Massachusetts' Clean Peak Standard — A trailblazer in the nation's clean energy transition

As the standard comes into effect, it could play a substantial role in bringing additional clean energy technologies to the state. And adoption elsewhere could improve prospects of meeting aggressive renewable goals.

By Roger Lin • June 9, 2020

Indiana regulators decline to scrutinize IPL coal practices but continue Duke review

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission's order said Sierra Club's testimony didn't adequately account for non-economic factors that utilities need to consider when self-committing coal.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 9, 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

NYSERDA moves to launch program targeting brownfields and other less desirable sites for renewables

The move is part of a statewide effort to jumpstart New York's mandate of 70% renewable energy by 2030. 

By Guy Burdick • June 9, 2020

Missouri cities shine on the national climate action stage

While coastal cities typically drive climate action, Kansas City and St. Louis are demonstrating what Heartland cities are capable of in the fight against climate change.

By Ashok Gupta • June 9, 2020

California plans for future of gas system amid 'patchwork' of electrification policies

The California Public Utilities Commission has opened a rulemaking to "manage" a transition away from natural gas. But questions remain on what that transition will look like.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 9, 2020

Trump permitting order benefits fossil fuels and renewables, but NGOs vow to challenge

A former Environmental Protection Agency attorney says the order is on shaky legal ground and will likely be challenged in court.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 8, 2020

FERC plans technical conference to tackle long-term energy sector impacts of COVID-19

The commission will examine operational challenges, electricity demand and transmission planning impacts, and the effects on the sector's access to capital, including credit, liquidity and returns on equity.

By Robert Walton • June 8, 2020

Utility exec and consumer advocate: Arrearage management programs are a win for customers and utilities

These programs can be particularly useful when current utility shut-off moratoriums expire — it is estimated the residential electric sector alone may see a total increase in past due bills of more than $15 billion by early summer.

By Penni Conner and Charlie Harak • June 8, 2020

Massachusetts attorney general urges state examine shift from natural gas heating

The state has set a binding limit of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which Attorney General Maura Healey says will require a "transition away from fossil fuels and change [in] the way gas utilities do business in our state."

By Robert Walton • June 5, 2020

EV charging gets small slice in Democrats' $494B transport infrastructure bill

The INVEST in America Act would reauthorize funding that's currently provided under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act to invest in greener infrastructure, including electric vehicle charging stations.

By Chris Teale • June 5, 2020

Renewables' potential depends on transparent and fair policies, not special interest giveaways

FirstEnergy spinoff Energy Harbor is receiving a $1 billion taxpayer bailout while also enriching its shareholders with an $800 million stock buyback. This is crony capitalism at its worst, the author writes.

By Michael K. Dorsey • June 5, 2020

Utilities stay silent on proposal to federalize net metering as states call it a 'threat' to solar policy

States have spent years examining distributed generation compensation policies, and upending those efforts for "one-size-fits-all federalization" is "irritating," Arkansas Public Service Commission Chair Ted Thomas said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated June 4, 2020

PJM: MOPR compliance plan aims to avoid FERC's 'immense' and 'unreasonable' burden

FERC clarified in April that default capacity auctions are a state subsidy under the Minimum Offer Price Rule. But PJM warns too expansive a definition could "paralyze" the voluntary markets.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 4, 2020

The 3 key challenges to expanding the West's real-time energy market to day-ahead trading

Driven by new Western state renewables and zero emissions mandates, the 11 active participants and nine new applicants in the Energy Imbalance Market are pushing to expand it to day-ahead trading.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 3, 2020

Outdated NEPA needs modernizing. Just ask Warren Buffett

As the U.S. economy prepares to recover from the current crisis, important job and revenue-creating proposals like the 1,000 mile Gateway West transmission project don’t need to languish in a regulatory morass, the author writes.

By Paul Griffin • June 3, 2020

Massachusetts hopes 'localized approach' to GHG inventory can spread

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council rolled out tools for local communities to collect and track emissions data, something officials believe could be replicated in other regions.

By Chris Teale • June 2, 2020

Is subnational carbon pricing the off-ramp for MOPR?

FERC's April ruling refines the applicability of MOPR to green industrial policy and clarifies that it does not apply to voluntary private behavior and environmental policy, opening the door to emissions-based policies, the author writes.

By Devin Hartman • June 2, 2020

Ex-FERC commissioners debate solutions to coal self-committments said to cost millions

Former FERC Commissioner Suedeen Kelly says the issue will have to be resolved at the state level, while former Chair Jon Wellinghoff argues such market distortions should be addressed by FERC.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 1, 2020

Cities need more expertise, utility support in 100% renewables push: report

The authors said local leaders should invest more time to find ways that ensure the energy transition is equitable and does not leave marginalized communities behind.

By Chris Teale • June 1, 2020

Observing recovery through a climate 'magnifying glass'

COVID-19 presented cities with fresh observations of climate trends, marking a crucial time for leaders to weave climate change mitigation into recovery efforts.

By Chris Teale • May 29, 2020

A sneak peek at San Francisco's new low-carbon neighborhood

The city unanimously approved plans to build a 29-acre sustainable, transportation-efficient community on the site of a former century-old fossil fuel power plant. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 29, 2020

US solar developers get reprieve on bifacial panel prices as judge rejects USTR move on tariffs

While the ruling ensures developers can purchase the more efficient two-sided panels from Asia for a few months without any tariffs, the government is expected to continue its efforts to remove the exemption.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 29, 2020

EPA backtracks on fish-protecting requirements in long-delayed Merrimack coal plant permit

The permit has not been updated since 1992, and environmentalists say the agency's proposal is "a complete 180" from the permit proposed in 2011, which would have required the plant to install cooling towers.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 28, 2020

24 Congressional Democrats urge FERC to reject net metering overhaul

The proposal is an affront to states' rights as well as a threat to distributed energy compensation policies, senators and representatives wrote.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 28, 2020

Murkowski, Collins, Tillis urge Treasury to extend aid to solar industry

The Republican senators asked Secretary Steven Mnuchin to extend safe harbor requirements for the "start of construction" on renewables projects, and modify the "physical work test" rule to ensure eligibility for tax credits.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 26, 2020