Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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Texas task force aims to ‘tear down barriers’ to virtual power plant pilot as participation lags
The aggregated DER pilot, which includes Tesla and Bandera Electric as participants, aims to harness 80 MW of flexible resources on the Texas grid, but it has not reached that goal due to various limitations.
Robert Walton • Dec. 11, 2024 -
Courtesy of General Motors
When TOU rates aren’t enough: BGE, other utilities expand active managed charging for rising EV load
With over 3 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads, managed charging pilots need to be scaled before infrastructure upgrade costs start rising, analysts and utility executives agree.
Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn via Getty Images
EPRI, Kraken advance DER interoperability standards to boost virtual power plant deployment
“Without interoperability standards, VPPs cannot reach scalability, affordability, and reliability as soon or as efficiently as they will be needed,” said Arshad Mansoor, CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute.
Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 27, 2024 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
Harris, Trump present ‘diametrically opposed’ impacts on ESG
“A Harris administration would be more favorable for the interests of ESG investors whereas a Trump administration would be antagonistic,” according to Morningstar Indexes’ head of strategy.
Lamar Johnson and Zoya Mirza • Nov. 5, 2024 -
The image by Chesapeake Bay Program is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
APS, Duke, other utilities pursue new climate resilience strategies as some await upcoming tools
APS and Duke, along with Central Hudson Gas & Electric, PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy, see different paths to reach resilience planning’s potential while awaiting EPRI metrics to address uncertainties.
Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 28, 2024 -
eff Fusco / Stringer via Getty Images
With Palisades and Three Mile Island units set to restart, could more retired reactors follow?
Much depends on the retired plants’ condition, decommissioning status and reactor technology, experts say.
Brian Martucci • Oct. 22, 2024 -
Sean Gallup via Getty Images
Carrots, sticks or both: State efforts to combat anti-renewables NIMBYs
In pursuit of zero-emissions electricity goals and tax windfalls from utility-scale renewables, states are taking a range of approaches to disarm opponents.
Brian Martucci • Aug. 22, 2024 -
FernandoAH via Getty Images
California pioneers new ways to ease interconnection of large DERs
Limited generation profiles in California will schedule limits to DERs during system constraints. New York, Illinois, Colorado and others are testing more flexible approaches.
Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2024 -
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Innovative solutions emerge to reduce 2.5-TW US clean energy interconnection backlog
California’s project scoring criteria, the Texas connect and manage option and SPP’s work to link system planning with the interconnection process across its multistate region could speed the clean energy expansion.
Herman K. Trabish • July 22, 2024 -
hirun via Getty Images
As NVIDIA, IBM and others apply AI to boost utilities, regulatory and data privacy obstacles abound
The “move fast and break things” business model of the technology sector is meeting the regulated spending and reliability imperatives of the utility sector.
Herman K. Trabish • June 11, 2024 -
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Drive for energy permitting reform fuels tensions between climate, environmental justice advocates
A simplified permitting process would speed the deployment of clean energy, but some EJ advocates are concerned about unintended consequences.
Diana DiGangi • June 6, 2024 -
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Tackling 3 key issues can help scale virtual power plants and spur a wave of benefits, analysts say
Advanced operational software, communications standards and customer compensation are needed to scale VPP size and services, cut system and customer costs and enhance reliability, key VPP players agree.
Herman K. Trabish • April 17, 2024 -
Permission granted by NuScale Power
As states increasingly look to advanced nuclear, Wyoming, Virginia and Michigan lead the way
Their efforts are showing policymakers elsewhere how to attract emerging nuclear technologies and the skilled workers they need to operate, National Association of State Energy Officials President David Terry said.
Brian Martucci • April 17, 2024 -
George Frey via Getty Images
Monday’s eclipse could cut US solar output by 40 GWh. Here’s how 5 grid operators are preparing.
Grid operators are not expecting any reliability issues during the eclipse but say forecasting energy demand will be complicated. Monday “will not be a typical spring day,” MISO noted.
Robert Walton • April 4, 2024 -
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A new era of price-based demand response emerges, but utilities and regulators need proof of its potential
New load flexibility from price-based demand response programs could be invaluable if reliability and cost-effectiveness is confirmed in real-world operating conditions, stakeholders agree.
Herman K. Trabish • March 27, 2024 -
LPETTET via Getty Images
California lawmakers backpedal on income-based utility charges as IOUs, others propose alternatives
State legislators ordered regulators in 2022 to implement an income-graduated fixed charge to protect low-income customers and shift the funding for various policy goals. A new bill would repeal that.
Herman K. Trabish • March 19, 2024 -
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2024 PJM Outlook: Tough choices loom on capacity market, plant retirements, transmission planning
Ensuring that enough new generation comes online to replace retiring power plants is a key issue that threads through PJM’s expected focus this year, stakeholders and observers said.
Ethan Howland • Feb. 29, 2024 -
Karl Weatherly via Getty Images
Congressional action on energy permitting remains stuck, but states, developers are finding solutions
States are resolving local objections to projects through community engagement while transmission developers are making innovative use of existing rights-of-way to bypass permitting logjams.
Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 27, 2024 -
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As wildfires losses mount, will commercial insurers decline to cover utilities?
As Xcel Energy, PG&E, Hawaiian Electric and others confront catastrophic wildfires, industry observers believe the growing risk could spur innovation in commercial insurance that ultimately benefits utilities.
Emma Penrod • Jan. 31, 2024 -
imacoconut via Getty Images
New solutions emerge to better integrate renewables into the grid, Xcel, Eversource and others say
Requiring the 400+ GW of battery capacity in U.S. interconnection queues to have grid-forming capabilities could enable variable renewables growth “cheaper and faster than adding new transmission,” one expert said.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 25, 2024 -
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To keep or not to keep: The fate of scope 3 emissions in SEC’s climate disclosure rule
Given all of the pushback the agency has received over its proposed rule, particularly scope 3 reporting requirements, experts are uncertain if scope 3 will make the final cut.
Zoya Mirza • Jan. 25, 2024 -
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Utility Business Outlook: Power prices stay elevated as elections sow uncertainty for clean energy plans
For utilities and the clean energy sector, 2024 could bring “an exceptional level of volatility and opportunity,” according to Bank of America Global Research analysts.
Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2024 -
Karl Weatherly via Getty Images
Renewable Energy Outlook: Addressing supply chain, project hurdles could see dividends in 2024
It may be a blessing in disguise for the offshore wind industry that so many developers had to delay or cancel projects last year, one attorney said.
Diana DiGangi • Jan. 18, 2024 -
Siripak Pason via Getty Images
As reliability concerns with renewables rise, upgrading inverters is urgent, analysts say
The variable output of renewable energy resources requires “grid-forming” inverters to protect power system current flows, engineers and others agree.
Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 2, 2024 -
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Eversource wary about attracting investor capital as Connecticut moves to forefront of PBR trend
Connecticut utilities’ credit and financials will remain stable or improve when performance-based regulation is fully implemented, just as they did for Hawaiian Electric, said the state’s chief utility regulator.
Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 5, 2023
