DOE's new $25M solar fund seeks development of distributed energy grid solutions

The ENERGISE program, part of the Department of Energy's SunShot initiative, seeks to fund grid technologies to manage high penetrations of distributed energy on utility systems.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 4, 2016

ACC approves TEP plans for renewables, storage, but not utility-owned solar

Arizona regulators approved an expansion in renewable energy investments and two storage pilot projects, but deferred a decision on utility-owned rooftop and community solar projects to TEP's general rate case.

By Gavin Bade • May 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

Puerto Rico energy storage project tests load shifting capabilities of hybrid batteries

An energy storage project in Puerto Rico will test the ability of hybrid batteries to shift load in response to the territory's storage mandate. 

By Peter Maloney • May 3, 2016

Oklahoma utility proposes demand charges to cover distributed energy costs

Oklahoma Gas & Electric is seeking approval to change its rate structure in order to adapt to accommodate distributed resources.

By Peter Maloney • May 3, 2016

Inside the deal that averted a net metering ballot showdown in Arizona

After intervention by the governor, plans for dueling ballot initiatives have given way to mediated negotiations between APS and SolarCity.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 3, 2016

At 16.4 MW, largest U.S. rooftop solar array will utilize LA muni's feed-in-tariff

The project, planned by developer PermaCity, is slated for four warehouses in the San Pedro community.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 3, 2016

Maine lawmakers fail to override LePage veto of solar incentive bill

House lawmakers voted 96-52 for the bill on Friday morning, falling two short of the necessary margin to overrule the governor. 

By Herman K. Trabish • May 2, 2016

Iowa electric co-op looks to buy RECs to go '100% carbon-free'

The Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative in Iowa plans to reduce its carbon footprint to zero.

By Peter Maloney • April 29, 2016

Aquion installs storage for microgrid at California winery and farm

Aquion Energy is supplying its aqueous hybrid ion batteries for the project, which will use Ideal Power's 30-kW multi-port power conversion system to help make the California winery and farm more self-sufficient. 

By Peter Maloney • April 29, 2016

Florida muni delays net metering decision until November election cycle

Staff on Jacksonville's public utility is looking to reduce net metering, but agreed to delay a decision until a utility-backed solar ballot initiative makes its way through the election cycle. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 29, 2016

Texas co-op signs deal for 15 MW of distributed community solar

 Pedernales Electric Cooperative will contract for power from 998 kW customer sited-arrays and sell to individual solar buyers.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

New York City launches Solarize program targeting 350 MW of new distributed solar by 2025

Solarize campaigns, started in Portland in 2009, help communities leverage group buying power to go solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

Community Storage Initiative touts diverse backers, including EEI, NRECA, APPA

The group is calling for more information sharing and collaborative development of distributed storage solutions.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2016

Tesla's 2016 storage sales to SolarCity could dwarf entire US behind-meter market for 2015

A filing from Tesla indicates it expects to sell substantially more behind-the-meter storage capacity to SolarCity in 2016 than the entire U.S. market deployed last year, GTM Research reports.  

By Peter Maloney • April 26, 2016

Arizona utilities back initiative to counter SolarCity-supported ballot proposal

Days after solar advocates announced a ballot proposal to protect net metering in Arizona, a state lawmaker has a competing proposal she says has the support of the state's regulated utilities. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016

ComEd touts new solar incentives in Illinois legislative push

The utility has a slate of proposals in front of state lawmakers and on Friday, announced new rebates for solar customers to accompany proposed rate changes.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016

As utilities build toward RPS standards, costs, carve-outs raise concerns

An LBNL report shows utilities are largely meeting their renewable energy targets, but new challenges are emerging.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016

SolarCity ends support for watchdog group investigating Arizona regulators

The watchdog group Checks and Balances project had sought to expose communications between Arizona regulators, utility executives, and members of an outside political group. 

By Herman Trabish, Gavin Bade • April 21, 2016

Citing favorable policy climate, Sunrun expands operations in South Carolina

Solar supports put in place by 2014's Act 236 made the South Carolina decision an easy one, company officials said. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 20, 2016

Former ACC chair leads push for Arizona ballot measure to protect solar

A new constitutional amendment pushed by solar installers would preserve retail rate net metering and prevent solar-specific rate changes through 2022.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 20, 2016

SDG&E 'ahead of the curve' to meet California's 50% RPS with help from storage

Ahead of schedule in meeting RPS targets, San Diego Gas & Electric looks to storage and energy efficiency to accommodate more renewables.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016

FERC seeks input from ISOs on possible market barriers to energy storage

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has given wholesale market operators until May 2 to docment barriers that may exist to adding energy storage resources to their grids.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016

'Graceful transition': ISO-NE's CEO on how wholesale markets can ease decarbonization

A well-designed capacity market can help ensure reliability at high levels of renewable energy penetration, argues ISO-New England's Gordon van Welie.

By Gavin Bade • April 19, 2016

AES teams up with Panasonic for India's first utility-scale storage project

AES Storage and Panasonic are building a 10-MW storage facility in Haryana, India.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016

SEIA President Rhone Resch steps down after 12 years

The national trade group for solar companies grew from 65 members to more than 1,000 under Resch's leadership.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2016