Southern California Edison signs 500 MW of utility-scale solar PPAs with First Solar

The California utility renews its push for renewables in response to state’s new mandate requireing 50% renewables by 2030. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 21, 2016

In AEP-Sierra Club coal plant deal, cost of additional renewables remains unknown

American Electric Power (AEP) reached a settlement last month that calls for development of 900 MW of renewable energy, but so far no one knows what it will cost.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 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

Southwest Power Pool study shows it can reliably manage 60% wind penetration

The grid operator needs new wires and tools to add 4,700 MW of wind by 2017, a new report shows.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 20, 2016

DOE proposes $18M in funding for solar-plus-storage

The announcement builds on the Department of Energy's grid modernization effort announced last week.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 2016

ERCOT: Wind energy provided record 45% of electricity on Dec. 20

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas maintained reliability with over 10 GW of wind energy on that day.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2016

New arrival Spruce ups game for 'trusted energy advisor' role

A new company offering both DER and efficiency financing can be a partner or a competitor to incumbent utilities looking to bolster their customer relationships. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2016

Global investment in renewables hit record $328.9B in 2015 as new markets opened

Opportunity in renewables kept investors away from cheap fossil fuels, Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 15, 2016

Tesla collaborator SolarEdge rolls out inverter to work with Powerwall battery

SolarEdge Technologies has introduced an inverter designed to work with Tesla's Powerwall.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 15, 2016

Diary of a Grid Defector: Community solar, keeping warm and policy talk at the local bar

Struggles with heating drive Robert Walton to a local bar, where he meets officials from a local solar company whose business is taking off.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2016

Nevada PUC denies request to stay solar net metering reforms

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada denied requests to delay implementing the new net metering remuneration rates and fixed fee rate hikes on rooftop solar users. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 14, 2016

UBS: Resident opposition could sink NextEra-Hawaiian Electric deal

The investment research firm sees a good chance of “the deal breaking up given persistent consternations.”

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2016

Solar prices are stabilizing at new lower levels, but causation remains elusive

The factors that drive price differences in solar PV remain largely a mystery, but a new study provides some novel insights on the question and shows that costs are beginning to cluster at new, lower levels. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 14, 2016

Obama touts clean energy growth, promises fossil fuel extraction reform in State of the Union

The president took on climate change doubters in his final State of the Union address Tuesday night and promised to reform policies allowing for the extraction of fossil fuels on federal lands. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 13, 2016

How a new business model could get the Puerto Rico public utility out of debt

The only way PREPA can save itself is to find a path to lower cost electricity, but any restructuring deal is bound up in the politics of both the island and Capitol Hill.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

Nevada regulator urges commission not to delay new solar net metering rates

The full Nevada commission will meet today to consider calls from the solar industry to stay a controversial net metering ruling, but one regulator has already made his opinion on the matter clear.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

Dominion Virginia Power commits $700M to solar in long-term resource plan

Virginia regulators use regulatory process to push the utility toward a bigger resource mix. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 13, 2016

Solar moves ahead of wind, hydro in California fuel mix, toward 10% of state's power

Huge growth in the sector, along with a hydro-hampering drought, means that solar now accounts for more generation than any other reneawble resource in California. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 12, 2016

Vermont regulators approve new line to bring Canadian renewables to New England

The New England Clean Power Link will carry 1,000 MW of capacity under Lake Champlain.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 11, 2016

Bigger than batteries: Why the cost of other components matters to storage deployment

As deployment accelerates, the plummeting cost of balance of system components will help make storage a better deal for utilities and third parties nationwide. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 11, 2016

Solar and wind comprise 61% of 2015 capacity additions, gas contributes 35%

A combination of wind, gas and solar generation made up 96% of new capacity added last year, according to SNL.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 11, 2016

Utah regulators slim down PURPA contracts to 15 years

While the commission approved a reduction in contract length, it rejected Warren Buffett-owned PacifiCorp's request to reduce PURPA contracts from 20 years to three.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 8, 2016

South Carolina utilities, wind developers show no interest in offshore wind development

Four lease tracts off the state’s Atlantic coast draw interest only from oil and gas drillers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 8, 2016

Utility-backed Florida solar proposal appears headed for 2016 ballot

An opposing ballot measure backed by solar advocates is still stuck in money troubles and is looking ahead to the 2018 ballot.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2016

Nearly $1B in applications for North Carolina renewable tax credits under Safe Harbor amendment

An amendment that extended the availability of tax credits under a now-expired renewable incentive program has attracted $938 million in applications for funding. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2016

How the utility role in community solar is evolving as the sector matures

Everybody loves community solar, but just how the sector will mature will depend on how utilities and regulators approach the resource.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 7, 2016