Solar & Renewables: Page 2

Duke vows to triple renewables capacity, reach net-zero methane emissions by 2030

Environmentalists say Duke's plan signals the company will continue to rely on gas infrastructure for decades to come.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 12, 2020

Illinois Commerce Commission launches new probe to resolve questions about Ameren's net metering claims

Ameren announced its intention to switch from full retail net metering for future residential solar customers due to market saturation, and solar installers claim the plan is worse for business than the pandemic shutdown.

By John Funk • Oct. 09, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Wholesale Markets

Wholesale market operators' drive to ensure reliability continues to clash with state decarbonization goals, but new proposals are emerging to better integrate emerging resources and share them across borders.

By Utility Dive staff

Deep Dive

California has a renewables curtailment problem. Can your Google and Facebook activity help?

A new study proposes data center processing loads be shifted to match wind and solar supply, but the issue will require a mix of solutions, including advances in energy storage, analysts said.

By Lynn Freehill-Maye • Oct. 08, 2020

Solar groups challenge FERC Broadview order reversing 40 years of PURPA precedent

Just six weeks before the order, FERC issued a final PURPA rule that doesn't address the decades-long precedent on qualifying facilities, making the commission guilty of an "abuse of discretion," solar advocates said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 08, 2020

Column

Taking Charge: How Austin Energy simultaneously managed COVID-19 and a new carbon price adder

Austin Energy General Manager Jackie Sargent discusses "crazy times," and how the utility is protecting employees while cutting emissions on the road to carbon-free status.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 08, 2020

Apple, Amazon top rankings as SEIA sees second-largest year for commercial solar installations

Walmart jumped to third place in 2019 after deploying the largest amount of new solar of any U.S. company last year, the Solar Energy Industries Association said in a report released Wednesday.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 08, 2020

NYC 'leapfrogs' to top of ACEEE clean energy scorecard

While many leading U.S. cities are boosting their efforts to achieve a clean energy future, more action will be needed from "lower-ranking" cities to move the needle nationally.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 06, 2020

Ameren rejects Illinois regulators' request, ends retail net metering for new residential solar customers

Ameren said the Illinois Commerce Commission's Oct. 1 "request" that it continue full net metering would lead the utility to violate its approved tariff.

By John Funk • Oct. 06, 2020

Sponsored by 7X Energy

The value of solar in Texas has surged even more than its growth

Contrary to conventional wisdom, solar’s value factor is very high in Texas. ERCOT power futures have started to indicate that they might stay relatively high for quite some time. With five key differences contributing to Texas’ solar value factor, as compared to the rest of the US market, there is plenty of opportunity to sell solar power in ERCOT at attractive pricing for the foreseeable future.

FERC carbon pricing conference shatters attendance records, but where were the state voices?

No state within a regulated market was represented. "I truly believe that the leadership at FERC has been dysfunctional for 3.5 years," said New Jersey's head regulator, adding it's "not friendly" to states.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 05, 2020

Biden could pursue 'easy' climate solutions, elements of the Green New Deal if elected: experts

Renewable energy, storage and transmission projects will continue to face challenges even in "blue" states supportive of such development, according to speakers at the Society of Environmental Journalists' annual conference.

By Gloria Gonzalez • Oct. 02, 2020

Google's solar mapping, emissions analysis tool helps cities realize carbon-reduction potential

The urgency of climate action begs local-level officials to use available data tools and bypass traditional planning constraints, leaders said on a webinar.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 01, 2020

Virginia regulatory staff project $800 annual customer bill increase for Dominion to meet clean energy law

Plans proposed by the utility, ranging from around $44 billion to $84.3 billion, did not include a least-cost compliance option, according to staffers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 01, 2020

FERC has legal authority to implement a carbon price, experts tell commissioners

Panelists did not reach consensus on whether a price could be unilaterally implemented during FERC's first-ever carbon pricing technical conference.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 01, 2020

Utah mulls 84% cut to solar export credit as review of RMP's net metering replacement plan begins

Solar advocates decry Utah's proposed alternative to net metering as "one of the worst rates in the country" and complain it will eliminate thousands of jobs in the midst of a recession.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 01, 2020

Vistra to retire 6.8 GW coal, blaming 'irreparably dysfunctional MISO market'

The company plans to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, will retire all its Midwest coal by 2027 or sooner, and add almost 1,000 MW of solar by the end of 2022.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 30, 2020

Ameren pledges net zero carbon by 2050, 3.1 GW new renewables by 2030, keeping coal into 2040s

Pending negotiations over securitization legislation in Missouri could encourage the utility to retire its coal assets faster, according to stakeholders.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 29, 2020

NYISO highlights case for carbon pricing days before highly-anticipated FERC conference

The grid operator hopes the Sept. 30 conference will convince federal regulators that the mechanism is the most efficient way for regulated markets to support state decarbonization goals.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 29, 2020

Utility carbon reduction actions lag net zero targets, but there's time to catch up, Deloitte finds

One industry observer said current utility resource plans rely on "magical thinking" with their focus on unproven technologies and continued use of gas, but companies have plenty of time to close the gap, according to Deloitte.

By Thomas Gresham • Sept. 28, 2020

Opinion

P3s hold the key to a clean energy future post-COVID

Making progress on climate is still within our grasp, but the critical first step is to recognize the benefits of collaboration, and then to reach across the aisle. 

By Bill Prindle • Sept. 25, 2020

Michigan vows to go carbon neutral by 2050, increase oversight of utility resource plans

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D, signed an executive order on Wednesday setting the most ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal in the Midwest.

By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: Sept. 24, 2020 at 5:13 p.m.

Murkowski 'not giving up' on Senate clean energy bill vote before the end of 2020

Despite a potentially more difficult path for the legislative package following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair is determined to see her bill get a vote by the end of this year.

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 23, 2020

12 major cities pledge fossil fuel divestment

The C40 Cities-backed declaration "sends a huge signal to the marketplace" that governments are prioritizing a green COVID-19 recovery, said New York City climate advisor Dan Zarrilli.

By Kristin Musulin • Sept. 23, 2020

Maine regulators OK state's largest renewables solicitation with 482 MW solar, but skip storage

Spurred by recent legislation, the procurement will add 546 MW of resources, representing about 10% of the state's load.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 23, 2020

House passes massive clean energy bill amid Trump veto threat, Senate uncertainty

The House passed its Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act on Thursday, though the White House earlier this week indicated the president was likely to veto the bill, despite support in the Senate.

By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: Sept. 24, 2020 at 5:12 p.m.