As the solar industry matures, business gets a little more complicated

While solar got a much-needed boost when Congress extended the 30% ITC, state policy changes are slowing down the residential market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 6, 2016

DOE: Electric, hybrid vehicles to make up 6% of auto sales by 2025

Combined, those sales will account for about 0.5% of U.S. energy demand.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2016

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

Power sector politics: 5 state energy races to watch this November

Solar incentives and consumer choice dominate down-ballot energy races this cycle. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 3, 2016

Nevada task force recommends restoring net metering as PUC welcomes 2 new regulators

Part of a raft of reforms pushed by Gov. Sandoval's New Energy Task Force, the recommendation came just days before two new gubernatorial appointees started work at the state regulatory commission.

By Peter Maloney, Gavin Bade • Oct. 3, 2016

DOE: Plummeting clean energy costs accelerating renewable 'revolution'

 According to a new report, wind and solar PV accounted for over two thirds of all new generating capacity installed last year.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2016

Tesla, AMS ink 34MWh storage deal with California water system

Water systems account for nearly 20% of the total electricity and 30% of non-power plant related natural gas consumed in California. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 29, 2016

National Grid to test first distribution service platform under REV

The utility paired up with Opus One Solutions to create markets, tariffs and operational systems for resources at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2016

Following New York's lead, Maryland targets electric distribution transformation

Utility regulators plan to zero in on renewables and electric vehicle integration, rate design and affordability.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2016

Massachusetts floats new solar tariff structure in incentive program redesign

The new program would replace current incentives with tariffs designed to reduce risk and provide more predictable revenue streams for developers.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 28, 2016

NYC targets 100 MWh energy storage by 2020

The new energy storage target will help New York City reach its goal to cut emissions 80% by 2050.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 26, 2016

Demand charges vs. TOU rates: The great Arizona rate design experiment

APS wants to be the first utility with mandatory demand charges for residential customers, but critics say time-of-use pricing provides similar benefits and is easier for consumers to adopt. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 26, 2016

Hawaiian regulators approve time-of-use rate pilot to aid solar integration

In an effort to shift electricity usage to daytime, Hawaii's PUC has approved a time-of-use rate program for HECO.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 22, 2016

US, Canada utilities aim to link three microgrids in $12.4M cross-border project

Two Canadian utilities and one in Maine are working to trade power between three microgrid projects in a transactive energy scheme. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 22, 2016

How Southern California Edison's new rate case would transform the grid

SCE wants to spend $2.3 billion to ready its grid for distributed resources. Here's what that money would buy.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 21, 2016

First wave-powered energy in U.S. pumped into Hawaii's grid

A U.S. Navy program is testing wave-powered devices off the coast of Oahu.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 21, 2016

Developers wary as California prepares to open behind-the-meter storage to utilities

Two newly-passed bills seek to boost residential storage, but critics worry they could allow utilities to dominate the market.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2016

Enphase survey: Batteries don't fit the bill for most residential backup power needs

Customers are interested in backup power, a new residential survey found, but their demands are more suited to generators than solely batteries.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 20, 2016

SoCal Edison seeks 125 MW of clean energy resources for Orange County

Southern California Edison is running an experiment to see if a range of clean energy resources can power Orange County, California.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2016

Kansas regulators reject Kansas City Power & Light's bid to ratebase EV charging stations

Regulators questioned the need for 1,000 planned charging stations, along with the projected environmental benefits.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 20, 2016

Oil giant Total joins venture funding for DER software company AutoGrid

Total has been among the most aggressive fossil fuel companies taking interest in renewable and distributed energy.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 19, 2016

Nevada court overturns fixed charges, lower net metering rates for existing solar customers

The court upheld the new rates and charges for future solar customers, however, accepting NV Energy's assertion of a solar cost shift.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 15, 2016

Greening demand response: California mulls big changes for DR to meet climate goals

A new proposal at the CPUC would limit fossil fuel resources in demand response, but big questions remain about the utility's role in administering DR programs. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2016

DOE, DOI: New US offshore wind strategy could create 86 GW market by 2050

The Departments of Energy and the Interior chose the completion of the first U.S. offshore wind facility to release a new governmental strategy document for the industry.

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 13, 2016

Solar Power Players: SEPA honorees look beyond the rooftop to manage dynamic grids

Distributed solar is just the first challenge coming to the grid edge. These utilities are tackling what's next.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 12, 2016

Newly-released text messages draw scrutiny to APS relationship with AZ consumer advocate

Text messages show a consultant for the Residential Utility Consumer Office collaborating with a utility executive to shape the state's Value of Solar docket, but they say it's all part of the job. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 9, 2016