Defying the usual headlines: How utility-solar collaborations are helping solar grow

The Solar Electric Power Association awarded five utilities, individuals and partners for collaborating on policies and programs to push solar as a power resource at the Solar Power International conference earlier this year. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2015

Minnesota town targets 100% renewable energy by 2031

Rochester, Minn., is developing a plan to reach all clean energy in the next 15 years, the latest town in a growing trend to do so, and calls energy efficiency a "top priority."

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

Duke launches solar rebate program in South Carolina

Duke plans expand its renewable energy footprint in the Palmetto State from less than 2 MW to at least 110 MW, with possibly more to come by 2021.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2015

Honey, I shrunk the grids: The emergence of 'nanogrids'

The falling cost of energy storage and solar panels is fueling the growth of “nanogrids,” small systems that often serve a single building, according to new research.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 14, 2015

Hawaii PUC ends net metering program

Hawaii's utility regulators ruled to end the state's net metering program, which drove rooftop solar installations in the state. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 14, 2015

Offshore wind developers worry US market will falter

At least one developer worries that if the United States can't get the offshore wind market moving in the next decade, the resource could miss its big opportunity.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 14, 2015

Facing coal retirements, Western utilities turn to cheap natural gas

While still integrating cleaner renewable energy, utilities are increasingly turning to natural gas as a cheap alternative to coal or out-of-state power.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 13, 2015

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

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