Negative RECs for community solar: Market failure or utility opportunity?

Bidding has driven prices for Renewable Energy Credits for community solar projects into negative territory in Colorado, and installers say that constrains their ability to serve all customers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 23, 2015

Younicos to construct first utility-scale Texas solar-storage project

The facility will be the first such utility-scale project in the ERCOT market, although smaller demonstration projects have shown promise in the state.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 22, 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

Inside Southern California Edison's energy storage strategy

Nearly a year on from a monster storage buy, SCE President Pedro Pizarro spoke to Utility Dive about what his company's learned about storage and the next steps for its wider deployment.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 22, 2015

Green Mountain Power launches Vermont 'solar sharing' program

The Vermont utility offers a "Solar Sharing Network" aimed at broadening access to clean energy, further enhancing its reputation as a progressive power producer. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 22, 2015

Portland General Electric could join CAISO Energy Imbalance Market

PGE reportedly turned away from the Northwest Power Pool to take advantage of millions in savings being realized by the imbalance market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 22, 2015

Energy Dept. unveils plan to double energy productivity by 2030

The DOE "roadmap" calls for updated vehicle standards, efficient rate designs, putting more information into hands of consumers and businesses reinvesting avoided energy costs.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 22, 2015

3 Arizona regulators face new allegations of bias against rooftop solar industry

The news comes as the Arizona Corporation Commission is poised to evaluate a proposed grid access fee for Arizona Public Service Co. net metering customers. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Sept. 21, 2015

Feds approve North Carolina ocean tract for offshore wind developments

The announcement puts 300,000 acres of ocean on track for lease bidding by the end of 2015.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 21, 2015

CA government, SMUD contract for 100% renewable power for state buildings

California's state government contract with local muni in Sacramento makes the Brown administration one of the biggest U.S. renewables buyers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 21, 2015

A good rate design is hard to find: Experts push utility-solar compromise

As utilties step up their efforts to compensate for perceived cost shifts caused by rooftop solar, getting rates right will be essential for both power company revenues and DER growth.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 21, 2015

NRG will separate renewable, fossil generation in major reorganization

Amid mounting pressure from shareholders, the power sector giant will form a new clean energy business and transfer wind assets to its yieldco.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 18, 2015

Southern Co. jumpstarts operation of Georgia solar+storage test project

Southern Co. and the Electric Power Research Institute collaborate on the 1 MW system. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2015

SunPower: Keys to solar success are utility partners, being a 'good citizen of the grid'

The company's strong utility relationships have helped it grow in multiple solar sectors, an exec says.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 17, 2015

The top 10 trends transforming the electric power sector

From the decline of coal power to the rise of energy storage, big changes are quickly taking hold in the industry.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 17, 2015

Ohio solar-storage project will be nation's largest, developer claims

S&C Electric will develop a 7-MW storage project to help an Ohio town manage peak energy use.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 17, 2015

Joe Biden at SPI: 'We are on the cusp of something huge'

In the first executive office visit to a solar conference, Vice President Joe Biden praised the renewable energy sector and took aim at its fossil fuel opponents.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 17, 2015

Tesla battery storage tapped for Texas' first community solar project

Austin Energy's community solar project is expected to come online next year, and will utilize a 1.5 MW storage system to help integrate the power.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 16, 2015

North Carolina budget compromise does not include renewable tax credit extension

The state's 35% tax credit for renewable energy projects is set to expire at the end of the year.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 16, 2015

CPUC pushed to study solar-storage further after filing pegs value at $0.25/kWh

California is at risk of improperly valuing storage unless it opens a separate regulatory track on its value, an industry group says. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 15, 2015

Record wind generation pushes ERCOT prices into negative territory

Texas wind generation spiked over the weekend and bled into Monday, combinging with lower demand to force prices into negative territory.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2015

SPI 2015: Tax credit sunset preoccupies a fast-maturing industry

Growing pains hit solar industry as a rift appears over the fight for the extension of a vital federal tax credit.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 15, 2015

CA lawmakers pass bill to bolster efficiency, mandate 50% renewables by 2030

The mandate, originally proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown, now heads to his desk for a signature. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 14, 2015

SoCalEdison & SolarCity partner to study aggregated distributed resources

The pilot project will study 50 homes equipped with solar, storage, controllable thermostats, and smart inverters.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 14, 2015

Renewables opponents make late-session push to freeze North Carolina RPS

Fossil fuel advocates say the mandate is costing residents, but recent studies have found any bill increases based on renewables have been small. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 11, 2015

Report: Despite green claims, Rocky Mountain Power undermining renewables in Utah

Environmental group HEAL Utah says the utility's green programs don't deliver and the company is making renewable power more expensive.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 11, 2015