Senate confirms Doug Burgum as Interior secretary

The former governor of North Dakota says he supports an “all of the above” approach to generation, but he joins an administration focused on oil and gas production.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 31, 2025

Bitcoin miner Stronghold to pay $1.4M to settle charges it violated PJM market rules

Stronghold failed to meet its must-offer capacity obligation by using power it produced to run bitcoin mining rigs, according to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-approved settlement agreement.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 31, 2025

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

Trump’s executive orders cause hesitation, confusion for clean energy developers

“There are daily developments, and I think people are just doing the best they can with the limited information we have at the moment,” said Felisa Sanchez, a partner with law firm K&L Gates.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 30, 2025

California PUC proposes energy storage safety, emergency response requirements

Published 10 days after a fire at Vistra’s 300-MW battery installation near Santa Cruz, the California Public Utilities Commission’s proposal would set new standards for energy storage facilities.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 29, 2025

New MISO demand response rules could bar resources from capacity auction: Voltus complaint

"Beyond the eleventh hour" requirements by the midcontinent grid operator could keep Voltus from taking part in an upcoming capacity auction, the demand response company told FERC.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 29, 2025

Why utility leadership is necessary to scale up VPPs in the residential sector

The most effective virtual power plants are embedded within utility operations, providing utilities with direct insight into and control of the distributed energy resources in their network.

By Neil Veilleux and Nick Papanastassiou • Jan. 29, 2025

PJM agrees to lower price cap for upcoming capacity auctions

If approved, the agreement would settle a complaint by Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro over the PJM Interconnection’s capacity auction price cap.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 29, 2025

Trump funding freeze leaves IIJA, IRA projects in limbo

New executive orders could halt promised funding and stop infrastructure and environmental projects that are already underway, legal experts say.

By Julie Strupp • Updated Jan. 29, 2025

FERC in Focus: Consumers, reliability and states are FERC’s top priorities, Chairman Christie says

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will tackle the “huge” issue of colocation, newly named Chairman Mark Christie said in an interview.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 28, 2025

Achieving AI dominance through competitive power markets

The solution lies in allowing data centers directly into the competitive markets — a lightly regulated market superstructure that gives the U.S. a strategic advantage over our international competitors.

By Todd Glass • Jan. 27, 2025

FERC reinstates Transco gas pipeline approval

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plans to review carbon emissions from gas infrastructure projects on a case-by-case basis.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 27, 2025

Trump plans to use emergency powers to fast-track generation co-located with AI

President Donald Trump’s comments on building power plants for data centers appears to align with the views of FERC Chairman Mark Christie, ClearView Energy Partners said.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 24, 2025

State utility regulators, 4 governors urge FERC to lower PJM capacity price cap

However, lowering the cap could stifle efforts to bring new electric supplies to the PJM region, according to Constellation Energy and the Electric Power Supply Association.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2025

DOE offers $30M for superhot rock geothermal projects

Tapping 1% of the U.S.’ superhot rock geothermal potential could produce 4.3 TW of firm power, according to the Clean Air Task Force.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2025

Trump freezes IRA funding

The White House issued a memo to clarify the funding pause, specifying that it pertains only to aspects of the law mentioned in Section 2 of the executive order.

By Kate Magill • Updated Jan. 23, 2025

Federal policy rollbacks won’t stop electricity growth

Regardless of federal climate and energy policy rollbacks over the next four years, the U.S. electric sector will need to plan for load growth at levels not seen for 20 years.

By Rawley Loken, Amber Mahone, Tory Clark • Jan. 22, 2025

Trump taps Mark Christie to lead FERC, replacing Willie Phillips

During his tenure at the agency, Christie has focused on reducing consumer costs, bolstering reliability and working with states.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 21, 2025

Appeals court directs FERC to strip ROE transmission adder from Duke, FirstEnergy Ohio utilities

The Sixth Circuit appeals court also upheld FERC's decision ending the extra return on equity in the state for American Electric Power and Dayton Power.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 21, 2025

FERC approves SPP’s Markets+ Western power market, plus 3 other open meeting takeaways

“This is extremely important … in facilitating the efficient use of generation and transmission, ultimately to benefit consumers,” FERC Commissioner Judy Chang said.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 17, 2025

Transportation nominee Duffy: ‘We will usher in a golden age of travel.’

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Transportation pledged to work with both parties on issues such as AVs, EVs, Amtrak and other hot topics.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated Jan. 22, 2025

DOE nominee Wright aims to boost power supplies to lower costs

“I'm 100% committed to growing our electricity grid and our energy production and removing those barriers that are standing in the way,” said Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Energy.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 16, 2025

2025 FERC, DOE Outlook: Surging demand growth to drive power-sector agenda

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the departments of Energy and Interior will play key roles in the Trump administration’s efforts to spur new power supplies and cut energy costs.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 16, 2025

The 47th presidency offers hope for permitting reform

Republicans and President-elect Trump should take the win that a permitting reform compromise bill offers, and they should do this in the first 100 days of the new administration.

By Jonathan Chanis • Jan. 16, 2025

Bipartisan, ‘nonpolitical’ messaging key to achieving DOE’s 2030 VPP goal, analysts say

Successful VPPs in Utah and other GOP-controlled areas highlight effective framing around cost reduction, consumer choice, self-reliance and resilience, experts told Utility Dive.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 15, 2025

Load forecasts from data centers risk falling into irrational exuberance territory

There is a long history of overestimating load growth, which can drive overbuilding and the addition of resources that may exceed the increased demand.

By Todd Snitchler • Jan. 15, 2025