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

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

Clean energy advocates want New York to move quickly on 70% renewables goal

More than a dozen conservation groups submitted to New York regulators a set of recommended "principles" to guide integration of one of the nation's most aggressive climate goals.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2019

Goldman Sachs bolsters climate policy with $750B goal, fossil-fuel restrictions

The company pledged to stop financing new coal-fired power plants in developing nations, unless they have carbon capture and storage or another form of technology to reduce emissions.

By Dan Ennis • Dec. 18, 2019

Xcel, 3 other Colorado utilities choose California's imbalance market over Southwest Power Pool

A comparison of California's Western Energy Imbalance Market with a similar offering from SPP found the larger market offered greater savings, according to four utilities.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 18, 2019

For a smart transition to 100% clean energy: Renewables, storage and, in some cases, new gas

Just because we can't achieve a perfectly zero-carbon grid with renewables and short-duration storage doesn't mean we shouldn't aim to achieve a nearly zero-carbon grid.

By Arne Olson and Dan Mullen • Dec. 18, 2019

House foregoes new tax credits for storage, offshore wind as it approves $1.4T spending bill

The Senate passed the spending bills on Thursday, which included a one-year tax credit extension for onshore wind, and incentives for geothermal, biodiesel and Native American-owned coal plants.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Dec. 20, 2019

Investigations of ComEd, Exelon lobbying threaten Illinois energy transition

Lawmakers and clean energy advocates vow to continue fighting for the state's landmark clean energy bill despite a "black cloud of corruption."

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 17, 2019

House green bank bill aims to leverage $35B in government funding into $1T in private investment

The effort had bipartisan, bicameral support in 2018, and the reintroduction is meant to prepare the bill for passage in early 2021.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 16, 2019

Arizona rejects APS push for 2-year PURPA contracts, approving 18-year terms

Regulators ruled the long-term contracts would provide renewables facilities with the opportunity to build more capital, despite opposition from the Arizona Public Service.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 13, 2019

Dominion extends poop power push with $200M Vanguard Renewables partnership

The five projects trap methane from cow manure to create renewable natural gas offer "a new way to improve on farm economics."

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 13, 2019

Natural gas plant replacing Los Angeles coal power to be 100% hydrogen by 2045: LADWP

The plant would be the first of its kind to generate all hydrogen through electrolysis, or "green hydrogen."

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 12, 2019

New York outlines new ways to compensate distributed solar users as it looks beyond net metering

The changes proposed by the staff of the New York Department of Public Service show a potential path forward for residential and small business rooftop solar users.

By Matthew Bandyk • Dec. 11, 2019

Road to 100: How four cities are leading the renewables revolution

Utility Dive visited four U.S. cities powered by 100% renewables, getting local insights on the political will and economic drivers that got them there.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 10, 2019

Road to 100: How Western water rights and local billionaires complicated Aspen's renewables path

Controversy over hydropower in the Mountain West politicized the city's 100% renewables goal, bringing in a wave of opposition.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 10, 2019

New Jersey lowers price utilities pay for solar as it phases out credit program

Regulators set up a "bridge" program as the state draws down its solar credits that cap the price utilities pay for solar power. Advocates fear those caps will hinder development.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 10, 2019

Nevada regulators approve NV Energy plan for 1,190 MW solar, 590 MW storage

The utility received approval for three projects, including what it says will be one of the largest solar+storage facilities in the world.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2019

The Utility Dive Awards for 2019

The annual awards highlight the biggest trends in innovation in the electric utility sector: from penciling out electrification efforts to pioneering new revenue streams for distributed resources.

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

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

Disruptor of the Year: Sunrun

The solar and storage developer has been pioneering new business models to increase aggregation of distributed resources.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 9, 2019

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