NextEra charts path for renewables expansion, but campaign finance allegations loom in the background

Florida Power & Light CEO Eric Silagy announced plans to retire, triggering questions during NextEra’s Q4 earnings call about allegations that FPL violated state and federal campaign finance laws.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 30, 2023

GE Hitachi and 3 partners announce first commercial contract for grid-scale SMR in North America

Site preparation and related work have begun, and the small modular reactor is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2028.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 30, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

As SMR developer X-energy moves to go public, merger partner Ares cautions investors about risks

Investors were warned of small modular reactors’ limited operating experience and other challenges that could lead to higher-than-expected construction costs, maintenance requirements and operating expenses.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 27, 2023

2023 US Power Sector Outlook

2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.

By The Utility Dive Team • Jan. 25, 2023

Xcel, other utilities launch dedicated planning teams to streamline energy transition, boost innovation

Xcel Energy is starting the new year with a new company division and a fresh outlook on planning for a carbon-neutral future.

By Emma Penrod • Jan. 25, 2023

Solar expected to see demand boom from Inflation Reduction Act in 2023 as supply chain remains uncertain

One expert anticipates a “hangover effect” from supply chain struggles will linger throughout the year. 

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 19, 2023

Hanwha, LG Energy Solution partner on battery production in US

The companies will collaborate to grow their battery businesses amid heightened demand for clean energy solutions.

By Megan Ruggles • Jan. 19, 2023

OSHA fines Eversource $333,560 over alleged workplace violations in accident that killed a Boston worker

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration accused the utility of not fully de-energizing electrical equipment or following the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 17, 2023

Georgia Power delays Vogtle 3 start after discovering vibrations in plant’s cooling system

Georgia Power now expects Unit 3 will be placed in service in April.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 13, 2023

Qcells to invest $2.5B to build complete US solar supply chain, expand annual capacity to 8.4 GW

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff said the expansion is the largest clean energy manufacturing project in American history and will create 2,500 jobs in the state.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 11, 2023

FERC approves Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric membership in Southeast Energy Exchange Market

Opponents of SEEM continue to argue that the market violates federal regulations, but a FERC majority said that question was not at issue in this membership approval.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 10, 2023

AEP Ohio seeks approval for electric security plan with $2.2B in reliability spending

The utility expects its plan will increase residential rates by about 2.3% annually over six years.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 9, 2023

Avangrid-PNM merger could get 2nd review by New Mexico’s restructured Public Regulation Commission

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who supports the utility merger, in December announced the appointment of three new members to the Public Regulation Commission. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 9, 2023

The path to climate resilience for the District of Columbia

Along with other city leaders, DCPSC Chairman Emile C. Thompson sets standards and ensures that D.C.'s clean energy transition is equitable, affordable and resilient.

Jan. 9, 2023

PG&E, Energy Vault plan largest US utility-scale battery, green hydrogen long-duration storage project

A city in California wine country that’s vulnerable to high winds and wildfires could switch to power held in a long-duration energy storage system relying on batteries and hydrogen.

By Stephen Singer • Jan. 6, 2023

Power plant developer Competitive Power Ventures launches retail supply business

CPV Retail Energy is starting operations in PJM Interconnection states and plans to expand to New England and New York.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 6, 2023

Taking Charge: Exelon focuses on affordability, partnerships amid the energy transition — new CEO Butler

“What we will always consider as we go through this process is how our customers … can afford it,” Butler said. “We're going to be doing it in partnership with our regulators and our legislators.”

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 5, 2023

FirstEnergy agrees to pay $3.9M for failing to tell FERC about energy bill bribery payments

The utility company didn’t tell the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about $81 million it gave to Ohio officials to pass a bill that offered $1 billion to nuclear plants it owned, according to the agency.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 3, 2023

Avangrid asks regulators to dismiss 1.2-GW Commonwealth offshore wind contracts, says it plans to rebid project

Economic conditions have changed since the contracts were signed in April, making the project too expensive to build under the power purchase agreements, Avangrid told Massachusetts regulators Friday.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 19, 2022

Lyft offers its ride-sharing drivers incentives to switch to EVs

The program is the latest in a series of moves Lyft has taken to fulfill its pledge to transition entirely to electric vehicles by 2030.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 13, 2022

Nuclear SMR developer X-energy to merge with Ares Management-backed SPAC, creating $2B company

X-energy says 67 GW from SMRs will need to be installed by 2040 in the U.S., Canada and U.K. to offset the retirement of coal and other fossil fuel plants and meet expected increases in demand.

By Stephen Singer • Dec. 7, 2022

Public power, cooperative utilities face ‘deteriorating’ outlook amid financial pressures: Fitch

“Sustained cost pressures and slower economic growth through 2023 will result in the most challenging operating environment the public power sector has faced in many years,” Kathy Masterson, Fitch senior director, said.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 7, 2022

Wind energy industry struggles to find qualified workers: NREL

The wind industry is struggling to find experienced workers to fill open roles, while applicants report barriers to entry-level jobs that would provide that experience.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 1, 2022

Exelon, Duke, Southern, PG&E still the top utilities on Fortune 500; most show revenues up but rankings down

The utilities on the 2022 Fortune 500 list generated 13% more revenue in 2021 than they did five years earlier, but the sector remains small relative to retail, tech and healthcare giants.

By Stephen Singer • Nov. 30, 2022

ESG score hurts credit rating for 20% of organizations: Moody’s

More than half of organizations that issue speculative-grade debt faced a negative impact on their credit rating after a sustainability assessment.

By Jim Tyson • Nov. 29, 2022