness of biomethane before adopting the targets. 

By Kavya Balaraman • March 2, 2022

Utilities urge Supreme Court to dismiss challenge to EPA's fleetwide carbon emissions approach

The court's decision in the case could affect the EPA's options for regulating power plant carbon emissions, according to experts.

By Ethan Howland • March 1, 2022

Texas just dodged a repeat of 2021 outages, but its power sector has a long way to go, analysts say

Texas has weatherized its generators and protected critical infrastructure, but additional market reforms, new technologies, regional support and energy efficiency are still required, policymakers and analysts agreed

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 25, 2022

DOE announces supply chain strategy for clean energy

The administration will back critical materials mining and domestic manufacturing in a bid to capture the clean energy economy. 

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 24, 2022

How PJM's 'fat market' for capacity fuels environmental injustice and consumer expense

As FERC Chair Richard Glick did recently, it’s imperative to continue to draw attention to ways in which unnecessary and uneconomic fossil fuel generation is prolonged by market flaws, the authors write.

By Liz Stanton and Joshua Castigliego • Feb. 24, 2022

Transmission, reliability and gas system decarbonization top of mind for state utility regulators in 2022

Energy Innovation analysts share their top takeaways from last week's NARUC policy summit, along with insights for unlocking access to low-cost renewables, bolstering system reliability, and cutting natural gas emissions.

By Michelle Solomon and Hadley Tallackson • Feb. 23, 2022

14 states urge FERC to tighten accounting rules to prevent utilities from recouping lobbying expenses

The Edison Electric Institute told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Tuesday that existing accounting rules are adequate.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 23, 2022

Utility regulators eye new tools to ensure equity efforts don’t impinge on other policy goals

Utilities can advance equity with innovative performance-based or arrears management programs that keep rate spikes from slowing beneficial electrification and emissions reductions, stakeholders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 21, 2022

FERC expands criteria for reviewing gas infrastructure proposals, outlines GHG framework

The commission said the change provides more legal certainty, but critics called the decision "reckless" and "legally dubious," arguing it will hurt pipeline development.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 18, 2022

Revisiting California's natural gas hookup subsidies

California is one of the biggest consumers of natural gas in the U.S., and has been adding new gas customers faster than any other state. These trends are in direct conflict with its ambitious climate goals, the authors write.

By Clifford Rechtschaffen and Simi Rose George • Feb. 18, 2022

FERC, state task force eye benefits of considering transmission project portfolios, ending 'silos'

The FERC-NARUC task force aims to break down barriers to transmission development.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2022

Without mapping tools, environmental justice investments could be just a shot in the dark

With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, continued discussions around the Build Back Better Act, and state-level net-zero targets, trillions of dollars and a just transition are on the line, the author writes.

By Michelle Solomon • Feb. 16, 2022

Biden administration launches industrial decarbonization initiative, targets $9.5B for clean hydrogen

The White House also issued interim guidance to federal agencies on Tuesday to make sure carbon capture, utilization and sequestration technologies advance in a "responsible manner."

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 16, 2022

Dozens of lawmakers press Biden to prioritize appliance efficiency standard updates

There were 28 standards in need of review when President Joe Biden took office, and more deadlines are approaching. "The scale of the rulemaking task ahead is challenging," warned more than 50 lawmakers.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2022

PJM rejects generator trade group request to bar some renewables from capacity auction

The grid operator is preparing to re-evaluate how it accredits capacity for fossil-fueled plants to account for their outage risks.

By Ethan Howland • Updated March 7, 2022

Louisville eyes forming public electric utility to meet climate goals

Its goal of achieving 100% clean energy communitywide by 2040 does not match the decarbonization plans of its current energy provider, leading the city to look for alternatives.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 14, 2022

PJM stakeholders advance interconnection reform plan to speed process, clear clean energy backlog

The widely endorsed plan includes a two-year pause on new interconnection applications to give PJM time to clear out a backlog of interconnection requests — mostly renewable and energy storage proposals.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 11, 2022

Utility capital spending remains strong, but inflation, federal policy uncertainty complicate outlook: EEI

Investor-owned electric utilities will make capital investments of about $140 billion annually from 2021-2023, officials from the Edison Electric Institute told Wall Street analysts.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2022

The number of natural gas customers will continue to rise, even as US decarbonizes: AGA report

Efficient gas appliances are one key to ensuring an equitable transition to a net-zero carbon economy, according to the American Gas Association.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2022