Predictions 2017: 8 sector insiders on what's next for power markets and regulation

Utility executives and analysts expect state clean energy policies and wholesale market changes to take center stage in the year to come.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Jan. 5, 2017

The worst of times? The future of climate action in the Trump era

A renewable energy boom won’t be enough to stem the tide of global warming, but new decarbonization opportunities could be just around the corner.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 4, 2017

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

SEIA and Solar Energy Finance Association to merge

The combined entity will form a new advisory council to boost solar financing.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 4, 2017

A storage bubble? High investment in nascent industry sows fears of a battery bust

Market reforms and continued innovation will be needed to see storage reach its potential, experts say.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 3, 2017

Ormat moves into storage, demand management with $35M Viridity acquisition

The geothermal developer will gain a platform to expand its project development experience into virtual power plants. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 3, 2017

Massachusetts DOER will set energy storage mandate targets by July

A law signed in August required the Department of Energy Resources to determine if a storage mandate is prudent for the state, which it did on Dec. 27.

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 3, 2017

Rooftop solar permits in Honolulu fell 40% in November

Solar permits for the first 11 months of the year were also down 32% from the same period in 2015.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 23, 2016

The top 5 solar policy trends of 2016

Net metering and rate design weren't the only sticky subjects for solar this year.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 22, 2016

How the Illinois energy reform 'fixed' the state's RPS, promising a renewables boom

A convoluted renewables standard stalled investment for years, but the new law aims for over 4 GW of wind and solar through a streamlined program.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 22, 2016

Colorado partners with Utah, Nevada to develop electric vehicle charge network

Spurred by the growing demand for electric vehicles, the charging network will span 2,000 miles of highway.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2016

How regulations and technology brought us closer to Utility 2.0 in 2016

Progress toward a cleaner, more distributed grid was patchy in 2016, but the trajectory was undeniable. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 21, 2016

MISO integrates first solar project into its wholesale market

The Midcontinent ISO has many solar arrays, but only North Star is currently participating in its wholesale market.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 21, 2016

2016: A 'transitional year for storage,' industry set to break records

Diverse storage deployment and investments on pace to surpass last year's numbers, analysts say. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

GTM: Ambri poised to roll out new version of liquid metal battery storage

A spokesperson said it is preparing to deploy a 500 kWh commercial storage system in 2018. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

Can New England steal California's storage thunder?

The Golden State gets all the attention, but there are a number of reasons to expect a Northeast storage boom in coming years, writes the Acadia Center's Peter Shattuck.

By Peter Shattuck • Dec. 20, 2016

Renewables challenge natural gas plants on price in latest Lazard analysis

Wind and solar are now well within the cost range of combined cycle plants, but still need generators or storage to support them on the grid.  

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

ComEd pushes ahead with Bronzeville microgrid, despite lack of legislative backing

Funding for the microgrid was left out of Illinois' mammoth energy bill, but ComEd says it will ask regulators to allow it to recover some of the costs. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 20, 2016

California PUC approves PG&E electric vehicle infrastructure plan

Pacific Gas and Electric will roll out 7,500 EV charging points and own 35%. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2016

FERC proposes changes to large generator interconnection process

The Commission's notice focuses on large plants but also asks whether it could be expanded to distributed energy. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 19, 2016

MIT report calls for regulatory, market reforms to accommodate DERs

The lengthy paper argues regulators must be as innovative as the companies they oversee to unlock the potential of distributed resources. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 16, 2016

Down to the wire, Michigan passes sweeping renewable energy, retail choice reforms

After a scramble to reach a compromise, lawmakers came together to overhaul Michigan's energy marketplace on the last day of the legislative session.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2016

Portland accelerates zero-emission vehicle adoption to hit climate goals

The Portland City Council unanimously adopted a plan to slash emissions from the transportation sector and put 50,000 electric vehicles on the roads.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2016

The new guide to the community solar galaxy

A new policy guide outlines five categories of best practices to spur growth in shared renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 15, 2016

Sunrun rolls out its solar + storage system to California

Sunrun's offering will use LG Chem and Tesla batteries. 

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 15, 2016

ConEd Brooklyn-Queens non-wire alternative project installs first microgrid

The project, sited on a Brooklyn apartment complex, will include lithium batteries, solar PV and a fuel cell. 

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 14, 2016