California solar pilot shows how renewables can provide grid services

A utility-scale solar pilot project demonstrated how solar can compete with natural gas over grid services and cost. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 16, 2017

California utilities finding their way on renewables integration

High levels of renewables can make utilities look good but also strain their systems, with potential solutions requiring vetting by regulators.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 16, 2017

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

Nevada regulators to investigate impacts of energy choice in preparation for 2018 vote

The state residents will vote on a constitutional amendment giving customers the right to choose their power supplier in 2018. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 16, 2017

New Mexico regulators move forward on clean energy standard

The state Public Regulation Commission plans to hold workshops on a proposed clean energy standard that would reduce carbon emissions 4% annually through 2040.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 16, 2017

Utilities take note: Next generation utility-led community solar is emerging

Utilities are offering new community solar customer segments with no upfront costs and combining it with demand response and storage.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 16, 2017

Bright outlook: solar trifecta is key to integrating smart utility-scale solar

Smart utility-scale solar systems go a step further than traditional utility-scale solar by cost competitively offering operational attributes comparable to conventional generation. 

Oct. 16, 2017

Sonnen plans solar+storage virtual power plant in Arizona home development

Mandalay Homes has partnered with Germany's Sonnen to install smart residential energy storage systems in a new Arizona community.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2017

Luminant to close 2 more Texas coal plants despite Trump support

The utility has announced plans to close three coal plants, despite the Trump administration's moves to bolster the resource and repeal the Clean Power Plan. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 13, 2017

Oregon utilities, regulators grapple over major renewables investments

Portland General Electric reduced its proposed $1 billion wind investment plans 40%, and PacifiCorp is still on the fence. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 13, 2017

Coal generation to grow as natural gas prices rise, new EIA report says

But the agency sees natural gas rising to 32% in 2018, while coal remains steady at 31%. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 12, 2017

What do millennials want from their energy providers?

Millennials are far more willing than non-millennials to pay for renewable energy resources, but also more willing to change providers, if they can get better value and/or better service, the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative found.

By Patty Durand • Oct. 12, 2017

California Gov. Brown signs bill directing utilities to plan storage, DERs for peak demand

The new law, SB 338, requires utilities to develop carbon-free alternatives to gas generation for meeting peak demand in their integrated resource plans. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2017

Transmission developers power forward in West as move to single market inches along

New lines are moving ahead and new deals are being closed, despite political pushback against California’s plan for a new regional market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 12, 2017

Updated: First Solar wades into solar trade case fight, supports Suniva, SolarWorld

The thin-film developer would benefit from tariffs, and is a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association, which opposes the remedies. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 11, 2017

Pruitt's move to repeal CPP sets up prolonged battle over carbon regulations

Critics say it could be years before EPA head Scott Pruitt replaces the Clean Power Plan, effectively halting any efforts to regulate carbon emissions. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 11, 2017

25% of remaining US coal fleet headed for retirement or conversion, new report says

Another 17% of the remaining coal fleet is uneconomic, according to a new Union of Concerned Scientists report.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 11, 2017

A bipartisan view on modernizing the US electric grid

Congress must incentivize power industry innovations yielding cleaner and more customized energy services, the Republican and Democratic co-chairs of the Grid Innovation Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives write.

By Robert E. Latta, Jerry McNerney • Oct. 11, 2017

The future of regulated electric utilities is tied to EV charging

The rise of EVs has created a significant opportunity for utilities to become a catalyst of socially beneficial technology.  

By Jonathan Jacobs and Alex Pischalnikov • Oct. 10, 2017

Hawaiian Electric takes first steps to utility-scale commercial energy storage

The utility has big plans for the technology, but wants to see lower costs. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 10, 2017

Montana PSC extends energy, PURPA contracts to 15 years

The ruling applies to all energy contracts, not just PURPA, though some regulators expressed qualms over extending the contract length. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 10, 2017

Pruitt axes Clean Power Plan, asks industry to shape replacement

Despite the repeal, energy analysts say the power sector is largely on track to meet the targets of the Obama-era climate regulations thanks to cheap gas and renewables. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 10, 2017

Rocky Mountain Power solar settlement approved by Utah regulators

Earlier this year, solar advocates negotiated a net metering settlement with the PacifiCorp subsidiary. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 10, 2017

Why utilities need to respond now to the EV boom

Utilities can either embrace electric vehicle growth or be caught "flat-footed" when new power demand materializes, an RMI report warns. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 9, 2017

Hurricane Nate takes out power to 60K in Southeast

The Category 1 storm made landfall twice in the northern part of the Gulf Coast, slamming Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, and leaving more than 100,000 in the dark at its peak. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 9, 2017

Massachusetts starts inquiry into energy storage eligibility for net metering

Regulators will also examine the qualification of net metering facilities to bid into ISO-New England’s forward capacity market. 

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 9, 2017