California's omission of community solar from distributed energy policies is shortsighted

Community solar can make moot the controversies surrounding behind-the-meter solar and enable new approaches that can maximize societal value for all Californians, the authors write.

By Anna Brockway and Duncan Callaway • Feb. 8, 2022

Distributed energy is poised to take center stage in 2022, but policymakers and regulators must step up

DERs participate in wholesale and retail markets today almost exclusively as emergency capacity. If this trend continues, it will limit the earnings potential of customers and the reliability of the grid, the author writes.

By Ben Hertz-Shargel • Feb. 4, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Distributed Energy Resource Growth

Distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar, battery storage and electric vehicles, are experiencing significant growth in the U.S. as the power sector evolves to a cleaner, less centralized future.

By Utility Dive staff

PJM's plan to open markets to aggregated distributed energy resources seen as 'good first step'

Advanced energy trade groups are encouraged but still see barriers in the grid operator’s proposal for full market participation of aggregated DERs starting in 2026.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 3, 2022

California utilities' brazen plan to kill rooftop solar

California's proposed net metering update greatly exaggerates what rooftop solar owners should pay for use of the grid and ignores the environmental benefits that rooftop solar provides, the author writes.

By William Schulze • Feb. 1, 2022

Breakthroughs in generation and system integration are driving the utility of the future, analysts say

The new technologies will reverse the supply-demand equation and bring competitive procurement and a transaction platform to merge the bulk power and distribution systems.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 31, 2022

California regulators delay vote on NEM proposal 'until further notice'

Regulators plan to hold oral arguments on the controversial proposed decision before moving forward.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 27, 2022

2022 Utility Dive Outlook

Utility Dive examines priorities, expectations and trends for three key subjects — FERC, rate design and renewable energy — along with a broader roundup of some of the U.S. power sector trends to watch in the year ahead.

Jan. 24, 2022

2022 Outlook: A new recognition is coming of rate design’s critical role in the energy transition

More precise time-varying rates, technology-neutral rates for distributed energy resources, and new ways to use smart technologies could make for a cleaner, lower cost, more reliable power system, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2022

2022 Outlook: FERC expected to prioritize transmission, power markets and gas infrastructure

With a new Democratic majority, observers expect Chairman Glick will move quickly on an agenda that could facilitate the energy transition.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 19, 2022

2022 Outlook: Top US power sector trends to watch

The Biden administration entered 2022 with some key strengths and significant challenges to implementing its clean energy agenda, but states, companies and others are continuing to advance the energy transition.

By Kavya Balaraman, Ethan Howland, Robert Walton and Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 18, 2022

Data centers, EVs drive PJM's long-term load growth forecast, but it expects some utilities to see declines

However, the grid operator on Friday trimmed its forecast for its next capacity auction year by 0.5%, reflecting slower than expected load growth.  

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 4, 2022

Duke, SCE, other grid modernization proposals faced big cost questions, more regulator scrutiny in 2021

Regulators facing new climate and reliability urgencies and nearly 500 grid modernization proposals are more often favoring phased advances toward a smarter system.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 4, 2022

Component shortages hit EVs as Class 8 orders plummet

While a traditional truck needs up to 500 semiconductors, an electric one could require up to 5,000.

By Amanda Loudin • Dec. 14, 2021

California's proposed net energy metering update could hit distributed solar hard, industry warns

The solar industry said the changes proposed by the California Public Utilities Commission — including reducing monthly savings and adding new fees — would put rooftop solar out of reach for millions of the state's residents.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 14, 2021

New York’s landmark Reforming the Energy Vision framework remains both vital and unfinished, analysts say

New York's REV initiatives have given full value to distributed energy resources, but the utility business model transformation must be finished, regulators and other stakeholders agreed.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 9, 2021

Nuclear and carbon capture companies seek $20B as DOE revives loan program

DOE loan office head Jigar Shah said he would like the office to issue at least $2 billion in loans for key emerging sectors, such as battery recycling and "green" hydrogen.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 8, 2021

Duke net metering agreement with renewables advocates expected to increase North Carolina solar adoption

Clean energy advocates expect the proposed rates, similar to a Duke plan approved in South Carolina, to expand the distributed solar market for homeowners and businesses.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 1, 2021

At the forefront: The biggest state clean energy legislative trends of 2021

States continue to act as laboratories of innovation, taking unique policy approaches and testing their own solutions to various clean energy policy issues, the author writes.

By Autumn Proudlove • Nov. 24, 2021

Can the DOE's community solar target to power 5M homes be met? Not without state-level support

Without putting forth the resources and rewarding effective blueprints to pull off a monumental scaling effort of community solar, the DOE's new targets will not be met, the author writes.

By Mike Gordon • Nov. 24, 2021

Taking Charge: Mary Powell on her new gig at Sunrun and the importance of ‘radical collaboration’

The former Green Mountain Power CEO says she's now in a seat "where I can scale solutions to climate change so much faster than even the most progressive, innovative utility in the country."

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 16, 2021

Officials urge flexibility, transmission upgrades to accommodate storage and DER buildout

Transmission is "just critical" to ensuring reliability and value for new resources, says EDF Renewable North America's Jamie Link.

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 5, 2021

Stopping the utility profit grab and saving rooftop solar in California

We can dispense with the utility campaign's "cost shift" myth. It's based on bad math that does not account for the grid-stabilizing investment solar consumers make in their own systems and other factors, the author writes.

By Dave Rosenfeld • Nov. 4, 2021

Unlocking the Transition: As Tesla, Ford and others invest billions in EVs, will the power system be ready?

The new White House zero emission vehicle target of 50% of new car sales by 2030 has a long way to go, a short time to get there, and big challenges along the way.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 3, 2021

Maine explores rate design changes to boost storage, EV deployment

The state must deploy 400 MW of energy storage by 2030, prompting regulators to explore time-of-use rates and other structures that could encourage residential and commercial deployment.

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 28, 2021

10 cleantech startups to watch

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator fall 2021 cohort has companies whose efforts range from wildfire prevention to transportation electrification. CEO Matt Petersen discusses challenges startups face in working with the public sector.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 25, 2021