Louisiana governor puts state on path to net-zero emissions by 2050

The governor established a task force through an executive order tasked with interim goals of reducing emissions 26-28% by 2025 and 40-50% by 2030.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 21, 2020

California regulators plan post-mortem to examine cause of rolling blackouts

Capacity shortfalls and a heavy reliance on imports played a role, not the state's broader transition to renewable energy, regulators said in a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 21, 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

Propelling the transition: Small changes are making big impacts on wind, solar, but challenges remain

Cutting-edge wind and solar may evolve differently in the near term, but advocates for both share concerns over grid reliability and preventing energy curtailment.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 20, 2020

NRECA, DOE to showcase diverse uses of storage technology with 4 battery installations

The batteries, ranging from 90-500 kW, support everything from military base operations to a farm.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 18, 2020

Propelling the transition: The battle for control of virtual power plants is just beginning

As virtual power plants develop, there is a growing debate about the degree to which the future of distributed energy management will be controlled by large utilities or third-party aggregators.

By Matthew Bandyk • Aug. 18, 2020

Propelling the transition: Green hydrogen could be the final piece in a zero-emissions future

Green hydrogen beats renewables plus batteries at fueling heavy transport, serving industry and long duration storage — if it can be delivered affordably.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 17, 2020

Study shows value of California solar with statewide implications

The methodology used in a new analysis to determine the fair value of solar is pertinent throughout California, as policymakers and utilities consider more equitable rooftop solar rate structures, SMUD's CEO writes.

By Arlen Orchard • Aug. 17, 2020

Renewable energy in an age of change

Our world faces an omni-crisis consisting of multiple challenges, including the COVID-19 virus, confronting systemic racism, climate change, and numerous technological changes.

By Aaron Lauinger, Market Director, Ulteig • Aug. 17, 2020

US energy sector takes beating from COVID-19, but demand for renewable energy surges

Power purchase agreements in the U.S. have slowed significantly compared to other nations, but demand for wind and solar continues to grow.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 14, 2020

Budget pressures, COVID-19 drive Boulder to settlement talks with Xcel Energy

After 10 years of work toward establishing municipal power generation, the City of Boulder has announced a proposed settlement with Xcel Energy to continue progress toward clean energy at lower cost.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 11, 2020

Duke shifts toward renewables, storage investments in wake of $1.6B Atlantic Coast Pipeline loss

Grid upgrades and other "low-cost, smaller-scale" investments will incrementally replace the $2 billion originally set aside for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, said Duke CEO Lynn Good.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 11, 2020

FERC staff to Congress: HV transmission essential to reducing carbon, deploying renewables

One of the largest opportunities for high voltage transmission is colocation, though barriers include restrictions set by the Federal Highway Administration and state transportation agencies, analysts say.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 10, 2020

COVID-19 is allowing a sneak peak for how high-penetration renewable, flexible electricity markets will function in the real world

Europe has seen the future of electricity markets and it is flexible.

By Andy Tang, Vice President - Energy Storage and Optimization, Wärtsilä • Aug. 10, 2020

Renewable energy prices begin an upward trend, LevelTen data shows

The quarterly PPA price index by LevelTen Energy suggests solar and wind price indexes have entered a multi-year upswing that is likely to continue for some time.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 7, 2020

Dominion reaches agreement on South Carolina renewables + storage tariff to better integrate resources

The proposal reflects the fact that South Carolina's storage market is maturing, according to one stakeholder. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 7, 2020

After ComEd bribery case, Illinois groups push for changes to clean energy bill

The groups want to undo recent rate increases from Ameren Illinois and ComEd, but the state Chamber of Commerce will not support the update if it still protects Exelon's nuclear plants.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 6, 2020

The future of hydropower will be determined in the Pacific Northwest

By eliminating the best energy storage source in the nation — carbon-free hydropower — we will be fighting climate change with our hands tied behind our backs, the author writes.

By Kurt Miller • Aug. 6, 2020

Offshore wind report forecasts $1.7B of revenue from new federal lease auctions by 2022

The offshore wind industry has asked the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to auction more areas for development ahead of the first large-scale project beginning operation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 5, 2020

Denver voters to decide on sales tax for GHG reduction projects

The 0.25% sales tax increase would bring in an estimated $36 million to support investments in solar power, job training in renewable energy and other initiatives.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 5, 2020

bp targets $5B annual renewables spending, 50 GW by 2030

The international oil company gave greater insight into its plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 after taking a $16.8 billion hit in Q2 of this year.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 5, 2020

Sheep, ag and sun: Agrivoltaics propel significant reductions in solar maintenance costs

The cost savings impressed Tampa Electric when it put its solar O&M out to bid in 2018, with grazing representing a 75% cost savings over traditional mowing, said Paul Davis, director of solar operations.

By Lynn Freehill-Maye • Aug. 4, 2020

WEC Energy Group targets carbon neutrality by 2050 after hitting emissions goals a decade early

The Wisconsin-based electric provider plans to nearly double existing emission reductions over the next decade with a $900 million investment in renewable energy.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 4, 2020

Let Project Icebreaker break the ice

The Ohio Power Siting Board should remove its 11th hour "poison pill" condition on the construction permit for the first freshwater offshore wind project in North America, a clean energy attorney says.

By Theresa Carroll • Aug. 4, 2020

Dominion shakes up leadership, focuses on renewables after pipeline cancellation

CEO Tom Farrell is transitioning to a new role in a "long designed succession process" as the company takes a $2.8 billion charge related to the canceled Atlantic Coast Pipeline. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 3, 2020

GE's renewables division reports nearly $200M in Q2 losses due to COVID-19 delays

GE Renewable Energy reported year-over-year orders down 19%, but revenues for the first half of 2020 have increased slightly, hinting at a gradual recovery after cost-saving measures.

By Emma Penrod • July 31, 2020