Supreme Court lifts major hurdle to $7.5B Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Pipeline opponents say Duke and Dominion have many more barriers to overcome on the long-delayed project. Dominion requested a two-year extension on the project on Tuesday.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated June 18, 2020

'The start of something big': California crafts pilot program to reduce building emissions

The Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development program will be rolled out in the second quarter of 2021, with the first two years of incentives reserved for developers of low-income housing.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 16, 2020

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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

It's time for a green stimulus: Here's how a small Vermont utility can show the way

Burlington Electric Department has a plan to help boost local economic activity, support its customers with energy-saving technologies, and make progress on the city's Net Zero Energy goal.

By Darren Springer • June 15, 2020

California utilities, regulators aim to hasten microgrid deployment ahead of wildfire season

Pacific Gas and Electric plans to have 73 microgrids operational by the end of 2020, which are viewed by California commissioners as part of a multifaceted approach to wildfire preparation.

By Emma Penrod • June 15, 2020

Disbanded EPA science panel blasts lack of action on particulate matter in order to inform future litigation

The EPA found that more review was needed to determine the full health impacts of particulate matter, created by burning coal or other industrial processes.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 12, 2020

US weighs end to foreign nuclear power finance ban, potentially boosting advanced reactors

Opening up international financing could allow the U.S. to become more competitive with countries like Russia and China in providing carbon-free power to developing nations, advocates said.

By Emma Penrod • June 12, 2020

EPA ending policy of relaxed enforcement standards Aug. 31

Multiple state attorneys general and NGOs previously sued to stop the controversial move.

By E.A. Crunden • Updated July 1, 2020

Arizona chief utility regulator calls report on APS customer programs 'scathing' as commission considers reopening 2017 rate case

A staff consultant for the Arizona Corporation Commission has found deficiencies in APS' efforts to educate ratepayers on 2017 rate changes, and the chairman raised the possibility of refunds.

By Guy Burdick • June 11, 2020

FERC prohibits pipeline construction, allows land seizures as court weighs 'legal purgatory' of rehearing delays

Federal regulators issued an order that prevents developers from beginning construction while a request for rehearing is pending.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 11, 2020

Trump's grid security order sows confusion in power sector — but don't expect a quick fix

The executive order limits the installation of bulk power system equipment sourced from foreign adversaries, but experts say the vague wording has the industry 'freaked out.'

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2020

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

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