Florida PSC staff pushes approval of FPL gas plant over opposition

The commission will vote March 1 on whether to approve a 1,163 MW gas plant — far larger than opponents say is necessary to cover demand.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2018

PacifiCorp launches wind expansion plans with four Wyoming projects

The projects total 1.3 GW and would expand the energy company's existing wind fleet by 60%.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 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

LaFleur warns against PJM plan altering 'fundamental' energy market mechanics

The federal regulator said her agency should "think very hard" before it alters which resources can set market prices during an address that also touched on grid resilience and the growth of Western energy markets.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 21, 2018

Bloomberg: Solar panel imports soared ahead of tariff decision

China represented the most imports with a nearly 1,200% quarter-over-quarter increase, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 20, 2018

Why utilities and environmentalists can find common (green) ground

Ex-FERC Chair Norman Bay argues clean energy can gain more ground if utilities and enviros team up. 

By Norman C. Bay • Feb. 20, 2018

Are recent disasters enough to spur utilities to take climate change seriously?

Sector expert Allison Silverstein argues utilities need a new paradigm in long-term grid planning.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 20, 2018

PJM board sends competing capacity market reforms to FERC

The grid operator's decision sets up a rare policy face-off at FERC that could raise legal stakes for the agency.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 16, 2018

New Mexico lawmakers send solar tax credit to governor's desk

But Gov. Susana Martinez (R) is reportedly unlikely to sign stand-alone tax measures.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2018

New Arizona renewable ballot initiative could spark utility opposition

The measure would boost the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50% by 2030, following a proposal from a state official to raise it to 80% by 2050. But the state's largest utility might not be on board.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 15, 2018

FERC issues storage, reliability orders, calls conference on aggregated DERs

The commission directed grid operators to design rules that allow storage to provide energy, capacity and ancillary services, as well as set wholesale prices as buyers and sellers. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 15, 2018

How solar owners' post-hurricane demand for batteries could impact utilities

Extreme weather is driving customers to solar-plus-storage as backup power, but they can use it to cut back on electricity use, too

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 15, 2018

ISO-NE presses FERC to approve capacity market reform

The grid operator argues its two-part capacity market proposal will better integrate subsidized resources than existing rules. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 14, 2018

Resilience, pipelines & PURPA: FERC regulators preview major issues at NARUC

State utility regulators heard from all five federal energy regulators at a conference in Washington this week.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 14, 2018

California regulators first to allow multiple revenue streams for energy storage

The state has approved rules that increase the ways for energy storage systems to make money, for example, through frequency regulation, capacity or spinning reserve services.        

Feb. 13, 2018

New Massachusetts bill seeks 1.77 GW storage target, quicker renewables transition

The legislation would also direct state regulators to develop rules that exceed those adopted by the United Nations Paris Climate Agreement.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 13, 2018

Batteries will boost yearly solar plant output by 500 MWh, FPL says

The utility's Citrus Solar Energy Center was completed in 2016, but now has a 4 MW/16 MWh storage system that will allow the plant to continue sending out electricity after the sun goes down.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2018

Trump budget would gut EPA, DOE renewables office

The budget would cut the DOE renewables office by 65% and eliminate ARPA-E and the agency's loan programs. EPA would be cut by nearly a quarter. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

At NARUC, three actions to support the grid of the future

A group of solar companies and advocates lay out out what utility commissioners should consider during NARUC's annual winter meeting

By Anne Hoskins; Abigail Hopper; Tom Starrs; Thomas Plagemann; Sachu Constantine • Feb. 12, 2018

APS to install 50 MW, 135 MWh solar-shifting battery

The contract with developer First Solar will allow APS to use the battery to deliver solar power when electricity use is at its peak, 3-8 p.m. each day.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

Is PURPA done? New bill takes aim at law's mandatory purchase obligation

The law has been under fire for much of its 40-year history, but changes proposed in November could be the most significant yet.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 12, 2018

Tesla plans to triple battery storage deployments in 2018

But its solar business appears to be slumping, in part due to a change in the payment model, the company says. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2018

Markets matter: US wind belt expands as more utilities do the math

The DOE NOPR and the tax overhaul bill initially threatened the continued growth of wind energy. But "ultimately, clean power emerged a winner on policy, again," Vestas Americas President Chris Brown writes.

By Chris Brown • Feb. 8, 2018

The 'small miracle' that may lead to California's net metering successor

Sooner or later, retail rate net metering must go, stakeholders agree. But solar advocates say later, while utilities say sooner, and therein hangs the tale.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 8, 2018

Hawaii regulators approve HECO's suite of demand response, solar programs

The utility has proposed demand response programs aimed at harnessing electric vehicles, appliances and storage, while the new solar programs aim to compensate rooftop solar users.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 8, 2018

Energy tax credits included in Senate budget deal

Tax credit extensions for nuclear plants and a number of natural gas and renewable energy technologies are in the Senate package, but are likely to face opposition in the House.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018