Lessons learned from Europe: What US cities must do to achieve a clean electric future

Cities are at the center of the battle against climate change, but they're also at the forefront of addressing the challenge — and European cities are outpacing the U.S. in their solutions.

By Rob Massoudi • Nov. 12, 2019

California proposes extending 4.8 GW gas capacity as bridge to 3.3 GW of new clean energy by 2023

The state's newly authorized procurement aims to have renewables-plus-storage and standalone storage compete well against other resources, along with energy efficiency and demand response resources.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 11, 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

Sacramento utility's plan could block addition of new community solar, storage to local grid

SMUD’s shared solar proposal misses the point and could set a damaging precedent for other utilities and energy providers throughout California, according to Vote Solar's Ed Smeloff.

By Ed Smeloff • Nov. 11, 2019

Renewables continue to get cheaper, just not as fast as before, Lazard analysis finds

The financial advisory firm released its latest levelized cost of energy report, showing the rate of cost declines for renewables is slowing as the industry matures.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2019

Incentives spur rapid storage growth in New York, outpacing distributed solar expansion: NYSERDA CEO

NYSERDA has been comparing the pace of its storage incentive program, aimed at bringing developers into the state, with the New York Sun program for distributed solar.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 8, 2019

Dominion Virginia plan for 1.5 GW new peaking capacity will lead to more gas plants, NGOs fear

The utility released a request for proposals yesterday, saying it needs the new capacity beginning in 2022 to replace generation retirements and provide system balancing needs for its growing renewables fleet.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 7, 2019

Tesla, Walmart settle lawsuit over fires; solar panels to remain in place

Walmart and Tesla have settled a lawsuit in which the big box retailer alleged the company's solar panel installations caught fire and caused millions in damages.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2019

Congressional Policy Tracker: Everything you need to know from carbon capture to wind energy

Renewable energy developers are lobbying for tax credit extensions while Republican leaders seek bipartisan research-focused solutions to support advanced nuclear, carbon capture and energy storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Dec. 2, 2019

Canadian pension fund pays $6B for Pattern Energy's 4.4 GW renewables portfolio in latest yieldco deal

Remember yieldcos? Experts say large funds see opportunity in the renewable energy investment options whose shares have often languished.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2019

Tetra Tech pushes solar power on closed landfills as a clear winner for operators and owners

The firm argues that installing solar panels on inactive sites can help operators financially, in addition to garnering community support. 

By E.A. Crunden • Nov. 4, 2019

Solar, energy efficiency to drive drops in load, peak demand over next 10 years, ISO-NE says

The region remains energy constrained, but the grid operator expects to have sufficient resources to meet electricity demand through 2028.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2019

Alliant Energy to add 1 GW of solar in Wisconsin by end of 2023

The utility teased out plans for its coal generation fleet in its clean energy plan, issued Oct. 31, and will release more information in early 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 1, 2019

Massachusetts to hit 1.6 GW offshore wind requirement with 804 MW from Mayflower Wind project

State officials said the combined energy output of the offshore wind projects selected so far represents approximately 12% of the annual energy demand.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2019

How utilities wield bad science to stunt clean energy

Big utilities are pulling out all the stops to block a transformational shift to planet-friendly power, two renewable energy advocates write.

By Greer Ryan and Emma Searson • Oct. 31, 2019

Austin SHINES: A working model for managing solar from both sides of the meter

See how we're revolutionizing the way utilities view and utilize the influx of distributed energy resources entering the grid.

Oct. 31, 2019

11 attorneys general urge FERC to respect state energy rights

Federal regulators must "promote market design choices that appropriately recognize the rights of states under the Federal Power Act to shape their resource mixes," they write.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 29, 2019

Report debunks contention that increased renewables worsen air quality

Scientists were concerned the frequent start and stop of gas plants filling in for intermittent resources in California were increasing overall air emissions, but found such operations are still cutting pollutants.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 28, 2019

Adding renewables and storage in LA is hard. Clean Power Alliance wants to change that.

Community choice aggregators like Clean Power Alliance are looking for local energy resources, but that has proven difficult in congested metropolitan areas where space is very expensive, such as Los Angeles County.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 25, 2019

Largest planned wind farm in US gets key federal approval

The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind farm, years in the making, would send 2,500 MW to 3,000 MW of wind power to California.

By Matthew Bandyk • Oct. 25, 2019

Amazon announces 265 MW in new solar, wind as part of 100% renewables pledge

Two of the three projects will be U.S.-based and the third is set to be the largest corporate power purchase agreement in the U.K.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 25, 2019

Tesla earnings surprise includes storage, solar growth

A surprise profit sent shares soaring. Beyond vehicle sales growth and cost cutting, the company boasted record 477 MWh storage installations and rebounding solar in Q3.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2019

Global offshore wind prices drop 32%: BloombergNEF

Benchmark prices hit $78/MWh for the second half of 2019, while prices for onshore wind, solar and storage all decreased as well.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 24, 2019

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

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