Renewables: Page 75


  • Deep Dive

    Momentum grows for piloting Netflix-like fixed subscription rates, but not everyone's on board

    For customers who want predictable bills, pairing automated smart distribution technologies with flat rates can resolve the overuse challenge of traditional fixed bills.

    By July 7, 2020
  • Interior Department to streamline offshore wind permitting, nix unsolicited leasing

    The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to issue proposed rules this month to deregulate offshore wind and facilitate more development, according to the Trump administration's Spring Regulatory Agenda.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 6, 2020
  • High voltage power lines seen from below Explore the Trendline
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    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
  • Utility Dive interview series
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    Yujin Kim/Utility Dive
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    Column

    Taking Charge: Wisconsin's newest utility commissioner on the state's 'utility-scale changeover'

    Wisconsin Public Service Commissioner Tyler Huebner spoke to Utility Dive about the state's transition from coal and toward a greener, more distributed grid.

    By Catherine Morehouse • July 6, 2020
  • NERA counters broad opposition to FERC net metering petition, reveals utility-linked member

    Attorneys for the New England Ratepayers Association have revealed one of its members — the president and founder of energy consulting firm Brant Energy, whose clients include National Grid, Eversource and DTE Energy.

    By Catherine Morehouse • July 2, 2020
  • Trump officials address prospects and challenges of California offshore wind development

    A group of stakeholders have identified potential leasing areas off the West Coast that don't interfere with Department of Defense activities.

    By Kavya Balaraman • July 2, 2020
  • Florida's customer-sited solar reaches new heights as regulators oppose federal petition to upend net metering

    The Florida Public Service Commission joined other states to oppose a national petition in support of state-led net metering policies.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 1, 2020
  • House Democrats release sweeping climate proposal calling for net-zero US emissions by 2050

    The proposal does not eliminate natural gas fracking and leaves the door open for carbon capture technology.

    By Catherine Morehouse • July 1, 2020
  • Deep Dive

    Battery energy storage is getting cheaper, but how much deployment is too much?

    As renewable penetrations rise, batteries are the answer to variability, but it is not clear when buying more storage stops increasing reliability.

    By June 30, 2020
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    from Tucson Electric Power (used with permission)
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    Consumer demand prompts aggressive shift toward renewables, storage at Tucson Electric Power

    Solar, wind and energy storage systems will account for 70% of TEP's generation capacity by 2035, according to the utility.

    By Emma Penrod • June 30, 2020
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Federalizing net metering is unequivocally anti-conservative

    If the conservative movement is to achieve more victories at the energy regulatory margin, it needs to coalesce, move past generic posturing and start diving deep into institutional contexts, the author writes.

    By Devin Hartman • June 30, 2020
  • House Democrats unveil major clean energy bill as Senate GOP mulls timeline for economic stimulus

    Democrats' clean energy push has not gained traction, but Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., says Republicans will come to the table eventually.

    By Catherine Morehouse • Updated July 2, 2020
  • Tesla program aims to cut costs, sell solar like a household appliance

    Tesla promises the lowest-cost solar on the market with standardized sizing, but analysts say the program's success will hinge on consumer acceptance.

    By Emma Penrod • June 29, 2020
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    Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by thinkreaction via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    A short-term vision for sustainable recovery

    A new report from the International Energy Agency envisions a green economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, but the plan lacks long-term vision, the author writes.

    By Saara Kujala • June 29, 2020
  • Wells Fargo signs multiyear solar energy deal with Shell as banks continue green push

    The 150-megawatt purchase boosts Wells' green profile, even if the other party is an oil company. The Rainforest Action Network blasted the bank for financing $198 billion for fossil fuel companies and projects since 2015.

    By Dan Ennis • June 25, 2020
  • Amazon $2B climate pledge draws praise, skepticism as total carbon footprint rises

    The venture capital announcement was welcomed by developers in the clean energy space, but Green America said the company's plans are overly vague.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated June 25, 2020
  • Opinion

    Hard truths about net metering and the perils of regulatory nihilism

    Due to poor retail rate design, full retail net metering as calculated today is overwhelmingly regressive, former FERC Commissioner Tony Clark says.

    By Tony Clark • June 24, 2020
  • US localities signed 335 renewable energy deals since 2015: report

    A new renewables action tracker details the energy transactions made by local governments in the last five years, and the complementing efforts to influence renewable energy policy.

    By June 24, 2020
  • LF Energy announces open source substation project to better handle variable renewables, EVs

    CoMPAS should enable grid operators to manage the transition to clean energy, handling fluctuations in supply from renewable resources and demand from electric vehicles, according to LF Energy and its partners on the project.

    By Guy Burdick • June 24, 2020
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    Opinion

    The truth about the future of gas: We don't need to build anymore

    "Let’s clear away the myths about gas, renewables and the grid," writes UC Berkeley professor David Wooley, co-author of a recent report that said a 90% clean electricity system is feasible in the U.S. by 2035. 

    By David Wooley • June 22, 2020
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    Wulff, Andreas. (2015). "New York City" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Much of New York City's generation needs to be displaced to reach state renewables target, agencies say

    New York City accounts for about a third of the state's energy use, with nearly all of the electricity generated within the city from fossil fuels, says a report from two state agencies detailing a path to 70% renewables by 2030.

    By June 22, 2020
  • Xcel to speed up $3B in clean energy spending in response to Minnesota prompt on COVID-19 recovery

    The utility plans to aid the state's economic recovery through a variety of programs, including energy efficiency, renewables and storage, that would create an estimated 5,000 jobs.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 19, 2020
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    NARUC, NASEO team up to tackle distributed solar cyber risks as vulnerabilities grow

    As distributed solar grows more common — and more interconnected — the new partnership aims to identify and promote best cybersecurity practices.

    By Emma Penrod • June 19, 2020
  • FERC schedules technical conferences on carbon pricing, offshore wind integration challenges

    The meetings will examine whether the regulatory body has the legal authority to implement carbon pricing, as well as how grid operators can better address transmission concerns for offshore wind.

    By Catherine Morehouse • June 19, 2020
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    Enel X
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    Opinion

    This is not the way to move beyond net metering

    If NERA succeeds, it will hand control of DER compensation to federal regulators and thereby stymie ongoing state-level efforts to realize DERs' potential benefits, the authors write.

    By Justin Gundlach and Burcin Unel • June 18, 2020
  • SCE, Sunrun partner on solar+storage virtual power plant pilot to drive down peak demand

    The utility hopes to encourage greater buildout of residential solar+storage through the initial 300 customer program.

    By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 17, 2020