Democrats tested over boosting transmission, not pipelines, as bill directs FERC to improve regional planning

One political hurdle in transmission policy is how to heighten regulatory pressure on the pipeline sector while building electric transmission as efficiently as possible, said Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 20, 2021

Washington Gov. Inslee rejects legislature's effort to set 100% EV goal for 2030

Gov. Jay Inslee, D, partially vetoed legislation requiring utilities to prepare for an all EV future, opposing the link between the 2030 goal and the implementation of a road usage charge program.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated May 14, 2021

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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

Rural electric co-ops warn Congress a 2035 100% clean electricity target is 'overly ambitious'

In hundreds of meetings with federal lawmakers this week, representatives from rural electric cooperatives will press for debt reform and changes to how clean energy incentives are structured.

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2021

Equitable energy transition will require more than funding and job training, researchers say

Utilities, governments must take steps to ensure clean energy jobs provide stable, middle-class earnings, researchers say.

By Emma Penrod • April 19, 2021

All-electric car and truck sales by 2035 would save $2.7 trillion, but will take smart policy to drive clean

Additional regulation to encourage rapid ground transportation electrification is needed for the U.S. to lead in electric vehicle technology innovation.

By Amanda Myers • April 19, 2021

As Biden targets 100% clean electricity, strategies emerge to reliably integrate rising renewables

A power system based on portfolios of increasingly cost-effective utility-scale and distributed renewables is emerging and driving new operational and market solutions to make it work reliably.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2021

Glick, Chatterjee clash on RTO expansion incentive as FERC announces transmission initiatives

Commission staff projected that consumers will eventually save $350 million annually without the incentive, but Commissioner Neil Chatterjee called the move "short-sighted" and said it delays needed reforms.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 16, 2021

California puts PG&E under enhanced oversight due to wildfire prevention work lapses

The process involves additional reporting requirements and the possibility, down the line, of revoking PG&E's operational certificate.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 16, 2021

Gas is failing California. It's time to move on.

Even a state like California can waver in its progress towards clean energy if we let fear take over, the authors write.

By Nina Robertson, Katherine Ramsey and Shana Lazerow • April 16, 2021

Addressing misconceptions on the performance of the energy market in Texas

The solution to Texas' power market collapse earlier this year is not to tweak the markets but rather to create a reliability system operator to act as a central planner, the authors write.

By Hala Ballouz, Joel Mathias, Sean Meyn, Robert Moye, Joseph Warrington • April 15, 2021

Following California and Texas blackouts, experts see potential for energy storage and better grid planning

Regulators will need to deploy storage across multiple time spectrums, Steve Berberich, former president and CEO of the California Independent System Operator, said April 13 during the BNEF Summit. 

By Kavya Balaraman • April 14, 2021

White House considers doubling Obama-era carbon reduction targets: BNEF

President Joe Biden could also announce a plan next week to reduce economy-wide carbon dioxide emissions by 50% in the next decade, according to BNEF.

By Robert Walton • April 14, 2021

Glick: FERC should tackle MOPR if PJM can't agree on update by December capacity auction

Commissioner James Danly introduced his own proposal for a state option to substitute preferred resources over those that clear in a capacity auction.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 16, 2021

Taking Charge: FERC Commissioner Christie on his 'across the board' respect for state authority

"The state regulators know much more about their own states than I did as a Virginia regulator and that I will as a FERC commissioner," said Commissioner Mark Christie in a wide-ranging interview with Utility Dive.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 13, 2021

PG&E, Apple, 300+ other companies urge Biden admin to set ambitious federal climate target

National Grid, GE and Microsoft also signed a letter calling for the U.S. to cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50% below 2005 levels.

By Cailin Crowe • April 13, 2021

White House announces CISA, national cyber directors

President Joe Biden on Monday nominated Jen Easterly, a managing director at Morgan Stanley, as the director of the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

By Samantha Schwartz • April 13, 2021

Former NRC chair questions economic feasibility of new nuclear in US

Former NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane acknowledges the progress of small modular reactor designs from NuScale Power to achieve permitting while flagging supply chain issues for the broader industry.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 12, 2021

Biden $1.5 trillion budget proposal includes 27% increase in overall clean energy spending

The proposed budget would ramp up spending on new technologies, including advanced nuclear and hydrogen.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 12, 2021

PG&E bid to securitize $7.5B in wildfire costs could hit ratepayers hard, consumer advocates warn

"If there is a shortfall, that means that PG&E’s customers will be forced to pay higher rates to fund PG&E’s wildfire liabilities. Another word for that is bailout,” said Tom Long, legal director at The Utility Reform Network.

By Kavya Balaraman • April 12, 2021

Plenty of low-hanging fruit: How FERC can catalyze transmission infrastructure

Effective near-term actions the commission can take include subjecting more regional projects to competition, while allowing new entrants at the local level, the authors write.

By Devin Hartman and Beth Garza • April 9, 2021

Granholm: American Jobs Plan will prioritize communities struggling with loss of coal, oil and gas jobs

Some 40% of the benefits of the American Jobs Plan should go to communities affected by the coal, oil and gas industries, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said during Thursday's White House press briefing.

By Emma Penrod • April 9, 2021

Wyoming bills to slow coal plant closures sent to governor as 4 other states pursue similar steps

The Wyoming legislature has approved a series of bills intended to make closing coal plants more difficult, an action the local Sierra Club says will only delay the inevitable.

By Emma Penrod • April 7, 2021

Climate-risk players take a one-level-higher approach

A guerrilla tactic of sorts may be helping Federal Reserve officials, the Treasury secretary and a senator push discussion about the proper venue for research on global warming.

By Dan Ennis • April 7, 2021

What a federal just transition strategy should look like

The transition to a low-carbon economy is a national — even global — phenomena and the response should be too, contributors from the World Resources Institute wrote.

By Jillian Neuberger and Devashree Saha • April 5, 2021

Biden $2 trillion infrastructure proposal includes billions in spending on transmission, clean energy

The plan received wide-ranging support from climate and clean energy groups, but Republican leadership opposes its high price tag.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 1, 2021