FERC partly approves ISO-NE plan for aggregated DER but balks at behind-the-meter requirements

“ISO-NE needs to roll up its sleeves and pursue steps that genuinely open its markets to behind-the-meter” resources, FERC Commissioner Allison Clements said.

By Ethan Howland • March 2, 2023

California regulators find Diablo Canyon nuclear plant needed through 2030 to support grid reliability

The California Energy Commission on Tuesday approved a staff analysis recommending the state pursue extending the operation of the plant, citing potential energy shortfalls during extreme weather.

By Stephen Singer • March 1, 2023

Explore the 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

EPA launches first funding phase of $5B carbon reduction program for states, cities, tribes

New Jersey expects to use funding to look for ways to speed up its greenhouse gas reduction plans, Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • March 1, 2023

House Republicans advance infrastructure permitting reform as part of 16-bill energy package

The first legislative step could lead to negotiations with the Senate this summer on permitting reform for transmission and pipelines, according to Akin Gump attorneys.

By Ethan Howland • March 1, 2023

Virginia legislature OKs bill giving regulators more autonomy in setting profit margins for Dominion Energy

The Legislature unanimously approved a measure to give Virginia’s State Corporation Commission more autonomy in setting profit margins for state utilities.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 28, 2023

DOE picks 10 winners of grid-scale storage innovation prize

Emerging technologies that disrupt or advance state-of-the-art storage research are the focus of the 10 winners of the American-Made Energy Storage Innovations Prize, which totals $300,000.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 28, 2023

Duke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs

Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 28, 2023

PJM launches fast-track capacity market reform process in face of shrinking reserve margins

The effort comes as the PJM Interconnection finds new resources aren’t keeping pace with power plant retirements and load growth.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 27, 2023

State bills spur debate over who should build transmission: incumbent utilities or independent companies

Companies such as LS Power, NextEra, Evergy and ITC Great Plains are pressing lawmakers on bills that may determine who can build transmission projects costing in the billions of dollars across the central United States.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 23, 2023

Environmental justice is a growing operational factor. How are federal and state agencies defining it?

The definition of an environmental justice or disadvantaged area varies among states and between states and the U.S. EPA, with each term having a different range of implications.

By Myisha Majumder • Feb. 23, 2023

FERC approves PJM’s mid-auction capacity rule change over protests from NRG, Vistra, other generators

The decision violates the filed-rate doctrine and is akin to playing blackjack at the “Federal Energy Regulatory Casino,” which can change the rules in the middle of a game, according to FERC Commissioner James Danly.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 22, 2023

EPA reverses Trump-era decision on power plant mercury standards, paving way for stricter limits

The decision on Friday was needed for any future tightening of mercury and other emissions limits for power plants.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 21, 2023

CPUC poised to reject Sunnova’s plan to build microgrids in new residential communities

Sunnova’s proposal involves owning and operating microgrids as part of new, master-planned residential communities that would include up to 2,000 homes and some non-residential facilities.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 21, 2023

Bipartisan legislation would increase US uranium production to promote nuclear energy

To the extent possible, DOE will not disrupt or replace market mechanisms by competing with U.S. nuclear energy companies, according to the legislation.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 21, 2023

New power system cybersecurity architectures can be ‘vaults’ against insider attacks, analysts say

Utility operations facing hackers now, and a future of minimally-protected distributed energy resources, will need smarter, more complex defenses, from control rooms to customer-owned devices, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2023

FERC OKs cold weather reliability standards for US generators but orders NERC to address shortcomings

Proposals from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. were considered “not up to the task." FERC directed the grid watchdog organization to bolster them, partly by setting certain deadlines.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2023

Texas Sen. Menéndez: Performance credit could take years to implement, but efficiency and DR are immediate

An overhaul of the Texas energy market could take years to implement while energy-saving measures could be launched “today, tomorrow, the next day,” said state Sen. José Menéndez, D.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2023

FERC rejects American Clean Power, RENEW Northeast complaint alleging ISO-NE bias towards gas plants

Amid a wintertime reliability threat, the agency should propose a solution for New England instead of waiting for the grid operator to offer one, Commissioner Allison Clements said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2023

DC Circuit upholds FERC decision on Broadview solar-battery PURPA project in blow to NorthWestern, EEI

However, the Inflation Reduction Act has blunted the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act’s importance in renewable energy development, experts said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 16, 2023

AEP, Xcel, OG&E ask FERC to overturn Southwest Power Pool decision to hike reserve margin

The increased reserve requirement gives utilities six months to procure 1.6 GW and exposes them to $173 million in penalties, according to the complaint filed at FERC.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 15, 2023

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

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