PepsiCo to get all its US electricity from renewable sources

The maker of its namesake soda, Gatorade and Doritos plans to reach the target later this year. America accounts for nearly half of its total global electricity consumption.

By Christopher Doering • Jan. 16, 2020

2020 Outlook: US renewable resources on steady course for increased deployment

"In 2020, there’s sort of a 'come on in, the water's warm' element of excitement and momentum" around renewable energy procurement, one analyst said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 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

Tri-State announces major renewables shift with 1 GW in new projects, but questions remain

Tri-State announced a total of six new wind and solar projects and a forecast of 50% renewables use by its members by 2024, along with plans to abandon a proposed coal plant in Kansas.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 16, 2020

BLM OKs $1B California desert solar project praised for balanced approach amid ongoing controversy

The Natural Resources Defense Council said the 450 MW project balanced solar development and natural resource protection, but a potential federal update to a California desert energy plan remains a point of contention.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 16, 2020

Wind + solar expected to add 61 GW over next two years: EIA

Renewable energy is expected to grow quickly alongside steady natural gas growth as more capacity is needed to replace retiring coal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020

Early utility regulator retirement gives Wisconsin opportunity to move on third party solar impasse

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a renewable energy proponent, will have the chance to shift the state's utility regulatory body toward his agenda after Commissioner Mike Huebsch's early retirement.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020

Will deep decarbonization include nuclear? Possibly, with many caveats

Nuclear has a potential role in a low carbon future only if it is guaranteed to deliver electricity at a levelized cost under $0.076/kWh, the author writes.

By Levin Nock • Jan. 14, 2020

2020 Outlook: 10 trends driving the US power sector

From utilities to states to grid operators, the energy transformation is accelerating, but significant challenges remain.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 13, 2020

Seattle to transition city-owned buildings away from fossil fuels

The first round of building electrification plans are due this summer after an executive order from Mayor Jenny Durkan advancing a Green New Deal.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 13, 2020

Renewable advocates highlight 'most effective' path to net-zero emissions as House releases clean energy framework

The CLEAN Future Act is set to be introduced by House Democrats later this year.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 10, 2020

Google, NV Energy renewable megadeal includes rare storage component

The deal includes 350 MW of solar and up to 280 MW of energy storage, but storage deals for corporate buyers often don't pencil out, an analyst said, because the renewable generation is already fairly cheap.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2020

Tri-State to shut New Mexico, Colorado coal plants by 2030, but move may not satisfy unhappy members

While environmental advocates called it "a step in the right direction," they said Tri State's plan does not fully address concerns about energy prices and the ability of members to develop local renewable resources.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2020

Corporate solar sector funding rises to $11.7B, buoyed by debt financing

After sharp declines from the middle of the last decade, VC, public market and debt financing of solar companies increased slightly from 2018 to 2019.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 9, 2020

Reduced coal generation drove power sector greenhouse emissions down 10% in 2019, report says

Meanwhile, coal plant retirements between 2005 and 2016 saved an estimated 26,610 lives, 570 million bushels of crops and had significant climate impacts, another study found.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 8, 2020

Bipartisan bill aims to end Dominion's monopoly in Virginia

Dominion and other utilities oppose efforts to deregulate retail markets, saying it can increase costs, but similar bills are expected this year in Florida, Colorado and other states.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 8, 2020

PJM: Electric vehicles could boost load 1.5 GW by 2035

One industry group says the forecast is likely too modest, as the addition of a plug-in vehicle can nearly double a household's electric consumption and adoption is expected to rise rapidly.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 7, 2020

South Carolina raises rates Dominion must pay to solar providers, reversing earlier decision

Dominion would have paid some of the lowest avoided cost rates in the country, according to clean energy groups, and the new decision is more consistent with directives under the state's Energy Freedom Act.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 7, 2020

FERC's clean energy boycott distorts PJM prices and discards history

The new rules approved for PJM's capacity auction will force the grid operator to buy more capacity than it needs to keep the lights on, according to Harvard energy lawyer Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe • Jan. 7, 2020

Making the case for billion-dollar investments in grid modernization by answering 3 key questions

Boston Consulting Group’s framework prioritizes the business case for grid mod investments to win stakeholder and regulator backing for billion-dollar spending.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2020

Judge tells Michigan regulators to send DTE back to drawing board on its long-term resource plan

The Administrative Law Judge criticized the utility's calculations of its energy needs and rejected its plan for failing to issue a mandatory Request for Proposals to solicit accurate prices for renewable resources.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 3, 2020

Trump Administration approves NV Energy's 690 MW, 1.5 GWh Gemini solar+storage project

The Obama Administration previously rejected the $1 billion project under an agreement with conservation groups that protected sensitive desert land from wind and solar development.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 12, 2020

FERC move to raise PJM capacity market bids shows 'clear bias' against new, clean generation: Glick

The order will raise the floor price for new generation bidding into PJM Interconnection that receives any form of state subsidy.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 20, 2019

Virginia, Maryland unveil 100% clean energy plans, but NGOs not satisfied

The separate legislative efforts announced this week face criticisms from clean energy groups of being insufficient to facilitate a clean energy transition.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 20, 2019

NERC: Grid operators must prepare for 330 GW of renewables by 2029

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation expects adequate capacity reserves will be available to meet increasing peak demand over the next 10 years, but warned of challenges to integrating more intermittent resources.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2019

Tax credit, net metering declines strike distributed solar, but falling costs, storage offer new hope

With tax credits and net metering threatened, previous withdrawals of financial support mechanisms show what the distributed solar industry may soon face.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 19, 2019