Developers add energy storage to Ohio solar project after law changes

The project is being touted as the largest storage project in Ohio and the largest solar+storage facility in the U.S.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 13, 2015

Study: Integrating PacifiCorp and CAISO grids could create up to $9.1B in savings

Benefits of combining the electrical grids operated by CAISO and PacifiCorp can help Western states meet environmental goals and save $12.5 billion for customers on both grid systems over 20 years, according to a study. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 13, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

Rising demand for power is continuing to drive demand for renewables, but policy uncertainty and mixed signals from the Trump administration add to existing challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

Clean Energy Collective debuts program to enable IOUs to rate base community solar

A Clean Energy Collective program allows investor-owned utilities to earn a guaranteed return on community shared solar and fulfill customer demand without subsidizing costs for non-solar users. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 13, 2015

Green Charge Networks to bring aggregated energy storage into CAISO market

The move will help the state meet its new 50%-by-2030 renewables mandate. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 13, 2015

Arizona Public Service claims $67 monthly solar cost shift in new regulatory filing

Arizona Public Service Co. submitted a cost-of-service study ahead of its next rate case, detailing for the first time how much it thinks non-solar customers subsidize those with rooftop arrays. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 12, 2015

California finalizes 50%-by-2030 renewables mandate

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into a law a 50% renewable mandate the jacks up the previous 33% mandate while calling for an increase 50% in energy efficiency for the state. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 8, 2015

Hardware shortages may slow solar growth in 2016

A rush to make solar projects eligible for the 30% investment tax credit before it sunsets is straining solar’s supply chain.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 8, 2015

Utility-scale solar booms as costs drop, challenging gas on price

Utility-scale solar is on the verge of edging out gas on price, and it offers cost benefits that fossil fuel plants lack.  

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 8, 2015

Mississippi continues to struggle with net metering policy

The Mississippi Public Service Commission has extended the comment period on a proposed net metering policy, and it is unclear when a decision will be made.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2015

IRS may redefine investment tax credit for energy projects

New definitions could affect rooftop solar, energy storage and other demand side resources. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 7, 2015

Developers propose competing $1.6B, 400 MW offshore wind projects in Hawaii

Hawaii’s strong ocean winds make offshore wind an economic choice, as a wind project developer say they can deliver power at a lower cost than the average Oahu electrical price. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 7, 2015

NextEra, HECO withdraw application for utility solar project on Oahu

Some had criticized the proposal, saying the PPA between NextEra and HECO represented a conflict of interest because the companies are trying to merge. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 7, 2015

Panasonic touts new solar module as most efficient in the world

Panasonic rolled out its new solar module which claims 22.5% efficiency, outpacing SolarCity's recently-released modules that claim 22.04% efficiency. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 6, 2015

Report: North Carolina utilities, regulators behind the curve on storage

A new report from a North Carolina clean energy group outlines the main barriers holding back wider deployment of storage technologies. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 6, 2015

SunEdison to lay off 15% of its workforce in bid to streamline business

Projects are being liquidated as hedge funds and short sellers bedevil the world's largest renewables developer.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 6, 2015

Xcel to shutter controversial Minnesota coal units

The company will retire two units at the Sherburne County Generating Plant (Sherco), and is targeting 35% renewables by 2030.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2015

Study: Northeast has more than 250k commercial rooftops suitable for solar

The Northeast is ripe for more than $67 billion in solar investments for commercial buildings, a new study says, but commercial financing options remain a hitch.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2015

New Hampshire regulators cut renewables rebates by a third to preserve program

Program funding dropped from $17 million to $4 million as utilities deployed more renewables, decreasing their payments to a fund that financed the rebate scheme. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 5, 2015

HECO proposes new community renewables program

The utility has asked regulators to approve a Community-Based Renewable Energy program that would allow more people otherwise encumbered by unsuitable roofs or renting properties to access distributed generation. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 5, 2015

Austin Energy approved for 300 MW utility solar buy under 4¢/kWh

The contracts are expected to be the cheapest ever for Texas solar, the utility says. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 5, 2015

Cost of Service? Arizona's solar saga takes on the valuation question

As APS backs a cost-of-service study to define the cost shift for non-solar customers, experts say such a move could set a nationwide precedent for solar's value. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 4, 2015

SolarCity touts its new rooftop solar panels as most efficient in the world

SolarCity will manufacture the 22.04% efficient silicon thin film hybrid PV module in New York and California, showing the fruits of vertical integration.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 2, 2015

To ITC or not to ITC: What happens if solar's federal tax incentives aren't extended

Without the ITC, the loss of potential solar capacity is equal to the total amount currently installed in the U.S., a new report finds.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2015

SolarCity maintains 34% residential solar market share in 1H 2015

Four of the top five U.S. solar installers are vertically integrated, and the one that isn't is losing market share.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2015

Ohio lawmakers, governor at odds over renewables and efficiency freeze

A legislative committee has recommended extending the state's temporary freeze on renewables and efficiency mandates indefinitely, a proposal Gov. John Kaisich (R) calls "unacceptable."

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 30, 2015