Rooftop solar is booming, but not in the communities that need it most

Prioritize community-led promotions and education strategies to have far-reaching impacts, writes Planno CEO Daniel Domingues.

By Daniel Domingues • Jan. 5, 2026

Prepaid leases, data center dollars key for DERs in 2026: Enphase executive

Analysts expect a residential solar-and-storage market already trending away from customer ownership to shift rapidly toward the lease and subscription model next year.

By Brian Martucci • Updated Dec. 24, 2025

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

Senate Democrats end permitting reform talks over offshore wind freeze

The move comes after the Trump administration ordered work to halt on five offshore wind projects totaling 7 GW. The freeze on offshore wind construction “wrecks the trust needed with the executive branch for bipartisan permitting reform,” the senators said.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 23, 2025

What the Western REC registry shake-up means for corporate clean energy

The process of rebuilding the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System creates near-term uncertainties and risks, Roger Ballentine of Green Strategies writes. 

By Roger Ballentine • Dec. 22, 2025

Trump administration halts all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in US

The action affects five major offshore wind farms under development in federal waters, including the 2.6-GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. The administration cited classified “national security risks” for the move.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated Dec. 22, 2025

Why the SPEED Act may slow down after passing the House

In January, lawmakers face the expiration of a temporary government funding deal and impending midterms, complicating the bill's advancement. But observers say there is more urgency now than ever before to reform energy infrastructure permitting.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 22, 2025

House passes permitting reform bill with anti-offshore wind amendment

The amendment was “absolutely critical for preserving the Trump administration’s ability to continue its much-need reviews of ocean wind projects,” said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 19, 2025

Court agrees to rehear $14B climate funding freeze case

The nonprofit recipients of $14 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants frozen by the EPA are scheduled to have their case reheard by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in February. 

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 18, 2025

PJM capacity prices hit record high as grid operator falls short of reliability target

A 6.6-GW shortfall could trigger a backstop procurement to bolster PJM’s reserve margin, according to Jefferies analysts.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 18, 2025

Clean energy industry preps ahead of impending FEOC guidance

The foreign-entity-of-concern guidance is likely to be “taxpayer-friendly” and should be released by the end of January, according to an analysis from strategy firm Capstone.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 16, 2025

Tribal nations regroup after loss of federal funding for clean energy

“We know the demand for energy is only going to continue in the coming years,” said Clara Pratte, founder of the solar company Navajo Power. “And in terms of tribal communities, we have to be players in this world.”

By Diana DiGangi • Updated Dec. 16, 2025

Storage for all seasons: Why the grid needs more than four hours

Longer storage is key to keeping the lights on year-round.

By Gabe Murtaugh • Dec. 15, 2025

New York targets power sector carbon allowances in proposed climate regulations

The amendments would reduce the annual budget of CO2 allowances through 2037, including the number of voluntary renewable energy purchases. 

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 11, 2025

NYPA adopts 5.5-GW renewables plan amid concerns over affordability, policy changes

Developers with major solar, wind and storage projects in the New York Power Authority’s updated plan include AES, EDF Renewable Energy, Forward Power and Orenda.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 10, 2025

Virginia data centers must pay ‘fair share,’ incoming lieutenant governor says

“There is new energy in this legislature, and with it a real opportunity to build new energy right here in the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 5, 2025

The week in 5 numbers: Wind and solar are what’s for dinner

In other news, the Trump administration has fired shots at “established monopolist” Duke Energy as officials test antitrust tools in power markets, and a fight over capacity auctions highlights the risk of phantom data centers.

By Meris Lutz • Dec. 5, 2025

US added 2 GW of solar in September, putting 2025 ahead of 2024 for new solar generation

Solar accounted for three-quarters of new generation installed so far this year, followed by wind at 13% and gas at 11%.

By Meris Lutz • Dec. 4, 2025

California lawmakers say utilities must be accountable for interconnection delays

In a letter to state regulators, 18 legislators say that PG&E and SCE are “repeatedly missing state-mandated timelines to interconnect solar and storage.”

By Diana DiGangi • Updated Dec. 3, 2025

MISO begins reviewing 6.1 GW — 70% of it gas — in fast-track interconnection study

The grid operator’s Expedited Resource Addition Study process has grown to 11.2 GW, with an additional 18 GW seeking to join the initiative.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 2, 2025

Utilities, regulators look to accelerate pilots to achieve speed-to-innovation

Stakeholders say clear cost limits, timelines and parameters for scaling can overcome the inertia of a traditionally risk-averse industry.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 1, 2025

Power plants in SPP can expand up to 20% under new FERC-approved fast-track review

Developers must show that the necessary financing and equipment has been secured and that the project can be online within five years.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 1, 2025

States must advance technology-neutral permitting to support clean energy

A competitive environment is necessary for rapid innovation and cost reduction as federal support evaporates, say Leila Banijamali and Zachary Millimet of Symbium.

By Leila Banijamali and Zachary Millimet • Nov. 25, 2025

Natural gas sees ‘largest year-over-year drop’ in California as solar surges

For the first eight months of this year, utility-scale solar generation totaled 40.3 billion kilowatt hours in California, and natural gas accounted for 45.5 BkWh.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 25, 2025

San Antonio’s public utility seeks 600 MW of solar

“It is probably an excellent time to be shopping for Black Friday deals on renewables in the ERCOT market right now,” said Joshua Rhodes, an energy research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 20, 2025

How renewable energy producers can navigate FERC’s new interconnection rules

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reforms aim to accelerate interconnection, but regional differences can affect project timelines, write energy attorneys at Balch & Bingham.

By Kevin McNamee, Abby Fox and Ricky Cox • Nov. 19, 2025