Washington utilities need better carbon cost estimates in IRPs, regulator says

Washington utilities file an integrated resource plan every two years. Regulators want to see a more robust assessment of climate change risks in the next one.

By Peter Maloney • May 9, 2018

Virginia regulators reject Dominion's 100% renewables tariff

The Virginia State Corporation Commission determined the proposed tariff would give Dominion "extraordinary discretion" and the rates would be subject to "uncertainty and subjectivity."

By Robert Walton • May 8, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

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

Tesla's Musk talks 'gigawatt-hour scale' storage project

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is thinking big and bigger, building on the success of the company's 129 MWh South Australia project.

By Peter Maloney • May 8, 2018

EIA: Gas to outpace renewables for 2018 US gen additions

For the first time in five years, renewables are expected to make up less than 50% of capacity coming online.

By Robert Walton • May 7, 2018

As California energy markets modernize, regulators worry about repeating the past

A new report from staff of the California Public Utilities Commission concludes the state could drift back into another power crisis without careful planning as markets and technologies evolve.

By Robert Walton • May 7, 2018

South Carolina eyes expanded net metering as Vermont cuts rates

South Carolina is moving to expand the state's net metering cap from 2% to 4% of peak load. Vermont's move would cut the value of rooftop systems.

By Robert Walton • May 7, 2018

Solar has transformed into solar-plus-storage: What will net metering become?

Two prominent policy actions that could drive a more innovative use of solar-plus-storage are time-of-use rates and three-part rates with demand charges.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 7, 2018

ISO New England hits milestone: More grid power used at night than midday

Officials say this is a first but had been expected, due to the proliferation of distributed resources.

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2018

How can US utilities be ready when everything changes?

EY has modeled three critical tipping points for utilities on the way to a new energy system. In Europe and Oceania they're staggered, but in the U.S., they'll arrive in much quicker succession, Dana Hanson writes.

By Dana Hanson • May 4, 2018

New York ISO: Distributed solar largely to blame for declining load

New York's grid is aging needs an upgrade, but it's also undergoing rapid transition, due to a mix of policy and emerging technologies.

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2018

Solar at the crossroads: Is utility-scale, distributed or both the way to go?

Sunrun says solar's future is on rooftops, but solar advocates and utilities say an advanced power system with utility-scale and distributed energy resources is a better bet.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 3, 2018

HECO proposes 2 large battery projects to support renewables push

Proposals include 20 MW and 100 MW battery systems, which must be approved by state regulators.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2018

Iowa town vote on forming muni from Alliant too close to call

Decorah, Iowa, is considering whether to separate from Alliant and form a municipal utility in order to develop more renewable energy. 

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2018

15 minute charge for a 300 mile range? DOE moves to boost EVs

The agency on Monday announced $19 million for research on rapid charge times for electric vehicles, battery pack cost reductions and increasing vehicle range.

By Robert Walton • May 2, 2018

100-Hour storage? DOE launches $30M program to explore new technologies

The program is designed to address the needs of intermittent generation sources, such as wind and solar, by enabling a new set of applications that can provide long lasting backup power.  

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

Michigan lawmakers propose to boost consumer-generated renewables

A bipartisan package of five clean energy bills aims to restore "fair-value pricing" for renewable energy sold back to utility companies, among other changes.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2018

Dominion plans up to 3.6 GW gas, 4.7 GW solar in Virginia

The utility is counting on some form of carbon emissions regulation in the future as it laid out estimates of how much that might cost.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2018

Lithium-ion domination could block promising storage technologies, MIT finds

Li-ion batteries are good for transportation applications, less so for the grid. But their dominance is making it difficult for producers of alternative storage technologies to survive, much less innovate and scale up.

By Peter Maloney • May 1, 2018

Texas regulators approve Xcel's $1.6B wind expansion

New Mexico regulators gave their OK to the 1.2 GW plan in March.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2018

Utilities, oil interests clash over EV policy at conservative policy summit

The battle at the American Legislative Exchange Council shows how utility interests are diverging from those of the oil and gas sector in an era of growing renewable energy and electric vehicles. 

By Gavin Bade • April 30, 2018

Illinois energy law revives renewables while aiding nuclear

The Future Energy Jobs Act is also expanding energy efficiency in the state, but the nuclear subsidies are being challenged in court.

By Peter Maloney • April 30, 2018

PwC: Power sector deals rose 60% in the first quarter

Two mega deals — Dominion-SCANA and Global Infrastructure Partners-Zephyr Renewables — along with activity in the renewable energy sector drove the increase.

By Peter Maloney • April 27, 2018

The innovations just keep coming in the corporate-utility deal space

Utilities and corporate power buyers are finding new innovations in their collaborative efforts to drive the growth of renewables and cut emissions.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2018

Arizona utilities cautious over costs, reliability for proposed 80% clean energy mandate

Meanwhile, two competing ballot proposals would seek to amend the state's constitution to hit 50% renewable energy by 2050 — setting the stage for another political showdown in the state. 

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2018

NY latest renewables RFP to spur $1.5B investment

The move comes on the heels of $1.4 billion in funding for 26 renewable energy projects announced last month pursuant to New York's first large-scale renewables solicitation.

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2018