NY regulators weigh proposals to enhance distributed generation

The Public Service Commission wants to expand customer participation in Community Distributed Generation projects, while also considering the recommendations laid out in the state's Energy Storage Roadmap.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2018

Emails show Arizona regulator Olson copied utility talking points on rooftop solar

The revelation comes as Olson runs for reelection and utility spending booms in the fight over a 50% renewable energy standard.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2018

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

Report: Co-op plans exit from Tri-State G&T, concerned by lack of clean energy

Delta-Montrose Electric Association is raising funds to leave the power provider, saying the money it will save its customers through renewables will outweigh the exit fee.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2018

Can the price of rooftop solar keep falling?

"If prices keep dropping, [rooftop solar] adoption will continue and a smart utility CEO would watch the market and think about ways utilities can have some control over distributed resources," Yale's Kenneth Gillingham said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2018

Chatterjee pushes grid operators to design market products for storage

Outside of PJM's Reg D product, there has been "little momentum" in recent years on market rules "particularly suited for storage," Chatterjee said Tuesday in a wide-ranging address on batteries. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 16, 2018

Duke proposes 150 MW green tariff program for South Carolina C&I customers

The program would allow nonresidential customers to contract for clean energy through the utility while leaving other consumers "financially neutral."

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 16, 2018

AEE keeps tabs on gubernatorial candidates in key energy states

The cleantech trade group published scorecards for candidates from states with open seats and strong market opportunities for clean energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 16, 2018

Spotlight: 6 key issues driving the utility sector today

The industry is undergoing a fundamental transition as it moves away from a centralized, baseload-focused past to a more distributed, renewable future.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 15, 2018

Nevada considers blockchain to track renewable credits

While some of the interest in blockchain technology is driven by a wider fad, the utility sector is considering using the distributed ledger technology to track renewable energy.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018

WalletHub: San Diego tops list as 2018's greenest US city

The 100 largest U.S. cities were judged on 26 "green" indicators including smart energy policies, amount of green space and greenhouse gas emissions per capita.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 15, 2018

California strives to nix its natural gas habit without letting the lights go out

The state relies on natural gas for reliability, but won't reach its 100% zero emissions goal without looking to alternatives.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018

Generation: Despite headwinds, natural gas reliance set to grow in much of US

Gas-fired generation has been called a bridge to a renewable future, but the length of the bridge depends on where it is.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 15, 2018

Business Models: What utilities can learn from Amazon and Netflix about the future of ratemaking

Time- and location-based price signals can guide customer usage, but electricity subscriptions could give more control.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018

Electricity markets: States reassert authority over power generation

States want the benefits of electricity markets but also want to dictate their outcomes. How federal regulators strike a balance will influence the power mix for decades to come.

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 16, 2018

In bid to help bees, Xcel to require vegetation disclosure in solar RFPs

As pollinator-friendly solar sites become a growing trend, Xcel Minnesota becomes the first utility to require solar project bids disclose the type of vegetation they will be using at their sites.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 12, 2018

California decision means higher costs for community choice programs

Community choice advocates say a Thursday decision by state regulators will shift hundreds of millions in costs and undercut the business case for leaving an investor-owned utility's supply.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 12, 2018

Google: Powering data centers with clean energy 24/7 'no easy feat'

The company is already the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world, but a new white paper shows how difficult it will be to eliminate all emissions from its footprint.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 12, 2018

Largest wind project in hemisphere approved for New Mexico, but transmission tie in limbo

Regulators approved a 2.2 GW wind farm but last month turned back an application for a transmission line that is supposed to deliver the clean energy to California markets. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2018

Hawaiian Electric plans 7 solar+storage projects, adding 260 MW solar

The projects, currently in contract negotiations, are the result of an "ambitious, expedited procurement effort" launched in February, said the utility.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2018

Duke Energy to spend $500M on battery storage in next 15 years

Duke Energy is planning a large battery investment in the Carolinas, and on Monday asked state regulators to approve a solar project as well.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2018

DC's aggressive clean energy bill gets initial hearing

The bill would require the District to use 100% renewable energy by 2032. Currently, the city is on track to get 50% of its energy from renewable sources in that time.

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 11, 2018

DOE energy storage grants look to the day when renewables rule the grid

DOE program aims at low cost, long duration storage to meet grid needs when renewable penetration rises above 50%.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 9, 2018

Montana case could set FERC precedent for paired storage treatment under PURPA

A utility and developer are battling at FERC over whether wind-plus-storage facilities qualify under the federal law, which compels utilities to purchase power from small renewable generators. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 9, 2018

Ørsted expands US offshore wind presence with $510M buy

The Danish offshore wind developer plans to close its acquisition of Deepwater Wind by the end of 2018.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 9, 2018

Arizona regulator wants to adopt 80% clean energy plan before gas moratorium ends

Commissioner Andy Tobin wants to have the Arizona Energy Modernization Plan adopted as a final rule by the middle of February — significantly faster than typical rulemaking proceedings.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2018