Australian company unveils major 250 MW geothermal project in California's Salton Sea

Australian company, Controlled Thermal Resources, hopes to obtain regulatory approval through economies of scale and providing a baseload resource to offset intermittant wind and solar resources. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 17, 2016

Ohio's new clean energy ballot initiative sparks concern among utilities

A new ballot initiative would enable Ohio to issue over $14 billion in bonds to foster the development of clean energy resources.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 16, 2016

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

Big solar plant project seeks rezoning near Kingsman, Ariz.

Grey Hawk Solar needs more than 1,500 acres rezoned in order to move ahead with its 70 MW solar project, which has a 20-year power purchase agreement with UniSource Energy Services. 

By Robert Walton • March 16, 2016

Study: US offshore wind farms costs could drop 55% in 13 years

If wind developers commit to building 2,000 MW of new capacity, economies of scale will drive prices down 55% over 13 years, according to a new study. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2016

ERCOT: Wind, solar nearly two-thirds new capacity in 2016

The ERCOT system capacity is expected to grow almost 12,500 MW while coal declines and nuclear stagnates. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2016

Report: Renewables power 21% Minnesota electricity in 2015

A new report from the Minnesota Department of Commerce finds the state is on pace to exceed its 25% renewable standard by 2025. Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman says the state should consider raising that goal.

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2016

ComEd forges ahead with ambitious microgrid plans amid legislative debate

A $4 million DOE grant could help ComEd build up to six microgrids in Chicago, depending on the outcome of pending legislation.

By Peter Maloney • March 15, 2016

Are residential demand charges the best rate reform for DERs?

The debate over rooftop solar is shifting in a new direction, with utilities and regulators examining new rate reform methods.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 15, 2016

Small solar plants first to bring solar power to Mississippi Gulf Coast

South Mississippi Electric Power Association brought two small 100 kW solar power plants online near the Gulf Coast in part due to market research showing a customer demand for renewable energy. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 15, 2016

ERCOT: Wind energy climbs, but February demand drops

Record-breaking wind installation helped the resource to overtake nuclear as ERCOT's third largest power source. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 15, 2016

DOE invests $6.7M in 33 small businesses to speed clean energy development

More than 30 small businesses were tapped to work directly with the U.S. Department of Energy's national labs in DOE's new Small Business Vouchers pilot. 

By Robert Walton • March 14, 2016

Utah lawmakers switch votes, pass Rocky Mountain Power clean energy bill

Uath lawmakers in the state's House rejected the Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan Act last Thursday, but 13 later reversed their votes and passed the legislation later that night upon reconsideration. 

By Robert Walton • March 14, 2016

General Electric seeks to capture CO2 for energy storage

GE Research is working on a way to use supercritical CO2 to enhance the storage capabilities of thermal solar power.

By Peter Maloney • March 12, 2016

Montana court upholds PSC order to keep original PURPA rates

A Montana judge upheld the state's utility regulators' decision to reject NorthWestern Energy's bid to reduce the established avoid cost rate paid to independent power producers under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 12, 2016

New Hampshire House passes bill to raise net metering cap to 100 MW

New Hampshire lawmakers look to revamp the state's net metering policy in the wake of dominant utility, Eversource Energy, hitting its net metering cap in January. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 12, 2016

Duke rolls out long, short duration hybrid battery storage system

Duke Energy combines techologies to create a low cost hybrid energy storage system to ease integration of renewables and store energy for peak demand. 

By Peter Maloney • March 11, 2016

Xcel to test battery storage, microgrid systems in Denver for solar

Xcel Energy's Colorado utility is launching two tests of battery storage systems that could be used to back up solar power and microgrids.

By Peter Maloney • March 10, 2016

5 things you should know about community solar programs

Natacha Kiler, a marketing and communications expert with extensive experience in the solar industry, maps out five reasons community solar is the most straightforward approach to netting clean and affordable energy. 

By Natacha Kiler • March 10, 2016

Dueling studies draw battle lines for next Arizona utility-solar showdown

Studies commissioned by APS and TASC have hugely different approaches to solar valuation, but share an important piece of common ground.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 10, 2016

Report: US solar market set to grow 119% this year

GTM Research predicts the U.S. market will grow 119% this year and will surpass 100 GW by 2021.

By Robert Walton • March 10, 2016

Maine Gov. LePage opposes plan to replace net metering with market-based incentives

Governor’s energy office says the plan would not protect against cost shifts, while TASC says it should include net metering as an option for solar owners.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 10, 2016

National Grid rolls out comparison shopping program for solar

National Grid in Rhode Island will be the first utility to offer customers a simplified process to research and purchase solar PV equipment, the utility said. 

By Robert Walton • March 10, 2016

Florida Supreme Court skeptical on utility-backed solar amendment

It's a tricky case involving competing ballot initiatives, but media reports indicate Florida Supreme Court justices are divided over the utility-backed proposal, which would fail to legalize third-party financing of solar panels. 

By Robert Walton • March 9, 2016

Learning by doing: How utilities are answering the distributed energy resources challenge

As our 2016 survey shows, utilities are beginning to understand how they can make money with distributed resources, but it's still a work in progress.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 9, 2016

SPP notches back-to-back wind generation records

The grid operator achieved 44.8% of its electricity from wind March 6 and 45.1% on March 7, bringing its total record counts to six so far this year. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 9, 2016