Manchin 'optimistic' on prospects for passing major clean energy bill in lame duck Congress

Policy experts say there is enough common ground between Democrats and Republicans to potentially pass clean energy legislation in a lame duck session.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 16, 2020

Environmental policy and regulation: Potential consequences of the 2020 election

Joe Biden plans to end subsidies on fossil fuels, strengthen oil and gas regulations, increase investment in clean energy, and recommit the U.S. to the Paris Climate Accord — the questions are how and when, the authors write.

By Boyd Bryan and Alex Prochaska • Nov. 16, 2020

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

MOPR reconsidered: Competitive generators move away from FERC's PJM order, toward carbon pricing

Though competitive suppliers initiated the complaint that led to the Minimum Offer Price Rule expansion, they are now pivoting toward more markets-based mechanisms, largely in response to state threats to exit the markets altogether.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 13, 2020

Republican Senate may create limits, but Biden will have multiple avenues to act on clean energy, analysts say

Some analysts believe Biden will follow in President Barack Obama's footsteps, persuading Congress where he can and pursuing a regulatory path where he cannot. Others suspect energy policy may fall by the wayside.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 13, 2020

San Francisco's gas ban on new buildings could prompt statewide action

The vote adds San Francisco to the growing list of nearly 40 California cities to pass such ordinances since Berkeley's historic ban in July 2019. 

By Kristin Musulin • Nov. 12, 2020

Transmission troubles? A solution could be lying along rail lines and next generation highways

Multiple studies show the need for interregional transmission is growing and proposals to streamline siting will help, but cost allocation remains a barrier.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 12, 2020

Chatterjee says exclusion of state regulators from carbon pricing conference was a 'mistake'

His comments come less than two months after the FERC meeting where the commission was criticized for not including state regulators on any of its panels, as well as for lacking gender and racial diversity.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 12, 2020

The clean energy benefits slipping through states' fingers

Transmission projects take many years to complete, so the window is about to close on our ability to set states up for success even on 2025 and 2030 clean energy goals, the author writes.

By John Moore • Nov. 11, 2020

California has the technology and know-how to meet its energy needs; it needs the right regulations

California energy agencies should make common-sense changes to maximize the value and market opportunity for energy storage and demand response, the authors write.

By Nick Chaset and Cisco DeVries • Nov. 10, 2020

14 states, advocacy groups sue DOE over failure to update 25 appliance efficiency standards

Washington, D.C., and New York City join a slew of plaintiffs that claim consumers missed out on $580 billion in savings while the U.S. Department of Energy does not review and update energy efficiency appliance standards.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2020

'The days of FERC being referred to as an obscure agency are over': Chatterjee reflects on chairmanship

In interviews with Utility Dive before and after his chairmanship was cut short, Neil Chatterjee reflects on his time as chair — his proudest moments and regrets.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 9, 2020

Senate uncertainty muddies clean energy path, but offshore wind, EVs poised to gain with Biden: analysts

Even without support from Congress, Biden can still speed up development of nascent industries such as offshore wind and electric vehicles, which faced hurdles under President Donald Trump.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 9, 2020

SoCalGas merits $255M fine for opposing efficiency standards with customer funds: ratepayer advocate

The Public Advocates Office said the utility has been involved in a "concerted effort" to undermine the state's energy efficiency goals.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 9, 2020

'Totally worth it': Chatterjee speculates DER order, carbon pricing are behind Trump ousting him

"I would guess that no one in the president's inner circle was focused on FERC yesterday. My guess is someone on a lower rung at the White House saw an opportunity to send a message and sent it," the former FERC chair said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 6, 2020

Duke will not settle with environmentalists on $9B coal ash cost recovery, CEO says

"I do not expect that we will be reaching settlement on coal ash. I think all parties are interested in hearing what the court and commissions have to say," Lynn Good said during the company's Q3 earnings call.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 6, 2020

Trump ousts Chatterjee, taps Danly to lead FERC

The appointment comes in the midst of a tight race between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. Neil Chatterjee will stay on the commission until the end of his term, he said in a tweet.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 5, 2020

5 ballot initiatives poised to propel states, cities to 100% clean energy

At the local level, as in previous elections, energy is less prone to partisan politics in 2020.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 5, 2020

Utility commission incumbents largely prevailed on election night, but the South could see upsets

Louisiana commission seat is headed to a runoff while New Mexico votes to end Public Regulation Commission elections, reorganizing the commission as a three-member, governor-appointed body.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 5, 2020

Are renewable energy targets useful? Analysts dispute new study questioning their value

A new study says renewable energy targets could exacerbate sustainability challenges, though one expert counters "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good."

By Tom Gresham • Nov. 5, 2020

Biden, Trump each have path to presidency, but likely Republican Senate narrows clean energy path

Republicans are likely to retain the Senate, limiting the impact a Biden presidency could have on emissions and clean energy. Biden has pledged to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, which the U.S. officially exited Wednesday.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 4, 2020

Election 2020: It's time to consider an electricity customer Bill of Rights

The starting place for ensuring responsible and effective rapid decarbonization is to allow for competition and ensure retail customers are adequately protected from potential abuses that could otherwise emerge, the author writes.

By Todd Glass • Nov. 3, 2020

Facing credit downgrades after firing CEO, FirstEnergy board launches further internal investigation

The company received credit downgrades recently and is the subject of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, its new management team told analysts Monday.

By John Funk • Updated Nov. 5, 2020

California federal legislators press SoCalGas on reported efforts to 'undermine' California's climate goals

California regulators on Thursday ordered SoCalGas to turn over information to the agency's Public Advocates Office after a prolonged conflict over data requests.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated Dec. 18, 2020

Justice Barrett's confirmation and how it may affect the energy industry

The newest Supreme Court justice could eventually hear a challenge to FERC's Order 841, which has been winding its way through the courts, on the grounds that it intrudes on matters left to the states under the Federal Power Act.

By Seth Hilton and Jason Johns • Nov. 2, 2020

Election 2020: What's at stake for Congress, FERC, DOE and the states

The transformation of the U.S. power sector will continue after the 2020 election is over, though the outcomes will likely impact the speed of change.

Nov. 2, 2020