Fervo-Google geothermal deal underscores baseload power scarcity, analysts say

Key risks remain, however, including “first-of-a-kind execution,” interconnection bottlenecks, capital intensity and competing technology paths, according to a research note from financial services company William Blair.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 2, 2026

Wildfire costs loom over California legislative session that passed solar, data center bills

The California Legislature did not vote on a wildfire reform bill during a special session Tuesday, effectively killing the proposal. The bill had implications for electric utilities.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated 3 hours ago

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

California sues Trump administration over offshore wind ‘extortion racket’

The state alleges the Trump administration “abuses its authority” by diminishing the value of offshore wind energy leases before it makes an “unrefusable offer” to developers.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 31, 2026

Long-term enhanced geothermal test begins in Utah

The test will study “unknown variables required to ensure long term EGS production remains commercially viable,” said Kristie McLin, principal investigator at the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 27, 2026

Trump declares emergency, moves to block some foreign-made equipment from grid

Grid equipment manufacturers say more clarity will be needed, particularly around rules for software and digital products where the country of origin may be difficult to determine.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2026

Trump’s energy policy could cost US 540 GW of renewables, says NRDC

“We lose more than half of everything that we expected to be able to build with the combination of market forces and proactive policy,” said Amanda Levin, NRDC’s director of policy analysis.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 26, 2026

PJM eyes option to jumpstart surplus interconnection pathway

The surplus interconnection process has produced limited results while MISO and SPP are studying about 15 GW and 14 GW, respectively — mostly battery storage. PJM's current rules hinder hybrid projects, observers say.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 21, 2026

Duke’s Carolinas resource plan targets 18.5 GW new solar by 2041

The utility’s North Carolina and South Carolina territory “continues to experience significant growth,” with both states ranked among the fastest-growing, Duke told South Carolina regulators.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2026

VPP value proposition expands to affordability, reliability and resilience

Robust compensation and metering, along with strong customer protections, are needed to drive participation in utility virtual power plant programs, according to experts.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 19, 2026

Home buyers want more information on energy usage. Utilities can help.

By positioning themselves as trusted experts for both buyers and real estate agents, utilities can speed the adoption of efficient grid technologies, say residential energy experts.

By Nathan Shannon and Scott Rosenberg • Aug. 19, 2026

Northwest council proposes 11 GW of new generation, 5 GW storage by 2032

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council estimates the portfolio for its Ninth Power Plan would have a fixed cost of $2.3 billion in 2032.

By Marlene Wilden • Aug. 18, 2026

Beyond the home meter: How utilities can eliminate the EV ‘renter’s penalty’

Tying affordability measures to the customer rather than a home meter can ensure that predictable charging costs are available regardless of housing type, write experts at GRID Alternatives.

By Zach Franklin and Linda Khamoushian • Aug. 18, 2026

Colorado has provided the blueprint for integrating community power

The state is “tapping private investment and competitive market forces to deliver new grid capacity years faster and at a lower cost to customers than utility-owned infrastructure alone,” writes Common Charge Executive Director Mary Rafferty. 

By Mary Rafferty • Aug. 17, 2026

2026 Q2 roundup: Utilities emphasize project execution and ratepayer protections

Executives tried to show they can secure the equipment needed to meet rising demand without shifting costs to existing customers as politicians take aim at data centers ahead of the midterm elections.

By Meris Lutz • Aug. 17, 2026

Record-setting geothermal bid signals rising interest in federal leases

One parcel in New Mexico sold for $701 per acre in June. Analysts cited stronger bidder competition as the Bureau of Land Management prepares for another lease sale in Utah scheduled for Aug. 18.

By Marlene Wilden • Aug. 13, 2026

Xcel asks Colorado Supreme Court to facilitate wind farm interconnection

In June, a district court judge rejected PSCo’s effort to acquire roughly 550 feet of easement via eminent domain to connect two nearly complete wind farms totaling more than 1 GW. The utility says the project delays are harming ratepayers.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 12, 2026

Sunrun pursues direct-sales transition amid industry headwinds

The residential solar-and-storage provider is looking to diversify its revenue while increasing focus on “unlocking value from the customers and assets we already have,” CEO Mary Powell told investors.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 10, 2026

Video gamers give 110-MW Texas solar project a financing boost

“Fractionalized” virtual power purchase agreements and renewable energy certificate transactions can help underwrite clean energy projects, particularly in volatile energy markets, an executive involved in the transaction told Utility Dive.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 6, 2026

$20B in federal climate grants unblocked by appeals court

A divided court rejected the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to reclaim Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants “based solely on a policy disagreement” with the Inflation Reduction Act. 

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 5, 2026

Dominion offshore wind project cost rises nearly $300M

The increase is due to revised network upgrade costs assigned by the PJM Interconnection, tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in April and updated turbine installation projections, executives said.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 3, 2026

A plug-in solar solution that utilities and lawmakers can agree on

To ensure both household safety and grid reliability, the next wave of plug-in solar state legislation should adopt tiered wattage definitions and export limits, writes CraftStrom CEO Stephan Scherer.

By Stephen Scherer • July 30, 2026

FirstEnergy data center contracts surge 50% in Q2

Mon Power, a FirstEnergy subsidiary, plans to assess a surcharge on its customers to help finance $2.7 billion in generation it is building in West Virginia, mainly for a data center.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Aug. 3, 2026

CMS Energy plans to sell renewable assets to focus on regulated utilities

The Jackson, Michigan-based company said the move would simplify its corporate structure, net about $500 million and set it up to generate nearly all of its earnings from its regulated utilities after 2027.

By Brian Martucci • July 29, 2026

Community solar can bridge California’s energy affordability gap

Regulatory complexities are thwarting innovation and keeping electricity bills for the majority of Californians far too high, writes Ardi Arian, CEO of Renewable America.

By Ardi Arian • July 28, 2026

Trump’s ‘vindictive’ use of energy, other grants sparks backlash

The administration nixed $7.6 billion in clean energy grants last year “based solely on the political identity of the grant recipient’s state,” the U.S Department of Energy said in court documents.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2026