USDA invests $400M in rural electricity upgrades, smart grids

The largest loan will send $68.5 million to back a solar farm run by NextEra Energy Resources in Arkansas, which could meet the needs of 21,000 homes.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 24, 2018

Bipartisan senators ask treasury secretary to expand storage tax credit eligibility

The IRS ruled this year that storage projects paired with solar systems that met internal investment tax credit qualification would also be eligible for the credit.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 21, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

AEP Ohio files plans to develop 900 MW of solar, wind

Environmental advocates say the proposal would more than double Ohio's clean energy resources, as its power mix is dominated by coal and gas.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2018

Sempra to sell $1.54B solar, storage assets to Con Edison

The sale is the first part of a multiphase, portfolio-optimization initiative for Sempra.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 21, 2018

As California leads way with TOU rates, some call for simpler solutions

The state continues its nearly 20-year effort to get to residential time varying rates, but hurdles remain.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2018

RES Americas cancels 600 MW wind project in Indiana

In rural areas, turbine setback requirements and property rights can collide to the detriment of developers' plans.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 20, 2018

SunPower soars after winning exemption from Trump solar tariffs

The U.S. Trade Representative published a slew of Section 201 exemptions on Wednesday, but analysts see SunPower as the real winner.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 19, 2018

Trump administration levies new tariffs on Chinese solar inverters

Analysts expect the impact on the domestic solar market to be modest, as solar inverters are a relatively small portion of total system cost.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 19, 2018

New Jersey opens biggest offshore wind solicitation at 1.1 GW, expects 2.4 GW more

State regulators estimate that the process will give developers sufficient time to qualify for federal investment tax credits and save approximately 12% of the total project cost.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 18, 2018

California customer choice at a crossroads: Regulators to weigh 3 key issues next week

The California Public Utilities Commission will consider two proposals Sept. 27 on how to calculate the price customers moving from IOUs to community choice aggregators must pay.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 18, 2018

Seattle, Atlanta first winners in American Cities Climate Challenge

The pair are the first of 20 cities to be named for Bloomberg Philanthropies' two-year program, which looks to help uphold the goals of the Paris climate accord.

By Chris Teale • Sept. 18, 2018

California PUC unveils proposed fix to storage incentive program, quantifying GHG reductions

The wrong metric led to an increase instead of a reduction in GHG emissions from energy storage, and regulators proposed employing a new signal for the commercial and residential storage markets.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 18, 2018

New York PSC moves state closer to energy storage, climate goals

The recent steps push state regulators closer to a vote on implementing the actual policy directives of the ambitious Energy Storage Roadmap.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 17, 2018

University of California system commits to 100% clean energy by 2025

As more universities are committing to clean energy goals, the UC seeks to promote its climate action leadership among campuses and within the state.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 17, 2018

Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente add to boom in corporate renewable PPAs

As companies reach for emissions-free operations, renewable energy power purchase agreements are on the rise.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 14, 2018

Amid steady battery growth, Fluence sets sights on market share, transmission assets

Having proven itself on utility-scale projects, the company eyes behind-the-meter projects on the commercial-industrial side and opportunities at the "center of the grid."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 14, 2018

Survey: 57% of cities plan climate action in next year

The survey, conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, shows cities are investing heavily in renewable energy.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 14, 2018

Report: US almost halfway to achieving Paris climate goals thanks to city, state action

The study by the America's Pledge initiative slammed federal government inaction and gave lower levels of government pointers on what to do next.

By Chris Teale • Sept. 14, 2018

Report: Solar industry rebounds from tariff uncertainty

Despite some tariff impacts, the U.S. solar market has stabilized and utility procurement has "experienced a massive rebound," Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association found.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2018

SPI 2018: Celebrate the growth of green energy!

The cost of renewables and energy storage has become competitive with conventional thermal generation in many parts of the world. Which means our industry will be growing big time in the foreseeable future. 

Sept. 14, 2018

Renewables: As rooftop solar expands, states grapple with successors to net metering

Replacements to the controversial solar incentive have cropped up in Hawaii, California and elsewhere, but policymakers have struggled to devise a replicable model across the U.S. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2018

Washington munis oppose second ballot initiative for taxing carbon

Voters rejected a carbon tax at the polls in 2016 and another proposal failed in the state Senate earlier this year.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2018

APS rolls out 3 new customer-sited storage and efficiency programs

The new offerings for smart thermostats, batteries and efficient water heaters come as the utility fights against a 50% renewable energy initiative on the ballot this November. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2018

Washington judge allows PacifiCorp to keep coal study under wraps

The utility has faced pressure from the Sierra Club to publicly reveal an assessment of its coal resources, which PacifiCorp completed last year for Oregon regulators.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2018

Arizona regulators approve lower rooftop solar credits for TEP, UNSE customers

Regulators did not cut solar compensation as much as the utilities wanted, but installers still worry the lower rates will hamper adoption. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 12, 2018