FERC's capacity markets limit clean energy and cost billions; it's time for Congress to act

If successful, pending litigation could lift some of the unwarranted federal burdens on state clean energy programs in PJM and other places, but a legislative fix would do more, the authors write.

By Scott Strauss, Jeffrey Schwarz and Peter Hopkins • Aug. 27, 2020

Delaware transit agency to power electric buses with solar array

The Delaware Transit Corporation will install the 60,000-square-foot array at its facility in Dover, where it will power the facility and charge electric buses.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 27, 2020

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

Utilities warn New York's $72M 'build-ready' renewables program could cost consumers

Clean energy advocates want to see private developers engaged in the process as early as possible, but concerns have come up about customers being on the hook for costs typically borne by private developers.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2020

Energy consulting groups value Southeast RTO potential at $384B savings by 2040

A seven-state RTO, including Florida, Tennessee and the Carolinas, would phase out coal generation and add more storage and renewables into the mix, according to analysis from Vibrant Clean Energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 25, 2020

What caused California's recent blackouts?

The causes of the rolling blackouts on August 14 and 15 may be numerous and complex, but few of those reasons have anything to do with California's shift to more renewable generation, writes attorney Seth Hilton.

By Seth Hilton • Aug. 25, 2020

Ensuring DER inclusion in capacity markets may require a rethink of resource adequacy

The growth of customer-owned resources is forcing system operators and aggregators to see their value as reliability tools and rethink the concept of resource adequacy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 24, 2020

Groups challenge FERC's PURPA rule, accuse commission of 'actively discouraging' small power facilities

The solar industry on Friday filed a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, following federal regulators' rejection of the requests for rehearing.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Sept. 21, 2020

5 technologies propelling the energy transition

Utility Dive's latest series focused on electric sector innovations that could strengthen the grid, increase reliability and expand clean energy.

By Utility Dive Editors • Aug. 24, 2020

Pacific Northwest looks to avoid California-style blackouts through more regional coordination

Climate change, load growth and the replacement of fossil fuels with renewables are pushing the region to take big steps toward a new model.

By Matthew Bandyk • Aug. 24, 2020

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

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