PURPA is undermining the clean energy transition. Colorado has a better way

The most abusive manipulation of PURPA is its use by Qualifying Facilities to force utilities into lengthy "must-take" contracts, with above-market rates that are locked in for years or decades, the former head of Colorado's PUC writes.

By Joshua Epel • Nov. 19, 2019

Hawaii regulators call out HELCO cost controls in initial rate hike denial

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission's interim order denied a modest revenue increase for Hawaii Electric Light Co. An evidentiary hearing is slated for next month, and the decision could be changed.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2019

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

NYC, LA, DC and 23 states sue EPA over vehicle emission standards

The states and cities are suing the EPA, which has moved to block California's ability to set its own vehicle efficiency standards.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 19, 2019

Time to move away from old precedents in FERC pipeline reviews

Maintaining the status quo does not engender confidence that FERC is only approving pipeline projects that are truly needed, consistent with the “public convenience and necessity,” writes Analysis Group's Sue Tierney.

By Sue Tierney • Nov. 19, 2019

PJM taps former Texas utility, natural gas provider exec as CEO

Former Direct Energy Home President Manu Asthana will lead the grid operator starting Jan. 1 as it tackles several priorities, including implementing a FERC order to allow energy storage to compete in its market.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 19, 2019

New money: Green banks and green bonds are bringing billions to utilities for the energy transition

The financial mechanisms are bringing investors to renewables and distributed energy as utilities, co-ops and munis move away from uneconomic legacy assets.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 19, 2019

Generators call on PJM to expedite delayed capacity auction, once new rules are set

FERC still needs to approve capacity market reforms, leaving the grid operator in limbo with regard to its annual auction.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 18, 2019

Lyft adds 200 EVs to Denver rental program

EV-friendly governmental actions prompted the deployment in the city, which the company said is one of the largest in the country. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 18, 2019

Senate approves energy secretary nominee who pledged support for baseload power

Dan Brouillette, former deputy secretary of energy, told senators he had no involvement with the Ukraine scandal that led to former Sec. Rick Perry's resignation.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated Dec. 3, 2019

CPUC demands PG&E defend power shut-off actions, launches investigation into all IOUs

Regulators want PG&E to show why it should not be fined for violating communication protocols during planned outages in October and November. It could be fined up to $100,000 for each offense.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 14, 2019

What will your city's climate feel like in 2080?

At current emissions rates, New York summers are projected to feel nearly 10 degrees warmer. Learn how 10 city climates are projected to feel in 60 years.

By Cailin Crowe • Nov. 13, 2019

Cuomo threatens to revoke National Grid's license to provide gas in NYC due to hookup moratorium

The governor's actions also affect the credit ratings of Consolidated Edison and other New York utilities, because it suggests "a heightened willingness to intervene in utility regulation," Moody's Investors Service said Nov. 18.​

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated Nov. 19, 2019

Incentives spur rapid storage growth in New York, outpacing distributed solar expansion: NYSERDA CEO

NYSERDA has been comparing the pace of its storage incentive program, aimed at bringing developers into the state, with the New York Sun program for distributed solar.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 8, 2019

Florida eases financing for billions in storm hardening spending, retains energy efficiency program

The Public Service Commission voted on Tuesday to allow utilities to bypass the stringent rate review previously required to add storm expenses to base rates.

By Lynn Freehill-Maye • Nov. 6, 2019

Congressional Policy Tracker: Everything you need to know from carbon capture to wind energy

Renewable energy developers are lobbying for tax credit extensions while Republican leaders seek bipartisan research-focused solutions to support advanced nuclear, carbon capture and energy storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Dec. 2, 2019

Sen. Manchin 'fighting' for White House nomination of Democratic FERC candidate

The independent energy regulatory agency has two vacancies but President Donald Trump only nominated FERC general counsel James Danly for the open Republican seat.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 6, 2019

FirstEnergy nears proposal to decouple Ohio utility revenues, electricity consumption: CEO

The plan "fixes our base revenues" and makes part of the company "somewhat recession-proof," Chuck Jones said during the company's Q3 earnings call.

By Larry Pearl • Nov. 5, 2019

Trump administration continues efforts to ease utility regulatory burdens with dual coal ash proposals

Environmental advocates say the new rules would allow coal-fired power plants to continue polluting and coal ash waste to remain in place longer.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2019

North Carolina eliminates controversial Duke multiyear rate plan from energy legislation

After six months of debate, state legislators agreed Tuesday to eliminate "the biggest paradigm shift in North Carolina electricity regulation in 100 years" from the bill.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 31, 2019

How utilities wield bad science to stunt clean energy

Big utilities are pulling out all the stops to block a transformational shift to planet-friendly power, two renewable energy advocates write.

By Greer Ryan and Emma Searson • Oct. 31, 2019

House introduces $500M carbon capture bill as study questions technology's environmental benefits

"It's never going to be cheaper to use carbon capture or direct air capture because it always has an equipment cost and it never reduces air pollution" from fossil fuel extraction, a Stanford professor said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 30, 2019

'General Motors better wake up' before China takes EV market, former California Gov. Brown tells Congress

"In five years we're going to be buying Chinese cars," Jerry Brown said Tuesday, after three major automakers sided with President Donald Trump in his efforts to prevent California from implementing its own emissions standards.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 30, 2019

California may be a climate leader, but it could be a century behind on its carbon goals: study

Renewables are driving carbon out of the power sector, but economic expansion has led to much less progress in reducing emissions from the transportation, building and industrial sectors, the nonprofit Next 10 found.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 29, 2019

FirstEnergy subsidy opponents look to Ohio Supreme Court amid missed deadline on ballot measure

Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts failed to get enough signatures within the required 90 days to get a measure opposing recently enacted coal and nuclear subsidies on the November 2020 ballot.

By John Funk • Oct. 28, 2019

Schumer floats $454B plan to accelerate EV adoption in next decade

The senate minority leader said the plan targeting 100% clean vehicles on U.S. roads by 2040 would be part of a larger climate initiative if Democrats win control of the Senate in 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 28, 2019