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

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

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

NH net metering bill that boosts facility size leaves House committee

The legislation would increase the size of resources allowed to participate in the state's net metering program from 1 MW to 5 MW.

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2018

NextEra CEO: Offshore wind is 'terrible energy policy'

However, Jim Robo said the company will continue with its renewable energy investment in the U.S. 

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2018

Hawaii Gov. Ige signs law mandating performance-based utility regulation

The law goes further than other performance-based efforts, directing the PUC to "break the direct link" between utility revenues and capital investments.

By Gavin Bade • April 25, 2018

FERC Order 845 opens door a little wider for energy storage

The commission's order on interconnection agreements makes it easier to combine storage with generation

By Peter Maloney • April 23, 2018

California customer choice advocates, IOUs face off on departing load charge

As customers leave IOUs for new providers, commissioners must balance costs. Will they choose a new approach or a really new approach?

By Herman K. Trabish • April 23, 2018

Florida broadens market for rooftop solar with Sunrun leasing decision

State regulators affirmed Friday that Sunrun can offer residential solar equipment leases without violating the law against third-party electricity sales. 

By Robert Walton • April 22, 2018

Hawaii launches performance-based rate proceeding to drive renewables

The state has a goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2045. The Public Utilities Commission's new effort is meant to support that transition.  

By Peter Maloney • April 20, 2018

Do You Want to See Smart, Resilient Energy in Action? Visit an IDEA College Campus.

District energy infrastructure provides Universities a solution to further reduce their carbon footprints while maintaining a resilient energy grid. 

April 20, 2018

New York advances REV, moves to bring more energy storage online

State regulators took four actions on Thursday to advance New York's Reforming the Energy Vision, including experiments with allowing more storage on the distribution grid.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2018

Michigan nixes net metering

Utilities will begin including the new distributed generation tariff in rate cases filed after June 1. Opponents say it will create business uncertainty and takes control of energy use away from farmers and residential customers.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2018

Nevada's retail choice battle will greatly impact solar, everyone agrees. But for better or worse?

Nevadans will vote in November on whether to amend the state's constitution to minimize regulations, eliminate legal monopolies and create retail choice in its energy market.  

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2018

SunPower to acquire SolarWorld in a deal driven by Trump's solar tariffs

U.S. and German regulators still need to sign off on the deal, which would make SunPower the largest panel manufacturer in the U.S.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2018