Transmission & Distribution: Page 2
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Efficiency, DERs saving $2.6B in avoided transmission costs, CAISO says
The grid operator last week approved a new transmission plan that modified or canceled several projects.
By Robert Walton • March 26, 2018
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PG&E rolls out plan to tackle wildfire threats
The plan includes a network of utility-owned and operated weather stations across the company's service territory as well as hardening efforts that include developing community microgrids.
By Robert Walton • March 23, 2018
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Energy groups see $1.3 trillion omnibus as repudiation of Trump priorities
The budget bill, approved by the House and Senate on Thursday, would boost clean energy funding at DOE and increase appropriations for co-ops to expand rural broadband service.
By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2018
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FeatureOn the duck's 10th birthday, here's how to keep it from eating the power system
Before anybody saw how fast solar would grow, researchers described what it would do to the grid and started working on solutions now being implemented.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 22, 2018
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Duke issues climate report, charts path to reduce coal use by 2030
While the report says a zero-coal scenario is possible, the utility currently plans to trim coal use to 16% by 2030 by heavily investing in natural gas.
By Robert Walton • March 22, 2018
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Hackers target Puerto Rico utility
News of a cyberattack on PREPA comes a week after federal authorities issued an alert warning Russian hackers have engaged in a long-term campaign to infiltrate and surveil critical U.S. infrastructure.
By Robert Walton • March 20, 2018
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FeatureCalifornia's dream of a regional power market faces the risks of a Trump FERC
California's proposed regional electricity market could could generate up to $1.5 billion in annual benefits and reduce GHG emissions up to 10%, but it could be subverted.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 20, 2018
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Maryland approves permit for Columbia Gas pipeline extension
The Eastern Panhandle Expansion Project is a short new pipeline designed to ship natural gas to West Virginia.
By Robert Walton • March 19, 2018
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NERC names WECC head Robb as new CEO
Robb's appointment comes after the high-profile resignation of NERC's last CEO following an office sex scandal and family violence arrest.
By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2018
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Munis to charge cryptocurrency miners higher power prices in New York
Cryptocurrency mining operations are using thousands of times more electricity than an average residential customer, potentially driving up rates for everyone.
By Robert Walton • March 16, 2018
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Massachusetts governor seeks Clean Peak Standard with $1.4B bond bill
Under the proposal, electricity suppliers would need to increase the usage of clean energy during peak demand periods. Another bill sets a new storage target of 1,766 MW by 2025 and 5 GW of offshore wind by 2035.
By Robert Walton • March 15, 2018
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FERC splits on climate review as it reissues Southeast Market Pipelines approval
A D.C. Circuit Court ruling had threatened to shut down the projects due to FERC's greenhouse gas accounting, but the Wednesday order ensures operations will continue.
By Gavin Bade • March 15, 2018
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Arizona regulators move to place gas plant moratorium on utilities
The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a 9-month moratorium on new gas plants 150 MW or larger, directing utilities to examine renewable energy and storage instead.
By Robert Walton • March 15, 2018
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Mountain West Transmission Group moves closer to SPP membership
The Mountain West Transmission Group's entry into the regional transmission organization could mean higher costs for customers of Peak Reliability, a reliability coordinator.
By Robert Walton • March 14, 2018
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US House committee probes possible corruption at Puerto Rico's utility
The Natural Resources Committee is demanding answers from Puerto Rico's utility regarding a range of allegations, including mismanagement of power restoration efforts following Hurricane Maria.
By Robert Walton • March 13, 2018
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Northern Pass dealt fresh setback as siting board delays rehearing decision
The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee is unlikely to decide whether to restart its review of Northern Pass before May, meaning Massachusetts could choose a different project to meet clean energy goals.
By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018
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New TVA rate plan includes lower energy prices, grid access charge
The federally-owned utility says its proposed rate structure will "better align wholesale rates with the underlying costs" to serve its 154 local power companies.
By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018
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OpinionFrom smart grid to neural grid: Well, how do I get there?
The interplay of smart infrastructure, end-user devices, and applications and services, is what takes the smart grid of today into the Neural Grid future, Navigant's Richelle Elberg writes.
By Richelle Elberg
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Energy sector condemns Trump steel, aluminum tariffs
The duties on imported metal commodities will raise prices for power sector infrastructure projects, trade groups said, and could derail Trump's "energy dominance" agenda.
By Peter Maloney • March 09, 2018
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Sempra nabs Texas regulatory approval to buy Oncor
After numerous rejections, Oncor finally has a suitor that satisfies the state Public Utility Commission. Sempra hopes to close the sale this year.
By Robert Walton • March 08, 2018
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FeatureAre utilities missing out on the opportunity to use old coal sites for solar?
Two coal-to-solar projects show there can be benefits from taking on the costs of coal site remediation and repurposing – but it is a site-by-site question.
By Herman K. Trabish • March 08, 2018
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GE aims to enhance solar, wind power performance with new storage platform
The company wants to make inroads into the utility-scale storage market with Reservoir, a modular, four-hour duration battery system.
By Peter Maloney • March 07, 2018
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Canada approves disputed Northern Pass transmission line
But if the project is to go forward, Eversource Energy must convince regulators in New Hampshire to reconsider their denial of the 192-mile transmission project.
By Robert Walton • March 07, 2018
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FeatureMaryland is 290K shy of its EV goal; Can a broad stakeholder process get it there?
State regulators brought utilities, customer advocates and charging companies to the table. The result could be the second largest charging network in the nation.
By Robert Walton • March 07, 2018
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Puerto Rico regulators, federal oversight board wrestle for control of PREPA
Puerto Rico's utility regulators say the Financial Oversight and Management Board is trying to wrest control of the island's utility and its energy future.
By Robert Walton • March 06, 2018