Solar & Renewables: Page 2

Opinion

Building a US clean manufacturing strategy to counter China and tackle climate change

The authors highlight four industries, including hydrogen production, that promise to become major export businesses as global markets for clean products grow.

By David Hart and Stefan Koester • June 29, 2021

AEP seeks 3 GW of wind, 300 MW of solar

The move comes as AEP is expanding its wind production with the $2 billion North Central wind project, the first part of which came online in April.

By Jason Plautz • June 29, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

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

Massachusetts state rep, favored by renewables industry, emerges among the frontrunners to fill FERC seat

Though a final nominee has not yet been announced, Maria Duaime Robinson has been vetted by the White House, according to sources.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 28, 2021

South Carolina regulators OK a dramatically revamped Dominion IRP

The modified integrated resource plan calls for shuttering the company's coal-fired plants in the state within the decade while also relying more on renewable sources of power.

By Scott Voorhis • June 28, 2021

Opinion

Can West Coast states help achieve 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030?

If the East Coast is sprinting a 100-meter dash to put steel in the water to meet the Biden administration's goal, the West Coast is running the 110-meter hurdles, the authors write.

By Chad Marriott and Cherise Gaffney • June 28, 2021

Consumers Energy to end Michigan coal use by 2025, but critics wary of plan to buy existing gas plants

The utility plans to eliminate coal 15 years ahead of its current track, and by 2040 it would deliver more than 60% renewable energy.  

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2021

Why are solar PPA prices creeping upward? It's complicated, experts say

Intense demand from corporations and governments appears to be outstripping the market's ability to provide solar installations, but industry experts say other factors are also driving a recent uptick in PPA prices.

By Emma Penrod • June 24, 2021

San Diego, Houston detail paths for cities to purchase renewable energy

Meeting clean energy goals can require different tools, like community choice aggregation and renewable energy certificates, EPA and city officials say. 

By Jason Plautz • June 22, 2021

US grid needs overhaul to keep up with renewable revolution, says GE exec, Sen. Heinrich

The infrastructure package Congress is debating must include tens of billions of dollars to modernize the aging U.S. electric grid, a U.S. senator and industry experts said last week.

By Scott Voorhis • June 22, 2021

South Carolina regulators reject Duke's long-term power plant construction plans, call for changes

South Carolina utility regulators are calling upon Duke to rethink its long-term power plant construction plans and are urging the company to look more closely at solar, storage and other resources.

By Scott Voorhis • June 21, 2021

Deep Dive

As US aims to boost clean energy supply chain, critical minerals gap largely human-caused, analysts say

There's no shortage of rare earth minerals needed to transition to a clean energy economy, experts say. The problem is getting them out of the ground — and out of China.

By Emma Penrod • June 17, 2021

Duke-backed North Carolina bill would reduce carbon emissions 61% by 2030, retire some coal early

The legislation calls for Duke to own 55% of renewable energy generation and independent power producers to own 45%. It also establishes a multiyear rate plan — something the utility has long pushed for.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 17, 2021

GE announces European partnerships to advance full wind turbine recycling

"Europe may be ahead of the U.S. in requiring recyclable systems, but all will soon follow," said Paul Veers, chief engineer at NREL's National Wind Technology Center.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 15, 2021

Hybrid storage and renewable projects are popular. Are they the best for the market?

Using wholesale power market prices from 2012 to 2019 across the seven grid operators, researchers found that independently siting a battery could lead to a higher value in nearly all U.S. markets.

By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2021

New gas turbines 'better be flexible' to someday accept carbon capture or hydrogen: New EEI chairman

Natural gas has a critical role to play as utilities pursue net-zero goals, said DTE Energy Executive Chairman Gerry Anderson, who was elected on Monday as the new chairman of the Edison Electric Institute.

By Larry Pearl • June 10, 2021

North Carolina unveils ambitious offshore wind power plan, targeting 8 GW by 2040

Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order on Wednesday making North Carolina the latest state with an offshore wind target, as the budding sector draws increasing interest from investors and the federal government.

By Scott Voorhis • June 10, 2021

Colorado legislators direct all transmission utilities to join an organized wholesale market by 2030

The passage of Senate Bill 72 is not only an indicator of the growing interest of Western states in regional power markets, but it could also put pressure on other states to create similar policies, one analyst said.

By Emma Penrod • June 08, 2021

Chicago building decarbonization working group to apply equity lens

As the city strives to power all buildings with renewable energy by 2035, it's not just about reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also about "prioritizing the health of people in the buildings," said Chicago's chief sustainability officer.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 08, 2021

New England states push for governance changes in ISO-NE, ahead of anticipated MOPR reform

To quell state frustrations, regulators say conversations will have to move beyond reforming the controversial minimum price rule.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 07, 2021

Avangrid faces tough questions from New Mexico regulators in final hurdle to $8.3B PNM merger

The company is facing scrutiny over $60 million in penalties and cost disallowances levied against its utility subsidiaries across several states for service issues.

By Scott Voorhis • June 07, 2021

Opinion

'An unlikely alliance': US investor-owned utilities and NGOs partner to advance new carbon-free tech

The Edison Electric Institute and the Clean Air Task Force announce an initiative to support a slate of emerging carbon-free technologies.

By Ben Fowke and Armond Cohen • June 04, 2021

Texas lawmakers approve bill mandating power plant weatherization, market reforms

Senate Bill 3, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday, mandates weatherization standards and makes some market reforms, but it will not require renewable energy providers to pay for reliability guarantees.

By Emma Penrod • UPDATED: June 9, 2021 at 9:17 a.m.

Nuclear capacity increases by 4.5 GW in long-delayed 'MOPRed' PJM auction, coal loses 8 GW

Total costs dropped $4.4 billion and prices dropped to $50/MW-day during PJM’s years-delayed capacity auction, due to lower load forecasts, which translate to lower reliability requirements, according to the grid operator.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 03, 2021

California utilities highlight reliability, cost concerns as state charts path to 100% clean power

"California has been a leader in decarbonization... how do we also ensure we’re a leader in making sure we’re planning for reliability as the grid changes?" asked one utility representative.

By Kavya Balaraman • June 03, 2021

Transition away from natural gas necessary to meet climate goals but creates equity concerns, experts say

The U.S. may have a handle on how to decarbonize electricity, a panel of regulators and lawmakers concluded, but eliminating dependence on natural gas without burdening low-income populations is another matter.

By Emma Penrod • June 02, 2021