Officials urge flexibility, transmission upgrades to accommodate storage and DER buildout

Transmission is "just critical" to ensuring reliability and value for new resources, says EDF Renewable North America's Jamie Link.

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 5, 2021

Unlocking the Transition: Politicians tout renewable energy jobs for ex-fossil fuel workers, but it’s not so simple

Renewable energy might create new jobs for a variety of Americans, but experts say these positions don't always appeal — or just aren't available — to workers who are losing their jobs to the closure of coal mines and power plants.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 5, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Build Back Better, FERC actions on infrastructure could trigger 'monumental' renewable energy deployments

Panelists at the American Council on Renewable Energy's forum said policies currently under review by Congress and FERC could lead to meaningful transmission reform.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 4, 2021

Stopping the utility profit grab and saving rooftop solar in California

We can dispense with the utility campaign's "cost shift" myth. It's based on bad math that does not account for the grid-stabilizing investment solar consumers make in their own systems and other factors, the author writes.

By Dave Rosenfeld • Nov. 4, 2021

Unlocking the Transition: Biden, Congress aim to fill gap from clean electricity plan's demise

Sen. Joe Manchin's rejection of the plan has led to a scramble for potential alternatives, with a proposal by Reps. Kurt Schrader and David McKinley gaining support from major players in the utility sector.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Nov. 4, 2021

Engie abandons Hawaii solar+storage project over supply chain, tariff concerns

Hawaiian Electric says it does not expect other projects to fold amid the global supply chain crunch. 

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 3, 2021

COP26: Biden apologizes for US climate inaction, issues long-term plan for reaching net zero emissions

The plan asks the electric sector to eliminate emissions by 2035 through transmission upgrades, energy efficiency, storage and non-emitting generation, along with several other strategies.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2021

Xcel first utility to adopt net zero carbon target across gas and electric operations, CEO says

Xcel CEO Bob Frenzel sees hydrogen, electrification and “low methane” supplies as key tools in reaching near- and long-term greenhouse gas targets for the company's gas utility operations.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 1, 2021

Supply chain woes expected to raise 2022 costs for renewables, Lazard LCOE report finds

Despite supply chain problems, new onshore wind and solar costs remain competitive with existing fossil fuel and nuclear resources, Lazard said as it released analyses of generation, storage and hydrogen costs.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Nov. 1, 2021

New research shows that customer action key to reaching decarbonization goals

Customer action can be twice as impactful as current clean energy supply policies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

By Brad Langley, Director of Marketing, Oracle Utilities Opower • Nov. 1, 2021

House passes Build Back Better, tees up Senate vote on funding for climate, clean energy and electric vehicles

The bill's passage comes days after President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan infrastructure bill that also boosts spending on shifting the U.S. away from fossil fuels.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Nov. 19, 2021

States, public need bigger role in transmission development, FERC's Glick says

The lead regulator outlined his hopes for transmission reform needed to meet clean energy and grid reliability goals ahead of a key FERC-state task force meeting.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 28, 2021

Hydropower's absence in the reconciliation bill is a major gap in U.S. clean energy strategy

Hydro helps integrate wind and solar, so why isn't it supported in the reconciliation bill?

By Alicia Barton • Oct. 28, 2021

AEP to sell Kentucky operations to Liberty for $2.85B and use proceeds for renewables, transmission

AEP plans to add 16,600 MW of renewable energy generation and cut its carbon emissions 80% below 2000 levels by 2030.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 27, 2021

As politicians battle, we need scientific credibility and objectivity to reach net zero emissions

If countries are to achieve economywide net-zero emissions by 2050, it will mean significantly accelerating clean energy efforts, the CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute writes.

By Arshad Mansoor • Oct. 27, 2021

Maine DEP suspends permit for 1.2 GW Avangrid power line to import power from Hydro-Québec

The decision on Tuesday came as 50 Maine lawmakers urged Massachusetts to explore alternatives for meeting its clean energy goals.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Nov. 24, 2021

NextEra's failure to upgrade Seabrook plant jeopardizes planned $1B transmission line, Avangrid warns

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision in the interconnection dispute could affect clean energy ambitions nationwide, Massachusetts officials warned.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 25, 2021

10 cleantech startups to watch

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator fall 2021 cohort has companies whose efforts range from wildfire prevention to transportation electrification. CEO Matt Petersen discusses challenges startups face in working with the public sector.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 25, 2021

How New England could demonstrate what a 'clean energy RTO' looks like

In showing how RTO markets can support the achievement of state policy goals and be the catalyst for a clean energy region, ISO New England has three big things going for it, the author writes.

By Caitlin Marquis • Oct. 25, 2021

NextEra doubles down on green hydrogen, other renewables

The company said Wednesday it has added more than 5,700 megawatts over the first nine months of 2021 to its backlog of renewable energy and storage projects.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Oct. 21, 2021

Meeting state offshore wind, renewable goals requires up to $3.2B in transmission, PJM says

A report on future transmission needs marks a change in how the largest U.S. grid operator considers state renewable energy goals, but more work needs to be done, observers say.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 21, 2021

Coal-fired electricity rebounds in 2021, but resurgence could be short-lived

As the price of natural gas soars, a federal report finds coal-fired power plants are expected to produce significantly more electricity this year than in 2020.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Oct. 20, 2021

Boosting transmission between East, West grids will lower costs: NREL

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory study shows that every dollar spent on new transmission facilities between the two interconnections will be more than doubled as grid benefits, reducing costs to interconnect new resources.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 19, 2021

Fixing our supply chains is necessary for the clean energy transition

Solar panels are in high demand but have been particularly hard hit this year by supply chain problems.

By Sally Talberg • Oct. 19, 2021

Time for utility companies to step up by supporting the Clean Electricity Performance Program

Achieving more clean energy is feasible, affordable and would benefit our economy and public health without compromising power system reliability, writes Ceres' senior program director of climate and energy.

By Dan Bakal • Oct. 18, 2021