Renewable energy ownership: A game plan for utilities

Utilities are pursuing models to compete with independent power producers for renewable ownership versus simply buying from them via power purchase agreements.

By Brian R. Murphy • May 22, 2019

Senators launch bipartisan initiative on long term solutions to expiring energy tax credits

Finance Committee task forces are expected to produce options by the end of June that can be enacted this year while clean energy advocates are pushing to also give storage access to tax credits.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 21, 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

Want to know if California can make zero emissions by 2045? Here's what to watch

To reach a zero emissions economy, California needs to eliminate natural gas by regionalizing the Western grid and coordinating local and state system planning.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 21, 2019

Xcel to close 2 coal plants, add 3 GW solar in settlement to acquire Mankato gas plant

The settlement over the purchase of a 720 MW natural gas plant was reached before the utility released its 2020-2034 draft resource plan, which includes extending operation of the Monticello nuclear plant through 2040.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 20, 2019

New Hampshire Gov Sununu vetoes bill that would quintuple net metering cap

Legislators passed a bill in May to increase the cap from 1 MW to 5 MW and will now need to pass the bill by a two-thirds margin, again, to override the governor's veto.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated June 4, 2019

Solar, wind industries urge feds to smooth deployment kinks

Transmission, soft cost reductions and greater resource efficiency require federal investment to maximize technology growth, industry leaders told the House Subcommittee on Energy Wednesday.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 16, 2019

Florida approves TECO solar energy tariff, increasing access to green energy

As TECO works to develop the largest percentage of solar power of any Florida utility, its customers will be able to subscribe for a $0.063 per kWh charge to access 17.5 MW of solar.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 15, 2019

North Carolina approves Duke's first solar+storage residential microgrid

Regulators say the Hot Springs, North Carolina, project could give the state and utility a better understanding of how storage technologies can make the grid more reliable.

By Robert Walton • Updated May 22, 2019

'Solar access' bill limits community solar potential in Nevada, critics warn

The bill limits solar providers outside the state's monopoly utility NV Energy from developing programs and doesn't require bill savings for all participants.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated June 5, 2019

Carbon Disclosure Project recognizes 43 cities for climate, environment policies

Twenty-one American cities received "A" grades from the nonprofit, including Boston, Denver, New York City, San Francisco and Washington.

By Jason Plautz • May 15, 2019

Tech giants pressure Dominion for more storage, renewables, less gas in Virginia

The utility's latest IRP calls for new natural gas capacity due to the increased load expected from data centers, leading to complaints from Microsoft, Apple and other companies with green sustainability goals.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 14, 2019

Department of Energy to award $79M for bioenergy research and development

Projects relating to "urban and suburban wastes," "plastics in the circular carbon economy" and "rethink[ing] anaerobic digestion" are among multiple areas of interest for the new federal funding.

By Cody Ellis • May 13, 2019

How to protect California ratepayers, expand clean local energy and avoid bailing out PG&E

Divesting the utilities of their transmission assets to make them Distribution System Operators will benefit ratepayers and utilities.

By Craig Lewis • May 13, 2019

South Carolina unanimously passes solar bill to lift 2% net metering cap

The bill addresses a number of other solar development barriers as well, including PURPA and resource planning reform.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 10, 2019

Florida's solar turnaround sparks concerns over limits on community projects

Many are asking how big this boom will get, but a better question may be how this growth will evolve as its impact sparks responses by utilities, solar developers and policymakers.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 9, 2019

Republicans show increasing appetite for climate action, despite opposition to Paris accord bill

GOP legislators are increasingly calling for measures to address climate change, but through private sector innovation, as opposed to carbon taxes, mandates or sweeping Green New Deal-style policies.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 9, 2019

South Carolina regulators slash Duke Energy Progress rate hikes, cut $333M coal ash recovery

The Public Service Commission adopted a similar motion reducing another Duke subsidiary's proposed rate hike by 54%, signaling the impact of stakeholders that rallied to oppose the increases.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 9, 2019

Texas grid operator braces for tight supply-demand balance this summer

ERCOT says it continues to see "above-normal growth" in electric demand on its system, largely due to new industrial load on the coast and the oil and gas industry in the west.

By Robert Walton • May 9, 2019

The looming threat to state renewable goals in wholesale electricity markets

States are on a dangerous collision course with organized wholesale markets as they encounter obstacles to their clean energy goals that undermine their efforts and put more costs onto ratepayers.

By Jessica Bell • May 8, 2019

EVgo commits to powering chargers with 100% renewable energy

The electric vehicle charging network said it will rely on wind and solar energy, becoming the first in the United States to make such a commitment.

By Chris Teale • May 8, 2019

Massachusetts' multipronged policy approach spurs distributed energy storage

Sunrun has credited the state's bedrock of distributed energy policies for enabling its participation in ISO-NE's capacity market with an aggregated solar-plus-storage bid.

By HJ Mai • May 7, 2019

We Energies proposes fee for solar customers (again)

The fee, which would charge solar customers an additional $3.53/kW-month, is similar to the one rejected by a circuit court judge in 2015.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated May 7, 2019

Colorado approves bill putting Tri-State under PUC as members flee to renewables

Legislators on Friday passed a comprehensive utility bill that also codifies Xcel's clean energy goals.

By Catherine Morehouse • May 7, 2019

Flat 2018 global renewables growth brings IEA call for policy solutions

Countries around the world added about the same amount of renewable capacity in 2018 as they did in 2017 — far from the pace needed to meet global climate goals, according to the International Energy Agency.

By Robert Walton • May 7, 2019

NYISO: Decarbonization efforts could be slowed without new transmission

A report from the grid operator concludes the state's electric grid is "at the cusp of the next evolution," but decarbonization efforts could be stymied without new transfer capabilities between upstate renewables and downstate consumers.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2019