$6.6B Mountain Valley Pipeline gets green light to finish construction

The much-delayed pipeline got permission from federal regulators to move ahead after years of legal challenges.

By Julie Strupp • July 5, 2023

Republicans seek FERC conferences to assess grid effects of EPA’s proposed power plant carbon limits

“EPA clearly lacks the expertise to project accurately the impact of its rulemaking on electric reliability without deeply informed and engaged participation from FERC,” said Sens. John Barrasso and Shelley Moore Capito.

By Ethan Howland • July 5, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Cybersecurity of the Grid

In addition to presenting opportunities for growth, AI is exacerbating cyber threats with more sophisticated malware that is easier than ever to build and deploy. The rise of distributed energy resources also creates more opportunities for attack. 

By Utility Dive staff

As Texas sweats, its electric grid has remained stable, in part due to renewables

The Public Utility Commission of Texas continues to develop a new dispatchable reliability reserve service and approved an 83% pay raise for the board of the state’s grid operator on June 29.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2023

Energy workforce grew 3.8% last year; clean energy jobs increased in every state: DOE employment report

Clean energy technologies were the source of almost 87% of net new jobs in the power generation sector, according to the 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report.

By Robert Walton • June 29, 2023

On EV policy, states are making ‘incremental progress, not transformational’: ACEEE

Most state transportation policies ”scored poorly on equity metrics,” according to a new assessment by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Robert Walton • June 29, 2023

Hawai’i looks to tackle equity considerations of siting energy infrastructure as part of new docket

The state has some of the highest electricity rates in the country, and regulators opened a docket in December focused on ensuring more equity in its energy landscape. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 28, 2023

New Mexico PRC cuts number of open meetings, adds closed sessions

The Public Service Company of New Mexico says regulators have “set a reasonable schedule” and can add additional open meetings as needed.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2023

Vistra-Energy Harbor deal poses market power risks, say Ohio rate payer advocate, PJM market monitor

“Vistra currently has market power in the PJM energy and capacity markets … and adding the Energy Harbor nuclear units to its fleet will increase the incentive to exercise market power,” PJM’s market monitor said.

By Ethan Howland • June 26, 2023

Arizona Public Service reaches settlement with ACC, will raise rates to recover Four Corners investment

The utility will also be allowed to earn a higher return on equity after a court determined regulators overstepped their authority in lowering the ROE to punish the utility for customer service issues. 

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2023

Opponents chip away at clean energy policies

Renewable energy policy in the U.S. has faced threats recently from both sides of the political aisle.

June 26, 2023

To meet emerging clean heat targets, utilities need better gas consumption data

High-resolution data can help gas and dual-fuel utilities improve decarbonization planning, expand efficiency efforts, and unlock non-pipes alternatives through gas load management.

By Essie Snell • June 26, 2023

IRA implementation heats up as Treasury clarifies rules for billions in clean energy incentives

The Treasury Department has released proposed rules on everything from transferring tax credits to domestic component requirements to qualify for certain IRA incentives, with more rules to come.

By Larry Pearl • June 23, 2023

Renewable PPA prices rise, peak power prices expected to plunge: 2023 US power sector price trends

Electricity prices have likely peaked, federal agency data and projections show, but some parts of the U.S. power sector are continuing to see price increases.

By Larry Pearl • June 23, 2023

NRC authorizes first US high-assay low-enriched uranium enrichment plant critical for advanced reactors

The start up of HALEU operations in Ohio is a “significant step in establishing commercial production” in the U.S., said Jon Carmack, DOE’s deputy assistant secretary for nuclear fuel cycle and supply chain.

By Stephen Singer • June 22, 2023

Hydropower, America’s first renewable industry, could help achieve net zero — if Treasury allows it

Requiring energy producers to source electricity only from newly built clean power would negatively impact the United States’ ability to rapidly scale its clean hydrogen industry.

By Malcolm Woolf • June 21, 2023

Four non-transmission solutions for clean energy with new power lines in the permitting ‘Valley of Death’

Smart technologies, storage, overbuilding and distributed resources can move the energy transition ahead until workable reforms bring new transmission online, stakeholders agreed

By Herman K. Trabish • June 21, 2023

Nevada revamps IRP process, opens path for NV Energy to own more renewables and storage

A new law allows NV Energy to propose a planning scenario to state regulators in which it owns a “significant share” of new renewable energy generation and energy storage.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2023

NYISO picks $3.3B transmission project to deliver 3,000 MW of offshore wind power from Long Island

The transmission project is a “critical step forward as the state works to meet its ambitious climate mandates,” said Rich Dewey, NYISO’s president and CEO.

By Stephen Singer • June 21, 2023

PJM’s capacity market is sound, but changes needed to adapt to evolving grid mix, extreme weather: panelists

The forum at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday came as PJM is proposing major changes, including improved risk assessment and a seasonal market.

By Ethan Howland • June 16, 2023

Power plants remain vulnerable to outages in extreme cold, despite warnings, FERC and NERC find

Most power plant outages during Winter Storm Elliott were caused by problems with freezing, fuel supply, and mechanical and electrical issues, echoing challenges from previous cold spells, FERC staff said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • June 16, 2023

How the debt ceiling bill’s permitting deal hurt the outlook for deeper reforms, transmission legislation

With prospects for legislation reduced, the focus on transmission turns to FERC. Acting Chairman Willie Phillips aims to issue final interconnection reforms soon and will push for increased transfer capacity between regions.

By Ethan Howland • June 14, 2023

‘Recipe for chaos’: FERC’s Clements blasts agency decision to approve PJM capacity auction delays

Delaying the capacity auctions will reduce market uncertainty that could result from reforms the grid operator could propose this fall, FERC said Friday.

By Ethan Howland • June 12, 2023

Integrating advanced weather data with utility asset outage analysis to quantify wildfire risk

Not all fires are created equal. Risk managers need the tools to understand the likelihood of a utility-cased ignition as they balance their overall wildfire risk.

June 12, 2023

Consumer groups, R Street urge FERC to expand interconnection reform proposal to increase savings

“Rapidly escalating interconnection costs are being heavily incurred by consumers,” the R Street Institute’s Devin Hartman said.

By Ethan Howland • June 9, 2023

Utility regulators with environmental experience more than double; industry experience also jumps: study

The proportion of commissioners who previously worked with environmental issues rose from 12% in 2000 to 29% in 2020, while those who worked for the industries they now regulate increased from 15% to 28%.

By Robert Walton • June 9, 2023