Nearly $2T stimulus package omits direct renewable sector aid after Trump, McConnell opposition

President Donald Trump signed the latest stimulus package into law Friday. Power sector leaders see broad benefits stemming from the bill, including small business and unemployment loans.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated March 30, 2020

One easy fix to COVID-19 disruption of advanced energy development

Direct payment of federal incentives for advanced energy development is required to keep the industry on track, Nat Kreamer, CEO of Advanced Energy Economy, says.

By Nat Kreamer • March 24, 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

COVID-19 may sport the thinnest silver lining: a cleaner climate

There is evidence of declining carbon emissions and improved air quality as societies lock down. Experts say potential stimulus funding could present an opportunity to perpetuate these changes.

By Chris Teale • March 24, 2020

Solar developers launch lobbying effort to curb COVID-19 impacts, advance remote permitting

U.S. solar industries are ramping up congressional lobbying for additional aid to small businesses and solar tax credit extensions, given the challenges of the spread of the novel coronavirus.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 23, 2020

Tracking the impacts of coronavirus on the US power sector

Oct. 8: How Austin Energy simultaneously managed COVID-19 and a new carbon price adder; Public-private partnerships hold the key to a clean energy future post-COVID

By Nami Sumida • Updated Oct. 8, 2020

18 Senate Democrats call on Congress to include renewables in stalled stimulus package

A Friday letter recommends tax credit extensions or an elimination of the tax credit phase-out, direct payment, refunds, or safe harbor extensions, among other options.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 23, 2020

PG&E, SCE abandon big microgrid plans for temporary emergency measures as wildfire season nears

Regulators' push to implement a law requiring microgrid rollouts is being frustrated by the costs of traditional generation and clean energy complexities.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 23, 2020

California risks going seriously off course this week on its path to a zero carbon power sector

The state's public utilities commission, at its upcoming March 26 business meeting, may adopt a greenhouse gas emissions target for 2030 that defers emissions-critical, near-term decisions, the author writes.

By Ed Smeloff • March 23, 2020

CPUC's $2.1B wildfire fine could derail bankruptcy exit financing commitments: PG&E

The utility urged regulators to instead adopt a $1.68 billion penalty it negotiated last year.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 20, 2020

Unemployment poised to skyrocket, creating urgent need to spur renewables: Obama veteran of 2008 financial crisis

Power sector leaders are pushing Congress to address hits to the industry, as a former Obama transition team member says renewables and transmission buildouts could be the first jobs to start hiring.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 20, 2020

FERC launches long-delayed revision of transmission incentives, bringing benefits into the equation

Chairman Neil Chatterjee wants to "keep the business of the commission going" while taking precautions given the spread of the novel coronavirus, potentially rushing a response from stakeholders.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 20, 2020

Ohio bans door-to-door energy sales over coronavirus concerns, following Illinois, Pennsylvania

A proposal from the Ohio Consumers' Counsel said not only that door-to-door sales pose a "health risk," but that "policing the tactics of some of the marketing companies is difficult."

By John Funk • March 19, 2020

PJM MOPR compliance plan allays renewable sector concerns of being shut out of capacity auctions

The grid operator's long-awaited compliance filing is a "phenomenal" attempt to minimize the most contentious aspects of the federal order, according to an industry lawyer.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 19, 2020

Oklo submits first advanced reactor license application in US as NRC moves to streamline reviews

Advanced reactors purport to be the "next generation" of nuclear that can fix the problems facing the current industry, but first they need to go through a lengthy regulatory process.

By Matthew Bandyk • March 18, 2020

Coronavirus calls utilities to humanitarian role — how to help troubled customers in this time of need

As the nation mobilizes to contain the coronavirus, utilities' most vulnerable customers need special assistance as the pandemic exposes and exacerbates existing fault lines between haves and have-nots, the author writes.

By Lisa Markus • March 18, 2020

A red state template for 100% renewables? Utah bill unites Rocky Mountain Power, cities and activists

An 80% Republican legislature has approved HB 411, which will move more than a third of the state’s electricity load to 100% renewables by 2030.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 17, 2020

PJM over-forecasting costs consumers up to $4.4B for unneeded energy capacity: Report

The Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council funded a report that confirms the large price tag of the high reserve margin in PJM's forward capacity auction.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 17, 2020

As Congress mulls stimulus, Trump should avoid Obama's 2009 mistake

Today's low capital costs combined with low-cost deployment of proven and workable clean power systems present us an opportunity we will likely never have again, the author writes.

By Reed Hundt • March 17, 2020

Global coal developers at risk of losing over $600B through building new plants: Report

There are 499 GW of new coal generation planned or under construction globally, and all of that power will be undercut by cheaper renewables in all major global markets by 2030, a new analysis finds.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 12, 2020

Indiana passes coal plant support bill as Democrats removed from conference committee deliberations

The final version of the bill keeps the 90-day fuel supply provision out, but reverts back to other elements of the House version that would make coal plants more difficult to retire in the state.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 11, 2020

Gov Northam signs clean energy bill in dramatic transition for Virginia amid dispute over customer costs

Virginia regulators put a high price on implementing the Clean Economy Act, which calls for 3.1 GW of storage by 2035, along with other measures. But supporters say some benefits could not be quantified.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated April 13, 2020

Colorado significantly off-track on climate goals, NGOs say, faces transmission and market obstacles

New research indicates that the state could miss its 2025 and 2030 emissions reductions targets by 30 million and 46 million metric tons respectively. 

By Kavya Balaraman • March 10, 2020

SDG&E, SCE say California transport electrification plan could freeze investment, jeopardize state EV goals

The two utilities, along with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and 19 other parties have asked the CPUC for a stay on the proposed framework and time to file alternative proposals of their own.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 10, 2020

Democratic Senators push to include FERC reform in comprehensive Senate energy bill

Though none of the proposed amendments were added to the bill's updated version, observers say versions of the amendments could resurface in the House.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 9, 2020

Wind, solar and storage take up 95% of ISO-New England interconnection queue, marking 'dramatic shift'

Five years ago, the majority of the queue was natural gas capacity, CEO Gordon van Welie told reporters.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 9, 2020