Technology

Study: EVs will have 20% of global mileage share by 2030

Researchers predict adoption will surge despite small current market share and government regulations, thanks in part to its use in other mobility forms.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 13, 2018

NRC says manufacturing flaws 'negligible,' plant shutdowns not necessary

Defects in reactor components shut nuclear plants in France. A petition by Beyond Nuclear alleges reactors at the plants named in the petition rely on potentially defective components and potentially falsified quality assurance documentation.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 10, 2018

Report: Tesla Solar Roof production delayed over product aesthetics, EV prioritization

Despite CEO Elon Musk's boasts about the installment of the undetectable renewable generating structure during Q2 calls, employees at New York's Gigafactory 2 reported production challenges and delays.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 10, 2018

Aussie apartments use blockchain energy trading to shield residents from price spikes

A housing developer in Australia has teamed up with tech company Power Ledger to offer blockchain for peer-to-peer solar power sales.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 09, 2018

CAISO could lose 28 gas plants and keep the lights on: UCS

The plants are "dead weight" on the California system, researchers said, and could easily be replaced by other resources with no impact on reliability. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 08, 2018

Report: DOE, DHS planning new grid cybersecurity exercise this fall

The Liberty Eclipse exercise will focus on blackstart capabilities and the intersection of the natural gas and electric power sectors, E&E News reports. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 07, 2018

Efficiency leads projected 10% job growth for California's advanced energy sector: AEE

According to a new analysis of 2018 employment rates, one in every six jobs in advanced energy is in California.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 07, 2018

Oregon Supreme Court approves tax to fund state EV rebates

The program will tax auto dealers in order to fund electric vehicle rebates as part of Gov. Kate Brown's 2017 climate change initiative. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 07, 2018

Opinion

Broadband access: A regulatory call to action to protect utilities against cyber threats

Modernizing utility communications infrastructure to the advanced broadband available today will pay off for decades to come, according to Jack Markell, former Democratic governor of Delaware.

By Jack Markell

Musk sees 'insane' fast growth for Tesla's energy storage business

Tesla executives predicted growth levels in 2019 of 300% to 400% for its energy storage business.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 02, 2018

DHS walks back utility cyber warnings as Southern CEO says no grid emergency

Hackers cannot cause widespread power outages today, DHS said, tempering statements the agency made last week warning that cyber criminals could "throw switches" on the grid.

By Gavin Bade • July 31, 2018

NextEra's renewables backlog grows to 7.4 GW as customers anticipate lower costs

The company's record backlog includes many energy storage and solar projects slated for years in the future, as prices are expected to drop in the 2020s.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 27, 2018

Opinion

Utilities embrace data-driven, intelligent enterprise approach

As technology options grow, utility companies can use services such as the cloud to optimize efficiency, improve safety and develop new business models, according to SAP utilities director James McClelland.

By James McClelland

New York utilities outline 'transformative' uses for blockchain

The four utilities will research blockchain and learn from other industries as the technology evolves, with the ultimate goal of drawing up a joint proof of concept and testing their findings.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 25, 2018

Russian hackers infiltrated utility control rooms, DHS says

The hackers breached isolated utility networks thought to be secure and "got to the point where they could have thrown switches," Homeland Security officials said Monday.

By Gavin Bade • July 24, 2018

NERC to beef up, prioritize cyber incident reporting under new rule

Current rules only require a cyber incident report if one or more reliability tasks have been disrupted or compromised. FERC directed the reliability nonprofit to expand reporting requirements under significantly broader scenarios.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2018

Study quantifies battery-electric bus environmental benefits

The study found that when averaging results from across the country, electric battery buses are 2.5 times cleaner in terms of lifecycle emissions than diesel buses.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 20, 2018

NRDC urges cities, states to commit to pollution cuts in transportation

A new report says jurisdictions should use more electric vehicles in transit and build more affordable housing near stations.

By Chris Teale • July 20, 2018

Cities, businesses join international push to promote EVs

The Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Challenge from The Climate Group and C40 Cities seeks to build more purchasing and lobbying power around electric cars.

By Jason Plautz • July 18, 2018

Arizona regulators open first US transactive energy docket

Other utility reform dockets have considered elements of transactive energy, but the Arizona Corporation Commission is the first to address the issue in a specific proceeding. 

By Gavin Bade • July 17, 2018