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

Pros and cons of FRRExit: Correcting the record in the wake of Monitoring Analytics' cost estimates

As states weigh FERC’s Minimum Offer Price Rule order, it’s important to clarify the risks and benefits of an alternative to PJM’s centralized capacity procurement called the Fixed Resource Requirement, the authors write.

By Rob Gramlich and Miles Farmer • May 26, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

Virginia approves Dominion time-of-use rate experiment over stakeholder objections

The proposal could be a precursor for a system-wide rollout of the time varying rates, but NGOs and the state's Office of Consumer Counsel first want the company to provide more details.

By Guy Burdick • May 22, 2020

State-federal tension 'at an all time high' between MOPR, net metering attack, says head Maryland regulator

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Neil Chatterjee, meanwhile, urged states to give the MOPR time.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 22, 2020

FERC approves PJM reserve overhaul with $2B price tag, critics say move ignores overcapacity

"We are starting to see evidence that the future of PJM as we know it is at stake ... no matter how many times the chairman denies it,” Commissioner Richard Glick said in his dissent.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 21, 2020

EPA accused of 'pandemic of pollution' as Trump orders regulatory relief

Democrats and environmentalists say the EPA already has gone too far in cutting regulations as President Trump orders additional regulatory relief to aid in economic recovery amid the coronavirus pandemic.

By Guy Burdick • May 21, 2020

Exelon, PSEG urge New Jersey to adopt FRR alternative to PJM, as competitive providers push for CASPR

Utilities and competitive suppliers have expressed concern that FERC's Minimum Offer Price Rule would harm coastal states' nascent offshore wind industry, but have competing proposals over how to save it.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 21, 2020

D.C. Circuit gives new life to Maryland drive to tighten pollution limits for upwind coal plants

The Tuesday ruling could not only help Maryland, but other states seeking remedies to meet federal ozone standards as well.

By Larry Pearl • May 20, 2020

Oregon proposes omitting power plants from 'cap and reduce' plan to meet GHG target

A new report from environmental regulators questions the ability of state-specific emissions caps to drive greenhouse gas reductions in the power sector, so officials are considering another approach: ratemaking.

By Emma Penrod • May 20, 2020

PJM, retail suppliers scrambling to appease MOPR concerns amid state threats to exit capacity market

Critical stakeholders are signaling they may be willing to negotiate as Maryland, New Jersey and others are looking for a way out of the capacity market.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 20, 2020

PJM MOPR could cost market consumers up to $2.6B annually, report finds

While stakeholders widely agree that the next auction will likely not lead to cost increases, a recent report finds long-term impacts could cost up to $24 billion over the next nine years.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 19, 2020

6 reasons why California needs to deploy dynamic pricing by 2030

The state's mandate for 100% renewable energy by 2045 will create challenges for system reliability, which can be maintained if load responds dynamically to changing system conditions, a Brattle Group Principal writes.

By Ahmad Faruqui • May 19, 2020

Maryland lawmakers struggle to mitigate MOPR harm to offshore wind with shortened legislative session

Eighteen legislators filed joint comments with FERC on Friday and over 60 are calling on state regulators to provide developers with a contingency auction for offshore wind.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 18, 2020

DOE targets operational advanced reactors as soon as 2025, launches $230M program

With a growing number of traditional nuclear power plants closing, advocates are looking to a new generation of reactors to propel the industry and help meet ambitious carbon reduction goals.

By Larry Pearl • May 15, 2020

Markets over regulation: Driving lower emissions generation through a carbon tax

Taxing carbon emissions would increase the price discrepancy between natural gas and coal and appropriately build into the prices the cost of CO2 emissions on the economy and our society, the authors write.

By Deborah A. Carroll, Kelly A. Stevens and John W. Rowe • May 15, 2020

Ditching PJM capacity market could cost New Jersey $386M through 2022, market monitor finds

New Jersey regulators opened a docket to investigate how the state could reach its 100% clean energy goals under the constraints of new rules in the PJM market.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 15, 2020

Colorado Tri-State ruling could provide co-op exit template amid rising tensions with G&T providers

Tri-State is struggling to respond to member demands for renewable energy. The conflict could have implications that drive an energy transition — or tear the electric cooperative system apart.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 13, 2020

NRC commissioner blasts proposed emergency preparedness rules for SMRs as a 'radical departure'

Small modular reactors could be exempt from a 10-mile evacuation zone requirement under a new proposal. Could the Nuclear Regulatory Commission offer its emergency preparedness alternative to existing facilities?

By Guy Burdick • May 13, 2020

Treasury Department offers wind industry coronavirus lifeline with safe harbor extension

The renewables sector is urging Congress to enact temporary refundability for renewable energy credits and take other "commonsense measures," to aid the industry. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 28, 2020

Dominion's nearly $50 monthly power bill hike in Virginia is a warning for other states

The utility's monopoly status is functionally similar to the Fixed Resource Requirement offramp that some states across PJM are seeking, and could mean trouble for ratepayers, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.

By Todd Snitchler • May 11, 2020

CPUC imposes largest ever penalty of $1.9B on PG&E for Northern California wildfires

However, the agency permanently suspended PG&E's obligation to pay an additional $200 million fine that the utility said could derail its bankruptcy exit.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 11, 2020

Trump's security order could have 'chilling effect,' slow smart grid deployment, experts say

An executive order issued May 1 by the White House effectively blocks the power sector from sourcing grid components from China, say trade and cybersecurity attorneys and consultants.

By Robert Walton • May 7, 2020

Securing relief amid COVID-19: 4 considerations for utilities

To lessen the liquidity burden for utilities, there are some crucial tax avenues and regulatory matters for utilities to consider, writes Kimberly Johnston, National Power & Utilities Tax Partner at Ernst & Young.

By Kimberly Johnston • May 7, 2020

MISO: Majority of coal is self-committed, 12% was uneconomic over 3-year period

Advocacy groups say the numbers support their arguments that running coal plants uneconomically is costing ratepayers billions of dollars.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 7, 2020

DC Circuit grills NARUC, FERC on whether Order 841 will harm state ability to regulate distribution

The fundamental question for judges is whether FERC's landmark energy storage order will harm states' ability to operate the safety and reliability of their distribution systems.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 6, 2020