MOPR Madness: 2 wrongs don't make a right

Regardless of the exact cost of PJM's plan to address state subsidy impacts on its capacity market, the amount is large and unnecessary, Electricity Consumers Resource Council's Devin Hartman writes.

By Devin Hartman • Sept. 13, 2019

Louisiana utilities to pay less for rooftop solar power under new net metering rules

The changes will also allow utilities to recover any lost revenues from the excess power provided by rooftop solar, "a pretty remarkable turn," says one opponent.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 13, 2019

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

Sunrun partnership enhances HECO's ability to tap into DER systems when power demand spikes

The developer has teamed up with OATI to offer 4.3 MW of capacity and fast frequency service to the Hawaiian Electric Company through 1,000 solar+storage systems across Oahu residences.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 12, 2019

Michigan urges MISO, PJM to improve regional reliability after Consumers compressor station fire

In a letter to the grid operators, the state's governor and head regulator called for quicker interconnection processes to improve regional resource diversity and a reexamination of demand response capabilities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 12, 2019

Renewables, storage poised to undercut natural gas prices, increase stranded assets: RMI

If all proposed gas plants are built, 70% of those investments will be rendered uneconomic by 2035, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 11, 2019

Los Angeles approves 'historically low cost' solar+storage project

The Department of Water and Power's Board of Commission authorized power purchase agreements for the Eland Solar and Storage Center, which includes 400 MW of solar generation and 1,200 MWh of energy storage.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

Santee Cooper forecasts coal phaseout, 1 GW new solar as base case for potential sale

The state-owned utility prepared the forecast at the direction of South Carolina legislators who are considering selling the company to pay off debt from the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

Tri-State joins suite of new participants in Southwest, California energy imbalance markets

The California ISO and Southwest Power Pool each recently announced new members. SPP's Western Energy Imbalance Service market is expected to begin operations in 2021. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2019

As utilities scramble to manage explosive DER growth, is power grid autonomy a solution?

The U.S. electric grid could face hundreds of millions of distributed resource deployments in the near future. But optimizing these data points may exceed human ability.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 11, 2019

Bipartisan Senate bill allocates $100M to ease residential solar, storage permitting

The bill from Sens. Susan Collins and Martin Heinrich would direct the Energy Department to create the Distributed Energy Opportunity Board, to streamline local permitting and inspection for qualifying systems.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 10, 2019

SDG&E looks to raise minimum bill 400%, citing solar-driven cost shift

The utility says more than $400 million in costs to maintain the grid are annually shifted from solar to non-solar residential households in its territory.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 9, 2019

Connecticut 100% carbon-free plan is chance to move beyond ISO-NE gas focus: DEEP chief

State regulators plan to move toward the governor's aggressive goals through analyzing ancillary services as an alternative to the region's current reliance on natural gas buildouts.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 9, 2019

Connecticut governor calls for 100% carbon-free power by 2040

The Lamont administration also committed to building out some natural gas infrastructure, frustrating some advocates.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 5, 2019

The unknown costs of a 100% carbon-free future

State approaches to 100% clean energy vary, and while several costs remain unknown, some utility solutions are emerging.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 3, 2019

Rhode Island issues 10-year tax credit to draw offshore wind business

The state uses its Qualified Jobs Tax Credit program to attract companies to relocate or expand, and wind O&M companies have been approved for $2.8 million in credits over a decade.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 29, 2019

Is PREPA ready for hurricane season?

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority has "a fragile system," according to the utility's director of project management, and "it still hasn't been elevated to the codes and standards for a Category 4" storm.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 29, 2019

Renewable natural gas: The climate change solution with limited awareness of its potential

RNG's immediate benefits include new revenue streams for cities, farmers and others. Long term benefits include enhanced energy security through a diversified resource supply and climate change mitigation, writes Michael Bakas.

By Michael Bakas • Aug. 28, 2019

Rocky Mountain Power to operate largest US residential battery demand response project

Sonnen and the utility are partnering to build a virtual power plant at the new 600-unit apartment complex, with 12.6 MWh of energy capacity from a 5.2 MW solar array.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2019

DTE resource plan ignores dynamic modeling, undervalues solar, stakeholders complain

The utility's long-term plan is rigid in its resource assumptions, allowing uneconomic coal to stay online longer and undervaluing the potential benefits of renewables, according to expert testimony.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 27, 2019

Hawaiian Electric pursues approximately 900 MW renewables, mandates some storage pairings

It is the utility's largest clean energy procurement effort to date, and it will help position Hawaii to meet a 100% renewables goal by 2045.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2019

In trucking, is it sunrise for solar?

Solar panels on trucks can supplement battery and power lift gates, though the technology today isn't enough to power a truck down the road. 

By Barry Hochfelder • Aug. 26, 2019

PG&E may answer the billion dollar grid modernization question

A step-by-step regulatory process in California confronts the technical challenges and "obscene expenses" of distributed resource investments.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 26, 2019

Achieving 100% renewables by 2050 cannot be summarily ruled out

A Utility Dive opinion piece recently said 100% renewable energy is not possible in the next 30 years. Senior policy advisor Robert Borlick goes point by point to provide a different take.

By Robert Borlick • Aug. 23, 2019

TVA board approves long-term plan adding 14 GW solar by 2038

The board also called for the addition of simple cycle gas units to follow the variable loads created by renewable energy additions.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 23, 2019

An uncertain path to a cleaner future: Zero carbon electricity legislation in New York and California

How should California, New York and other states plan to meet their new 100% zero carbon electricity market goals with minimal impacts on reliability and affordability?

By Thomas R. Brill and Steven C. Russo • Aug. 23, 2019