New Jersey sets high standard with passage of EV incentive bill, advocates say

In his State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy promised to unveil a comprehensive roadmap in two weeks detailing how the state would reach its goal of a 100% clean energy economy by 2050.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 15, 2020

Ash ponds: Keep calm and close in place

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to closing coal ash ponds, the author writes, cautioning against jumping to preordained conclusions on how to address the coal generation byproduct.

By Steven A. Burns is a partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP as part of the Environmental and Natural Resources practice. • Jan. 15, 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

2020 outlook: Natural gas faces regulatory, environmental scrutiny but still wants role in carbon-free grid

Aggressive natural gas investments in recent years may bring the sector to its tipping point. But some stakeholders say the fuel still has an important role to play in a decarbonized future.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020

What would a $10 per ton carbon price mean for the Northeast?

A higher carbon price could affect manufacturing output and employment in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative states, according to a new report — especially in energy-intensive industries like cement and aluminum. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 14, 2020

Kansas considering securitization for aging coal plants, but caution urged

Is "securitization fever" catching on in Kansas?

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 14, 2020

2020 Outlook: 10 trends driving the US power sector

From utilities to states to grid operators, the energy transformation is accelerating, but significant challenges remain.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 13, 2020

Renewable advocates highlight 'most effective' path to net-zero emissions as House releases clean energy framework

The CLEAN Future Act is set to be introduced by House Democrats later this year.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 10, 2020

Trump infrastructure proposal impacts 'virtually every' federal decision on environment: DOI Secretary

Coal, gas and wind groups praised the changes to a key project permitting policy, saying environmental reviews badly need streamlining, but NGOs fear the proposal omits critical considerations and creates ambiguity.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 10, 2020

Illinois Chamber: Clean Energy Jobs Act will inflict billions in increased costs on ratepayers

The business trade group is concerned with the bill's proposal to prioritize the use of Exelon's nuclear plants to meet Illinois' capacity needs, saying it will secure Exelon's financial future at the expense of ratepayers' electricity bills.

By Todd Maisch • Jan. 9, 2020

Xcel Minnesota: Running coal seasonally will save customers millions, reduce emissions

Clean energy advocates say economic and environmental savings could be replicated nationwide if utilities were to take similar steps.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 8, 2020

California's 2020 legislative session: The 'wild, Wild West' of bills targeting PG&E

State lawmakers say they will focus on regulating the utility's operations and reducing the impacts of its widespread public safety power shut-offs.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 8, 2020

Bipartisan bill aims to end Dominion's monopoly in Virginia

Dominion and other utilities oppose efforts to deregulate retail markets, saying it can increase costs, but similar bills are expected this year in Florida, Colorado and other states.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 8, 2020

South Carolina raises rates Dominion must pay to solar providers, reversing earlier decision

Dominion would have paid some of the lowest avoided cost rates in the country, according to clean energy groups, and the new decision is more consistent with directives under the state's Energy Freedom Act.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 7, 2020

FERC's clean energy boycott distorts PJM prices and discards history

The new rules approved for PJM's capacity auction will force the grid operator to buy more capacity than it needs to keep the lights on, according to Harvard energy lawyer Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe • Jan. 7, 2020

FERC's ROE conundrum: Finding the right number is harder than it looks

FERC's shift in return on equity methodology for transmission projects is counterintuitive — greater need, but lower authorized returns. This seems like a significant policy misalignment, writes former Commissioner Tony Clark.

By Tony Clark • Jan. 6, 2020

Making the case for billion-dollar investments in grid modernization by answering 3 key questions

Boston Consulting Group’s framework prioritizes the business case for grid mod investments to win stakeholder and regulator backing for billion-dollar spending.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2020

Blackboard economics and a carbon tax

Adaptation is more effective, less costly and a more practical solution than trying to achieve a targeted temperature change for which we will almost surely fall short, the author writes.

By Kenneth W. Costello • Jan. 3, 2020

PG&E rate case compromise cuts $1.1B proposal to $575M for wildfire mitigation

The utility was able to reach a deal with ratepayer and safety advocates, ending with a proposal that shaves almost half a billion dollars off its original application.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 2, 2020

EPA makes Georgia 2nd state to operate coal ash program, proposes 'efficient' rule for other 48

Both moves are part of EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler's broader goal to give states more "flexibility" in their management of coal ash disposal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 23, 2019

2020 Vision: A trio of trends that will drive the utility business in the year ahead — and beyond

Decarbonization, battery storage and appealing to a younger workforce will all be major themes in 2020, SAP predicts.

By James Eardley • Dec. 23, 2019

DOE finalizes rejection of Obama lightbulb efficiency standards, but excludes LEDs from analysis

Environmental groups say the Trump administration is imposing billions of dollars in costs on consumers in the form of higher electricity bills.

By Matthew Bandyk • Dec. 23, 2019

FERC move to raise PJM capacity market bids shows 'clear bias' against new, clean generation: Glick

The order will raise the floor price for new generation bidding into PJM Interconnection that receives any form of state subsidy.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 20, 2019

Virginia, Maryland unveil 100% clean energy plans, but NGOs not satisfied

The separate legislative efforts announced this week face criticisms from clean energy groups of being insufficient to facilitate a clean energy transition.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 20, 2019

PG&E CEO promises 'shorter, fewer' shut-offs continuing for the next 5 years

The utility's bankruptcy will not jeopardize California's clean energy goals or increase costs for customers, PG&E President and CEO Bill Johnson told lawmakers.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 20, 2019

Tax credit, net metering declines strike distributed solar, but falling costs, storage offer new hope

With tax credits and net metering threatened, previous withdrawals of financial support mechanisms show what the distributed solar industry may soon face.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 19, 2019