New grid transparency tools improve distributed generation siting

Two tools can help customers and project developers more quickly and cheaply identify grid locations for distribution generation projects, according to Mari Hernandez, regulatory program manager at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

By Mari Hernandez • June 26, 2018

US solar industry gets boost with new IRS guidance

The much-anticipated clarification allows developers to qualify for a 30% tax credit if they can prove that they invested at least 5% of the total expected installation costs by the end of 2019.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 25, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

The U.S. clean energy transition is expected to accelerate in 2024 but faces question around transmission, financing, federal elections and other issues. 

By Utility Dive staff

Sprint to test robotic, self-driving EV chargers in NYC

Getting the robots from the testing stage to reality depends on a confluence of new technologies, including 5G, IoT installation and autonomous vehicle tech.

By Jason Plautz • June 22, 2018

Microsoft has big power needs and wants to harness the ocean to satisfy them

Cloud vendors are already using wind and solar solutions to conserve energy consumed by their servers. The next frontier, however, is in the ocean's waves. 

By Samantha Schwartz • June 21, 2018

DOE: Puerto Rico has plenty of options for new generation

A new report on options for rebuilding the island's grid recommends considering a wide range of renewables and alternative fuels, an expansion of liquefied natural gas imports, microgrids and energy storage.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2018

ZEV market entering 'new phase of development,' says 9-state coalition

A cross-section of industries is supporting the shift: Uber announced future incentives for emissions-free drivers.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2018

In Massachusetts, capacity ownership of distributed resources could determine fate of storage

Current debates over ownership and control of capacity rights associated with solar and energy storage projects could have a big impact on the trajectory of the technologies in the state.

By Peter Maloney • June 20, 2018

Blink eyes significant EV charging expansion via smart streetlights

Blink Charging and Israel's Ya'acobi Brothers Group are working together to integrate controlled electric vehicle charging with smart city infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2018

5 things utilities should consider for energy storage

Utilities navigating energy storage integration should take into account the flexibility and speed of modular programs when comparing storage to gas peaker plants, Axiom Exergy's John Lerch writes.

By John Lerch • June 19, 2018

Is New Hampshire on the verge of battery energy storage history?

A Liberty Utilities-stakeholder settlement could put 1,000 behind-the-meter batteries in place and provide a model for the rest of the country.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 19, 2018

Protection & control personnel – Protecting the grid one element at a time…

What questions might a new entrant into the power systems industry have when it comes to the power grid? Field and engineering teams have proven to be quite resilient, eager to learn new skills that the modern power grid infrastructure is demanding.  

By Adrian Zvarych Power Grid Engineering, LLC • June 19, 2018

100% renewable energy omnibus clears Massachusetts Senate

The package of energy bills would also remove net metering caps, increase the storage mandate and void demand charges approved earlier this year for Eversource. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 18, 2018

Should the regulatory two-step give way to a new, performance-based dance?

Critics say traditional cost-of-service ratemaking is behind the times, but newer models require a complex production from a variety of industry players. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 18, 2018

As distributed solar expands, can utility system planning keep up?

New research shows only utilities with a lot of customer-sited solar need to pay the price of advanced forecasting, but all utilities need to plan for more solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 14, 2018

California looks to next steps as utilities near energy storage targets

As Golden State utilities approach 2 GW of battery capacity, lawmakers are preparing mandates for 2 GW more. 

By Peter Maloney • June 12, 2018

Activist investors push Sempra to sell renewable assets, focus on utilities and LNG

Elliott Management and Bluescape Resources, 5% owners of Sempra, say their plan could create $11 billion-$16 billion in value.

By Robert Walton • June 11, 2018

End of the 'gas rush?' Renewables, storage reaching cost parity, report finds

Portfolios of clean energy and batteries will soon be cost effective, according to a new RMI study, but $110 billion in planned natural gas investments could slow adoption.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 11, 2018

National Grid settlement curbs rate increase, ups grid mod in Rhode Island

The agreement is part of Rhode Island's power sector transformation and calls for investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, energy storage and advanced metering.

By Robert Walton • June 11, 2018

New solar industry initiatives could open business-utility collaborations

A 2017 spike in commercial and industrial solar growth will not last, but industry efforts to educate property owners and offer better financing could be good for businesses and utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 7, 2018

Grid mod policy actions jump 75%, with storage playing a central role

While the number of actions rose significantly from Q1 2017 to Q1 2018, they remained within the same set of 37 states, according to the latest edition of 50 States of Grid Modernization.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 5, 2018

California, New York, New Jersey see nearly $1.3B in new EV funding

The California PUC's approval of $738 million in utility electrification proposals represents the largest investment in charging infrastructure by a state to date, analysts said.

By Robert Walton • June 1, 2018

NERC: Texas, California will face tight markets this summer

Texas is facing a generation shortfall, due in part to plant retirements, and California is facing a limit on natural gas output due to Aliso Canyon storage facility constraints.

By Robert Walton • May 31, 2018

N.J. sets 'aggressive' 2 GW storage target by 2030

Part of a broader recently-enacted law, the policy makes New Jersey the fifth state to set an energy storage goal.

By Peter Maloney • May 29, 2018

Minnesota overhauls interconnection standards to streamline clean energy

The standards are the great equalizer in clean energy markets, and remain a key building block to support a strong foundation for continued clean energy growth, writes IREC Counsel Sky Stanfield.

By Sky Stanfield • May 25, 2018

New Jersey Gov. Murphy signs bills creating zero emission credits for nuclear

The plan is to move the state toward 100% clean energy with nuclear power as an essential part of the mix.

By Peter Maloney • May 24, 2018