Executive of the Year: Mary Powell, Green Mountain Power

Powell is leaving her post at the end of the year, but created a new playbook for the investor-owned utility to continue to prioritize customer choice.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 9, 2019

Project of the Year: Soleil Lofts solar+storage development

The virtual power plant outside of Salt Lake City underscores the role of utility involvement in emerging grid products.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2019

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 Wind wins 804 MW bid for offshore wind in Connecticut

The developer had submitted proposals to deliver up to 1,200 MW in the state.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 6, 2019

Solar developers, manufacturers clash on Trump tariff impacts as trade commission poised to reevaluate

Developers estimate 62,000 jobs and 10.5 GW of deployment will be lost through 2021 due to the tariffs. But more domestic manufacturers are now defending the policy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 5, 2019

Is FERC overstepping its authority and hurting renewables? States, power groups question PURPA plan

Diverse stakeholders said the commission's proposal would leave small facilities in unregulated markets at a disadvantage, while several major utilities backed their trade group in supporting the changes.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 5, 2019

Road to 100: How a demolished Kansas town became a model of DOE renewables resilience

The destruction wrought by a 2007 tornado gave the federal government an opportunity to build up a fully renewable town in a conservative part of the country.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 4, 2019

Renewables, legal groups challenge FERC's authority to upend PURPA

Federal regulators are proposing changes to the law for the first time since 2006. Some groups argue the move falls outside the commission's authority and will harm renewables in markets monopolized by utilities.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 4, 2019

Can new transmission tech boost capacity and save billions? Two proposals aim to find out

Advocates are pushing a "shared savings" approach to incentivize deployment, but system operators have doubts.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 3, 2019

Montana rejects NorthWestern's bid to end net metering, add separate rate class for solar

The proposal also would have added a demand charge. Regulators rejected the plan unanimously.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 27, 2019

Inside the fight to overhaul PURPA: What three commissioners think of FERC's proposed changes

The 1978 law — largely credited with driving the small renewables market — is facing a potential major shift, and though most regulators agree the rule should be changed, they disagree with some of FERC's mechanisms.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 26, 2019

Despite changes, commissioners see traditional utility system dominating over next decade: NARUC

U.S. utility commissioners agree that traditional fossil fuel generation will be an important aspect of grid reliability over the next decade, according to a NARUC survey.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 26, 2019

FERC is on the right track with resilience. Republicans can help by upholding conservative principles

Republicans in Congress and the administration should affirm local control, while ensuring a high threshold to justify the government favoring any one energy resource or generation technology over another, the author writes.

By Charles Hernick • Nov. 25, 2019

For South Carolina solar, 'things look bleak,' advocates warn, as utilities defend lower rates

Regulators cut payments to large-scale solar producers by 33% last month, which protects consumers from "inflated" rates, according to Duke Energy. Renewables advocates say it is a "doomsday scenario."

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2019

Cincinnati to build nation's largest city-led solar array

The project, which is predicted to reduce 158,000 tons of carbon emissions annually, will cover 1,000 acres with more than 310,000 solar panels.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 25, 2019

ISO New England chief presses for carbon price in response to Sanders, Warren and others

A carbon price would be a "simple and easily-implemented mechanism" to speed renewables onto the grid, Gordon van Welie wrote, while noting that the region's states oppose its use within wholesale electricity markets.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2019

Ohio denies AEP cost recovery for 400 MW proposed solar, but projects expected to proceed

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio concluded the utility had not shown a need for the additional generation, but its decision creates uncertainty for the future of solar development in the state, environmental advocates said.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2019

PNM: Carbon capture would raise San Juan transition cost to $6B, as PRC, legislator battle rages

A proposal to lengthen the coal plant's life through what would be the largest carbon capture project to date is deemed too expensive by its majority owner and raises environmental concerns.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 25, 2019

Road to 100: How the shale boom broke Georgetown, Texas' renewables spell

In 2017, the city of about 50,000 became the largest in the U.S. able to claim it ran on 100% renewable energy. But after customer bills spiked last year, its utility department is facing an overhaul.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 25, 2019

Nevada governor orders plans for economy-wide carbon reductions

Steve Sisolak, D, on Friday, signed an executive order that focuses on energy efficiency, transportation electrification and demand management, among other steps.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 25, 2019

Democrats move to take 100% clean energy push national with new bill

The legislation would ​require all sectors of the economy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but gas and hydro groups stress the need for a diverse energy portfolio in any climate solution.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 22, 2019

Road to 100: How one man's mission to power his hometown by wind created a Northwest Missouri boon

The town of 1,200 was the first in the country to be able to power all of its electricity from wind resources. Now, the county is booming in wind production.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 21, 2019

Sanders, Warren join fellow senators in urging New England to speed clean energy transition

Lawmakers from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont want to see the New England grid operator incorporate market reforms that will accelerate the region's transition away from fossil fuels.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2019

New Jersey more than doubles offshore wind energy target to 7.5 GW

The Garden State has the second largest offshore wind goal in the nation, as New York set a 9 GW goal in January.

By Larry Pearl • Nov. 20, 2019

Maximizing the value of your green power programs

Well-designed green power programs provide many benefits to utilities. Be sure you extract the full value from your program.

By Amanda Mortlock, VP, Utility Partnerships, 3Degrees • Nov. 20, 2019

House clean energy tax bill sees broad industry support, but Senate path uncertain

The draft legislative package, introduced Nov. 19, adds energy storage and offshore wind, while extending solar and electric vehicle tax credits.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 20, 2019