ISO-NE plan to extend MOPR through 2024 faces uncertain fate at FERC, experts say

The delay in eliminating the minimum offer price rule could slow renewable development in New England, according to clean energy advocates. However, a power market consultant disagrees.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 9, 2022

California's omission of community solar from distributed energy policies is shortsighted

Community solar can make moot the controversies surrounding behind-the-meter solar and enable new approaches that can maximize societal value for all Californians, the authors write.

By Anna Brockway and Duncan Callaway • Feb. 8, 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

Biden extends solar tariff 4 years, eases Trump-era requirements

The extension doubles the quota of solar cells and upholds the exclusion of bifacial modules, moves the solar industry welcomed.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 7, 2022

2022 electric market resolution: Changing how we approach the RTO/ISO debate

There is another way to approach the market debate, and we should pursue it to achieve an objective we can all agree on: reliable decarbonization, the authors write.

By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Feb. 7, 2022

NYC mayor reshapes climate approach to put environmental justice at the fore

Eric Adams announced the launch of a Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. "We intend on holding the mayor's office accountable to that title," said the head of one key EJ advocacy organization.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 4, 2022

Massachusetts approves $4B efficiency plan. Is it 'transformational' or a 'missed opportunity' on equity?

The Mass Save budget recognizes efficiency as a key to meeting the state's carbon reduction goals, but regulators declined to approve some provisions focused on energy equity.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 4, 2022

Breakthroughs in generation and system integration are driving the utility of the future, analysts say

The new technologies will reverse the supply-demand equation and bring competitive procurement and a transaction platform to merge the bulk power and distribution systems.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 31, 2022

Con Edison, KeySpan urge FERC to ignore EPA call to pause natural gas project reviews

The utilities say they support cutting greenhouse gas emissions, but downstate New York needs more gas on cold winter days.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 31, 2022

FERC should loosen incumbent transmission owners' grip on planning, R Street panelists say

"Control over transmission is in a lot of ways control over the industry," Ari Peskoe, director of Harvard Law School’s Electricity Law Initiative, said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 28, 2022

FERC approves NYISO plan to end 'buyer-side mitigation' for clean energy resources

The agency also OK'd the grid operator’s proposal to create a marginal capacity accreditation framework opposed by renewable energy advocates.

By Ethan Howland • Updated May 11, 2022

Arizona regulators reject 100% clean energy rules package, energy efficiency standard extension

Commissioners expressed support for moving forward on efficiency components and integrated resource planning through separate rulemakings during Wednesday's open meeting.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 27, 2022

California regulators delay vote on NEM proposal 'until further notice'

Regulators plan to hold oral arguments on the controversial proposed decision before moving forward.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 27, 2022

DOE leverages new and existing authorities to spur transmission development key to energy transition

The transmission deployment program melds existing authority with the infrastructure bill to bolster project planning, permitting and financing, according to experts.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 27, 2022

Sen. Smith to push ahead on passage of clean energy tax credits

While optimistic about the passage of the Build Back Better bill, Democrats are considering separating climate-related aspects of the legislation that could earn support from a majority of the Senate.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 26, 2022

FERC prioritizing update to transmission rules to meet energy transition, climate challenges: Clements

The FERC commissioner also sees equity as a top issue: "Raising up the issues of equity for people needs to be part of how this agency successfully regulates," she said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 26, 2022

As utilities consider ESG options, Kinder Morgan's 'responsibly sourced natural gas' plan faces scrutiny

The Tennessee Gas proposal could set a precedent for transporting certified gas on pipelines, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 25, 2022

2022 Utility Dive Outlook

Utility Dive examines priorities, expectations and trends for three key subjects — FERC, rate design and renewable energy — along with a broader roundup of some of the U.S. power sector trends to watch in the year ahead.

Jan. 24, 2022

Nearly a year after Winter Storm Uri's devastation, where are we on grid resilience?

More comprehensive assessments of the benefits of additional transmission between various U.S. regions could result in greater grid resilience and reliability, the authors write.

By Clint Vince and Barbara Tyran • Jan. 24, 2022

FERC orders PJM to scrap 'adder' mechanism seen bolstering capacity prices

At its monthly meeting, FERC also debated natural gas issues and proposed a cyber standard for the bulk power system.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 21, 2022

2022 Outlook: FERC expected to prioritize transmission, power markets and gas infrastructure

With a new Democratic majority, observers expect Chairman Glick will move quickly on an agenda that could facilitate the energy transition.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 19, 2022

2022 Outlook: A new recognition is coming of rate design’s critical role in the energy transition

More precise time-varying rates, technology-neutral rates for distributed energy resources, and new ways to use smart technologies could make for a cleaner, lower cost, more reliable power system, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2022

2022 Outlook: Top US power sector trends to watch

The Biden administration entered 2022 with some key strengths and significant challenges to implementing its clean energy agenda, but states, companies and others are continuing to advance the energy transition.

By Kavya Balaraman, Ethan Howland, Robert Walton and Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 18, 2022

SOO Green transmission project faces PJM obstacles: Are grid operators hindering the energy transition?

PJM and other grid operators face challenges in facilitating innovation, experts say. A former FERC commissioner offers an alternative approach.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 13, 2022

New York City says goodbye to gas, establishing a blueprint for other communities

The work to prevent 1 GW of new gas being added in New York City can help others establish a strategy to permanently retire inefficient fossil fuel resources and replace them with sustainable clean energy solutions, says the author.

By Seth Mullendore • Jan. 13, 2022

Interior Department announces New York Bight lease auction for up to 7 GW of offshore wind

The Biden administration sent another signal to the clean energy sector while continuing to press for passage of the Build Back Better bill.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 13, 2022