13 projects from the leading edge of the utility transformation

One nonprofit's invite-only policy forums provide utility stakeholders a "safe space" to work out contentious proceedings and advance ambitious projects.

By Gavin Bade • May 23, 2018

Trump Administration advances 500 MW solar project

The Bureau of Land Management has completed its environmental assessment of the Palen project, which would be among the largest solar generating facilities in the country.

By Larry Pearl • May 23, 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

Getting paid to charge a battery is an attractive but limited opportunity, analysts say

While Tesla's Australian energy storage facility apparently made a windfall from negative prices, analysts say such prices are too rare to be reliable. 

By Peter Maloney • May 22, 2018

RMI says rush to build gas plants could cost investors, customers billions

With thermal generators quickly aging, researchers at Rocky Mountain Institute say a clean energy portfolio can address U.S. power needs more cheaply than gas-fired plants.

By Robert Walton • May 22, 2018

DTE, Consumers pledge 50% clean energy, heading off ballot initiative

The Michigan utilities expect to reach most of the 2030 goal through efficiency initiatives, but at least 25% of the result will come from renewable energy.

By Robert Walton • May 21, 2018

Wind power poised for record year, despite initial tax law concerns

Clarity on tax policy and countdown to expiration of the production tax credit are combining to drive a significant increase in the U.S. wind power project pipeline.

By Peter Maloney • May 21, 2018

Federal government halts linework on Puerto Rico's grid

FEMA has ended the restoration portion of its mission to repair Puerto Rico's grid two weeks ahead of the official start of hurricane season.

By Robert Walton • May 21, 2018

California utilities, solar developers advocate dialogue on new solar mandate

The state's public utilities commission will reconsider net metering tariffs in the next two years.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 20, 2018

Hawaii Electric improvising with microgrids as lava stalls resiliency efforts

The utility operator on Hawaii's big island is "handling the situation as well as anyone could," according to the state's PUC.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 18, 2018

Public power utilities face growing risk from renewables shift, says Moody's

Credit risks for utilities with a higher share of coal power in their generating mix, such as municipal utilities, center on the potential for stranded assets.

By Peter Maloney • May 18, 2018

California regulators see signs of a new energy crisis — can they prevent it?

As the state's customer choice movement expands, energy sector stakeholders continue to struggle with what CPUC President Michael Picker calls "scar tissue" from the 2000-2001 energy crisis.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 18, 2018

Illinois can do without Vistra coal plants, greens claim

Shutting eight plants in Southern Illinois and replacing them with other options could save up to $14 billion, says a new report by Vibrant Clean Energy for NRDC and Sierra Club.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2018

FERC chair restarts PURPA review, pledging 'open mind'

Federal energy regulators also approved a new pipeline proposal and reviewed summer reliability conditions at their May open meeting.

By Gavin Bade • May 17, 2018

APS: Controversial RFP does not violate Arizona gas moratorium

Reliability concerns about energy storage prompted Arizona Public Service to limit its role in a pending contract request, executives said. 

By Gavin Bade • May 17, 2018

Cypress Creek cancels 1.5 GW as solar tariffs take toll

But the Energy Information Administration expects tariffs to have only a moderate impact on final system costs by 2025.

By Robert Walton • May 16, 2018

High values are blowing in offshore winds; policymakers may need more

In some locations, energy, capacity and REC prices could give offshore wind the edge over onshore wind, but policymakers need to see economic benefits.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 15, 2018

Nevada regulators allow utilities to own EV charging stations

The Public Utilities Commission also approved funding for storage and a low income solar program.

By Robert Walton • May 15, 2018

Competitive solar-plus-storage moves closer to reality

Incentives and economics result in more pairings of solar power and energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • May 14, 2018

'Stunning' APS RFP could violate Arizona gas moratorium, critics say

The request for 800 MW of peaking capacity limits renewables and energy storage to 100 MW, which clean energy advocates say could run afoul of a regulatory pause on gas investments.

By Gavin Bade • May 14, 2018

GE to buy Alstom out of joint ventures for $3.1B

The three joint ventures, which focused on renewables, nuclear and the grid, were developed in 2015 when GE purchased Alstom's energy business.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2018

How two value-of-solar studies add up to no clear value of solar

Valuation studies for Montana and Maryland demonstrate the complications of trying to use rooftop solar’s costs and benefits to settle net energy metering disputes.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 10, 2018

Connecticut lawmakers pass sweeping energy bill

While the bill will raise the state's renewables goals, rooftop solar supporters say provisions could stall the industry's growth.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2018

New Hampshire rethinks distributed generation-only pilots for non-wires alternatives

Stakeholders said that without including other distributed energy resources, like energy storage, efficiency and demand response, any study of DER value would not yield much useful information.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2018

EnSync's solar+storage to allow energy sharing in Hawaii

By combining solar energy and storage to share power, the company says it can increase system efficiency and lower costs.

By Peter Maloney • May 10, 2018

California to require rooftop solar for new homes

The state is the first to mandate that new homes be built using advanced energy efficiency measures and rooftop solar, starting in 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 9, 2018