Renewables
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Lawsuit alleges USDA illegally slashed rural solar development program
Internal emails show a department administrator stating “let’s let the comms shop find . . . the rationale behind their statistics” when asked to substantiate anti-solar claims underpinning the policy changes, the complaint says.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 29, 2026 -
Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
NYSERDA taps 950 MW lithium batteries, 700 MW renewables
Lithium batteries and solar, wind and hydroelectric renewable generation were selected in the state’s first bulk energy storage procurement and its 2025 Tier 1 Renewable Energy Standard solicitation.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 28, 2026 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineData 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 -
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Second federal judge overturns $7B Solar for All cancellation
The decision in a suit brought by Harris County, Texas, follows a similar ruling last week. A Harris County judge called it “a really important victory for energy resilience.”
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 25, 2026 -
Courtesy of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
States sue Trump administration, developers over offshore wind lease buyouts
Attorneys general from California and a coalition of Northeastern states accused the federal government of violating several laws and the developers of colluding with the administration.
By Diana DiGangi , Meris Lutz • Sept. 24, 2026 -
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OpinionOn clean energy, bigger is not always better
When Congress revisits clean-energy tax policy, lawmakers should restore incentives for locally driven solar and storage projects, writes Edward Yim at Lawyers for Good Government.
By Edward Yim • Sept. 24, 2026 -
Mario Tama/ via Getty Images
California tightens oversight of data center energy use, grid costs
Bills signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom include regulations aimed at ensuring data centers pay for infrastructure needed to serve them and bear a larger share of wildfire mitigation and liability costs.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 22, 2026 -
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Federal judge restores $7B Solar for All program, says EPA illegally axed it
A Trump-appointed judge said the One Big Beautiful Bill Act did not convert the funding into “a lump-sum amount subject to EPA’s discretion.” Defendants acted contrary to Congress’ intent and with “no other statutory authority.”
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 21, 2026 -
Courtesy of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
New York regulators approve 90-mile transmission line
The $3.3-billion project aims to improve downstate power delivery by 2030. It is being developed by New York Transco and the New York Power Authority.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2026 -
Courtesy of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Meta, Apex Clean Energy agree to 144-MW Texas solar PPA
Meta will receive “exclusive rights to all environmental attributes associated with energy” from the project, including all renewable energy credits, according to Apex.
By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 17, 2026 -
Daphne Howland/Utility Dive
Burlington advances on-site solar strategy across distribution network
The off-price retailer is planning installations at upcoming facilities in Arizona and California, as well as an existing warehouse in Georgia.
By Kelly Stroh • Sept. 17, 2026 -
Courtesy of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
State-led planning could advance clean energy in deregulated markets: report
States should step in with new long-term planning processes to bolster nuclear, offshore wind and other technologies that face major barriers, according to the Clean Air Task Force.
By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 16, 2026 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Investment tax credit glut gives corporate buyers more leverage, report says
More clean energy tax credits are hitting the market. Credits tied to electricity production are holding their value, while investment tax credits based on the cost of building face price pressure as buyers weigh uncertainty over new federal rules.
By Marlene Wilden • Sept. 16, 2026 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Solar generation expected to grow 21% this year, 18% in 2027: EIA
Data centers and a manufacturing expansion will drive U.S. electricity use 2% higher this year and next, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Brent Stirton via Getty Images
Front-of-meter solar, storage could serve 32% of California’s 2032 peak load: study
An analysis commissioned by the Coalition for Community Solar Access found untapped opportunity for 3,100 distribution-connected projects in the state’s three investor-owned utility territories.
By Brian Martucci • Sept. 9, 2026 -
Permission granted by Eos
Google backs solar-storage project at former West Virginia coal mine
The project MN8 is developing will include 100 MWh of long-duration Eos Energy Enterprises zinc-based storage alongside lithium-ion batteries.
By Brian Martucci • Sept. 8, 2026 -
Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
ERCOT load continues to reach record highs
Over six weeks since late July, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ weekly average peak loads all exceeded a record set in 2023, the Energy Information Administration said.
By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 8, 2026 -
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Land-based wind power pipeline shrinks as price gap with solar widens
John Hensley, senior vice president of markets and policy analysis at ACP, told Utility Dive that his organization has calculated at least 44 GW of wind projects are “stuck” in review at the U.S. Department of Defense.
By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 3, 2026 -
Courtesy of Fervo Energy
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 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
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 Sept. 2, 2026 -
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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 -
Courtesy of Fervo Energy
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 -
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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 -
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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 -
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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 -
Permission granted by Duke Energy
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
