As US aims to boost clean energy supply chain, critical minerals gap largely human-caused, analysts say

There's no shortage of rare earth minerals needed to transition to a clean energy economy, experts say. The problem is getting them out of the ground — and out of China.

By Emma Penrod • June 17, 2021

Duke-backed North Carolina bill would reduce carbon emissions 61% by 2030, retire some coal early

The legislation calls for Duke to own 55% of renewable energy generation and independent power producers to own 45%. It also establishes a multiyear rate plan — something the utility has long pushed for.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

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

As 9 Ex-FERC commissioners tout organized markets, we need facts, not propaganda on the benefits

25 years into this RTO experiment we still have no ability to say dispositively that it has either worked or failed with respect to costs. Someone – maybe a federal regulator – should do an independent study, the author writes.

By Michael McKenna • June 16, 2021

FERC points PJM toward a 21st-century reliability approach

Reliability mechanisms that seemed appropriate two decades ago, including the original capacity market designs, no longer fit the bill, the authors write.

By David Littell and Michael Hogan • June 15, 2021

NARUC task force: COVID-19 highlights states' need for emergency planning tools

With COVID, cyber attacks and natural disasters bringing emergency preparedness to the fore, a panel of regulators says states must increase their focus on resilience.

By Emma Penrod • June 15, 2021

California utilities object to fossil fuel requirements in proposed 11.5 GW procurement package

The proposed procurement is intended to maintain grid reliability after the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is retired by 2025.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 15, 2021

Manchin defends coal-fired plants, expresses concern over 'aggressive' Biden climate goals

Sen. Joe Manchin, whose home state of West Virginia is in the heart of mining country, came out swinging in defense of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. at the annual EEI conference, arguing they are being singled out unfairly.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 14, 2021

Glick: FERC to outline plan to tackle transmission 'certainly' by the end of summer

Planning and cost allocation are two of the larger-scale keys to building out the amount of transmission necessary to bring the power grid to 100% carbon-free power under President Biden's 2035 timeline, according to Glick.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 11, 2021

National Grid encourages FERC to provide better incentives for grid-enhancing technology

Xcel Energy, on a panel, agreed with many of the hurdles a National Grid representative laid out, including operational, technological and financial barriers.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 10, 2021

North Carolina unveils ambitious offshore wind power plan, targeting 8 GW by 2040

Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order on Wednesday making North Carolina the latest state with an offshore wind target, as the budding sector draws increasing interest from investors and the federal government.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 10, 2021

Colonial CEO defends oversight response, urges transparency on ransomware

Private industry needs more immediate and detailed threat intelligence to prevent these attacks from happening in the future, CEO Joseph Blount told the House Committee on Homeland Security.

By David Jones • June 10, 2021

California PUC considers sending utilities back to drawing board on hydrogen blending proposal

“This isn’t the commission slamming the door on hydrogen research — they’re just saying that the utilities don’t have a blank check," said Sara Gersen, clean energy senior attorney with Earthjustice.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 9, 2021

FERC has more questions for Duke, Dominion on Southeast energy market proposal

According to a SEEM spokesperson, the questions "are readily answerable" and the utilities will respond "thoroughly, efficiently, and promptly" in the 10 days the commission provided.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Aug. 9, 2021

Colorado legislators direct all transmission utilities to join an organized wholesale market by 2030

The passage of Senate Bill 72 is not only an indicator of the growing interest of Western states in regional power markets, but it could also put pressure on other states to create similar policies, one analyst said.

By Emma Penrod • June 8, 2021

Fate of Illinois nuclear plants in balance after 3 fail to clear PJM auction and subsidy plan stalls

Three Illinois nuclear plants failed to land power contracts at the PJM capacity auction, generating additional uncertainty about their future.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 7, 2021

New England states push for governance changes in ISO-NE, ahead of anticipated MOPR reform

To quell state frustrations, regulators say conversations will have to move beyond reforming the controversial minimum price rule.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 7, 2021

Avangrid faces tough questions from New Mexico regulators in final hurdle to $8.3B PNM merger

The company is facing scrutiny over $60 million in penalties and cost disallowances levied against its utility subsidiaries across several states for service issues.

By Scott Van Voorhis • June 7, 2021

'An unlikely alliance': US investor-owned utilities and NGOs partner to advance new carbon-free tech

The Edison Electric Institute and the Clean Air Task Force announce an initiative to support a slate of emerging carbon-free technologies.

By Ben Fowke and Armond Cohen • June 4, 2021

Texas lawmakers approve bill mandating power plant weatherization, market reforms

Senate Bill 3, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, mandates weatherization standards and makes some market reforms, but it will not require renewable energy providers to pay for reliability guarantees.

By Emma Penrod • Updated June 9, 2021

The Texas Big Freeze: Holistic policy design for a clean and resilient grid

Energy Innovation evaluates a set of lessons from Texas' February power outages that regulators and grid operators can apply around the country, while it cautions against inadequate responses to the crisis.

By Dan Esposito and Eric Gimon • June 4, 2021

FERC should expand organized markets across the US, former chairs and commissioners say

Although momentum for RTO expansion is growing, resistance to the shift is strong in some markets where the more competitive structure doesn't exist.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 3, 2021

California PUC proposes rules to accelerate near-term EV charger deployment

Facing a potential deficit in the number of chargers needed to meet the state's electric vehicle goals, the state gives utilities more flexibility to install new infrastructure. 

By Jason Plautz • June 3, 2021

Nuclear capacity increases by 4.5 GW in long-delayed 'MOPRed' PJM auction, coal loses 8 GW

Total costs dropped $4.4 billion and prices dropped to $50/MW-day during PJM’s years-delayed capacity auction, due to lower load forecasts, which translate to lower reliability requirements, according to the grid operator.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 3, 2021

California utilities highlight reliability, cost concerns as state charts path to 100% clean power

"California has been a leader in decarbonization... how do we also ensure we’re a leader in making sure we’re planning for reliability as the grid changes?" asked one utility representative.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 3, 2021

The Texas Big Freeze: How much were markets to blame for widespread outages?

Rather than abandoning markets, regulators and lawmakers should correct them through smart policy that bolsters readiness for future climate-driven disasters while facilitating grid decarbonization, the authors write.

By Dan Esposito and Eric Gimon • June 3, 2021