Proposed fossil fuel moratorium derails 100% Virginia clean energy bill

The legislation failed 86-12 on Jan. 31 after an amendment to drop the portion halting all state level advancement of any fossil fuel facility, pipeline, terminal or refinery failed.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 1, 2019

Low prices, not legislation, driving Xcel renewables push for now

Bills in Colorado, Texas, Minnesota and other states are not expected to significantly drive capital expenditures in the short term, but will be key to becoming 100% carbon free, analysts say.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 31, 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

Inside Vanguard Renewables, the Northeast's biggest food waste recycler

The Massachusetts company recently opened its latest farm-based anaerobic digester, with seven more on the way. Waste Dive sat down with CEO John Hanselman to learn why his business works where others have failed.

By Cole Rosengren • Jan. 31, 2019

GE restructures renewables business to include solar, storage

The company will move its hybrid renewables and grid solutions work into its division that develops wind and hydro power.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 31, 2019

New report lists steps for Boston to become carbon neutral

The strategies will influence updates to the city's climate action plan this year to include electrification, energy retrofits and a downtown congestion fee.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 30, 2019

Blue state environmental wave grows as New Mexico governor signs clean energy order

The order directs state agencies to set a variety of standards for emissions, energy efficiency and infrastructure, targeting a 45% reduction in carbon emissions below 2005 levels by 2030.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 30, 2019

Is 100% renewable energy for the US possible? Yes

Naysayers argue we'll continue to need nuclear power and natural gas plants, and an all-renewables grid will be too expensive. But none of their arguments stand up, writes the Environmental Working Group.

By Grant Smith and Bill Walker • Jan. 30, 2019

As solar-plus-storage surges, can smart devices help overcome deployment barriers?

As utilities move to reap the benefits of solar-plus-storage, manufacturing and interconnection barriers threaten to impede growth.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 29, 2019

Vermont regulators advance first of 3 Green Mountain Power solar-plus-storage projects

The utility seeks to use these projects to lower regional system costs and forward capacity market costs in the ISO-New England region.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2019

Corporate clean energy PPAs doubled to 13 GW in 2018: BNEF

Corporate PPAs are driving wind and solar growth, while energy storage isn't yet cost competitive enough to be paired with renewables for those agreements, according to BNEF.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2019

Consumers Energy begins to experiment with solar-plus-storage

The utility has rolled out the first solar-plus-storage project in Michigan, calling it a "critical part" of the state's energy future.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 2019

FERC claims 'concurrent jurisdiction' in PG&E-NextEra bankruptcy dispute

The commission's Friday order could give NextEra and other power producers an avenue to preserve contracts with PG&E if the utility invalidates them as part of its Chapter 11 proceeding. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 28, 2019

NextEra 'very comfortable' despite PG&E bankruptcy concerns

During its Q4 earnings call, the company said it had several financial vehicles to mitigate for the effects of a potential PG&E bankruptcy proceeding.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 28, 2019

Tendril grows its load monitoring operations to help shift peak demand

With its latest acquisition of nonintrusive load monitoring technology to process data from advanced metering infrastructure, the company wants to help utilities flatten their loads without help from their customers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 24, 2019

PG&E, SCE, SDG&E pursue subscriptions, time-of-use rates to drive more California EVs

As regulators call for a more formal transportation electrification framework, the state's utilities are stepping up with pilot programs that address peak demand and rate concerns.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2019

PG&E, NextEra face off in bankruptcy-related FERC filings

Pacific Gas & Electric expects the bankruptcy process to stretch two years, or possibly longer, leaving developers worried about getting paid for their existing power purchase agreements.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2019

Bundling small capacity solar: How Bloomberg, Salesforce made VPPA's work for them

The companies partnered with Gap, Cox Enterprises and Workday to purchase 42.5 MW of a larger North Carolina solar project in a collaboration that aims to empower businesses with smaller energy needs to contract renewable energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 23, 2019

A new lease on life for Holyoke, Massachusetts' former coal-fired power plant

The Mount Tom Station was replaced by a solar farm with a three-megawatt battery storage system and 17,000 solar panels — the state's largest.

By Chris Teale • Jan. 22, 2019

Minnesota study finds it cheaper to curtail solar than to add storage

A report studies Minnesota's options for 70% renewable penetration and finds surprising results regarding energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2019

New Jersey advances first community solar pilot to power 45K homes

State regulators approved the rules for what could evolve into a permanent community solar program of at least 225 MW over the next three years.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators direct higher plant payments amid capacity crunch concerns

Changes to the state's market rules will make prices respond more quickly during times of grid stress, boosting payments to resources that can provide emergency power. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 22, 2019

Navigating utility business model reform: A practical guide

Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute provide a guide to modernizing the electric utility business model. 

By Dan Cross-Call, Cara Goldenberg and Mike O’Boyle • Jan. 22, 2019

Bailout doubt – PG&E faces bankruptcy amid California's 'first climate change-caused emergency'

Stakeholders say few will benefit from bankruptcy, but alternatives have been dubbed "politically too hot to touch."

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators defer to legislature on utility ownership of energy storage

The state's market for energy storage is in limbo since regulators dismissed a request by AEP Texas last year to install two battery storage projects.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 18, 2019

Greens, consumer advocates split as Louisiana approves $1B Cleco plant deal

The Sierra Club touted a renewable energy and coal phaseout deal it struck with the utility as part of the acquisition, but the Alliance for Affordable Energy is concerned Cleco will move the fossil plants into cost recovery.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 18, 2019