Utilities' failure to plan for DER surge promises missed opportunities, increased costs, analysts say

Utilities can use skyrocketing customer-owned DER to balance rising penetrations of variable renewables on their systems, if they take on the big work of distribution system planning.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 24, 2019

California urges energy providers procure additional 4 GW to avoid potential shortages starting in 2021

The procurement proceeding, part of an effort to overhaul utility integrated resource planning in the state, also recommends compliance extensions necessary to keep several once-through cooling units online.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 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

Lack of mega deals pressures quarterly utility M&A value to lowest since Q2 2017: PwC

While deal value in the North American utility sector declined to $7 billion in Q3, those deals reflect the diversity of opportunity in the energy sector, according to PwC analysis.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2019

State clean energy policies are upending generation risk profiles. Here's what you need to know.

Several factors are driving accelerated demand for renewables, and some of those factors may benefit more efficient, existing natural gas-fired assets in the near- to medium-term, three energy market experts from PA Consulting write.

By Ryan Hardy, Salem Esber and Dan Esposito • Oct. 23, 2019

New York climate law to drive $115B in utility-scale resource investment by 2040, report finds

As the state transitions from gas-dominated generation, solar and wind would make up 39% of New York’s energy capacity by 2030, and 83% by 2040, according to Energy Ventures Analysis. 

By Lynn Freehill-Maye • Oct. 23, 2019

Software's value to banks in an expanding solar industry

Price declines and significant improvements in technology have combined with increased financing sophistication to make large solar projects economically attractive.   

Oct. 23, 2019

DTE, Consumers Energy push back on Michigan legislators' plan to rewrite 2016 energy law

The 2016 statute "created needless challenges and roadblocks for the solar industry," according to one lawmaker, but Consumers says newly proposed legislation would unfairly create subsidies for private solar ownership.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2019

Hanging with the lab rats: NREL researchers lay groundwork to accelerate US clean energy transition

The DOE lab is examining the impacts of "turbulence" on wind turbines as well as how to integrate battery storage systems and hydrogen alongside electric vehicle technologies.

By Gloria Gonzalez • Oct. 22, 2019

Distributed solar to drive global renewable growth 50% by 2024: IEA

In its latest forecast, the International Energy Agency predicts a 1,200 GW increase in global renewable capacity from 2019 through 2024, with solar accounting for 60% of the rise.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 22, 2019

231 mayors ask Congress for solar tax credit extension

The bipartisan group is requesting a five-year extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit, which they say could bring 113,000 jobs and $87 billion in economic investment by 2030.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 22, 2019

Virginia signs largest state renewable energy contract in US with 420 MW Dominion deal

The utility will deliver the energy from a 75 MW wind project and four proposed solar projects, totaling 345 MW over the next three years.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 21, 2019

Duke VP likens gas plant buildout strategy to 15-year home mortgage on path to zero carbon

How the utility will manage its gas assets in a 2040 scenario is "an accounting question ... not a technological question," and one of many perceived risks as the utility heads toward 2050, according to its Vice President of State Policy.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 18, 2019

As PPA price drops slow for wind and solar, developers see PJM, ERCOT as top markets

Wind prices rose in Q3 across several U.S. markets, and developers are increasingly feeling the pressure of declining tax credits, according to LevelTen, which also sees strong potential in MISO.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 17, 2019

Regulators grant first federal permits for offshore wind to Dominion, Ørsted pilot

The 12 MW demo has "essentially" all the permits needed to build, and developers can double down on a lot of the stakeholder research and surveying efforts to propose plans for a 2,600 MW commercial project.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 16, 2019

Green Mountain Power turnaround driven by customer obsession, cultural shift: CEO

Mary Powell reflects on how her HR roots helped her draw systemic changes to the utility's clean energy goals while on the cusp of bankruptcy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 15, 2019

California's new reliability requirements create short-term opportunity for storage, CAISO says

Solar's ability to qualify for resource adequacy is declining as peak demand shifts, and storage has a limited window to meet the resulting capacity needs.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2019

FPL settles with Walmart, clean energy groups to advance largest US community solar project

The 1,490 MW project would almost double the amount of community solar currently installed in the U.S., but renewables advocates were initially concerned the program wasn't accessible to low income customers.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 15, 2019

US wind, solar finance alternatives rise as sector rushes against looming tax credit expiration

Resources are being rapidly deployed ahead of the post-2020 phase-out, but political uncertainty makes turmoil unavoidable.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2019

Plugging In: Colleges seek partners to help reach energy goals

As more energy customers set goals for lower emissions, some institutions are tapping the private sector for technical expertise and financial support to advance sustainability.

By Hallie Busta • Oct. 14, 2019

Ex-generals aim to shift conservative resiliency dialogue away from coal, nuclear subsidies

An energy-focused nonprofit on Thursday introduced a grid security initiative led by national security experts to promote market-based approaches to resilience.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 11, 2019

Mayors announce Global Green New Deal at C40 Summit

A coalition of 94 mayors showed support of the deal, intended to encourage emissions reduction in the transportation, buildings, industry and waste sectors.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 10, 2019

California, New England will miss 2050 carbon targets at current pace, reports find

California won't hit its emission reduction goals until 2157, while New England renewable additions will need to at least quadruple  from current plans.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 10, 2019

As renewables and DER expand, can IPPs be investment grade?

The few remaining IPPs must adapt to new market realities or face an uncomfortable future, writes Aneesh Prabhu, senior director of U.S. Energy Infrastructure at S&P Global Ratings.

By Aneesh Prabhu • Oct. 9, 2019

Trump Administration rescinds 25% tariff exemption for bifacial solar panels

After excluding the two-sided panels from the tariff in June, the administration saw a boom in international production, which the U.S. Trade Representative said would undermine existing protections.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 8, 2019

Frito-Lay targets zero emissions at California freight hub with EVs, storage, renewables

As part of the company's goal to cut emissions 20% by 2030, Frito-Lay plans to remove and replace all diesel powered freight equipment at its Modesto, California, facility.

By Morgan Forde • Oct. 8, 2019