Utilities don't see stranded assets as a top risk. Should they?

Despite growing concerns that "bullish" utility investments in natural gas may lead to stranded assets amid rapid decarbonization, just 18% of utility employees surveyed by Utility Dive view those risks as a top concern.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 14, 2020

Virginia approves 100% clean energy legislation, pushing state toward 2.4 GW storage, RGGI

Following a Senate push to get the Virginia Clean Economy Act to conference committee, the energy package is headed to the Governor's desk.

By Matthew Bandyk • Updated March 6, 2020

Coal ash, Atlantic Coast Pipeline remain a headache for Duke as it expands 5 year spending by $6B

Not allowing the utility to fully recover costs around its $8-9 billion coal ash cleanup could prove "detrimental" to the utility's balance sheet, CEO Lynn Good said on the company's Q4 earnings call.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 13, 2020

Why DTE Energy gets failing grades on its 15-year energy plan

Advocacy groups gave the utility an "F" for ensuring equitable access to clean energy benefits, according to Vote Solar's Midwest director.

By John Delurey • Feb. 13, 2020

New Mexico's San Juan coal carbon capture project could put investors at risk for $450M: IEEFA

Farmington, New Mexico, remains determined to save the coal plant, but critics say the company planning the carbon capture project is underestimating costs and overestimating the fuel's viability.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 13, 2020

Glick joins grid operators' call for storage hybrid market construct

The FERC commissioner wants to see action on the measure and suggested a technical conference on how to treat storage collocated with energy generation in energy markets.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 13, 2020

Faced with potential 2020 Sanders, Warren fracking bans, Vistra CEO expects industry impact to be minimal

"Our coal plants are no more economic today than when the president took over," Vistra Energy's Curtis Morgan said, adding the Trump administration has ultimately just led to stronger state clean energy policies.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 12, 2020

Sustainability tops utility concerns, as SEU survey sees discrepancies on cybersecurity, stranded assets

Some 50% of utility respondents to Utility Dive's State of the Electric Utility Survey expect their organization to significantly increase the amount of grid-scale solar by 2030, a stronger forecast than for any other resource.

By Larry Pearl • Feb. 12, 2020

Utilities, regulators overlook recycling revenue options amid rising state tensions over coal ash: NARUC

Cost continues to be a major concern for regulators and utilities, but the report authors note the potential for beneficial use has yet to be fully explored.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 11, 2020

DOE Secretary announces $64M in coal efficiency and low-emissions research

The Department of Energy is committing more funding to improve coal plant efficiency and reduce emissions, including carbon capture use, while seeking ways to increase coal exports.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 10, 2020

ISO-NE capacity prices fall to new low, but latest auction shut out some renewables and storage

ISO New England's annual capacity auction returned the lowest clearing price yet, but confusion over federal and state interconnection processes kept more than a dozen solar and energy storage projects from participating.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2020

Indiana House passes controversial bill making coal plants harder to retire

HB 1414 was amended in the House to add a sunset clause of May 2021, which critics say makes the bill's purpose even more murky.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 5, 2020

GE Hitachi enters federal licensing process for new small modular nuclear reactor design

GE Hitachi claims its BWRX-300 will be cheaper on a capital cost basis than both conventional nuclear power reactors and other SMRs.

By Matthew Bandyk • Feb. 5, 2020

New York aims to kick off solicitation for up to 2.5 GW of offshore wind in 2020

The proceeding would be the state's second large scale solicitation of the resource, and could lead to state procurements of up to 4.3 GW of offshore wind.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 5, 2020

Navajo Nation calls for Tucson Electric to pay millions for coal retirements, as more rural areas impacted

As coal continues to decline, larger and more rural plant closures will strain communities reliant on them for jobs and tax bases, say experts.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 4, 2020

Q&A: GE CTO on adapting to the clean energy transition

Utility Dive caught up with GE Grid Solutions' Chief Technology Officer Vera Silva to discuss the shifting technology space in the utility industry, as well as short and long-term solutions for decarbonizing the power grid.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 3, 2020

Retaining outmoded monopolies and coal plants keeps Indiana in the Dark Ages

Policies like HB 1414 could force the state's residents to pay for outmoded power plants and stick the cost of the energy transition on captive customers, rather than letting markets work, the author writes.

By Devin Hartman • Feb. 3, 2020

Xcel 'sees opportunities across our system' to change coal operations: CEO Fowke

The utility is "definitely looking at" dispatching its coal more intermittently across the Southwest, CEO Ben Fowke said during the company's Q4 earnings call.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 3, 2020

Utilities sign 5.3 GW wind PPAs in 2019, hitting new record: AWEA

Utility and corporate deals drove 8.7 GW of wind installations in 2019, according to the trade group.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 31, 2020

New Mexico approves PNM exit from San Juan coal plant, but CCS could still save facility

The utility will be able to abandon the plant through securitization, providing grants to workers laid off by the closure, but a local carbon capture company could keep the plant going.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated April 2, 2020

Can the US power sector significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2040? Not according to EIA

Energy sector analysts say EIA's annual projections have consistently been more conservative, overstating sector emissions, and utility groups are optimistic for greater carbon reductions from power generation and transportation.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 30, 2020

FERC's backlog of rehearing requests and the legal 'purgatory' of opposition to the PJM MOPR order

Language in the Federal Power Act prevents stakeholders from litigating a FERC order until regulators rule on rehearing requests, a decision that can face lengthy delays.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2020

Coal plants increasingly operate as cyclical, load-following power, leading to inefficiencies, costs: NARUC

Increased wind, solar and natural gas generation is forcing coal-fired plants to run their units in a way they were not designed to, or shut down.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 29, 2020

PG&E is betting heavily on microgrids. But can it move away from fossil fuels?

The utility is proposing to deploy 300 MW of temporary generation in areas that are vulnerable to public safety power shut-offs. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 28, 2020

Geothermal's surprise: Cheap renewables could keep states from achieving climate goals

Planners must think beyond the levelized cost for renewables to the value that each resource brings to the grid.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 27, 2020