Will solar work for low-income communities?

Solar for low-and-moderate-income customers should either provide guaranteed savings or allow customers to easily withdraw from the contract at any time, the author writes.

By Warren Leon • March 5, 2020

Green Mountain Power's pioneering steps in transactive energy raise big questions about DER's value

Peer-to-peer energy transactions could meet policy goals and system needs, if software platforms resolve the complexities of value and reliable operation.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 4, 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

Florida signs off on FPL's 1.5 GW community solar program, despite lack of competition

NextEra subsidiary Florida Power & Light got unanimous approval for the largest solar subscription program in the nation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 4, 2020

DOE Secretary holds out hope for new low carbon coal plants as Senate drills him on renewables cuts

Congress is faced with an energy "budget that, frankly, sucks," Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., told Secretary Dan Brouillette during the hearing.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 4, 2020

Comprehensive Senate energy bill draws industry, bipartisan support, but lags on tax credits, efficiency

The bill would include 17 demonstration projects for advanced nuclear, carbon capture, long duration storage and geothermal, moving away from the Trump administration's more research-focused funding approach.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 3, 2020

Virginia legislature torn over keeping a Dominion coal plant running past 2030

The Senate and General Assembly are reconciling two versions of a clean energy package, including an amendment that would exempt a newer coal plant in Wise County from retiring in the next decade.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 3, 2020

Green hydrogen gets real as utility business models and delivery solutions emerge

The fuel may be the only way to meet power system needs in zero emissions scenarios and the market signals to produce and use it are finally clear.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 2, 2020

'Beyond frustating' Senate dispute stalls bipartisan energy legislation

Adoption of the comprehensive package was disrupted over an amendment that would limit the use of hydrofluorocarbons.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated March 10, 2020

Spending more on renewables 'inappropriate,' as technology is already viable: DOE Secretary

Dan Brouillette defended President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to energy efficiency and renewables to a House committee as a pivot toward emerging technologies that have not yet reached market maturity, such as energy storage.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 28, 2020

As Massachusetts solar installs plummet, stalled interconnections, land use questions are key hurdles

Last year, solar installments slowed and jobs disappeared in Massachusetts. Now, developers are trying to overcome regulatory barriers and local opposition to land development.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 27, 2020

CPUC proposes optimal 2030 system portfolio tripling battery storage, more than doubling solar

The California Public Utilities Commission on Friday proposed a 46 million metric ton greenhouse gas emissions target for the electric sector in 2030.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 27, 2020

Consumers Energy talks tree-planting, carbon capture, innovation with net zero carbon 2040 target

The Michigan-based utility set a "first-in-the-nation" net zero emissions goal to make up for the emissions of two gas units that will remain open past 2040.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 26, 2020

It's the roaring 20s for renewables — will natural gas join the party?

The best dance partner for renewables this decade is natural gas. Why? Because natural gas can economically back large amounts of new renewables across all seasons, the author writes.

By Brent Alderfer • Feb. 26, 2020

State of the Electric Utility 2020

Renewables and sustainability are top priorities for utilities, but there is room for improvement on cybersecurity, climate resilience and more, Utility Dive's seventh annual report finds.​

By Nami Sumida • Feb. 26, 2020

Dominion's first storage projects to test increased solar integration, fewer distribution upgrades

The utility plans to use the experience learned from operating four lithium-ion battery projects totaling 16 MW to meet new energy storage requirements, which could reach over 2 GW in Virginia by 2035.

By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 26, 2020

Charlotte, North Carolina, becomes largest US city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff

The city council approved a 35-megawatt project to generate 24% of its municipal electricity, making it the most populous U.S. city to acquire large-scale solar through a green tariff.

By Chris Teale • Feb. 25, 2020

FERC takes steps to modernize PURPA, but will it do more harm than good?

Proposed changes to the funding mechanics for Qualified Facilities under the law could negate or reverse the cost reductions the renewable energy sector has benefited from in the past few years.

By Tanya M. Larrabee • Feb. 25, 2020

New York governor proposes renewable energy permitting office to speed projects

If adopted, the 30-day budget amendment would "dramatically" speed up the permitting and construction of renewable energy projects, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2020

California OKs first community solar program under new building standard, troubling rooftop advocates

SMUD's program allows builders to pick community solar regardless of whether a home is suited for a solar PV system, Dave Rosenfeld, executive director of the Solar Rights Alliance, told Utility Dive.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 24, 2020

For gas utilities, voluntary RNG programs can play an important role on the path to decarbonization

As gas utilities work to decarbonize, how do voluntary RNG programs fit in?

By Amanda Mortlock, VP, Utility Partnerships • Feb. 21, 2020

Entergy sees fast growth for electrification, renewable projects

Entergy plans to shore up customer projects in its regulated utility business while completing an exit from its merchant business, officials said during the company's fourth quarter earnings call on Feb. 19.

By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 20, 2020

Breaking rooftop solar's distortions: SMUD readies community program for California building mandate

"Contrary to assertions by the rooftop solar industry that we do not support solar, all Neighborhood SolarShares does is offer a choice to home builders," writes Sacramento Municipal Utility District CEO Arlen Orchard.

By Arlen Orchard • Feb. 19, 2020

Jeff Bezos commits $10B to climate. How should he spend it?

The funding announcement "dwarfs other philanthropy in this realm," and could go toward anything from an amplified Beyond Carbon campaign to a mass electric vehicle rollout, stakeholders said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 2020

'This is going to be a very big deal' — coronavirus poised to disrupt storage, solar sectors

China's battery storage production could drop by 10%, or 26 GWh, from 2020 forecasts due to measures aimed at controlling the outbreak, according to Wood Mackenzie.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 18, 2020

US doubled renewables capacity since 2010: factbook

Cities have played a key role in the rise of renewable energy, especially solar and wind, due to building energy codes and benchmarking policies.

By Jason Plautz • Feb. 14, 2020