Dominion to propose Virginia community solar programs

The utility expects to file program options with state regulators by early 2018.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2017

US added 2.4 GW of solar resources in Q2, SEIA says

The U.S. will triple cumulative capacity over the next five years barring potential tariffs on imported solar panels, according to a new report. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2017

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

Retail electricity prices rise, spurred by boost in delivery costs, EIA says

The average retail price of electricity in the U.S. increased about 1.5% annually between 2006 and 2016. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 8, 2017

Choosing the right grid infrastructure in the wake of the DOE grid study

Rocky Mountain Institute's Mark Dyson says the grid study failed to highlight the opportunities to boost resiliency with distributed energy resources. 

By Mark Dyson • Sept. 7, 2017

Renewables developers 'gaming' PURPA should force reforms, utilities tell Congress

Testimony to a House Energy & Commerce subcommittee comes as lawmakers draft revisions to the 40-year-old law.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 7, 2017

Idaho PUC says storage projects only eligible for 2-year PURPA contract

Franklin Energy sought 20-year PURPA contracts for four storage facilities, but regulators said those resources should be granted two-year contracts. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 7, 2017

Fuel cells get $10M funding boost from DOE

Some 16 research projects will address cost and reliability issues with solid oxide fuel cells, which DOE calls ideal for carbon capture.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2017

FERC rejects CAISO proposal to allocate some interconnection costs regionally

The proposal from California's grid operator would have created a new, smaller type of participating transmission owner to ensure costs are allocated fairly.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 7, 2017

Rethinking the meaning of 'reliability' and 'resiliency' in the wake of DOE grid reliability study

Smart Electric Power Alliance's Tanuj Deora urges the DOE to consider all solutions when assessing grid reliability and resiliency. 

By Tanuj Deora • Sept. 6, 2017

PJM mulls capacity repricing strategies to tackle subsidy programs

Issues under debate include whether repricing should be triggered only when a subsidy occurs in a capacity delivery year and if retriggering would apply to carbon dioxide pricing schemes.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 6, 2017

California lawmakers abandon $3B in proposed EV incentives for additional study

The state legislature radically rewrote a bill that would have boosted electric vehicle incentives, instead sending the issue to the state's Air Resources Board for examination.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2017

Massachusetts utilities take divergent approaches to grid modernization

The state Attorney General's Office gave a qualified endorsement to National Grid's plan while roundly criticizing Eversource's plan. But approval of any plan is going to require a lot more work.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 6, 2017

Texas cooperative to build solar-plus-storage project in Liberia

Bandera Electric Cooperative in Texas is building the 70 kW solar-plus-storage project in Totota.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2017

South Australia calls for storage, renewable energy projects

A portion of the Australian province's $150 million (AUD) Renewable Technology Fund is already earmarked for Tesla's 129 MWh storage project. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2017

Neither resilience nor reliability can justify the rescue of outmoded power plants

Advanced Energy Economy's Arvin Ganesan and Dylan Reed urge the DOE to use clean energy technologies to achieve the aims of its grid study. 

By Arvin Ganesan, Dylan Reed • Sept. 5, 2017

Nevada regulators approve net metering draft order for NV Energy

State utility regulators last week approved a draft order finalizing NV Energy's net metering rates, the final step to implement a new state law restoring rates close to retail. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 5, 2017

Tesla, Vestas pair up to develop ways to combine storage and wind

The deal moves the market for Tesla's batteries beyond its electric vehicles and Powerwall batteries designed for use in homes and businesses.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 5, 2017

The elusive art of predicting energy storage savings in the real world

The need to predict the financial value of solar-plus-storage projects has spawned numerous energy storage analysis tools. But some tools ignore key decision factors.

By Sean Kiernan • Sept. 5, 2017

DOE grid study helps set the table at FERC

Former FERC Commissioner Tony Clark analyzes how the Energy Department's grid study impacts the agency.

By Tony Clark • Sept. 1, 2017

DOE grid study will shift and accelerate energy regulatory initiatives

R Street Institute's Devin Hartman analyzes the DOE's grid study's impact on regulatory agencies and nationwide energy initatives. 

By Devin Hartman • Aug. 31, 2017

Resilience or flexibility? DOE's grid report lays bare the struggle between past and future

Energy Innovation's Mike O'Boyle analyzes how the DOE grid study's recommendations could help flexibility.

By Mike O'Boyle • Aug. 30, 2017

Sunrun, Comcast team up to market residential solar systems

Comcast plans to begin marketing the solar company’s services to its customers on a selective basis later this year.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 30, 2017

Rocky Mountain Power, Utah solar advocates reach net metering settlement

Current net metering customers will be grandfathered through 2035. After Nov. 15, new customers will receive export credits of $0.092/kWh during a three-year period until new rates are established.  

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2017

Xcel Energy proposes shuttering 2 Colorado coal plants

The agreement, reached with about a dozen stakeholders, could also lead to $2.5 billion in clean energy investments in rural Colorado.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2017

Policymaker support key to offshore wind prospects in US

A Department of Energy report found the resource could cost-effectively deliver twice the nation’s electricity needs, but experts say it needs the right policy support. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 30, 2017