California utilities support centralized renewables procurement proposal, but urge caution

A California Administrative Law Judge issued the proposal in March after concluding that integrated resource plans filed by utilities and community choice aggregators would not reliably meet the state's climate goals. 

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2019

Maryland 50% RPS bill doubles offshore wind target, expands solar-carve out

The measure passed Monday by state legislators also allows waste-to-energy facilities to qualify for the renewable portfolio standard.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 22, 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

100% clean electricity in Washington state: Achievable, affordable and reliable

The policy gained strong support in 2018, with strong stakeholder engagement setting up multiple checks and balances that will help decarbonize Washington’s electricity sector while maintaining low electricity prices.

By Adam Maxwell • April 10, 2019

DOE calls for large Puerto Rico gas plant as island targets 100% renewables

A gas generator 1.2 GW or larger would "greatly enhance" reliability and resilience, a senior agency official told lawmakers, but "could be at odds" with Puerto Rico's recently passed 100% renewables goal.

By Gavin Bade • April 9, 2019

Global energy demand sees biggest increase this decade, with gas the fuel of choice: IEA

The International Energy Agency's Global Energy and CO2 status report also found that renewables were the top means of meeting new electric power demand, though not enough to prevent a rise in global CO2 emissions.

By Robert Walton • April 9, 2019

Report: Los Angeles is top city for US solar use

After years of rapid growth, the U.S. now has enough solar to power one in 11 homes, according to Environment America.

By Jason Plautz • April 9, 2019

How to increase your competitiveness with adaptive system design

More players, both regional and national, are entering the solar market. While this is good for solar shoppers and the overall growth of the solar industry, installers might face tougher competition.

April 9, 2019

Montana Supreme Court upholds ruling that PSC intentionally set PURPA rates to kill solar projects

Solar developers sued state regulators and NorthWestern Energy after a commissioner was caught on tape admitting that cuts to compensation rates were likely deep enough to kill small solar projects.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Aug. 25, 2020

House Democrats roll out energy storage tax credit while pushing broader clean energy incentives

Amid a broad policy push for climate action and decarbonization, more than 100 House Democrats are pushing near-term action to boost the deployment of renewables and battery storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 5, 2019

Will FERC trample state and local authorities in DER rulemaking?

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may soon upset a long-standing balance among local, state and federal decision-making as it considers aggregating distributed energy resources in a way that eliminates local jurisdiction.

By Jim Matheson • April 5, 2019

Two are better than one: Bifacial PV modules will open new markets for utility-scale solar

While bifacial technology is still fairly nascent, the technology along with complementary optimizations in balance of systems development practices and power marketing is poised to once again reshape the solar industry.

By Sheldon Kimber • April 4, 2019

Floating solar offers unique bargains — U.S. utilities are missing out

Siting photovoltaics on water is proving reliable worldwide, and the PVs could meet almost 10% of U.S. electricity needs at market-competitive costs, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 4, 2019

Idaho Power claims one of lowest-priced solar deals at 2.2 cents/kWh

Once constructed, the 120-MW facility will help the utility replace coal-fired power it currently gets from the North Valmy plant in Nevada.

By Robert Walton • April 4, 2019

As Maine re-ups net metering, fight over solar tariffs brews in Connecticut

Connecticut last year quietly passed a law to end net metering and lawmakers are now struggling to find answers for the future of solar.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 4, 2019

DTE accelerates carbon reduction efforts by 10 years

The utility announced plans to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2040 through phasing out its coal plants earlier and expanding investment in renewables and energy efficiency.

By Robert Walton • April 2, 2019

Maryland passes energy storage pilot program to determine future regulatory framework

The bill applies only to Maryland's four investor-owned utilities: Potomac Edison; Baltimore Gas and Electric; Delmarva Power and Light; and Potomac Electric Power.

By HJ Mai • April 2, 2019

As 100% renewables goals proliferate, what role for utilities?

The momentum behind demand for renewables is growing; utilities lose if they ignore it and there is much to gain in planning ahead.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 2, 2019

Solar + storage projects to drive utility-scale deployment of batteries: Navigant

As storage-plus-renewable-energy project prices drop and adoption expands, a report finds storage-plus PPA prices are already able to compete with combined cycle gas plants.

By HJ Mai • April 1, 2019

Blockchain could help modernize Nevada's renewables tracking system

State regulators are seeking comment on alternative approaches for tracking credits, including whether a blockchain-powered solution could allow customers to participate in larger renewables markets, such as California's.

By Robert Walton • April 1, 2019

PJM files update to energy market price formation rules with FERC

The proposed tariff changes from the grid operator seek to resolve the "unjust and unreasonable" design of its reserve market rules.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated April 1, 2019

Exclusive: PG&E's future rests on board picks, CPUC president says

California regulators could reorganize the company or revoke its license to operate if they do not like new selections for its board of directors, California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Picker said in a wide-ranging interview. 

By Gavin Bade • March 29, 2019

Hawaii regulators approve HECO's $86M grid mod plan, 6 solar + storage projects under $0.10/kWh

Hawaiian Electric said the decisions, including the "largest and lowest-cost portfolio" of renewables assembled at one time in a state, will enable "foundational" changes on the electric grids of five islands.

By Robert Walton • March 29, 2019

Target to focus on wind, solar, energy efficiency with new climate goals

The retailer pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 30% below 2017 levels by 2023 and is requiring 80% of its suppliers to set science-based reduction targets by 2023.

By Emma Cosgrove • March 29, 2019

FPL unveils plans for largest solar-powered battery in the world

The 409 MW/900 MWh storage center would be four times larger than the current record-holder: Tesla's 100-MW/129MWh system in Australia.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 28, 2019

House Democrats introduce legislation to keep U.S. in Paris Climate Agreement

The plan calls on President Trump to keep the country on track with its original commitments and comes a day after the Senate held a symbolic Green New Deal vote.

By Jason Plautz • March 28, 2019