Deep Dive: Page 6
Industry insights from our journalists
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State, federal actions show growing push for a nuclear role in reaching net zero emissions
Former critics of nuclear power agree, financial support may be justified for firm power options to tackle climate change and get over the net zero emissions finish line.
Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2021 -
Permission granted by First Solar
Advancing the energy transition requires an honest discussion of costs, outages and land, analysts say
Customers will tolerate the power system transformation's problems and challenges if they understand stakeholders will be "careful about the transition," one analyst said.
Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2021 -
Permission granted by First Solar
Key regulatory decision leaves California reliability issues unresolved, aggravates tensions
In the long process to figure out how to share "attributes" of IOU legacy resources needed to meet state renewables mandates, a major decision could weaken collaboration between traditional and new load-serving entities.
Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 8, 2021 -
Permission granted by Oklo
Nuclear reactors of the future have a fuel problem
Higher levels of uranium enrichment can unlock value from smaller and simpler reactors, but they come with new hurdles that the nuclear industry says only the federal government can address.
Matthew Bandyk • Aug. 30, 2021 -
Adeline Kon/Utility Dive
Will hydrogen usher in a new era of collaboration between gas and electric utilities?
With hundreds of businesses from dozens of industries eyeing hydrogen as a key opportunity for future growth, gas utilities have started to make a case for their role in the clean energy economy. But not everyone shares their vision.
Emma Penrod • Aug. 19, 2021 -
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An ideal marriage? The battle to match US clean energy demand with excess Canadian hydropower
It would seem like the perfect match — a surplus of Canadian hydropower with a grid in the United States that is hungry for more renewable power sources. But moving that power is proving to be complicated.
Scott Van Voorhis • Aug. 16, 2021 -
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California's Aliso Canyon review could offer key lessons on transition from natural gas, analysts say
The state's consideration of whether to wean itself from one of its largest natural gas storage facilities could be a model, regardless of its success.
Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 10, 2021 -
Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
The US power sector is halfway to net zero emissions, but it gets harder now, analysts say
Renewables led the power sector's recent energy transition, but breakthroughs are needed to take the transportation, building and industrial sectors to net zero emissions by mid-century.
Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2021 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Gridlock in transmission queues spotlights need for FERC action on planning
FERC is calling for stakeholder input to address the backlog in transmission queues holding 70% of the renewables needed for Biden's policy goals.
Herman K. Trabish • July 19, 2021 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
'Doesn't make sense': Analysts pan omissions in MISO's first electrification impact analysis
MISO’s first electrification-focused planning study was a "good start" by accentuating uncertainties on the rate and pace of the transition, but missed what storage needs will be and what least-regrets solutions offer, experts said.
Herman K. Trabish • July 13, 2021 -
Adeline Kon/Utility Dive
As the US begins to craft a hydrogen strategy, Europe's experience could offer valuable lessons
Green hydrogen advocates are looking across the Atlantic for inspiration on the technologies, policies and strategies that could develop the domestic market.
Kavya Balaraman • July 6, 2021 -
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From green to gold: 5 ways CFOs can gain from climate risk disclosure
CFOs confronting growing pressure to disclose climate change risks can find in their analysis opportunities to improve capital allocation and risk management.
Jim Tyson • July 6, 2021 -
Brian Tucker/Utility Dive
As utilities risk missing carbon reduction targets, analysts stress need for organizational change
Sierra Club and the Smart Electric Power Alliance published separate analyses on the shortcomings of utilities in their net zero emissions pledges, finding a common solution in new organizational approaches.
Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2021 -
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As US aims to boost clean energy supply chain, critical minerals gap largely human-caused, analysts say
There's no shortage of rare earth minerals needed to transition to a clean energy economy, experts say. The problem is getting them out of the ground — and out of China.
Emma Penrod • June 17, 2021 -
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Xcel's record-low-price procurement highlights benefits of all-source competitive solicitations
The utility's Colorado division showed how competitive bidding benefits customers if regulators protect the quality of the process.
Herman K. Trabish • June 1, 2021 -
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Record wildfire threats mean California must pick when and where to fight, utilities, analysts, CalFire agree
Utilities, public agencies and firefighters are preparing for the worst as the climate crisis-driven threat of deadly, destructive wildfires in California grows, but the biggest question remains unanswered.
Herman K. Trabish • May 27, 2021 -
fizkes via Getty Images
NRG push for sweeping retail market changes in Northeast meets Texas-sized obstacles
The reliability crisis in Texas, the state with one of the most competitive retail electricity markets, has created hurdles for a campaign to reinvent retail competition in Northeastern restructured states.
Matthew Bandyk • May 26, 2021 -
Kena Betancur via Getty Images
Elliott's proposed Duke split untimely, analysts say, as advocates warn of 'dangerous can of worms'
Analysts question why the proposal to split Duke Energy into three companies comes now, when the utility is on an upswing, while ratepayer advocates warn against Elliott Management's outsized role in the power sector.
Catherine Morehouse • May 20, 2021 -
Fotolia
'A terrible idea': Texas legislators fight over renewables' role in power crisis, aiming to avert a repeat
Texans may face future freezes if lawmakers blame renewables and fail to set winterization standards and create market-based reliability protections, analysts say.
Herman K. Trabish • May 17, 2021 -
Natacha Kiler
As utilities match CCAs on price, aggregators increase climate action, grow economies of scale to compete
With stranded costs and other charges keeping CCA bills and utility bills comparable, municipal and community aggregations are challenging utilities on renewables and climate targets to grow their customer base.
Herman K. Trabish • May 4, 2021 -
Retrieved from Twitter.
Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan meets power system needs but leaves room for political dealing
The Biden infrastructure spend would rapidly transition the U.S. power sector in ways utilities like, but Congress is expected to seek changes.
Herman K. Trabish • April 28, 2021 -
Getty
California's dilemma: How to control skyrocketing electric rates while building the grid of the future
New ideas include income-based rates, publicly-funded infrastructure, utility entrepreneurship, and customer-funded wildfire insurance.
Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2021 -
Photo illustration by Brian Tucker/Utility Dive; photograph by thinkreaction via Getty Images
As Biden targets 100% clean electricity, strategies emerge to reliably integrate rising renewables
A power system based on portfolios of increasingly cost-effective utility-scale and distributed renewables is emerging and driving new operational and market solutions to make it work reliably.
Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2021 -
State of the Electric Utility 2021: Gas doubts rise, DER focus wanes, and 5 other key takeaways
Despite the impacts of COVID-19, the energy transition is stronger than ever, the results of Utility Dive's 8th annual industry survey show.
Larry Pearl • April 1, 2021 -
California's last nuclear plant is poised to shut down. What happens next?
A large amount of carbon-free energy will come offline once the Diablo Canyon power plant retires, raising questions around how the state will replace it.
Kavya Balaraman • March 23, 2021
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