How Ocracoke Island's microgrid kept (most of) the lights on during last month's outage

At the height of the summer season, a construction accident severed the island's power. While backup generation failed, most residents still had power.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2017

Duke proposes 700 MW of solar, 50 MW of storage in revised Florida settlement

The settlement, originally approved in 2013, would include additional investments in smart meters and 500 EV chargers, while ending the proposed Levy Nuclear Project. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Aug. 29, 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

Delaware Gov. Carney establishes working group to study offshore wind development

The working group is scheduled to submit a report to Gov. John Carney by Dec. 15 that recommends strategies for developing the state’s offshore wind resources.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 29, 2017

Case study: APS invests in microgrid as Phoenix metropolitan area grows

The 63 MW microgrid can swiftly pivot into operating on solar and storage. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Aug. 28, 2017

When the power goes out, sometimes the lights stay on

Microgrids are best known for the backup generation they provide, but the evolving electric grid means there are many more uses.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 28, 2017

Duke proposes to pull plug on Lee nuclear project, raise rates to cover coal ash cleanup

The North Carolina utility wants to cancel its Lee Nuclear project in the wake of Westinghouse Electric's financial demise. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 28, 2017

Michigan muni will retire coal plant in 2025

Lansing Board of Water & Light plans to replace the Erickson Power Plant with renewables, efficiency and natural gas.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2017

DOE grid study sparks mixed reviews from power sector

The study's findings did not go against the broad industry consensus, as some feared they might. But the study still drew mixed reactions and disappointment, especially with its recommendations.  

By Krysti Shallenberger • Aug. 25, 2017

IHS Markit raises global solar installation forecast by 14% over Chinese solar boom

The consulting group predicts 90 GW of solar panels will be installed this year, with 45 GW of those installations in China.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 25, 2017

Report: Global solar capacity nearing nuclear

New analysis from GTM Research indicates that within five years, global solar capacity could more than double nuclear capacity available today.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2017

Duke Energy warns ITC against solar panel tariff

A letter from Duke Energy indicates that large utilities are now joining the fight over worries higher solar module prices could tamp down on utility-scale solar projects. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2017

RGGI states propose to cut power plant emissions another 30%

The proposal would set the regional cap at 75.1 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2021, which will decline by 2.275 million tons of CO2 in each succeeding year. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 25, 2017

NREL: Solar-plus-storage could be competitive by 2020

The findings are specific to a variety of circumstances, including how the storage system is coupled to the solar arrays and the overall degree of solar penetration.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 24, 2017

Power sector's response to solar eclipse highlights need for flexible resources

As intermittent energy resources grow, the U.S. electric grid will need to become more flexible and resilient.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2017

DOE releases highly anticipated grid study, faults natural gas for baseload retirements

The study found cheap natural gas to be the greatest driver of plant retirements — and most notably, did not find renewables to be a threat to grid reliability. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Aug. 23, 2017

California nets $640M for greenhouse gas fund in latest cap and trade auction

All allowances in the state's greenhouse cap and trade auction are sold above minimum prices.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 23, 2017

NV Energy declares its net metering proposal 'dead on arrival'

The utility is attempting to devise a new rate structure to comply with a state law that restored net metering.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2017

MISO reports higher power prices during July

The grid operator attributed the higher prices to heavier loads and weaker wind generation during the period.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 22, 2017

US grid untroubled by total eclipse despite plunge in solar output

As the sun slipped behind the moon Monday from California to South Carolina, solar production plummeted and other generation sources stepped up.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2017

Berkshire Hathaway Energy scraps plan for Salton Sea geothermal plant

The Black Rock geothermal power plant would have been located on the Salton Sea, a saline lake in California's Imperial Valley.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2017

How rural co-ops are shifting to a cleaner power mix

Driven by wind credits, low gas prices and consumer demand, rural co-ops are finding new ways to boost renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2017

Austin Energy targets 65% renewables by 2027

The Austin City Council last week also directed the municipal utility to study the feasibility of reaching 100% renewables by 2030. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2017

Federal court rejects Allco's rehearing request in challenge to Connecticut's renewable RFP

The Allco case was closely watched by both sides in recent court battles involving states’ legal rights to craft policies aimed at fostering clean energy goals.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 21, 2017

Los Angeles muni speeds deployment of 20 MW battery storage project

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power accelerated the timeline for a proposed storage project to come online in 2018 instead of 2020. 

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 21, 2017

Rhode Island takes comment on initial grid modernization proposals

One proposal suggests a hosting capacity heat map to help determine the maximum amount of distributed resources a substation feeder can support without additional upgrades.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2017