Illinois rejects Ameren move to abandon full retail net metering for new home solar arrays

The Illinois Commerce Commission is giving Ameren 21 days to restore its net metering tariff and give rebates to customers who have installed solar since Oct. 2. 

By John Funk • Dec. 7, 2020

Google calls for more RTOs, designs 'intelligent platform' to meet 24/7 clean energy goal

The development of new software and access to more RTOs are key to achieving Google's goal of eliminating its remaining reliance on coal and gas, the company's global energy markets and policy chief tells NARUC.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 4, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

Vineyard says change to larger GE wind turbines doesn't require permit change

Vineyard Wind finished a technical review at the end of January, prompting the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to restart the permitting for its 800 MW project.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Jan. 28, 2021

Mississippi Power plans 'smart neighborhood' with Tesla batteries, Solar Roofs

The community of up to 150 homes will also feature automation along with energy-efficient equipment and appliances like smart thermostats and refrigerators.

By Cailin Crowe • Dec. 1, 2020

Solar-plus-storage poised to become more financially attractive, but seasonal solutions remain key

Following a shift to renewables and natural gas, U.S. utilities could soon begin wider adoption of battery storage, according to BloombergNEF.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 1, 2020

S&P: Hydrogen offers opportunity for energy transition, but economics remain difficult before 2030

Hydrogen could become cost competitive if solar or wind production costs fall below $30/MWh, and if the capital cost of electrolyzers also declines by 30-50%, according to the analysis.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 30, 2020

4 strategies to rapidly scale clean energy in the next decade

To fully realize our shared climate goals and rebuild our economy, we must prioritize and enact policies to accelerate the national transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, the author writes.

By Cameron Bard • Nov. 30, 2020

Taking Charge: Rep. Sean Casten on being the energy 'nerd' in Congress and prioritizing science over politics

"We have a PhD-level problem. And Congress is at a 6th grade reading level," Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., said of working on clean energy policy on Capitol Hill.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 30, 2020

​From Maryland to California and beyond, rate design innovations are boosting the energy transition

Success with time-of-use rates can allow utilities to start integrating more variable and distributed generation, leading to more sophisticated time-varying rates that allow for the further expansion of such generation.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 25, 2020

Climate progress in power, 5 other sectors too slow to limit global warming: report

The World Resources Institute and ClimateWorks said efforts to bolster electrification and renewable energy must accelerate, while deforestation and agricultural production raised red flags.

By Chris Teale • Nov. 23, 2020

Why capital markets are continuing to finance utilities facing rising flood and other climate change impacts

In a sample of 18 utility disclosures on climate risks analyzed by Utility Dive, 13 stated flooding and heavy storms were a short-to-mid term threat.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 20, 2020

NYISO, others blast gas generators' proposed fix to alleged price distortions in capacity market

Two gas generators are asking FERC to raise the floor price for state-subsidized resources in New York's capacity market, similar to the commission's ruling in the PJM Interconnection.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 20, 2020

FERC proposes transmission rating reform, upholds PURPA, ISO-NE orders

Line ratings are considered a "tool stuck in limbo" by transmission experts that could help renewables waiting in long interconnection queues connect to the grid, while improving the overall efficiency of transmission lines.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 20, 2020

New Jersey regulators partner with PJM in offshore wind transmission planning

The grid operator will initiate a new type of solicitation to attract developers to address New Jersey's need to add 7.5 GW of offshore wind by 2035.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 19, 2020

States urge FERC to avoid further intrusions on authority in any future carbon pricing policy

Competitive power suppliers and natural gas interests, meanwhile, argued carbon pricing is the best mechanism for reducing emissions economically.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 19, 2020

DOE R&D plan targets 'immediate risk' hackers present to renewable energy technologies

DOE has developed a long-term approach to improve the security of renewable energy facilities, manufacturing, buildings, and transportation, which it says are "increasingly interconnected and vulnerable to cyber-attack."

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2020

Climate risks are accelerating. Here's what Duke, PG&E and 16 other utilities expect to pay.

Utility Dive took a closer look at how climate risks are threatening utilities — and how much it's going to cost to mitigate them.

By Utility Dive Editors • Nov. 18, 2020

With Biden headed to the White House, solar advocates aim to turn wish lists into practical policy goals

Solar advocates see multiple paths to progress under Biden, but with potential Republican opposition in the Senate, they're charting a pragmatic course.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 18, 2020

Glick vows to prioritize transmission, reassess capacity markets if named FERC Chair

Commissioner Richard Glick, a frontrunner for FERC chair under Biden, has opposed many of the commission's actions in recent years, particularly those he believes directly impeding state resource decisions.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 18, 2020

Mayors unveil $60B plan to support Midwest energy transition

The 'Marshall Plan for Middle America' aims to address the Ohio Valley region's projected 100,000 job losses triggered by a shift away from fossil fuels.

By Chris Teale • Nov. 16, 2020

MOPR reconsidered: Competitive generators move away from FERC's PJM order, toward carbon pricing

Though competitive suppliers initiated the complaint that led to the Minimum Offer Price Rule expansion, they are now pivoting toward more markets-based mechanisms, largely in response to state threats to exit the markets altogether.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 13, 2020

Transmission troubles? A solution could be lying along rail lines and next generation highways

Multiple studies show the need for interregional transmission is growing and proposals to streamline siting will help, but cost allocation remains a barrier.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 12, 2020

Chatterjee says exclusion of state regulators from carbon pricing conference was a 'mistake'

His comments come less than two months after the FERC meeting where the commission was criticized for not including state regulators on any of its panels, as well as for lacking gender and racial diversity.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 12, 2020

The clean energy benefits slipping through states' fingers

Transmission projects take many years to complete, so the window is about to close on our ability to set states up for success even on 2025 and 2030 clean energy goals, the author writes.

By John Moore • Nov. 11, 2020

California has the technology and know-how to meet its energy needs; it needs the right regulations

California energy agencies should make common-sense changes to maximize the value and market opportunity for energy storage and demand response, the authors write.

By Nick Chaset and Cisco DeVries • Nov. 10, 2020