In 2017, solar policy debates took the industry's future to higher ground

Utility leaders and solar advocates are struggling at state commissions across the country to answer hard questions about solar’s value to customers and the distribution system.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 1, 2018

Report: Trump budget seeks 72% cut to DOE clean energy research

Electric vehicle research would take an especially big hit, The Washington Post reports, cut to $56 million from $307 million. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 1, 2018

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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

For utilities, the new corporate tax cuts are a double-edged sword

Reports from Brattle and Moody's say tax cuts will squeeze utility cash flows, potentially hurting credit quality. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 1, 2018

New Jersey to accelerate 3.5 GW offshore wind target

The state has a goal of developing 3,500 MW of offshore wind generation by 2030, but little progress has been made so far.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 31, 2018

Arizona regulator proposes 80% clean energy mandate, 3 GW storage target

The Clean Peak Standard from Arizona regulator Andy Tobin would require utilities to deliver an increasing portion of their renewable energy during peak demand hours. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 30, 2018

The best laid plans of state regulators are now aimed at building a better distribution system

Regulators are pushing utilities to plan for the rising penetrations of distributed energy resources, but they're doing it in many ways.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 30, 2018

New York rolls out 'master plan' to develop 2.4 GW of offshore wind

The plan aims to identify the most favorable areas for development and address mechanisms to procure offshore wind energy at the lowest cost to ratepayers.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 2018

New Jersey to rejoin RGGI in new executive order

Former Gov. Chris Christie withdrew the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in 2012, causing it to fall behind on emission targets. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 29, 2018

'Year of the grid': DER management takes center stage at DistribuTECH

The distributed energy revolution hinges on the development of new software platforms that can help utilities make sense of a deluge of grid data.  

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 29, 2018

Texas regulator proposes to deny AEP storage plan

Instead, the head of the Public Utility Commission of Texas recommended opening a separate docket to examine issues surrounding grid-edge technology, including storage. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 2018

NextEra mulls sale of Canadian assets in aftermath of tax code overhaul

Spurred by the United States' recent tax code overhaul, the company says it could "recycle" the returns from selling Canadian assets, including solar and wind facilities, into domestic projects.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 26, 2018

Ohio Supreme Court sides with FirstEnergy in $43M renewable credit refund case

The court said the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio erred in a 2013 order directing the utility to return the money to ratepayers, finding it would amount to "unlawful retroactive ratemaking."

By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2018

Will utilities keep investing in solar after Trump's tariffs?

The answer is yes, but the solar sector will also look to state mandates and incentives to keep businesses running. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 25, 2018

EIA: Wind to beat hydro as leading US renewable resource in next 2 years

While hydro led the way as the top renewable energy generation source in 2017, wind energy is expected to beat it thanks to significant capacity being added in 2018 and 2019. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2018

New DOE competition seeks to boost US solar manufacturing

The Energy Department said the goal is to accelerate the "cycles of learning" from years to weeks, while creating partnerships that connect entrepreneurs to the private sector.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2018

Maine's governor puts the kibosh on new wind power in the state

Gov. Paul LePage's executive order puts a moratorium on new wind turbines and creates a commission to review past and future wind projects.  

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 25, 2018

Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant could warrant subsidies, draft report says

However, the draft report also found that retiring the nuclear plant could cost ratepayers as much as $5.5 billion to replace its zero emission generation with renewable resources.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 23, 2018

Getting to 'head-spinning' low prices for U.S. offshore wind

Projected additions to U.S. offshore wind capacity are expected to drive the emergence of the domestic support system the sector needs to drive prices closer to other generation options.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2018

Trump issues 30% tariff on solar panel imports

The Trump administration issued a 30% tariff on crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and cells, which will decline over a four-year span.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 22, 2018

Audi and Nissan join ranks of automakers making energy storage mainstream

Automakers are looking to extend the life of batteries that are no longer useful in an electric vehicle but have enough juice left to store power for a household or provide residential backup power. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 22, 2018

Duke rolls out $62M solar rebate for North Carolina customers

The rebate program, required under House Bill 589 which passed last year, is expected to grow the state's private solar market by 200% over the next five years.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2018

Is cap and trade the climate solution? The jury's still out

California and New England are about to find out what the market-based mechanism for reducing emissions can really do.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2018

New Jersey Gov. Christie 'pocket vetoes' solar bill as he leaves office

A proposal to raise the state's solar energy targets was aimed at avoiding the collapse of the market when the current goal is met later this year.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 18, 2018

Trump: Solar trade case decision coming 'pretty soon'

The president has until Jan. 26 to make a final decision, though he could delay it by 90 days. No one knows how Trump will decide, but based on his past and latest remarks, the sector is bracing for some kind of trade duty.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 18, 2018

Why are the newest distribution system buzzwords 'hosting capacity analysis'?

To meet customer demand for distributed energy resources, utilities need to know what their systems can handle.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 17, 2018