Crossed wires: Wisconsin transmission proposal sparks debate over best path to 100% clean energy

A major MISO transmission project could increase reliability and renewables in the Midwest, but opponents say there are better approaches to reducing carbon emissions.

By Max Witynski • Updated Sept. 30, 2019

New Mexico governor wants to upend PRC as regulators skirt clean energy law

Michelle Lujan Grisham intends to speed up a legislative decision that would restructure the state's regulatory body as tensions mount over implementing New Mexico's comprehensive Energy Transition Act.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 8, 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

Los Angeles County to go carbon neutral by 2050

The OurCounty plan calls for eliminating fossil fuel production and transitiioing the workforce toward clean energy.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 8, 2019

Hawaii regulators question lack of non-wires alternatives in HECO's integrated grid plan

The Public Utilities Commission asked if a "course of correction is necessary" for the utility's plan, particularly regarding the resilience benefits of microgrid solutions on the state's mountainous islands.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 8, 2019

As co-ops struggle with stranded fossil fuel assets, Tri-State may finally embrace the energy transition

"Our goal is a transition that lowers rates. It might be hard – but it might be beautiful," the G&T's new CEO told Utility Dive.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 7, 2019

Monetizing microgrids: Utilities are missing a unique opportunity

Utilities are uniquely positioned to operationalize and monetize the value of microgrids to all ratepayers instead of a select few,  creating a distributed energy grid to many instead of a set of early adopters.

By Megan Kerins and Ana Sophia Mifsud • Aug. 6, 2019

Dominion's 100% renewables tariff could kill Virginia's retail choice ambitions

Competitive retail providers are fighting for customers in the state, alongside a growing number of displeased ratepayers.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2019

9th Circuit contradicts FERC in favor of solar developers in California PURPA case

The federal court ruled the state did not have a mechanism in place to effectively implement PURPA, the law intended to drive utilities to purchase power from smaller renewables generators.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 2, 2019

NYPA to invest $1.1B to extend life of New York's largest clean electricity source

The utility says keeping the 2.5 GW Niagara Power Project online will help the state meet its 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 goal.

By Max Witynski • Aug. 2, 2019

PG&E asks bankruptcy court to approve 'discounted' PPAs for storage and renewables projects

Three developers separately approached Pacific Gas & Electric to negotiate changes, in order to reduce project uncertainty created by the utility's bankruptcy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2019

GE Renewables notches $184M Q2 loss, despite strong revenue growth

The company cited a host of reasons for the loss, including increased research and development spending, and project execution issues, particularly in Asia.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2019

Southwest Power Pool moves to boost reliability, storage amid CEO resignation

The buildout of cheap renewables and the large queue of battery storage projects prompted stakeholders to ask SPP to study the reliability impacts of a grid with less conventional generation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 1, 2019

Ameren cancels 157 MW wind project, citing transmission upgrade costs

The Missouri project would have required "unacceptably high" expenses that the utility said it didn't want to push on to ratepayers.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 30, 2019

NextEra inks 700 MW wind + solar + battery project, largest in the US

The Oklahoma facility is also the first of its kind in the Southwest Power Pool, developers say.

By Robert Walton • July 29, 2019

Wholesale electricity market design for rapid decarbonization: A decentralized markets approach

What wholesale market design would provide the best framework for integrating reliably and at least cost the new, clean resources that will be needed to de-carbonize the power system?

By Rob Gramlich and Michael Hogan • July 29, 2019

Proposed legislation would extend solar investment tax credit 5 years

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., proposed the bill along with 15 other Democrats, while a bipartisan trio of representatives introduced a companion version in the House.

By Robert Walton • July 29, 2019

Few US cities on track to meet climate goals: ACEEE

Cities took on more than 265 climate initiatives in 2018, but most aren't adequately tracking their progress, and nearly 35% of cities have not set GHG reduction targets. 

By Katie Pyzyk • July 26, 2019

ERCOT: Wind outpaced coal on Texas grid for the first time

In the first six months of 2019, wind accounted for roughly 22% of generation in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas — besting coal generation by less than half of 1%.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2019

DOE announces $16M in funding for 14 tribal energy projects, including solar, storage

Several multi-million dollar solar and efficiency projects are expected to save tribes even more over project lifetimes.

By Max Witynski • July 25, 2019

Apple leads second-biggest year for commercial solar installations: SEIA

Power purchase agreements and off-site installations play an important role as more companies add solar capacity.

By Max Witynski • July 25, 2019

Chicago considers municipalizing ComEd

The utility's contract with the city expires at the end of 2020 and city leaders believe they could accelerate decarbonization and lower rates through municipalization.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 25, 2019

Federal bill could restore biogas tax credits, bolster organics infrastructure

The expiration of a 30% investment tax credit — responsible for growing the wind and solar sectors — has reduced financing options for anaerobic digesters in recent years.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 27, 2019

Duke Energy Renewables acquires 200 MW Texas solar project, largest in its fleet

Energy from the project will be sold through a 12-year hedge agreement, the first time the Duke subsidiary has used such a financing mechanism for solar.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2019

PGE plans 150 MWa renewables, 4 MW storage, finds wind cheaper than gas to meet future capacity

Approximately 350 MW of Portland General Electric's capacity contracts expire in the mid-2020s. Wind may be the cheapest way to meet that demand.

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2019

Island-wide outage on Kaua'i: Clouds block solar recovery after generator's cable failure

Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative's largest generator tripped offline on Sunday, leading to a power outage followed by continued rolling blackouts.

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2019