Climate models underestimate renewables progress, overstate net zero costs: study

Modeling has failed to account for cost decreases and efficiency increases, particularly for solar, said the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 28, 2023

DOE closes $3B partial loan guarantee with Sunnova in agency’s largest single commitment to solar

Sunnova expects to provide loans to between 75,000 and 115,000 homeowners for rooftop solar installations, residential battery systems and smart software.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 28, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

New laws, corporate commitments and favorable economics are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but there are multiple challenges around grid interconnections, transmission, supply chains and labor needs.

By Utility Dive staff

Community solar is hot. Why not community wind?

Perhaps the biggest difference between yesterday’s community wind and today’s community solar markets is in their business models, which reflect their respective market and policy environments. 

By Mark Bolinger and Bentham Paulos • Sept. 27, 2023

Xcel Colorado proposes $15B plan to double renewables, add gas and energy storage capacity

The plan includes about 5,400 MW of solar and wind resources, more than 1,000 MW of energy storage and almost 630 MW of new gas-fired capacity.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 26, 2023

US won’t reach net zero emissions without transmission buildout: DNV

A cumulative $12 trillion will be spent on clean energy in North America by 2050, but neither the U.S. or Canada are on track to hit net zero by then, says consulting firm DNV.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 25, 2023

Customer-driven clean energy procurement, not regulation, is driving decarbonization

In 2022, voluntary renewable energy procurement deals by corporate and institutional customers were equivalent to 70% of the carbon-free energy capacity added to the grid.

By Kevin Hagen • Sept. 25, 2023

Dominion Energy turns to lithium-ion battery alternatives as it builds out offshore wind, solar fleet

A proposed project would test two storage technologies: Form Energy’s iron-air batteries and Eos Energy’s zinc-hybrid batteries.

By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 22, 2023

White House launches clean energy youth workforce program amid labor shortage concerns

The American Climate Corps aims to put more than 20,000 people to work in its first year. The plan “harkens back” to the New Deal, said International District Energy Association CEO Rob Thornton.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 21, 2023

Offshore wind plan from Energy, Interior departments aims for regional collaboration, clarity on transmission planning

"Dissimilar or even disparate policies, processes, goals, and priorities” across states and transmission planning bodies are a barrier, the agencies said.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 20, 2023

Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources: Xcel VP

Effective distribution system planning and merging analytic insights into comprehensive electricity planning both face barriers, analysts and stakeholders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2023

More than 300 Apple suppliers have commited to clean energy

The device maker also released its first carbon-neutral devices as it closes on its goal of dramatically cutting emissions in its supply chain.

By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 19, 2023

Virginia SCC strikes down Dominion’s interconnection rules for distributed solar

An alliance of distributed solar developers and supporters argued Dominion Energy’s interconnection rules created unreasonable barriers to small-scale solar.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 19, 2023

When it comes to government funding for clean energy, money isn’t everything

The rush to secure billions in clean energy and infrastructure funding has the potential to be disastrous if it goes wrong.

By Anne Clawson • Sept. 18, 2023

SOO Green underground transmission line between MISO, PJM clears key hurdle with Iowa approval

The proposed 350-mile SOO Green project advances as two Democrats introduce a bill in Congress to spur interregional transmission capacity, partly to bolster grid reliability.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 18, 2023

How Four Seasons of Savings kits offer a personal touch and keep customers engaged

Can you remember the last time you got something in the mail that you didn’t expect, but it ended up being just the thing you needed?

By Jamie Mascarin, Senior Account Executive AM Conservation • Sept. 18, 2023

New York’s utilities lead the way to net zero emissions

This week, international leaders from business and government converge in New York City for the 15th annual Climate Week NYC summit.

By Joseph Vellone, Head of North America, ev.energy • Sept. 18, 2023

Emerging firm and peaking clean energy tech can slash carbon-free power costs: Google

Corporate clean-energy buyers can help commercialize emerging technologies like next-gen geothermal, carbon capture and storage, advanced nuclear, hydrogen and long-duration storage, Google said.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 15, 2023

Chevron joins Mitsubishi in 300 GWh hydrogen storage project as construction continues

The first phase of the Advanced Clean Energy Storage project will provide fuel for the Intermountain Power Agency's 840-MW blended gas power plant by 2025.

By Emma Penrod • Sept. 15, 2023

Moody’s warns of potential power price volatility from renewables oversupply

Reliability costs associated with backstopping renewables could rise to $435 billion a year around the world by 2030, the ratings agency said in a report released Wednesday.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 14, 2023

MISO: 49 GW has received interconnection approval, but projects face major delays

The roughly two-year delays in building generation and storage come as the Midcontinent Independent System Operator faces looming capacity shortfalls.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 14, 2023

IRA could cut economy-wide carbon emissions by up to 43% by 2030: EPA

In the electric power sector, EPA said that emissions could be reduced by up to 83% below 2005 levels.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 13, 2023

Google to adopt standardized PPA contract for most renewable energy RFPs after yearlong trial

Trading the conventional open-ended process for a standardized contract cut PPA negotiation time by 80%, Google's head of data center energy said.

By Emma Penrod • Sept. 12, 2023

Taking Charge: Nexamp’s CEO on the ‘existential threat’ of low labor supply and other challenges

Community solar developer Nexamp wants to employ workers from the same historically underserved communities it brings solar to, said CEO Zaid Ashai. 

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 12, 2023

Guidance for the IRA’s 45X, other clean energy tax credits will arrive by year end, says Treasury

The department is entering “Phase 2” of implementing the incentives, promising new guidance on 45X, 48C and 30D.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 11, 2023

As Google, Meta eye clean energy buys, researchers find widely used strategy has scant carbon benefits

Compared with annual matching, 24/7 green power procurements can drive “significant” cuts in carbon emissions and spur emerging technologies like long duration storage, Princeton University researchers found.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 13, 2023