Solar & Renewables: Page 2

Green tariffs drive big increases in corporate renewable procurement

The Retail Industry Leaders Association ranked Illinois as the top state in corporate clean energy procurement, as New Mexico and Nevada leap ahead of California and New York.

By Matthew Bandyk • March 13, 2020

Wind plants can provide grid services similar to gas, hydro, easing renewables integration: CAISO

Tests conducted at a wind farm near San Diego indicate that when equipped with inverter-based smart controllers, commercial wind plants can provide a variety of grid services.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 13, 2020

Over reliance on gas in PREPA IRP jeopardizes Puerto Rico's 100% clean energy goals, groups say

The future of Puerto Rico's electric grid hinges on a lot of moving parts: the utility's long-term plan, a debt restructuring agreement, the search for replacement generation and access to federal emergency funding.

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2020

Duke, Dominion, Southern won't hit clean energy targets at current pace: Report

Slowed coal retirements and aggressive natural gas investments will leave the companies far behind their mid-century carbon goals, according to Synapse Energy Economics.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 10, 2020

Wind, solar and storage take up 95% of ISO-New England interconnection queue, marking 'dramatic shift'

Five years ago, the majority of the queue was natural gas capacity, CEO Gordon van Welie told reporters.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 09, 2020

Renewables, EV tax credits won't be included in Senate energy bill 'unless we have a miracle on the floor': Wyden

"We're not going to win this round," the top Democrat of the Senate Finance Committee said, as House members and clean energy interests push for greater renewables incentives in the Senate's comprehensive energy bill.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 05, 2020

Opinion

Will solar work for low-income communities?

Solar for low-and-moderate-income customers should either provide guaranteed savings or allow customers to easily withdraw from the contract at any time, the author writes.

By Warren Leon • March 05, 2020

Deep Dive

Green Mountain Power's pioneering steps in transactive energy raise big questions about DER's value

Peer-to-peer energy transactions could meet policy goals and system needs, if software platforms resolve the complexities of value and reliable operation.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 04, 2020

Florida signs off on FPL's 1.5 GW community solar program, despite lack of competition

NextEra subsidiary Florida Power & Light got unanimous approval for the largest solar subscription program in the nation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 04, 2020

DOE Secretary holds out hope for new low carbon coal plants as Senate drills him on renewables cuts

Congress is faced with an energy "budget that, frankly, sucks," Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., told Secretary Dan Brouillette during the hearing.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 04, 2020

Comprehensive Senate energy bill draws industry, bipartisan support, but lags on tax credits, efficiency

The bill would include 17 demonstration projects for advanced nuclear, carbon capture, long duration storage and geothermal, moving away from the Trump administration's more research-focused funding approach.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 03, 2020

Virginia legislature torn over keeping a Dominion coal plant running past 2030

The Senate and General Assembly are reconciling two versions of a clean energy package, including an amendment that would exempt a newer coal plant in Wise County from retiring in the next decade.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 03, 2020

Deep Dive

Green hydrogen gets real as utility business models and delivery solutions emerge

The fuel may be the only way to meet power system needs in zero emissions scenarios and the market signals to produce and use it are finally clear.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 02, 2020

'Beyond frustating' Senate dispute stalls bipartisan energy legislation

Adoption of the comprehensive package was disrupted over an amendment that would limit the use of hydrofluorocarbons.

By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: March 10, 2020 at 9:40 a.m.

Spending more on renewables 'inappropriate,' as technology is already viable: DOE Secretary

Dan Brouillette defended President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to energy efficiency and renewables to a House committee as a pivot toward emerging technologies that have not yet reached market maturity, such as energy storage.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 28, 2020

As Massachusetts solar installs plummet, stalled interconnections, land use questions are key hurdles

Last year, solar installments slowed and jobs disappeared in Massachusetts. Now, developers are trying to overcome regulatory barriers and local opposition to land development.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 27, 2020

CPUC proposes optimal 2030 system portfolio tripling battery storage, more than doubling solar

The California Public Utilities Commission on Friday proposed a 46 million metric ton greenhouse gas emissions target for the electric sector in 2030.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 27, 2020

Consumers Energy talks tree-planting, carbon capture, innovation with net zero carbon 2040 target

The Michigan-based utility set a "first-in-the-nation" net zero emissions goal to make up for the emissions of two gas units that will remain open past 2040.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 26, 2020

Opinion

It's the roaring 20s for renewables — will natural gas join the party?

The best dance partner for renewables this decade is natural gas. Why? Because natural gas can economically back large amounts of new renewables across all seasons, the author writes.

By Brent Alderfer • Feb. 26, 2020

State of the Electric Utility 2020

Renewables and sustainability are top priorities for utilities, but there is room for improvement on cybersecurity, climate resilience and more, Utility Dive's seventh annual report finds.​

By Nami Sumida • Feb. 26, 2020

Dominion's first storage projects to test increased solar integration, fewer distribution upgrades

The utility plans to use the experience learned from operating four lithium-ion battery projects totaling 16 MW to meet new energy storage requirements, which could reach over 2 GW in Virginia by 2035.

By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 26, 2020

Charlotte, North Carolina, becomes largest US city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff

The city council approved a 35-megawatt project to generate 24% of its municipal electricity, making it the most populous U.S. city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff.

By Chris Teale • Feb. 25, 2020

Opinion

FERC takes steps to modernize PURPA, but will it do more harm than good?

Proposed changes to the funding mechanics for Qualified Facilities under the law could negate or reverse the cost reductions the renewable energy sector has benefited from in the past few years.

By Tanya M. Larrabee • Feb. 25, 2020

New York governor proposes renewable energy permitting office to speed projects

If adopted, the 30-day budget amendment would "dramatically" speed up the permitting and construction of renewable energy projects, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2020

California OKs first community solar program under new building standard, troubling rooftop advocates

SMUD's program allows builders to pick community solar regardless of whether a home is suited for a solar PV system, Dave Rosenfeld, executive director of the Solar Rights Alliance, told Utility Dive.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 24, 2020