Pipelines, energy storage among 60+ projects expedited by Trump order waiving environmental regulations

Newly released documents provide details into some of the infrastructure projects that have been sped up by the Trump administration to help hasten the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Jennifer Goodman • Sept. 21, 2020

Politics disrupts San Diego's pursuit of an energy transition partner amid dissatisfaction with SDG&E

San Diego's 50-year-old franchise agreement with San Diego Gas and Electric expires in January, but city leaders can't agree on standards for the next provider, leaving bidders, including Berkshire Hathaway Energy, waiting.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 18, 2020

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

FERC lowers barriers to DERs in wholesale markets in rare Chatterjee-Glick consensus

The commission passed its long-awaited rule on distributed energy resource aggregations in a 2-1 vote two weeks after the departure of Commissioner Bernard McNamee.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 18, 2020

Ohio regulators launch probe into FirstEnergy's political and charitable contributions

The new inquiry by the Public Utility Commission comes with FirstEnergy already the target of two federal investigations and a potential state attorney general examination.

By John Funk • Sept. 18, 2020

Nation's first freshwater windfarm all but approved as Ohio siting board removes 'poison pill'

The Ohio Power Siting Board unanimously voted to remove language that would require offshore turbines to shut down overnight eight months of the year to protect migrating birds and bats.

By John Funk • Sept. 18, 2020

Hawaiian Electric asks regulators to approve nearly 2 GWh storage, 300 MW solar contracts

One project will "help facilitate the retirement of the last coal plant in Hawaii," said its developer.

By Guy Burdick • Sept. 18, 2020

New York issues final rules to speed development of large renewable energy projects

The regulations would accelerate the development of large-scale solar and wind projects, but the renewable industry is expected to take issue with some requirements.

By Robert Walton • Updated March 4, 2021

Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond

Welcome to "Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond," a podcast series dedicated to further understanding how the utility industry can overcome the several challenges brought out by COVID-19 with technology and smart planning. 

By Utility Dive's Brand Studio • Sept. 18, 2020

In deploying electrified urban transport, look to university campuses

Recognizing universities as urban innovation hubs, particularly for electrified transportation, can aid the transition to a new, better "normal" post-coronavirus.

By Rod Keller • Sept. 17, 2020

How to participate in the 2020 Utility Dive Awards

Industry Dive is gearing up for the 2020 Dive Awards. We want to hear your ideas on the executives, utilities and policymakers that stood out.

By Utility Dive Editors • Updated Sept. 28, 2020

Energy committee advances FERC nominees to Senate for final confirmation

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the nominations of Allison Clements and Mark Christie to the full Senate.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Nov. 18, 2020

Duke-solar industry breakthrough settlement aims to end rooftop solar cost shift debates

A collaboration among Vote Solar, Sunrun, Southeastern environmental advocates and Duke Energy has produced a rate design that could be a new paradigm for pairing and growing rooftop solar and demand response.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 16, 2020

California governor pushes to fast track climate goals as wildfires burn the state

Reaching 100% clean energy by 2045 is "inadequate" to meet the challenges the state faces, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 15, 2020

7 investment priorities for a green COVID-19 recovery: report

The Coalition for Urban Transitions analyzed how the allocation of stimulus funding across a number of environmental sectors can aid the international COVID-19 response.

By Kristin Musulin • Sept. 14, 2020

'Aggressive' federal aid would push US to net zero emissions by 2050: report

America's Pledge released its fourth-annual U.S. climate analysis, finding to its "great surprise" that the pandemic is not slowing climate progress.

By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 14, 2020

FERC reverses 40 years of PURPA precedent in ruling on small solar definition, punts on storage question

The commission upended precedent that found a facility's net solar capacity must be no larger than the 80 MW threshold.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 14, 2020

House to probe US lag on leveraging clean energy for COVID-19 recovery, consider bipartisan energy bill

As the U.S. diverges from other countries in its efforts to marry economic recovery with climate policy, a House subcommittee is planning to hold a hearing on efforts in the EU and elsewhere.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 11, 2020

Public power leaders see lasting effects from 2020 disruptions with new approaches to resilience, equity

The new normal won't look like the old normal, as executives say major shifts that began in 2020 will continue to shape industry trends in the year to come.

By Emma Penrod • Sept. 11, 2020

For nuclear plants operating on thin margins, growing climate risks prompt tough choices

Climate change creates a number of problems for nuclear power plants that some academics say the industry needs to address soon.

By Matthew Bandyk • Sept. 10, 2020

What do regulators want most from grid modernization proposals? A compelling business case

Regulators should, at a minimum, review utility requests to pre-approve broad grid mod projects like prudent potential business investors, not like innovators, writes Rhode Island Public Utilities Commissioner Abigail Anthony.

By Abigail Anthony • Sept. 9, 2020

FERC details carbon pricing conference as groups blast renewables, consumer and women exclusions

Of the 30 panelists scheduled to participate at the upcoming conference, the majority are energy companies, academics and grid operator representatives. Only three women are on the agenda.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 9, 2020

Electric vehicle battery sustainability is a must to meet climate ambitions

Better governance of the extraction of EV minerals is essential to the future of mineral-producing countries, the electric vehicle industry and transportation globally, the authors write.

By Ethan N. Elkind and Patrick R. P. Heller • Sept. 8, 2020

Massachusetts top court denies NextEra bid to block state's PPAs with Hydro-Québec

The PPAs are critical to the development of the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project, which has faced challenges from independent power generators trying to protect their older assets in the region.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 4, 2020

FERC summit highlights reliability concerns for renewables + storage, but has California found a solution?

In a day-long FERC conference on renewables+storage hybrids earlier this summer, system operators focused on reliability while advocates described new opportunities.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 3, 2020

Duke IRP includes scenarios to reduce carbon emissions 70% by 2030

One 70% reduction scenario would not add any more natural gas, and another would add 2,650 MW of offshore wind by 2030. But its base case scenarios continue gas buildout into the 2030s.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 2, 2020