ERCOT sets another wind record, with over 14 GW serving 45% of system load

Over 45% of the system load for the Texas grid operator was served by wind-generated electricity on Feb. 18. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 23, 2016

Warren Buffett's Rocky Mountain Power offers its first community solar program

The Subscriber Solar program offers 200 kWh blocks of solar generation to customers without rooftop arrays.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 23, 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

JuiceBox enters residential storage fray with new solar partnerships

The most recent solar+storage partnership combines JuiceBox and Simmitri, a solar designer and installer, following a similar deal inked in January. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2016

U.S. solar industry built a record 7.3 GW of new capacity in 2015

Residential solar grew 66% and the utility-scale sector notched its largest build ever as solar added more new capacity than natural gas. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 22, 2016

First do no harm: Michigan researchers publish storage sustainability guidelines

University of Michigan researchers publish guidelines for the sustainble use of energy storage systems.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 22, 2016

Taming the Wild West: CAISO begins study of a full regional electricity market

The California ISO is beginning a landmark study on whether a regional grid will ease the state's transition to 50% renewables by 2030. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 22, 2016

South Dakota bill to clarify utilities' solar payment

South Dakota utilities pay the avoided cost to customers with solar panels, but just how they determine that rates varies and is often inscrutable to the average eye, say critics.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 2016

SolarCity moves away from its MyPower solar loan product

The company says it has a new, less complicated way for homeowners to finance solar ownership.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 19, 2016

New York needs 4 GW of storage by 2030 to meet REV goals, advocacy group says

Advocacy and advisory group NY-BEST also calls for standardized safety requirements, locational pricing in new report. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 19, 2016

Arizona rural utility proposes demand charge, more fees on rooftop solar users

UniSource Energy Services wants a lower net metering credit and impose a mandatory demand charge on solar customer customers to help recover fixed costs. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 19, 2016

Is a national high voltage transmission system the cheapest way to cut emissions?

NOAA researchers say a national plan to efficiently connect clean energy resources to demand centers can cut power sector GHGs 80% with no electricity price bump.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 19, 2016

A rational look at the value of solar

Comparisons of value of solar studies can often be misleading, industry veteran Ben Norris argues. 

By Ben Norris • Feb. 18, 2016

Beyond net metering: How location can help put a value on DERs

Finding the precise locational value of distributed energy resources is key to ongoing and future value-of-solar proceedings, a report said. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 18, 2016

SolarCity selects Tesla batteries for Kauai solar+storage project

SolarCity, as widely expected, picked Tesla to suppy the batteries for its Kauai solar-plus-storage project, which it says will be the first fully-dispatchable solar PV project in the nation.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 18, 2016

As Oregon House passes clean energy bill, utility regulators say they were shut out

A bill to eliminate coal imports and institute a 50% RPS is attracting crticism from a number of regulators, including the head of NARUC.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016

Nevada regulators deny 'grandfathering' provision for existing rooftop solar users

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada excluded a grandfathering provision last week, but the controversial case may not be over and is likely to wind up in court.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2016

Florida Supreme Court to hear arguments over utility-backed solar amendment

Consumers For Smart Solar says their proposed constitutional amendment would protect ratepayers, but opponents say the measure has nothing do with actual choice.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2016

Powered by PTC, wind energy expected to keep booming despite Clean Power Plan stay

Demand for cheap wind may be so great that utilities build out enough to meet CPP targets regardless of the stay.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2016

Pennsylvania regulators set retail rate net metering for distributed generation

The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission ruled 3-2 last week to limit the output from distribution generation to 200% of residential electrical consumption needs while preserving retail rate remuneration. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 16, 2016

How utility executives see the future of the electricity business

Here are some of the key findings from Utility Dive's third annual State of the Electric Utility report.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 16, 2016

Oregon lawmakers propose carbon tax, coal phase-out

The bills would phase out coal, increase renewables and enact a carbon tax. But Oregon is currently in a short legislative session, and some say more time is needed to consider such significant changes.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2016

Solar advocates push Maine lawmakers to preserve net metering

Maine lawmakers are currently involved in a proceeding to evaluate the state's net metering policy and possible alternatives. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 12, 2016

Hawaii bill demands NextEra prove consumer benefit for $4.3B Hawaiian Electric merger

The House Bill 2567 would require NextEra to show "substantial net benefit" to customers before state regulators approve its takeover of Hawaiian Electric Industries, but the utility says the bill fails to define net benefits. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 12, 2016

Tesla lobbies Nevada regulators to reconsider net metering changes

The Nevada Public Utilities Commission could decide today whether to reconsider higher fixed fees on solar customers, and if customers who already own panels should be granfathered in. Ahead of their meeting, Elon Musk's Tesla implored regulators to go with rates more favorable to the consumer.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 12, 2016

Massachusetts solar 'on hold' as incentives in two major programs dry up

Small residential systems can continue to be built, but the expiration of key solar incentives has left the industry in limbo in the state.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 12, 2016