Hawaiian Electric eyes 460 MW solar, 3 GWh storage to help meet renewables goals

The projects, which are scheduled to come online beginning in 2022, would increase the utility's solar capacity by more than 50%.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 14, 2020

ITC tax normalization limits solar growth and favors fossil fuels

Solar could be the most profitable resource for utilities, if not for an obscure requirement associated with the ITC called "tax normalization," the authors write.

By Eric Blank and D.R. Richardson • May 14, 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

Colorado Tri-State ruling could provide co-op exit template amid rising tensions with G&T providers

Tri-State is struggling to respond to member demands for renewable energy. The conflict could have implications that drive an energy transition — or tear the electric cooperative system apart.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 13, 2020

Duke CEO decries 'assault' on natural gas as shareholders, others target company's resource plans

Shareholders grilled the utility on its long-term investment plans, questioning why the company is lagging behind others in its renewable energy buildouts.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 13, 2020

Renewables poised to outstrip coal generation in 2020 as COVID-19 accelerates transition: EIA

Coal consumption is expected to decrease nearly a quarter to 453 million short tons this year due to shrinking power consumption and natural gas prices.

By Kavya Balaraman • May 13, 2020

Treasury Department offers wind industry coronavirus lifeline with safe harbor extension

The renewables sector is urging Congress to enact temporary refundability for renewable energy credits and take other "commonsense measures," to aid the industry. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 28, 2020

NV Energy crafts solar+storage subscription plan to keep large customers in its service

The utility said the new pricing structure would only affect large energy customers subscribing to the program.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 12, 2020

Dominion's nearly $50 monthly power bill hike in Virginia is a warning for other states

The utility's monopoly status is functionally similar to the Fixed Resource Requirement offramp that some states across PJM are seeking, and could mean trouble for ratepayers, writes EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.

By Todd Snitchler • May 11, 2020

AEP CEO expects Texas, Louisiana decisions soon on 1.5 GW North Central wind project

With approvals from Arkansas, Oklahoma and federal regulators, Nick Akins is confident the $2 billion project will move forward. But at what size?

By Larry Pearl • Updated May 29, 2020

Dominion jacks up renewables and storage in Virginia IRP, following landmark clean energy rule

In its newest plan for the state, Dominion would add between 11 and 40 GW of solar in the next 25 years and up to 5 GW of offshore wind in the next 15 years, while still keeping some natural gas in the system.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 5, 2020

States should leave markets that don't work for families and businesses after bad FERC decisions

Reentering PJM and other markets can be reconsidered when a new FERC majority is ready to care at all about consumers instead of political donors, the author writes.

By Mark Kresowik • May 5, 2020

Pueblo, Colorado, voters reject Black Hills Energy exit

The city's mayor told Utility Dive that forming a municipal utility will help the city lower rates and reach its 100% renewable energy goal by 2035.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 6, 2020

Global GHG emissions could fall 8% in 2020 amid pandemic: IEA

Coronavirus has reduced emissions and energy demand, but a recovery without clean investments could jeopardize those gains, the group said.

By Chris Teale • May 1, 2020

New Mexico delays 350 MW, 240 MWh solar+storage projects intended to replace San Juan coal plant

Meanwhile, a company determined to save the San Juan plant announced it has secured $22 million in federal funding to explore potential carbon storage options in grounds near the facility.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 1, 2020

GE renewables takes Q1 revenue hit, but results more about execution than COVID-19, CEO says

Hammered by the pandemic's impact on its aviation division, GE has launched a corporate-wide restructuring to cut billions in expenses, arguing that even its renewable division will benefit from lean manufacturing.

By John Funk • April 30, 2020

FERC's Chatterjee highlights COVID-19 demand disruptions, resource threats

The FERC chair also rejected the notion that the commission's PJM MOPR order will hurt renewables, and urged states to wait before pulling out of the RTO's capacity market.

By Larry Pearl • April 29, 2020

Maryland taking a 'serious look' at exiting PJM capacity market through FRR, says PSC Chair

The state filed a petition for review with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals this week, echoing concerns raised by Illinois, New Jersey and others that federal regulators are unfairly infringing on state clean energy policy.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 29, 2020

Duke to double renewable capacity in 5 years, but critics say utility lags on storage deployment

The utility plans to add 8,000 MW of wind, solar and biomass by 2025, but critics say the utility isn't taking sufficient advantage of energy storage and efficiency.

By Robert Walton • April 29, 2020

Post-COVID-19: A positive outlook for the commercial solar industry

Without flexibility in solar project finance, you won’t last long, according to the managing director of clean energy platform New Resource Solutions.

By Marc Palmer • April 27, 2020

As extreme weather spurs billions in utility resilience spending, regulators struggle to value investments

A new study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows the value of resilience depends on too many factors to easily quantify and moves regulators back to human judgment.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2020

Houston unveils first Climate Action Plan

Houston is home to one of the largest rates of per capita GHG emissions in the country, yet it wasn't until Hurricane Harvey in 2017 that the city's perception of climate urgency turned on its head.

By Kristin Musulin • April 25, 2020

Bipartisan senators ask Mnuchin to extend safe harbor deadlines for renewables projects

Extending these deadlines is essential to ensure projects already in the pipeline are able to cross the finish line, say sector leaders.

By Catherine Morehouse • April 24, 2020

'It's really heartbreaking': California's clean energy programs hit hard by COVID-19

Behind-the-meter solar and storage, energy efficiency and low-income customer programs are seeing negative effects, stakeholders told the California Public Utilities Commission. 

By Kavya Balaraman • April 24, 2020

New York hits the brakes on 2.5 GW solicitation of offshore wind due to COVID-19

State regulators yesterday approved the largest offshore wind solicitation in the U.S., but the agency that will carry it out is postponing work due to pandemic conditions.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 24, 2020

Community-scale renewables poised for boost as California nears PURPA compliance again

California has successfully promoted large-scale renewables and customer-owned systems. New inverter and plant control technologies are now making community-scale renewables a more attractive option.

By Ed Smeloff • April 24, 2020