Virginia 10-year energy plan includes 5 GW of renewables, EVs, grid modernization

The state's 10-year plan calls for 3 GW of of solar and onshore wind energy to be deployed by 2022, followed by 2 GW of offshore wind.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 3, 2018

EPA MATS rollback threatens DOE carbon capture priorities, critics warn

Allowing utilities to stop using pollution scrubbers mandated under the EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards could raise the price for coal plants to adopt carbon capture, proponents of the technology said. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 2, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

ISO-NE to focus on market solutions for winter energy security in 2019

ISO New England is considering an "interim compensation treatment for periods associated with reliability reviews for fuel security," the grid operator says in its 2019 Annual Work Plan.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2018

True Value: To get to tomorrow's grid, DER grid services must be compensated right today

At Solar Power International 2018, the solar-plus-storage industry advanced new possibilities for the power system regarding storage and distributed resources, but also confronted new questions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 1, 2018

DTE accelerates gas line replacements to cut methane emissions 80% by 2040

The utility previously announced efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its power activities and now turns its attention to the gas side of its operations.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 1, 2018

'Not your grandma's DER': Distributed resources modernize, prove value to grid

Portfolios of DER are finally operating and showing how customer-sited resources can be of great value to utilities and system operators.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 27, 2018

NYPA head Quiniones outlines next steps to digitize the grid

Over the next two years, the New York Power Authority's digitization initiative will focus on adding sensors and identifying third-party partners for its data-driven decision support system, CEO Gil Quiniones says.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 27, 2018

Mountain Valley Pipeline costs rise to $4.6B

About half of the increase is due to August work stoppages ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a result of environmental lawsuits.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 27, 2018

The top 3 headaches for behind-the-meter C&I storage

Executives working on energy storage deployment in the commercial and industrial market sound off on recent trends and changes in the sector, including the biggest difficulties for BTM.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 26, 2018

New York will continue assisting Puerto Rico with power grid modernization

The New York Power Authority and Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority signed an agreement to help the island prepare for future storms.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 24, 2018

USDA invests $400M in rural electricity upgrades, smart grids

The largest loan will send $68.5 million to back a solar farm run by NextEra Energy Resources in Arkansas, which could meet the needs of 21,000 homes.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 24, 2018

Microgrids in Maryland: Supporting public safety, community resiliency

Concerns around cyber security, terrorism and climate change have led public leaders in Maryland to advance microgrid deployment as a strategy to reduce emissions, strengthen resiliency and enhance sustainability.    

Sept. 20, 2018

FERC allows construction to resume on Atlantic Coast Pipeline

The 600-mile pipeline was put on hold after a federal appeals court invalidated permits for where it crosses federal lands in Virginia.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 18, 2018

Southwest Power Pool signs up utilities for its reliability coordinator services

The grid operator will soon finalize plans for the governance and operation of its western RC services, which it expects to launch in December 2019.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2018

EV charging providers scale up amid a 'revolution in transportation'

ChargePoint and EVBox plan to expand their charging networks as new numbers show electric vehicle adoption is growing faster than analysts previously thought.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2018

NYPA to create real‑time simulation model of New York's transmission system

The New York Power Authority announced plans to develop the Advanced Grid Innovation Laboratory for Energy at its White Plains headquarters.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2018

Massachusetts governor puts rival utility in charge of Columbia Gas disaster response

Baker handed the restoration efforts for more than 70 fires to Eversource Energy, saying the "follow through" from Columbia Gas "was just not there."

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 17, 2018

Con Edison's New York EV charging program expands to include larger engines

The program aims to encourage EV charging during off-peak hours as part of the state's concerted effort to put more emissions-free vehicles on the road.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 17, 2018

Explosions from gas utility lines kill 1, injure 10 in Massachusetts

Columbia Gas says it is still working to identify the cause of the explosions, but experts say they were likely caused by overpressurized gas lines. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 14, 2018

Amid steady battery growth, Fluence sets sights on market share, transmission assets

Having proven itself on utility-scale projects, the company eyes behind-the-meter projects on the commercial-industrial side and opportunities at the "center of the grid."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 14, 2018

Renewables: As rooftop solar expands, states grapple with successors to net metering

Replacements to the controversial solar incentive have cropped up in Hawaii, California and elsewhere, but policymakers have struggled to devise a replicable model across the U.S. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2018

FERC, NERC open inquiry into winter load event that stressed Midwest grids

The inquiry could take on special significance given FERC's open grid resilience proceeding and the looming threat of a coal and nuclear bailout from the White House. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 13, 2018

New Hampshire to use $4.6M of VW settlement to build EV infrastructure

The funds come from a $15 billion settlement between Volkswagen and the U.S. government after the automaker was caught rigging vehicle emissions tests.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 13, 2018

Outages, coal plant flooding top concerns as utilities brace for Hurricane Florence

Environmental groups are afraid flooding could release toxic coal ash, but utilities say their bigger worry involves cooling ponds at regional power plants. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Sept. 12, 2018

SCE floats new wildfire grid upgrades after passage of California law

SCE's proposed $582 million hardening package comes in response to Senate Bill 901, which required utilities to update fire mitigation plans.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2018