High energy prices, Ukraine war and rising demand response potential spur energy efficiency efforts

New energy efficiency as demand response opportunities can meet customer and system needs as well as set the EU and the world free from both Russian energy and stopgap coal burning, International Energy Agency leaders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 11, 2022

CAISO urges FERC to dismiss Vistra concerns over 'emergency' interconnection plan

Vistra contends the proposal could hurt could applicants already in the California Independent System Operator’s interconnection queue.

By Ethan Howland • July 11, 2022

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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

Midcontinent ISO defends plan to wait until 2030 for distributed energy aggregations

Dismissing arguments by state regulators, the grid operator on Friday said it needs time to handle other priorities.

By Ethan Howland • July 11, 2022

Poll: More than half of Republican voters in 3 states unwilling to spend on climate change solutions

A recent poll by the Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions Action illustrates the limits of what people are willing to pay to combat climate change. Some 29% of Democratic voters polled were also unwilling to spend more.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2022

The end is near for monopolies: We must liberate the US power consumer

We must give Americans a choice when it comes to how and where they source their energy and at what price, the author writes.

By William J. (John) Berger • July 8, 2022

GeoBitmine challenges Idaho Power's 'discriminatory' rate for cryptocurrency mining facilities

Potential crypto-mining load threatens Idaho Power’s ability to serve its customers, according to the utility.

By Ethan Howland • July 7, 2022

Voltus presses FERC to end state opt-outs from aggregated retail demand response in wholesale markets

Removing the opt-out could help the Midcontinent Independent System Operator meet its capacity shortfall, according to Voltus.

By Ethan Howland • July 6, 2022

New York must balance climate mandates with declining reserve margins to ensure reliability: ISO

New York is developing a plan to phase out fossil fuel generation, but its grid operator has warned that a declining resource base complicates those efforts, while consumers worry about rising costs.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2022

Upheaval in utility regulation emerging nationally as Hawaii validates a performance-based approach

Hawaii’s hard work on a PBR framework that protects utilities, consumers and the environment is paying off, but other states’ shortcuts could undermine success, advocates worry.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 5, 2022

Many mayors condemn Supreme Court ruling limiting EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions

Cities have doubled down on reducing emissions in recent years. Local leaders say Thursday’s 6-3 decision weakens a key federal partner that they believed would help them achieve their goals.

By Danielle McLean • July 1, 2022

California passes legislation to avoid blackouts, create ‘insurance policy’ for the grid

“Yeah, it’s a lousy bill, but it’s the best hope we have for keeping the lights on,” one lawmaker said Wednesday. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 1, 2022

EPA retains tools to cut power sector GHG emissions despite Supreme Court curbing its authority: attorneys

However, the court’s use of the “major questions doctrine” indicates challenges to future regulations are likely, according to lawyers.

By Ethan Howland • July 1, 2022

Massachusetts releases clean energy plan, roadmap to cut GHG emissions 50% by 2030

The plan focuses on improving efficiency and reducing emissions from buildings, the transportation sector, power generation and other sources, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

By Robert Walton • July 1, 2022

Supreme Court rejects EPA ability to set fleet-wide GHG emissions standards for power plants

The ruling issued Thursday means Congress, states and markets will drive the shift towards cleaner energy, according to Advanced Energy Economy, a trade group.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2022

Appeals court upholds FERC approval of Southgate pipeline project but legal hurdles remain

The Southgate pipeline developers are considering changing the project, which continues to lack needed state permits, according to lead developer Equitrans Midstream.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2022

Power supply groups urge FERC to reform Western offer cap to avoid market uncertainty

Recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission offer cap decisions threaten power suppliers’ willingness to sell electricity in tight conditions, industry groups said.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2022

California regulators contemplate standardized rules for gas projects exceeding $100M

The state’s Public Utilities Commission is considering a general order, which is “the highest level document that the commission can adopt,” and represents a higher threshold than a normal regulatory decision, one expert said.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 29, 2022

EPA regional ozone proposal threatens electric reliability: RTOs, state utility regulators

Grid operators are asking for a “reliability safety valve,” while a cooperative utility trade group warns the proposal could force up to 42 GW of coal generation to retire in 2026.

By Ethan Howland • June 28, 2022

California moves to simplify interconnection rules for distributed energy resources

The new approach will potentially allow more projects to pass through the fast-track process, which means they could get interconnected in a matter of months versus many months to a year or more.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 27, 2022

CAISO's proposed 'emergency' interconnection process could hurt pending projects: Vistra

The state’s grid operator proposed a fast-track interconnection review process as the California governor calls for 5 GW of emergency supplies.

By Ethan Howland • June 27, 2022

White House unveils 11-state partnership to boost offshore wind development, domestic supply chain

The offshore wind industry sees an opportunity for regional collaboration with the partnership, which includes East Coast states and the Biden administration, and could expand to include the West Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

By Emma Penrod • June 27, 2022

Appeals court partly strikes down FERC approval of ISO New England winter reliability program

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Friday rejected ISO New England payments to coal, hydroelectric, biomass and nuclear generators under the program.

By Ethan Howland • June 21, 2022

Energy utilities create roadmap for improving customer experience

Changing customer expectations, new technology and more competition are prompting energy utilities to make the customer experience a priority. 

June 21, 2022

California needs to triple historical decarbonization rates to meet 2030 carbon target, report finds

“The key takeaway is that California is leaving beneficial, earlier action on the table,” said Chris Busch, research director with Energy Innovation and primary author of the report. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 17, 2022

FERC proposes ‘first-ready, first-served’ interconnection rules to help spur new generation, storage

The federal agency at its monthly meeting also proposed extreme weather grid reliability requirements and one-time reports from transmission providers on how they assess extreme weather.

By Ethan Howland • June 17, 2022