Exclusive: Ohio PUC details utility reform roadmap in PowerForward initiative

The plan, a product of a year-long business model investigation, aims to create a level playing field for innovation on the utility distribution system.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 29, 2018

California passes landmark 100% clean energy goal

The bill headed to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk would direct state agencies to begin planning to supply 100% of retail electricity sales with carbon-free resources by 2045.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 30, 2018

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Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

LBNL: Wind prices at record lows but future installations remain uncertain

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory expects installed wind capacity to plateau after 2021, when the resource's federal production tax credit begins to phase out.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2018

Renewables push CAISO prices lower, threaten inflexible generation

A new report finds uneven price distribution in utility-scale solar disproportionately affects baseload generation, such as coal and nuclear. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 28, 2018

Colorado approves Xcel plan to retire coal, shift to renewables and storage

The plan will see the utility retire 660 MW of coal power and invest $2.5 billion in renewable energy, part of Xcel's "steel for fuel" strategy.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 28, 2018

Pollinator habitats: The bees' knees of rural solar development

Pollinator-friendly solar is a blossoming trend that saves maintenance costs and makes utility-scale solar more appealing to agricultural communities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 27, 2018

Minnesota regulators unanimously reject Centerpoint's renewable natural gas program

The utility says it remains "committed to the importance of bringing a renewable natural gas option to our customers."

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated July 29, 2019

Oklahoma AG opinion clears way for third-party solar ownership

Oklahoma's solar industry could see a boost from an opinion by the state's attorney general, which concludes third-party ownership and leasing arrangements are allowed.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

Philadelphia sets path to reduce GHG emissions 80% by 2050

Other steps include initiatives to install rooftop solar and incentives for more efficient building thermal systems.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 24, 2018

PacifiCorp, Idaho Power agree to make CAISO their reliability coordinator

As the California grid operator draws closer to filing at FERC for approval of its Reliability Coordinator services, two more utilities have signed on following a commitment by the Balancing Authority of Northern California in July.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 24, 2018

New York unveils new toolkit to drive solar on brownfields

The procurement guidelines aim to spur community solar development on landfills and other underutilized land, advancing the state's 50% renewable generation goals.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 24, 2018

Are regulators starting to rethink fixed charges?

Fixed rate reductions in Q2 of this year may indicate regulators are more conscious of low and moderate income customers as well as investments in energy efficiency and distributed energy resources. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 23, 2018

Interactive: Wind turbines are getting more powerful as 'specific power' declines

The new 2017 Wind Technologies Market Report, prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and released by the U.S. Department of Energy, shows a trend in turbines that do better in lower wind speeds.

By Ryan Wiser, Mark Bolinger, Ben Hoen and Bentham Paulos • Aug. 23, 2018

35 California mayors sign on to support 100% EV state transit proposal

As a national leader in the deployment of electric buses, California regulators are proposing to transition the state's entire transit fleet to EV by 2040.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 23, 2018

Tucson Electric proceeding lays groundwork for customer solar+storage rate

Residential solar advocates wonder what sort of solar-plus-storage rate can sweeten the deal for TEP customers in the "post net metering paradigm."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 22, 2018

Montana developer eyes PURPA contracts for 320 MW of wind, 640 MWh of storage

Caithness Beaver Creek wants to build four 80 MW wind projects paired with 40 MW/160 MWh batteries, but couldn’t come to an agreement with utility Northwestern Energy over capacity payments.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 21, 2018

BTM storage is booming in Ontario

A flurry of energy storage projects highlights opportunities for large industrial customers to reduce a costly rate structure established in 2005.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 20, 2018

Michigan coal closures prod small muni to go 100% renewables

The largest utilities in the state are phasing out coal, leaving smaller power providers scrambling to replace the energy they deliver.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2018

Xcel strikes deal for 240 MW of BTM solar to support steel mill expansion

The landmark behind-the-meter construction will allow EVRAZ Rocky Mountain Steel to lock in electricity prices through 2041.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 20, 2018

New Mexico hearing officer recommends striking 'standby fee' for some solar customers

Data that Southwestern Public Service Co. used to justify the fee is "riddled with errors and unreliable," wrote Carolyn Glick, a hearing officer at the state's Public Regulation Commission.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2018

Arizona regulators determine signatures valid on 50% renewables ballot initiative

The Arizona Secretary of State's office determined more than 70% of the signatures were valid on a petition supporting the ballot, but opposition can still challenge individual signatures.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2018

New York studies European offshore wind industry to inform development plans

A new study of successful offshore wind transmission models will focus on large-scale projects across the Atlantic in order to help guide the state's procurements.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2018

Ontario develops largest BTM storage system in North America

The system highlights opportunities for addressing Ontario's high demand charges.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 16, 2018

Modernizing renewables mandates is no longer about the megawatts

While renewables mandates have been successful and cost effective, studies show evolving power systems should focus on decreasing peak demand and cutting emissions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 16, 2018

California Senate appropriations committee takes up ISO regionalization bill

State policymakers have been pushing hard for a regional market that would encompass all the western states for years, but opponents have been pushing just as hard to kill the bill.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 15, 2018