USDA offers $10.7B for rural electrification and energy transition

“This represents the single largest investment in rural electrification since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act into law in 1936,” the department said.

By Diana DiGangi • May 16, 2023

IRS details which renewable energy components must be made in the US to qualify for IRA tax credits

The U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service notified owners of green energy projects — wind, solar and energy storage — how to apply tax rules for domestic content bonus credits.

By Emma Penrod • May 15, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Power companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

South Carolina could save electricity customers up to $362M a year by joining RTO: The Brattle Group

The current Southeast Energy Exchange Market is limited in benefits compared to a regional transmission organization, the consulting firm said in a report to a legislative committee.

By Diana DiGangi • May 15, 2023

Silicon Valley Bank closes $203M solar deal with Pivot Energy in first transaction since collapse

Pivot Energy was set to wrap up a deal on a 100 MW solar portfolio just before the FDIC seized Silicon Valley Bank. They closed the deal on May 9 — only six weeks later than expected.

By Emma Penrod • May 12, 2023

DOE directs $26M to PG&E, ConEd and other projects testing how clean energy can support a resilient grid

The Department of Energy announced it will offer $26 million for projects “to demonstrate how solar, wind, storage and other clean energy resources can support a reliable and efficient U.S. power grid.”

By Diana DiGangi • May 11, 2023

Provisional winners of Pacific offshore wind auction call for procurement, port plans

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s lease sale last December drew $757.1 million in winning bids for lease areas the agency estimates can generate around 4.6 GW of offshore wind energy. 

By Kavya Balaraman • May 10, 2023

Hawaii leads the way on advanced rate design with default time-of-use rates, fixed charge innovations

Hawaii’s planned granular cost study still must prove to other states that the new TOU rates, fixed charge framework, and new way of defining costs will allocate costs accurately, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 9, 2023

NextEra Energy Partners to sell its natural gas pipelines, focus solely on renewable energy

The move should boost the value of the company in the eyes of environmentally-conscious investors, NextEra CEO John Ketchum said.

By Emma Penrod • May 9, 2023

Eversource set to announce decision on sale of stake in offshore wind joint venture with Ørsted

Eversource, which is focusing on its regulated businesses, is “very far along in the process” of finding possible buyers for its 50% stake in the offshore wind partnership, CEO Joe Nolan recently told industry analysts.

By Stephen Singer • May 8, 2023

As Shell and other oil and gas majors adopt clean energy strategies, how should electric utilities respond?

Oil and gas companies are experts in flexibly responding to market conditions and opportunities, and their entry into the generation market plays to these strengths.

By Alex Boyd • May 5, 2023

To spur geothermal heating and cooling, DOE funds 11 community-scale system design projects

DOE will select several of the designs for development to advance community-scale geothermal systems, which are relatively uncommon in the U.S.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 4, 2023

The IRS’s coming 45V tax credit rules can build a domestic clean hydrogen industry — but only if done right.

A loose framework of rules could raise utility rates, make it tougher to meet clean energy targets, and threaten reliability while setting the clean hydrogen industry up for failure once 45V expires.

By Dan Esposito • May 4, 2023

EH2’s planned hydrogen electrolyzer factory in Massachusetts would nearly double global capacity

With demand for hydrogen expected to soar due to the Inflation Reduction Act, the industry is going to need to rapidly scale up electrolyzer manufacturing, industry leaders say.

By Emma Penrod • May 4, 2023

New York Power Authority given broad authority to own, operate, build and finance renewable energy projects

The New York Power Authority will be transformed “from a moribund agency to the most dynamic builder and owner of public renewables in the nation,” said chief legislative sponsor Assemblymember Robert Carroll.

By Stephen Singer • May 4, 2023

Dominion Energy projects adding up to 9 GW of gas-fired capacity in Virginia to bolster reliability

The plan, filed Monday with state utility regulators, calls for adding more natural gas and renewables to Dominion’s portfolio, along with up to 4.2 GW of small modular reactors.

By Diana DiGangi • May 4, 2023

Massachusetts energy agency calls for 3,600 MW of offshore wind proposals in state’s largest RFP to date

The Department of Energy Resources says the proposal will maximize its statutory authority, but the RFP offers flexible terms that could appeal to developers looking to exit their contracts with the state.

By Emma Penrod • May 3, 2023

Commerce Department delays final decision on solar panel tariffs until August as Congress votes to end pause

“These inquiries pose numerous complex methodological issues for which Commerce requires more time to analyze,” the department wrote in an April 26 memo.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated May 4, 2023

Energy storage takes a hit among investors while solar continues to soar

Energy storage, like much of the U.S. economy, has seen interest from investors decline, according to data from Mercom. But solar investment continues to grow.

By Emma Penrod • May 2, 2023

Coming EPA power plant rules will put carbon capture to the test, but better oversight is needed, critics say

New CCUS has the policy, private sector and regulatory support to end claims it underperforms, but only if new EPA rules require verification through strong federal oversight, advocates and opponents agreed.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 2, 2023

House passes resolution to end pause on SE Asia solar panel tariffs, Sen. Manchin co-sponsors Senate version

“I cannot fathom why the administration and Congress would consider extending that reliance any longer,” Manchin said.

By Diana DiGangi • May 1, 2023

Southwest Power Pool study could inform Texas efforts to shore up reliability: PUCT commissioner

A Southwest Power Pool working group is studying development of a reliability standard based on expected unserved energy, with varied requirements for at least two different seasons.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2023

Let’s not forget about how renewables will impact the distribution grid

As many more zero-carbon generation sources connect to the grid, the urgency of grid modernization programs will continue to increase. Discover how the rise of renewables will drive the need for upgrades on our distribution systems.

By Luke Ezell, PE, Account Manager, Burns & McDonnell • May 1, 2023

Xcel Energy touts commitment to affordability, energy transition amid outcry over high natural gas prices

After reporting a 10% increase in earnings, and following protests against high energy bills in Colorado, company executives affirmed their commitment to an affordable energy transition.

By Emma Penrod • April 28, 2023

Rep. Casten, ex-FERC chairs eye DERs, more power sector competition to achieve net zero goals

"We're not going to get to where we need to go with a zero-carbon electric grid unless we have distributed demand-side resources supporting what we need to do on the supply side,” said former FERC Chair Jon Wellinghoff.

By Diana DiGangi • April 27, 2023

The IRA made hydrogen affordable, but more policy is needed to ensure adequate demand exists: report

Green hydrogen could play a key role in the future of the chemical, steel and cement industries, but transitioning these industries will be costly, according to the Renewable Thermal Collaborative.

By Emma Penrod • April 27, 2023