Florida's customer-sited solar reaches new heights as regulators oppose federal petition to upend net metering

The Florida Public Service Commission joined other states to oppose a national petition in support of state-led net metering policies.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 1, 2020

House Democrats release sweeping climate proposal calling for net-zero US emissions by 2050

The proposal does not eliminate natural gas fracking and leaves the door open for carbon capture technology.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 1, 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

How utilities can support diverse business entities impacted by the COVID-19 crisis

Diverse business entities are facing financial uncertainty, reductions in allowable work and cash flow crises due to the pandemic, the authors write. 

By Ronnette Anderson and Laura Orfanedes • July 1, 2020

Battery energy storage is getting cheaper, but how much deployment is too much?

As renewable penetrations rise, batteries are the answer to variability, but it is not clear when buying more storage stops increasing reliability.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2020

Federalizing net metering is unequivocally anti-conservative

If the conservative movement is to achieve more victories at the energy regulatory margin, it needs to coalesce, move past generic posturing and start diving deep into institutional contexts, the author writes.

By Devin Hartman • June 30, 2020

Comprehensive energy bill could see Senate floor as early as July: Murkowski chief counsel

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, "is absolutely 110% committed to this bill," Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chief Counsel Lucy Murfitt said. "She's gonna fight until there's just simply no path forward left for the bill."

By Catherine Morehouse • June 30, 2020

House Democrats unveil major clean energy bill as Senate GOP mulls timeline for economic stimulus

Democrats' clean energy push has not gained traction, but Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., says Republicans will come to the table eventually.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated July 2, 2020

A short-term vision for sustainable recovery

A new report from the International Energy Agency envisions a green economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, but the plan lacks long-term vision, the author writes.

By Saara Kujala • June 29, 2020

'A critical milestone': PG&E first gas-electric IOU to publicly support California's all-electric construction

A company executive said it "welcomes the opportunity to avoid investments in new gas assets that might later prove underutilized as local governments and the state work together to realize long-term decarbonization objectives."

By Kavya Balaraman • June 26, 2020

California's storage limbo: Over $300M in projects are stuck on a CPUC waitlist, but there's an easy fix

California has $600 million in idle funds that can be used to advance energy storage projects; reallocating them would be the shot in the arm the state needs now, the author writes.

By Ted Ko • June 25, 2020

Nevada moves to adopt stricter vehicle emission standards amid continuing federal-state battle

The Trump administration has rescinded waivers necessary for states to set their own vehicle emission standards, but that hasn't stopped Nevada and others from showing interest.

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2020

Hard truths about net metering and the perils of regulatory nihilism

Due to poor retail rate design, full retail net metering as calculated today is overwhelmingly regressive, former FERC Commissioner Tony Clark says.

By Tony Clark • June 24, 2020

Manchin presses FERC to keep West Virginia coal online, as advocate questions identity of new plant owners

Longview Power declared bankruptcy in April, citing pressure from natural gas, a mild winter and the COVID-19 pandemic on its sole asset, a 700 MW merchant coal-fired plant.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 24, 2020

US localities signed 335 renewable energy deals since 2015: report

A new renewables action tracker details the energy transactions made by local governments in the last five years, and the complementing efforts to influence renewable energy policy.

By Chris Teale • June 24, 2020

ACEEE highlights 10 building energy performance standards to help meet climate goals

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy issued a white paper Monday outlining different standards, ranging from Tokyo's cap-and-trade program to Washington State's clean buildings bill.

By Kristin Musulin • June 24, 2020

Will regulators allow utilities to reap a windfall because of COVID-19?

Customers almost everywhere will pay for utilities’ losses, while in Texas and Georgia competitive retailers own much of COVID-19’s economic impact, says Travis Kavulla, vice president of regulatory affairs at NRG Energy.

By Travis Kavulla • June 23, 2020

8 Maryland utility storage pilots get vote of confidence, suggestions on safety, solar integration

Stakeholders weighed in June 19 on four utilities’ proposals to the Maryland Public Service Commission for eight pilot energy storage projects that could launch in February 2022.

By Guy Burdick • June 23, 2020

The truth about the future of gas: We don't need to build anymore

"Let’s clear away the myths about gas, renewables and the grid," writes UC Berkeley professor David Wooley, co-author of a recent report that said a 90% clean electricity system is feasible in the U.S. by 2035. 

By David Wooley • June 22, 2020

Retroactive rates unconstitutional, APS says to questions of overearning

Arizona Public Service challenged commissioners’ calls to revisit a 2017 rate decision, rebuffing accusations the utility's earnings are too high due to alleged deficiencies in its customer education and outreach program.

By Guy Burdick • June 22, 2020

Pilgrim decommissioning deal surpasses federal requirements, requires cybersecurity plan

Massachusetts and Holtec have agreed on financial guarantees, cleanup standards, interim spent fuel storage and other requirements for dismantling the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth.

By Guy Burdick • June 19, 2020

NARUC, NASEO team up to tackle distributed solar cyber risks as vulnerabilities grow

As distributed solar grows more common — and more interconnected — the new partnership aims to identify and promote best cybersecurity practices.

By Emma Penrod • June 19, 2020

FERC schedules technical conferences on carbon pricing, offshore wind integration challenges

The meetings will examine whether the regulatory body has the legal authority to implement carbon pricing, as well as how grid operators can better address transmission concerns for offshore wind.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 19, 2020

Vectren bucks Indiana legislature with plan to reduce coal mix 78% to 12% by 2025

The utility will add up to 1,000 MW of solar + storage, among other renewable resources, bringing its energy mix to 64% renewable energy plus demand response in the next five years.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2020

Toward a clean recovery: Rebooting the federal energy demonstration portfolio

The federal government should help fund projects that will demonstrate the real-world viability of large-scale, capital-intensive, zero-emissions technologies, an endeavor that is typically too risky for private companies to take on alone.

By Robert Rozansky and David M. Hart • June 17, 2020

Utilities remain mute on FERC net metering petition, leave filing to face overwhelming opposition

Pacific Gas and Electric, Xcel Energy, Duke Energy and others filed motions to intervene, but ultimately elected not to comment, while bipartisan federal and state political leaders, regulators and others expressed strong opposition.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 16, 2020